Dixon Deli Stands Out From the Crowd

Jersey City has countless corner stores, bodegas, etc. but most of them blend together into nameless spaces that merely fill a need. Few stand above the rest, but one of those few is Dixon Deli.

Dixon Deli, named for its location right by Dixon Mills on the corner of Varick and Columbus, is more focused on the deli side of their store than the convenience side of it (although they do have a good and well-priced selection) and it shows. The deli counter is the first thing you really see when you walk in and once you start to look around, it's hard to miss the large chalkboards up on the wall listing all the available Boars Head meats, cheeses and other sandwich toppings they offer. The bread selection is pretty standard - rolls, heros, sliced bread but every time I've been there, they've been fresh which is already a pretty important step in the right direction.

Recently, I got a roast beef sandwich with swiss, mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce and tomato. The roast beef is always nicely sliced, not super thick and all the ingredients are fresh. I have noticed the application of condiments varies quite a bit depending on who makes the sandwich so that is something to keep in mind (in this instance, it was a little heavy for my personal tastes but by no means ruinous). I've never bothered to ask, but I'm sure you could specify the level of condiment use you want. The counter staff have always been very nice and eager to help during my visits.

One of the things I really appreciate about their sandwiches is they don't skimp on fillings but they also don't overload you with a 10 lb sandwich. It's not 3/4 lettuce with a slice of meat and a slice of cheese or more sliced meat than any one person can fit in their mouth so all the ingredients are pretty well-balanced.

All in All
Dixon Deli is not the place to go if you want something fancy or gourmet, but as a basic deli, it's pretty great. They do serve breakfast sandwiches which might be a good option for hungover mornings when you can't face the lines at Wonder Bagel. The service is friendly, there are a couple of counters where at least one customer is usually sitting and chatting over a cup of coffee, and they make good sandwiches. I should also mention they have about 3-6 different kinds of roasted turkey on hand almost all the time, so if you're a big turkey sandwich fan, this is the place for you. While it kind of irks me that they charge an extra 50 cents for lettuce and tomato (just on principle), it's definitely on the cheap side with sandwiches running about $3-$6. It's worth going beyond your nearest bodega to try it.