The Den Deli & Cafe
388 W. Van Buren StreetBack in Michigan after eight days in Florda and boy was the weather up here quite a shock. I mean, it was cold in Florida by Florida standards but man, it was cold when I got back home.
I got a couple of days off when I got back but then it was right back to work.
One of my first night’s back, I met a co-worker in Gobles for an assignment. I was working a night shift and what we had to do didn’t take very long. Once we wrapped up our task, I was off to dinner before heading back to Kalamazoo.
There are a couple of places in Gobles to choose from but I went to the one I assumed would be the quickest and easiest. I didn’t have time to sit down and eat anywhere and sandwich shops are always a good choice.
I picked a place called The Den Deli & Cafe. The small market and deli sits on the corner of South State Street (M-40) and West Van Buren Street. It’s the main intersection on the north end of downtown so it’s hard to miss. The building has been some kind of grocery store or deli with the last thing I can find being in the building a place known simply as Gobles Grocery.
I had no idea what to expect when I walked in. I don’t go to Gobles very often so I had never been in this building before.
What I found was a spacious market, deli, and cafe. There is coffee in one corner, shelves with various pantry staples, and a small dining area near the back of the space. The decor takes advantage of the exposed beams in the ceiling and uses wood panels on the walls with a stainless steel chair rail.
The deli counter is in the back of the space and that’s where sandwiches are ordered. It’s kind of a build your own kind of thing where you pick the meat, bread, and veggies that make up either a 6″ or 12″ sub sandwich. I picked the Italian meats on 12″ white bread with lettuce and banana peppers.
It took just a few minutes for the guy working the deli counter to assemble, wrap, and hand the sandwich to me. I headed to the cash register near the front to pay and get back on the road.
The sandwich is pretty simple but also pretty delicious. They do a really good job of filling with meat and cheese so you get a really hearty, filling meal. The Italian meats were topped with a layer of shredded lettuce and the whole thing was swimming in the juices from the tangy banana peppers.
The Den Cafe & Deli is a solid deli in this small town. The sandwiches would probably be enough for two meals for most people…but I’m not most people. A good sandwich is also welcome when I’m out of the areas I’m familiar with and a good sandwich is exactly what I got.
SW Michigan Dining 