Pastrami Joe’s (Battle Creek)
32 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2Pastrami Joe’s is back in Battle Creek.
The restaurant was what I really looked forward to anytime I went to downtown Battle Creek. The deli was near the end of Michigan Avenue (or beginning depending on which way you were coming from) on the north side of downtown Battle Creek. It closed in 2021 after taking a hit during the pandemic.
The flagship Marshall location remained open though so I just had to find a reason to go to Marshall when wanted a sandwich.
Last fall, Pastrami Joe’s made it’s way back to downtown Battle Creek…albeit in a different location
The new location for Pastrami Joe’s is still on Michigan Avenue in downtown Battle Creek but it’s further south across the street from The Milton between McCamly and Capitol. The restaurant is actually inside the Hampton Building which is home to the Battle Creek Community Foundation. The space was most recently Veggz Cafe.
The restaurant isn’t really a full restaurant but more of a deli counter. The space is right inside the door to the left.
The whole space is pretty much an order counter and a small kitchen. The menu is taped to the glass on the counter. There is a small drink cooler and a rack for chips off to the side.
There isn’t any seating inside Pastrami Joe’s space but they do have a rail looking out over Michigan Avenue. There is some seating in the common areas of the building but inside the walls of Pastrami Joe’s there really isn’t much.
The only sandwich I ever get from Pastrami Joe’s is Joe’s Famous Hot Pastrami. The sandwich is thinly sliced pastrami, dill pickles, and dark mustard served on a marbled rye. The meat is packed on to the bread and the heat from the pastrami softens the rye. Pastrami seems to be a love it or hate it type of sandwich. For me, it’s the pepperiness of the meat and tangy vinegar of the mustard. When it comes to deli sandwiches, there’s nothing better and Pastrami Joe’s is and always has been the best place in Southwest Michigan to get a pastrami sandwich.
The cost for my sandwich, which comes with a pickle spear, was a little over $13.
I was really sad when Pastrami Joe’s closed in spring of 2021. And I’m really glad now that Pastrami Joe’s has reopened. It’s such a quick, cheap, delicious lunch. I’m usually short on time when I’m in Battle Creek so I really love having a spot like this that I can grab a sandwich I know is going to fill me up and it’s going to taste amazing doing it.
SW Michigan Dining 