A good savory sandwich is more than just a pile of filling slapped between two slices of bread. For me, it always starts with the bread. Fresh baked bread made in-house is a great start. And Lance Ngo of 717 Deli in Greenhills nails it with his rendition of the perfect sandwich and then some...
Premium medium rare roast beef, the prized halibut from the frigid waters of the Atlantic and the deep Pacific, Emmental and Provolone. And fresh baked bread made in-house daily. The lavish components for the perfect sandwich are all laid out at 717 Deli in Greenhills. Yes, the neighborhood finally has a legit sandwich joint with its extensive renditions of sandwich classics plus Fish and Chips and good coffee too. Read on for a virtual bite of the tempting selections at 717 Deli...
Young Lance Ngo of 717 Deli clearly has it all figured out when it comes to hearty classic sandwiches, starting with pillow-soft brioche buns and traditional slices of brioche loaf baked in-house for that fresh and clean buttery finish. He then lays and stacks it with layer upon layer of various toppings from premium beef and juicy patties, garden fresh vegetables and premium cheeses for his take on the perfect sandwich. At 717 Deli, you can choose from the comforting Grilled Cheese and Patty Melt to the Roast Beef Melt, Philly Cheesesteak, 717 Cheeseburger, Roast Beef and Halibut Fillet each masterfully executed with the very best ingredients. Including the softest buttery buns and delicately crisp brioche loaf. For Lance Ngo, each component has to stand on its own in terms of both quality and flavor while complementing the other ingredients in the construction of the perfect sandwich. Clearly, 717 Deli makes the case for the best sandwiches in the Greenhills neighborhood.
Inside the kitchen, Lance Ngo and his team prepare a selection of 717 Deli's popular bestsellers...
...starting with the nostalgic and comforting Grilled Cheese (P 350). You can say making the basic grilled cheese sammie isn't rocket science, but the use of the freshest and finest ingredients easily sets one apart from the rest. Layers of Gruyere, Mozzarella, Cheddar and Emmental in between buttery and crisp toasted brioche loaf becomes one of the most indulgent expressions of the all-time staple.
The different cheeses come together in a delectably gooey blend delivering an indulgently smooth and lusciously creamy finish with each bite, contrasting with the crisp toast with its outer charred surface. You can mess up even the most simplest dish, but Lance Ngo keeps it straight and true with his elevated version of the Grilled Cheese with his blend of four exquisite cheeses in between toast.
The white bread completes the flavors in this nostalgic staple, with a side of housemade tomato sauce to cut through the cheesy richness with its fresh and vibrant tartness.
Like your grilled cheese with a juicy burger patty? The Patty Melt (P 450) at 717 Deli should do the trick nicely. A thick and moist 80/20 ground beef patty with American cheese, Provolone and caramelized onions slathered with special sauce in between toast packs solid savory flavors...
...and this one goes fast. The bold, beefy richness are smoothened and made even richer by the American cheese and Provolone blend finished with a subtle sweetness from the onions and special sauce. And the fresh baked toast holds up well all the way to the last bite to complete the flavors.
The Philly Cheeseteak (P 450) with a generous mound of tender beef chuck topped with onions, Cheddar and Provolone on a soft long bun recreates an iconic American sandwich down to the cheese and onions. While the original from the City of Brotherly Love uses a crustier chewy roll slathered in Cheez Whiz, Lance Ngo's own take at 717 Deli is a more refined spin with its soft bun. And I like it. The beefy notes of the ground chuck punches through followed by the creamy finish of the Cheddar and Provolone and the lingering sweetness of the onions. Again, the fresh-baked pillow soft buttery bun completes the flavors without getting in the way of the savory fillings.
A side of pickled jalapeños brings a sharp yet soothing sweet heat with each bite to temper the rich medley of flavors. It's another solid sandwich from 717 Deli but there's more...
The Roast Beef (P 500) piled high with savory slabs of medium rare roast beef, Cheddar and horseradish sauce on a soft bun ranks high up on my list personal picks at 717 Deli. Why? Each component complements the other in a rich yet balanced play of flavors and textures. And one bite is soon followed by another...
The generous mound of tender roast beef with its juicy pink center brings all the flavors followed by the indulgent sharpness of the Cheddar and the silky smooth finish of the horseradish sauce with just a whisper of mild spicy hints. Full on and unrestrained flavors with each bite, the Roast Beef by 717 Deli is one serious sandwich.
One more bite and the buttery bun once again shines with its own subtle notes absorbing all the richness from the roast beef, horseradish and Cheddar. Unlike other sandwich options, you get the full package at 717 Deli where the bread plays equal billing to the savory fillings.
And here's another reason to visit 717 Deli. A good fish sandwich is a rare thing in the metro, and 717 Deli fixes that with its own lavish take. The Halibut Fillet (P 400) is an impressive sandwich with its massive slab of beer-battered halibut fillet with Cheddar and creamy tartar sauce in between halves of fresh-baked buttery buns.
Imagine buttery soft yet dense fillet of premium halibut coated with a thin and delicately crisp layer of beer batter. That first big bite is announced by an audible crunch releasing a silky smooth and briny sweetness from the prized halibut. The fresh notes of the halibut are then completed by the Cheddar and the tartar sauce along with the buttery bun for one of the best fish sandwiches anywhere.
Lance Ngo then transforms his stock of premium halibut with another must-try dish at 717 Deli with the Halibut Fish and Chips (P 750). The thick slab of halibut fillet draped in a crisp beer batter has everything going for it from the fresh sweetness of the fillet, the crisp batter and masterful execution for what could be one of the metro's best kept secrets.
The thin yet crunchy layer of light batter and the dense texture of the halibut combine for a proper fish and chips experience. Laid on crunchy fries and served with a side of tartar sauce, the Halibut Fish and Chips is legit. Add a dab of malt vinegar and you can raise the Union Jack up high over Greenhills.
The Halibut Fish and Chips is one of two non-sandwich items on the menu at 717 Deli, with the other being the specialty Cochinillo (P 9,500/3-day lead time required). Lance Ngo is also the hard-working genius behind CochiPinoy (see more on my post at A Hidden Gem at Carlitos Seasig Paluto and CoshiPinoy from two years back).
No sandwich joint is complete without its signature version of the burger, and the 717 Cheeseburger (P 300) rounds up the stellar sandwich roster at 717 Deli. The juicy 80/20 ground beef burger patty is executed in the familiar "smashed" style with its distinctive crisp edges topped with American cheese, tomato, onions and special sauce on their specialty bun. The crisp crown around the juicy patty brings a delectable textural contrast with each bite, completed by the Cheddar, veggies and special sauce. But it's the soft bun that once again ties everything together. It's a solid burger to complement an equally solid sandwich line-up at 717 Deli.
A good sandwich isn't easy to find, more so in the busy Greenhills commercial and business district. Often, most sandwich shops assign the lowest priority to their bread with dry, usually hard bread as the vessel for their creations. Not at 717 Deli where bread isn't treated as a mere afterthought. Finally, good bread shares the limelight with its more glamorous savory fillings and rightly so. And that to me makes for a great sandwich.
717 Deli also offers a range of specialty coffee from the bold and robust Americano, Mocha and sweet Spanish Latte pairing well with yet another surprise from their kitchen...
...the inventive Brionuts using their specialty brioche buns as the base. Dipped in sweet cinnamon and sugar, the Brionuts and coffee combo is a winning pair at 717 Deli.
The restaurant scene in Greenhills continues to grow and evolve with exciting new concepts. Add 717 Deli to your list of dining options in the 'hood. And celebrate the fact that finally, Greenhills has a legit sandwich joint.
717 Deli is located at 53 Connecticut, San Juan, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at 717 Deli and https://www.instagram.com/717deli/ for more information and updates or call 0905 462 5239 for inquiries.
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