Ben's Deli Fails On Its Chicken Pot Pie

Recently, I was at Ben's Deli in Greenvale to pick up a quick dinner. Normally, I would order a soup and sandwich. For those of you who do not know, Ben’s deli is one of the few remaining kosher delis on Long Island. I know that Ben’s excels at these choices. But this time, I opted to go with the Chicken Pot Pie because it looked really good in the case.

While they were heating up the dish, I was speaking to the owner and we talked about possible sides. The most interesting thing about the conversation is that Ben’s used to have a special in which you buy one sandwich and get one for half. The owner mentioned that he had customers come in and order a hot dog and ask for a 50% on a roast beef sandwich. They claimed that a hot dog was a sandwich so that they would be entitled to another sandwich at half off. I wanted to bring up our whole conversation of what a sandwich but my chicken pot pie was ready. 

On to my Chicken Pot Pie review. I had high hopes for this dish.  Unfortunately, it was a chicken pot pie that left much to be desired in the flavor department.

The chicken pot pie had a golden, flaky crust hinting at better things to come. But from the first spoonful, it became clear that this pot pie was playing it incredibly safe. The chicken, while tender, lacked any discernible seasoning. It was simply... chicken. The vegetables, primarily peas, green beans and carrots, offered texture but no vibrant flavor, tasting as though they had been added as an afterthought rather than integrated into a rich medley.

The most critical disappointment, however, was the gravy or sauce (I do not know exactly what to call the filling but let’s go with gravy). The heart and soul of any good chicken pot pie, the gravy here was shockingly bland. It was thin, watery, and devoid of the savory, aromatic depth one expects from a well-made cream sauce. There were no notes of herbs, no hint of roasted chicken flavor, no comforting richness. It felt more like a vehicle to hold the other ingredients rather than a flavor builder.

I think that the way to go at Ben’s is to stick to what they do best. Order their soups (Chicken Noodle with Matzoh Balls, Mushroom Barley), sandwiches and hot dogs. Venture outside of these at your own risk!

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