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Delicious hot and cold deli sandwiches, hot dogs, salad, soup, snacks, along with craft beer... it's all good! North Fork Deli, located in downtown Auburn, CA has all of your bases covered, with delicious deli cuisine, served by super friendly staff. As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little past 10:00 in the morning, Friday, January 26, 2024, and I've arrived at North Fork Deli to enjoy a delicious, early lunch. The deli is open every day of the week from 08:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening. The restaurant is located inside Gold Country Mall, which is a renovated 1890's era commercial building, which has been converted into a mini-mall, where many small specialty shops are located. North Fork Deli has a prime location, as it faces Lincoln Way, which is the main street in downtown Auburn.
Photo: There is a sign on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant, that promotes the daily specials. Since today was Friday, clam chowder was on the menu, and I took note. Like many small restaurants in 2024, North Fork Deli promotes ordering online, and delivering using delivery services, or to-go orders that customers pick up at the counter.
Photo: As you enter the deli, you'll notice the order counter, the posted menus, along with the friendly staff hard at work. I love the poinsettias on the counter, which must be leftover from Christmas, six weeks ago. Note the menus posted above the counter, and the "Protein Flavors" menu posted on a blackboard below the order counter. North Fork Deli is a recent addition to downtown Auburn, as the owner explained to me she took over back on October 1st of last year. I'm not certain of any previous history, but what I DO know is back on Saturday, October 07, 2023, as I was attending the Auburn Wine, Ale and Food Festival, I noticed the restaurant was open, but still under renovation. The owner mentioned that she made many changes to the layout of the restaurant after she took ownership.
Photo: The small dining room has a long counter that looks out, through the window to Lincoln Way, and downtown Auburn.
Photo: Both menus are posted above the counter, which includes the "main menu," which lists the full array of both hot and cold sandwiches, along with "Classic" sandwiches. The restaurant operates on what I call the "taqueria format" in that you make your selection from the overhead menu, pay for it, sit at whatever table is open, and when your order is ready it will be brought to you by one of the friendly staff.
Photo: Breakfast, soup, salads and more are posted on a second menu above the counter. The restaurant doesn't offer printed menus, but besides the posted menus in the store, the complete menu is posted on their website. The URL is at the end of this article.
Photo: There are five craft beers on tap, along with one alcoholic cider. All are from the greater Sacramento area, which is known all over the country for the abundance of micro breweries in northern California. I went with a 20-oz pint of "Hazy Hop Goblin IPA," which is brewed by Fort Rock Brewing Company in Rancho Cordova, CA.
Photo: The owner is a NFL fan, particularly of the San Francisco 49'ers, as she has a framed jersey of Joe Montana displayed on the wall. You'll recall that Joe is one of the greatest professional football quarterbacks of all time. I admire the decor!
Photo: Amber spoons a cup of clam chowder from the huge pot, as the hot dog grills in the oven behind her. Every day the restaurant offers a different soup, which is the "Soup of the Day." Today was Friday, so I enjoyed a cup of some of the finest New England clam chowder on the planet. Amber pointed out the soup is made fresh, in-house, and I could taste it, as the soup was simply delicious.
Photo: Amber delivers my cup of clam chowder to me with a smile. Note the small sign on the counter that lists today's specials, including "BBQ Tri-Tip" and the "Soup of the Day." Besides being a football fan - specifically San Francisco 49'ers - Amber is a fan of country music, particularly the legendary singer Johnny Cash, and it's easy to tell from her tee shirt. She and I had quite a conversation about football and country music, as we certainly have those interests in common. Did I forget to mention... food?
Photo: From the "Soup of the Day" menu, I went with a cup of clam chowder, which was today's soup on this Friday. In reality, I'd planned to order a side of potato salad, but the restaurant was out of it today, so I went with soup, which always works. I certainly made the right choice, as this was one of the BEST cups of clam chowder that I've EVER had the pleasure to enjoy! Amber's clam chowder was tastier than some of the clam chowder served by the famous restaurants on the west coast. She was proud to point out that her clam chowder was made fresh, in-house, earlier today. This was a cup of "New England" clam chowder, and it would make any lover of clam chowder in New England proud. The chowder began with a thick, rich broth, most probably using half-and-half, along with butter for richness. Diced potato, celery and minced clams - duh - were in the soup, along with seasonings. Bacon graced the cup to add to the appearance and to the flavor. It all added up to a simply amazing bowl of "comfort food" which worked well with my hot dog and beer.
Photo: My hors d'oeuvre of a bowl of some of the best clam chowder on the west coast, along with a 20-oz pint of beer for dessert. I actually waited for my hot dog to arrive before enjoying the chowder and simply sipped on the ale. The 20-oz pint of beer was brewed by Fort Rock Brewing Company, a craft brewery located in Rancho Cordova, in the greater Sacramento area. This was "Hazy Hop Goblin IPA," is a delicious beer, with an alcohol content of 7%, which made me happy that I was walking and riding public transportation.
Photo: After taking my hot dog out of the grill, Amber adds the finishing touches. Like most delis, all of the veggies and other goodies are in stainless steel trays, which allow the staff to add the ingredients of your choice to your sandwich, salad or hot dog. Since I'm a connoisseur of hot dogs, I requested her to add nearly everything except ketchup, which desecrates a quality hot dog. This talented chef is the owner of the restaurant, and seemed to be able to do everything.
Photo: Meet Amber T., the amazingly friendly owner of the restaurant, as she delivers my delicious hot dog to me with a smile. She not only made an amazing hot dog, but she treated my like family. She prepared my hot dog in less than 10 minutes, as she is a chef with lots of talent.
Photo: I'm ready enjoy an amazing lunch at North Fork Deli, located in downtown Auburn. Thanks, Amber, for taking my photo and preparing such delicious "comfort food." Note that there are only two tables in the small dining room, and I'm sitting at one of them. No worries, as I was the only client in the dining room at the time, as all orders during my visit were to-go.
Photo: Today's lunch of a hot dog, a cup of clam chowder, and a glass of "Hazy Hop Goblin IPA" beer for dessert. It was interesting to note that as I placed my order, Amber asked if I was military or first responder, and I replied "I'm Navy" and she gave me a 10% discount on my order. She didn't even ask to see my VA. card... as that was very gracious of her. Thanks!!
Photo: From the "Hot Sandwiches" section of the menu, I went with a "Hot Dog" as my main entree, with "everything" on it except ketchup. It is nearly impossible for me to resist a hot dog, in any way, shape or form, as I simply LOVE them! I'm a true believer in "everything" when it comes to a hot dog, as the veggies not enhance the flavor of a dog, but then make it a "healthy" meal. Well, sort of... The dog was a meaty quarter pound, split down the middle, and grilled on a commercial hot dog appliance, as per state mandate. The dog was big, long and split nearly in half - the length of the dog - to enhance the grilling. The dog was juicy, tender and flavorful. I didn't note a "snap" when I bit into the dog, but perhaps that was on the account of the copious amount of condiments my dog was dressed with, as per my request. The dog was placed on a regular size hot dog bun, which didn't stand out to me as anything special. North Fork Deli prides itself on serving fresh, locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible, and I was truly impressed at the quality and freshness of the condiments and garnishes the chef placed on my hot dog. I ordered "everything" and I got it all... The grilled dog was placed on the bun, which was lightly coated with mayonnaise, as per my request, and the dog was drizzled with mustard. Mustard is essential for a hot dog, no way around it. Then the party started, as the chef added sauerkraut, sliced red bell pepper, pickled jalapeno pepper slices, along with diced white onion. Oh my! ... as the veggies made for a dog well-dressed, and truly a meal for hot dog lovers! One bite into this delicious hot dog rewarded me with a cornucopia of delicious flavors, centered around the juicy dog wrapped in the fresh bun. The fresh sauerkraut, bell pepper, jalapeno slices and white onion truly added both "zest" and flavor. Mustard added a tangy flavor. Simply delicious! The meat-to-bun ratio was spot-on, the tangy mustard added an "edge" to the dog, and the load of vegetables simply enhanced the hot dog, and didn't overpower it. What more can I add? North Fork Deli serves an amazing hot dog, that will delight all "foodies" and lovers of quality hot dogs.
Photo: I lift a spoon into my cup of clam chowder to show all of the goodness. This was one of the best cups of clam chowder that I've had the pleasure to enjoy during my countless Placer County eating adventures, and some of most delicious ever! Come for the sandwiches or hot dogs, but stay for the clam chowder!
Photo: I hold my hot dog and admire all of the goodness and beauty before enjoying it. North Fork Deli makes a simply delicious hot dog! The food is simply amazing, as it's mouth-watering delicious, fresh, attractively prepared and the portions are generous. Amber and her staff are super friendly, and will treat you like family. North Fork Deli is truly a destination for Gold Country "foodies!" For amazing deli cuisine, along with a good selection of craft beer, think of North Fork Deli, located in downtown Auburn, CA. North Fork Deli Copyright(c) 2024 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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