Takeout
Place: The Pickle Barrel
Address: 133 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach
Phone: 954-427-0650; fax 954-427-0055
Type of food: Deli
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Service/convenience: This hole-in-the-wall deli is used to accommodating a crowd that has only 30 minutes for lunch, so even though the place may look crowded, you’ll be served quickly. Because everything moves fast doesn’t mean you’re treated like a number.
Food ordered: Corned beef sandwich, of course ($6.75 regular; $8.25 large).
Food quality: Established in 1974, this place knows corned beef. Right down to how to slice it: against the grain. Eric Gliner, who has owned the place since 1988, says that another reason people are hooked on his corned beef sandwiches is because he buys only the best-quality brisket. And he sells as many as 200 sandwiches a day, so the meat never sits in the steamer too long. It always tastes fresh.
Plus, people like the size of the sandwiches. The regular contains half a pound of meat; the large, three-quarters of a pound. I like mine on a kaiser roll.
Delivery: Free on minimum orders of $10 if you live between Sample Road and Palmetto Park Road and between Powerline Road and A1A, but only from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday.
– Dale Koppel