Greek Life

Move over Kevin James, there's a new King of Queens.

Angelo Mugnolo, the owner of Sapienza Delicatessen and Restaurant, is considered to be "The Pastrami King of Queens." Why? The pastrami is so good people come from all over New York just to have some. Not only is it a town favorite, it is also compared to Katz' Delicatessen, who is also famous for their pastrami. Some even say it's better than Katz'.

Located in Howard Beach, Queens, the delicatessen is quite the popular selection for food. Whether local customers or those who travel far, they never fail to satisfy. People come in from Staten Island, Long Island, Brooklyn, sometimes even Connecticut or New Jersey for the delicious pastrami.

The store also many regular customers that are extremely important to them. The Port Authority Police Department, Department of Sanitation, local bus companies, local businesses, and even workers from JFK Airport are all daily customers. They are more than satisfied with the food and service that they wouldn’t even consider going anywhere else.

Some may think, “What’s so special for people to travel so far?” The answer is the pastrami. Sapienza’s pastrami is cooked like no other; it cooks for 3 hours and is left in a steam box to make sure it is hot no matter the time of day. Over the course of a day, they sell at least 1,000 pounds’ worth of it. Often people ask how it’s made to be so good, and are shocked to hear that it is simply just steamed.

The pastrami can be served however one wants. Whether on a hero, roll, bagel, or even on a plate. The popular choice is on rye bread with mustard. One sandwich is enough to fill anyone up. For those who can’t eat that much, they sell a half-sized sandwich which is half of the meat for only $8 where a full sandwich is $14 on a hero and $12 on any other bread. If a customer wants to make a sandwich at home, they can buy it by the pound for $17.99.

If a person is unsure of what they want, the staff helps them with the decision. Often when someone is deciding and a pastrami sandwich is being made, they make their decision that much quicker. The look and smell convinces them, and they are never disappointed with their choice. It makes their mouths water and stomachs happy.

Other popular choices for sandwiches are corned beef, brisket of beef, or the homemade roast beef. These are among the top sellers. Corned beef goes by quickly especially on St. Patrick’s Day, when they have a special deal of corned beef and cabbage.

If not in the mood for sandwiches, they also offer a variety of wraps, salads, burgers, paninis, and finger-foods. They offer everything from tuna to breaded chicken cutlet to grilled cheese and fries.
No matter what a customer is craving, they will always be satisfied.

Although the pastrami is what they are known for, they also serve freshly made bagels every morning. The bagels are hand rolled and baked. Customers can get them while they are hot and soft as they come right out of the oven. They offer over a dozen different types of bagels including mini bagels.

Breakfast is one of the busiest times of the day which is fitting for the most important meal of the day. They offer a wide variety of omelets, wraps, eggs sandwiches, and much more. The most popular breakfast choices are bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches on a freshly baked bagel or The Breakfast Special Number One. The Number One consists of 2 eggs cooked however, the customer’s choice of meat, potatoes, and toast for just $5.95. Breakfast is also served all day for people who enjoy having breakfast for dinner.

Sapienza also caters parties and events. Whether it’s sandwiches, trays of food, or even breakfast. If ordering sandwiches, there is the choice of 3 foot, 4 foot, 5 foot, or 6 foot heroes that come with potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, and pickles on the side. All the food is cooked and made that day, so the food is fresh when it's time for the event. It is enough to keep everyone happy and satisfied no matter the occasion. 

Even with all the success, things didn’t always run smoothly. In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit. With the location being right across the street from the bay, the entire store was flooded and had to be refurnished due to the excessive amount of water damage. Just like the rest of the neighborhood, it was restored and back up and running. It help gave the community the idea that everything would be back to normal which it soon did.

As an employee at the delicatessen for over a year now, I have come to see how it operates and how it effects the community. Everyone who comes in has a different story, but are all brought to the same place for the same thing. Customers enjoy the food and time there and always come back. It has become a part of the community and a part of people’s lives. Longtime employee, Tracy Flohn, has witnessed the impact. She knows the customers, and the customers know her. “It’s not just a store. It’s a community,” said Flohn.