Pastrami Joe’s

Pastrami Joe’s is a deli in downtown Marshall, Michigan, that is just off of the main thoroughfare. It was a nice summer day and there were people enjoying lunch at the sidewalk tables outside of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, there is a small dining room and a counter where they will take your order at the cash register.

After ordering we just had time to fill our drink cups and find a table before the order arrived. I was amazed to get our Reubens in 6 minutes. This place knows how to prepare a sandwich quickly!

The Reuben arrived on a colorful green-and-white checkerboard paper and it really stood out. The first thing that I noticed when tasting it was that the bread tasted like it had been toasted perhaps before it was grilled. The type of crunch elicited by my first bite definitely seemed more of the “toast” type of crunch than I was used to. But that was probably good, because by the time I got to the second half of my sandwich, that bottom slice of rye had gotten rather soggy.

The Russian dressing had a little bit of a sweet flavor, which mixed well with the tangy sauerkraut. The sauerkraut was quite plentiful. I was able to taste the slice of Swiss cheese and it was delicious and subtle. The corned beef was sliced thin and piled nicely into the sandwich with a light and beefy flavor.

Overall the Reuben was delicious. It was a little drippy and required napkin usage, but it wasn't too messy. I would definitely order another Reuben from Pastrami Joe’s if I am back in Marshall. Maybe not right away, but I did finally figure out that “PJ’s Reuben” didn’t refer to a Reuben that one would eat in one’s pajamas—it is obviously a reference to Pastrami Joe himself.

I liked the super fast service at Pastrami Joe’s. The service staff was very friendly, and they gave us free cupcakes for the deli’s 20th anniversary! The restaurant was clean, bright and cool. It was a great experience!