Detour Deli & Cafe
Detour Deli & Cafe, located at 510 1/2 Red Cross St, Wilmington, NC 28401, is a charming deli offering a delightful variety of sandwiches and deli favorites. With a reputation for quality ingredients and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for anyone looking for a hearty meal in a relaxed setting.
An Inviting Menu with Creative Sandwich Options
The menu at Detour Deli & Cafe is packed with unique and flavorful options that cater to a wide range of tastes. From hoagies to tortas, each sandwich is crafted with attention to detail, making it a place for food lovers to explore new tastes. Some of the standout offerings include the Vera Ham Hoagie, Arthur Duffy Turkey Hoagie, and the Route 70 Roast Beef French Baguette, each providing a burst of flavor with quality meats, fresh veggies, and delicious sauces. For those seeking something different, the tortas like the Manny Fleishmeyer Ham and the Raoul Kildare Turkey & Chorizo offer a perfect blend of savory ingredients. The Bahn Mi selections, such as Claudio Drake Cold Cut and Esther Howard Pork Roast, bring a touch of Vietnamese flavor to the menu, while the Po’ Boys like Phoenix Girl Ham and PRC Turkey are rich and flavorful with each bite. Whether you’re craving a classic deli sandwich or something with a twist, Detour Deli & Cafe has something for everyone.
A Range of Convenient Services to Enhance Your Experience
At Detour Deli & Cafe, the focus is on making your dining experience as convenient and enjoyable as possible. The restaurant offers a variety of services that cater to different needs and preferences. Whether you prefer dining in or taking your meal to go, the deli has you covered. With options for takeout, reservations, and delivery, you can enjoy your favorite sandwiches at your convenience. While they do not yet offer online ordering, the effort to provide quality service in person makes the trip worth it.
For those who prefer a relaxed setting, the outdoor seating area provides a comfortable space to enjoy your meal. The atmosphere is casual and hip, making it a great place to hang out with friends or family. It’s also a fantastic choice for group meals or even lunch with kids, offering a quiet environment ideal for all ages. The availability of free Wi-Fi ensures that those who need to work or stay connected can do so while enjoying their food. And for those who want to unwind with a drink, the cafe serves alcohol, adding to the overall appeal. Detour Deli & Cafe also offers bike parking, making it an eco-friendly spot for cyclists in Wilmington.
Positive Customer Reviews Highlight a Welcoming Experience
Customers rave about their experiences at Detour Deli & Cafe. Many visitors have shared their love for the sandwiches, highlighting both the taste and the creativity behind each dish. One satisfied customer, Kate S., praises the deli for its varied menu, offering something to please nearly every palate. While the sandwich names may initially be a bit confusing, the quality of the food speaks for itself. Another customer, Joshua M., was enticed by a social media post showcasing the Martin M. Goldsmith sandwich, a delectable combination of pastrami, creamy cole slaw, Swiss cheese, and house sauce on pressed rye bread. He was not disappointed and found the sandwich to be an excellent choice for a Friday lunch.
Darren R. also had high praise, visiting the deli three times in one week, calling it one of the best sandwich spots in town. Although he noted the absence of online ordering, he still found the experience worth the trip, appreciating the deli’s commitment to doing things their way.
An Experience You’ll Want to Return To
Detour Deli & Cafe is more than just a place to grab a quick meal—it’s a local gem that combines great food with a welcoming atmosphere. With a menu full of creative sandwiches and a variety of services to cater to different needs, it’s clear why so many locals keep coming back. Whether you’re in the mood for a casual lunch, a delicious sandwich, or a relaxing meal out, Detour Deli & Cafe is an excellent choice that will satisfy both your hunger and your cravings for something different.
Reviews
I ate lunch here 3x times last week. I can't think of a better sandwich shop in town. Only downside is no online ordering or delivery. I get it though, they do things their way and it is worth the trip to pick up.
This was my first visit to Detour Deli and Cafe, after being enticed by a certain sandwich on their social media post and I'm glad I made the short trip for a Friday lunch. FOOD: The Martin M. Goldsmith sandwich - Pastrami, creamy cole slaw, Swiss Cheese and a house sauce all on pressed Rye bread with caraway seeds! The daily special also included an upgraded bag of chips and I added a bottled sweet tea to complete the meal. The sandwich was great! The pastrami, cheese and slaw were all fresh and the grilled Rye bread made it incredible. Detour does something a little different than most delis in town and I like their play.....value!! This sandwich included half of the meat stacked inside but then again...this sandwich, alone, does not cost $10 - $14 by itself. The entire combo was $10 ($12.50 after tip). You just can't beat this value and I was full afterward. The slaw was tangy, creamy and the cabbage had great "crunch" to it. Overall, it's an incredible sandwich and was more than sufficient for me. SCORE: 4.7 STARS!! SERVICE: I had the pleasure of meeting Al when I walked up to place my order. Inside dining is not allowed at this time and the front entrance has been converted to one large ordering / pickup station. Al was friendly, cordial, masked and gloved up. The special was out in less than 7 minutes and I was thanked for coming by. SCORE: 5 STARS!! OVERALL SCORE: Found another good one in Wilmington! The flavors are awesome, the service was great and Detour has some incredible value built into their menu. I look forward to ordering something new next time around and am very happy to have found this gem. 4.8 STARS!!
Excellent to-go food Great selection Fantastic quality and quantity All Covid precautions were in place
This was a delicious little hole in the wall. My friend and I were craving sandwiches and this was one of the first highly rated spots we found on Yelp, so we drove straight there after our 4 hour drive to Wilmington. It's on the outskirts of downtown with street parking. At the time of review there was no dine-in seating, so we walked up to the building and ordered to-go. The man who took our order was super friendly! I got the caprese sandwich, my favorite Route 11 chips, and a small lavender cookie for about $10. That sandwich was incredible! Probably the best caprese sandwich I've ever had. You can tell they use fresh, high quality ingredients - the bread was my favorite part. I will absolutely be back next time I'm in town.
Man I love Detour. And after getting sandwiches there twice this week, I figure it's time to write a review. Their menu can seem a little confusing, with the sandwiches named after actors from an old movie (I believe), but it's what's in them that counts. They have a pretty varied menu with something to please pretty much anyone. I'm a vegetarian and often times a sandwich at a restaurant is a very disappointing afterthought. Not at Detour. There are a handful of *great* vegetarian sandwiches. My go-tos are the avocado torta (black bean spread, queso fresco, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and mayo) which comes on an *incredible* roll and the tofu bahn-mi, which smells terrible but tastes amazing. I've gotten the caprese and got the veggie club the other day which was surprisingly good for what could have been a basic veggie sandwich. I'm picky about condiments (mayo is my archenemy) and they've gotten my order right almost every time and left off what I've asked them to leave off. I've probably ordered from there 30+ times with only one "oops" which is pretty good in my book. I really, really love Detour. Two tips: ~They post a daily sandwich special on Facebook and that includes a bottle of water and a bag of "upgraded" chips (note: Sandwiches used to come with a small bag of chips, but the last few times I've gone they haven't had them - not sure if that's a permanent change or due to COVID). I do have to ask for the chips, which sort of makes me feel like I'm in on a secret or something. That means I'm getting two meals for under $8 which is great as far as I'm concerned. ~Most of the sandwiches are HUGE. I can eat, but if I get a torta and an upgraded bag of chips, that's two meals for me. No judgement if you finish the whole thing yourself, though! I have a half left over from yesterday and am counting the minutes 'til lunch.