On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone claims to be a little bit Irish and canned meat sandwiches come to mind. People look for canned meat and Reuben sandwiches with a pile of rye or other bread or rolls.
And the metropolitan area of Detroit is full of places that offer tasty canned meat sandwiches. Another bonus is that Detroit hits the canned meat maker’s trifecta. Grobbel’s, Sy Ginsberg and Wigleys corned beef are brands originating in Detroit.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, but a sample of those that have been around for some time. Many restaurants offer canned meat specialties on St. Patrick’s Day. Remember that many places have limited hours because of the pandemic. Some places are for travel only.
Bread Basket Deli
Multiple locations
This deli with nine locations in the Detroit metropolitan area is proud to sell 12 tons of canned meat a week. Bread Basket’s famous corned beef sandwiches are stacked and available in large or regular sandwiches. There are several variations, including Reuben and a combination of canned meat and pastrami.
Most: It’s time for canned meat: three super easy ways to prepare it
Dick O’Dow’s Irish Public House
160 W. Maple Road, Birmingham
One of the pillars of the menu is Celtic Reuben. According to the menu, the sandwich has sun-dried meat or grilled turkey with homemade Swiss cheese. It is topped with coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich is served with grilled rye.
For information: 248-642-1135 or dickodowspub.com.
Hygrade Deli
3640 Michigan Ave., Detroit
This iconic Detroit deli is located at the southern tip of Corktown. In February, Delhi celebrated its 49th anniversary. Hygrade Reuben, named one of the five “Great Corned Beef Sandwiches” by Free Press, offers sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and a sweet Thousand Island sauce with rye. Hygrade Deli uses Sy Ginsburg canned meat, also one of Detroit’s favorites. In January, Food and Wine magazine named Hygrade Deli’s Reuben as its best sandwich in all states.
For further information: 313-894-6620 or hygradedeli.com.
Louie’s Ham and Corned Beef
3570 Riopelle St., Detroit
Serving breakfast, salads and sandwiches, Louie’s is located on Mack and Riopelle, just outside Eastern Market. Louie’s Reuben offers canned beef with Swiss and sauerkraut with grilled rye. Louie’s Delight is canned meat topped with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing. A combination includes pastrami and canned meat with grilled rye.
Opening hours: from 6 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday and from 8 am to 4 pm on Sundays.
For further information: 313-831-1800 or louieseasternmarket.com.
Mudgie’s Deli and Bar
1413 Brooklyn, Detroit
This former Corktown deli is offering many Irish-themed dishes for St. Patrick’s Day. The deli is currently only open for home delivery. The courtyard service is limited. Highlight for Irish Reuben with canned meat, strong kraut, Irish cheddar and mustard on grilled rye. A Vegan Irish Reuben offers canned meat based on seitan with strong kraut, vegan cheese and mustard on grilled rye. On the regular Mudgie menu is the Barrett sandwich. It’s a classic with canned meat, creamy coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island in an onion roll.
For further information: 313-961-2000 or mudgiesdeli.com.
Noah’s Deli
14500 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
This little delicatessen on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn is open from 6 am to 2 pm, Monday through Friday, serving breakfast and lunch. There are several varieties of canned meat sandwiches. Dinty Moore is one of the delicatessen’s special sandwiches. You can choose between lean sun meat, pastrami or turkey. It is served with grilled rye topped with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing.
For information: 313-582-8361 or noahs-deli.com.
The Stage Deli
6873 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield
Several variations of corned beef sandwiches are offered, from grilled Reubens to hot corned beef sandwiches filled with corned beef. Most are served on Stage rye bread. There’s the Russian Reuben with hot pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian sauce on the grilled pumpernickel. Your Reuben offers hot corn meat, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and grilled rye. Steven Goldberg has run the family-owned delicatessen since 1994. The menu is extensive, offering breakfast, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, soups and main dishes.
For information: 248-855-6622 or thestagedeli.com.
Vintage house
31816 Utica Road, Fraser
For a dozen years, this Fraser banquet hall has served O’Hara’s canned meat sandwiches (a secret family recipe) for St. Patrick’s Day. Several options for corned beef sandwiches are available, including a Reuben. They are also offering a dinner of cooked corned beef and Irish stew. No phone orders will be fulfilled, you drive and order from 11am to 7pm until March 18th.
For information: 586-415-5678 or vintagebanquetsandcatering.com.
Zingerman’s Deli
422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor
The famous delicatessen salesman Ann Arbor is his Reuben sandwich. The sandwich has layers of tender sun meat topped with Swiss Emmental cheese, Brinery sauerkraut and Russian sauce on grilled Jewish rye bread. Last summer, Zingerman hit the road last June with his Reuben tour of several cities in the state.
For information: 734-663-3354 or zingermansdeli.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: 313-222-6872 or [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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