American Deli is not the first fast food place that comes to mind when people talk about
going out to eat. In fact, it isn't even all that well-known outside of the state where
it was established. So what makes this smaller fast-food chain so special? What makes it
stand out among the competition? They try everything out to see what they can do and
how they can do better than their competition. So with that, here are the top ten untold
truths of American Deli!
American Deli’s first Location opened in 1989
The eighties were a pretty crazy time, and when they were coming to a close, a lot of
things were still happening that would define the decade. The Berlin Wall came down, George
H.W. Bush was Elected President, and American Deli opened its first location in 1989. That
means they just barely got in there to be considered part of the eighties. It was a
turbulent decade, full of controversy, crazy clothing styles, great teen movies, and the
dawning of new wave and MTV. It was the perfect time for something different yet familiar
like American Deli to open up. People might not have been ready for the food revolutions taking
place today, but they definitely wanted a place they could get wings and a sandwich.
And so, with the creation of American Deli, people in the United States got what they
were looking for: a restaurant that appealed to their most patriotic instincts. Somewhere
they could go to experience the flavors that came up in America from all of the great cultures
that helped to build the country. American Deli was more than just a restaurant. It was
a symbol of everything that Americans wanted from their country. So they went, and ate,
and made the business a success, showing that the eighties weren't done producing greatness
just yet.
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American Deli Started Out in a Mall
Not only was the first American Deli opened in 1989, but it was also opened in the DeKalb
Mall in Georgia. There might not be anything more eighties than a restaurant getting its
start as part of the mall food court, but it really is indicative of the time. Nowadays,
people barely even remember what a mall is. There's one thing missing from the online
shopping experience, though. It's the food court. Sure, you have your own kitchen and
whatever food is in your fridge, but how is that better than walking into that big open
area, and seeing all the wonderful choices for food that you could make that day? Do
you want Chinese? A burger? Or maybe some delicious wings? That's what makes the food
court so special: it has all of those things, and more! Think about that the next time
you're ordering paper towels through Alexa. Now you can't make an excuse to grab some
fries, a shake, and maybe even a Cinnabon.
Lemon Pepper Wet Wings at American Deli
Every region of the united states has their signature flavors. New York has its Pizza,
California has In-N-Out, and most of the South has its own variation on barbecue. However,
in Georgia, there is one flavor that is more famous in that state than anywhere else: the
lemon pepper wet wing. You might recognize the renowned wing flavor from Donald' Glover's
FX show, Atlanta, where the signature wing flavor was given a shout out. However, that
particular wing came from another location called JR Crickets. They are not the only
Georgia-based restaurant that serves the signature flavor, though, as American Deli also does
their own variation on the lemon pepper wet. While the lemon pepper wet from JR Crickets
uses the lemon pepper dry rub on the wings which are then tossed in a classic buffalo
wing sauce, American Deli does things a little bit differently. They still use the lemon
pepper dry rub, but they also have an actual lemon pepper sauce that they will toss the
wings in upon request. It goes to show that no matter how big a business gets, it can
never really abandon its roots. Serving regional food and doing it well are the perfect ways
for a business to stay in touch with its main consumer base and remind people of where it
came from. If you ever find yourself in Georgia, don't miss out on the chance to try the lemon
pepper wet wings from American Deli.
American Deli Serves up Fried Rice
You might think that with a name like American Deli, the restaurant would only serve classic
American foods like chicken wings, burgers, and hero sandwiches. However, American Deli
knows that one of the things that really makes America great is its diversity, which is why
they also served Gyros and fried rice. It's not enough to call yourself American and serve
only the foods that people expect. You have to give them something that they might not
think you would have. You have to celebrate all of the cultures that formed the backbone
of America. Things might not have always been perfect for everyone (and that is really a
huge understatement), but by bringing forth the flavors of each culture in a way that's
accessible, American Deli is doing something right. Their fried rice can be ordered with
shrimp, chicken, beef, or veggies. You can also make it a combination, getting more than
just one meat. Now that's getting some bang for your buck! After all, who wouldn't want
a delicious plate of fried rice packed with chicken and shrimp? If that doesn't fill you
up, then nothing will.
American Deli Reposts People's Photos on Instagram
Basically, every business has a social media presence now, but not all of them know how
to use it properly. They might post terrible photos of their food, or just post advertisements
with no engagement with their followers, or they might just be really boring about everything
they have to say. The approach American Deli takes to its social media, and particularly
its Instagram page, is actually quite ingenious. They simply repost photos from other Instagram
users who have visited the restaurant or posted photos of their food. It's a great way to
show that people love your business enough to include it in their own photo feed, and
it also gives American Deli a chance to share other people's work while crediting them for
the photo. It's a really smart way to advertise the business: just let other people make the
ads for you and share them online! Most other businesses are paying money to creative advertising
agencies who just keep putting out the same stuff, over and over again.
American Deli Serves Beef and Chicken Burgers
Most places that serve a burger will basically give you one option: beef. If you're lucky
they might offer a veggie burger. However, that's it. Beef or veggie. Why are there no
other options for meat that's been made into a patty? After all, people enjoy the occasional
turkey burger at home, even going so far as to make salmon burgers sometimes. Why haven't
restaurants caught on to this fact? Sure, there are places that will say you can get
a chicken sandwich, but not everyone wants a chicken sandwich! After all, it's a breaded
piece of chicken on bread. Sometimes you can get a grilled piece of chicken instead, but
it's really never that great. The limp, lifeless white meat that carries no flavor with it
just ends up being disappointing. However, at least one restaurant is offering something
different. At American Deli, you can get a chicken burger! That's right, in addition
to the standard beef burger, customers can order a burger patty made from chicken. It's
a great way to cut down on the fat content of a regular burger. Also, if you have to
avoid red meat for any reason, you can still have the experience of a nice, juicy burger
without all the unhealthy aspects of beef. This shows once again that American Deli understands
its customer base by offering different variations on its food. It's a great model that more
businesses should consider following since it gives the consumer more choice, which is
always seen as a good thing.
Wings Can be a Side Dish at American Deli
When you eat at a restaurant, you get your main course and a side, typically. However,
the choices for sides can be a little underwhelming, and a lot of the time it's just the same things
over and over again. Fries? They're popular, but what if you want something different?
Salad? That one is healthier, but it always seems like you're going to regret it as soon
as you order it. Some places offer soup as a side, but that just seems like you're getting
an extra drink, considering the debatable nature of soup. There are, of course, the
fancier places where maybe you can get sweet potato fries or onion rings, but often they
are few and far between. Not to mention the fact that it's just more carbs, and if you're
the kind of person who wants to eat at a restaurant, but not always have to deal with the high
carb counts, then you're kind of stuck with the salad when it comes to your options for
a side dish. This is not true at American Deli, where they have changed the side dish
game forever with the fact that as a side dish, you can order chicken wings! Yes, imagine
it: a delicious cheesesteak, or a burger, with a side of chicken wings, drenched in
delicious sauce. Maybe you might even get some of their famous lemon pepper wet wings
with your main course. Which brings us to the next
American Deli Has Nine Wing
Most places that serve chicken wings fall terribly short on the number of sauce flavors
they have to offer. Typically you will see, mild, medium, hot, and honey garlic. Those
are fine flavors, but what if you want something outside of that realm? What if you want to
send your taste buds on a culinary adventure, tasting things that you have never had on
a chicken wing before? Do you have any options? Where can you go? What can you do? Well, at
American Deli, they pride themselves on offering more than your standard range of wing flavors.
There, you can get your wings with one of nine delicious sauces that they offer. We've
already mentioned the lemon pepper wet several times, however you can also just get the plain
lemon pepper without the additional sauce if you're looking for something a little less
intense when it comes to flavor. You can also get your wings with Hot, Medium, Mild, BBQ,
Teriyaki, Sweet Chili, Garlic Parmesan, or Family Gold sauces. That's plenty of flavors
to choose from, but what's also nice to see is the range in different flavors. While American
Deli offers your typical wing sauces, it even changes things up with sweet chili, garlic
parmesan, and the secret sauce which is called family gold. There's not much to describe
that particular flavor, so you might just have to try it for yourself to find out what
it's all about.
American Deli Raked in the Bucks in 2013
Restaurants need to make money. That's probably one of the most obvious statements ever made,
but it really is true! Restaurants live or die on the basis of their profits. So how
does American Deli fare in that department? Well, it may not be raking in cash by the
billions like McDonald's, but it cleans up pretty well for itself. In 2013, American
Deli reported $38,000,000 in sales. That may seem like a small number when talking about
the restaurant industry, but don't forget that American Deli is a regional restaurant
that operates mostly in shopping malls. When you take those facts into consideration, as
well as the affordable prices for food that they offer, that's actually pretty impressive
overall. American Deli is still going strong and is most likely doing better each year.
Considering how many businesses fail in the United States alone every year, it's almost
somewhat of a miracle for one like American Deli to find its foothold and keep going strong
even after 29 years. The fact of the matter is that American Deli is making its own way
in the restaurant business. It's not a behemoth, but it makes itself known as a business that
refuses to stop. Besides, how could any business in Georgia go out of business selling lemon
pepper wet chicken wings? Nobody would ever let that happen, so it looks like American
Deli is going to keep surviving for a while yet.
American Deli Got a Name Drop From 2 Chainz
American Deli might not be a major chain in the United States, but its made a name for
itself in its native Georgia, where the locals stand by its variety of wing flavors, its
excellent service, and its commitment to serving great food. It's even wormed its way into
popular culture, although in a way that you might not expect. It might have never been
mentioned on a TV show or featured prominently in a movie, but it has received a shout out
from a major rapper. Georgia rapper 2 Chainz gives American Deli a name drop in his song
"Hot Wings." That's a pretty big honor to be mentioned in a song by someone who has
made it as big as 2 Chainz has, and no doubt boosted the profile of the already popular
Georgia eatery. After all, it would be hard to resist trying those hot wings after a 2
Chainz endorsement.
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