The Bottom Line
Pros
- Great variety
- Fresh baked goods made on the premises
- New York style deli and bakery
- Kosher style menu items
- Students, business types, families--everyone eats at Chompie's
Cons
- Mixed results on food satisfaction
- Sandwiches would be considered pricey by some standards
- Many substitutions incur a charge
- Some prices on web site not current
Description
- Chompie's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at 3 locations: Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix.
- Pastrami, corned beef, brisket, roast beef, salami--you name it, Chompie's offers it.
- Don't miss a trip to the bakery at Chompie's for fresh breads and baked goods.
- Low carb selections are offered at Chompie's.
- You New Yorkers can order bobkas, challah, matzo brye, borscht, chopped liver and blintzes. But not at the same time, please!
- Kids eat free at Chompie's on Tuesdays after 4 p.m.
- You can purchase baked goods and deli items to go at the retail counter at Chompie's.
Guide Review - Chompie's
When I moved to the Valley of the Sun, in the same year as the creators and owners of Chompie's, from the same borough in New York, there were no bagels in Phoenix. No one even knew what a bialy was (OK, most still don't). Let's not even mention a matzo ball or a rainbow cookie.
For lunch at Chompie's we tried the Mini Potato Pancakes served with applesauce and sour cream ($6) and the Fried Kreplach ($7). The potato pancakes were a hit. I'd pass on the kreplach--not much filling and just bready.
We were torn between a burger and a piled-high pastrami sandwich. The New York Pastrami Burger ($9.29) is a 1/2 lb. patty topped with pastrami and Swiss cheese. I've never seen one of these before, and it was mmm mmm good. I ordered the New Yorker Pastrami Sandwich ($11.50) on marble rye with a side of potato salad. I received it with the small near-ends of the loaf. I asked about it, and was assured that the same amount of meat was measured onto each sandwich. I also asked why it wasn't marble rye. I was told, "see that little brown spot?" There was barely a spoonful of cole slaw on it (the menu says "smothered"), and I had to look to see if there was any dressing on it at all. The sandwich was actually half corned beef (not what I ordered) but since the pastrami was fattier than I had hoped, I didn't exchange the sandwich, although that was offered. Potato salad was very good.
We had to try dessert to see if it was really "New York." We know what a real Blank & White Cookie ($2.75) is supposed to be like. This one was very good (a little more icing, please) and the Traditional Napolean ($4.69) got a thumbs up.
My trip to Chompie's was a mixed bag of good and not quite up to my expectations. I suspect that once you find the items you love, you'll go back again and again.
All prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.
