Oakwood Deli – Raleigh, NC
In a world that grows more complex and fractured by the day, our souls long for a sanctuary—a return to a simpler existence. Beloved, my recent pilgrimage brought me to just such a place of unexpected grace: the Chopped Cheese Sandwich from the Oakwood Deli in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Tucked away behind the post office on New Bern Avenue, you will find an old dry cleaners that has been redeemed, transformed into a bustling NYC-style bodega lunch counter. It is the very epitome of efficient eating. When you step into that long line on a Sunday afternoon, you are surrounded by fellow weary travelers, each searching for a moment of meaning. You look up at the menu to review the 52 sandwich options—a stark reminder that in this earthly life, every problem seems to offer a multitude of confusing answers. But you place your order, step back, and listen to the metal spatulas hitting the cooktop in a beautiful, syncopated rhythm. And there you wait—patiently waiting for deliverance until your number is finally called.
Now, this chopped cheese is served on a humble hoagie. It is the Northeast’s true gift to the culinary world, answering the Philly cheesesteak without an ounce of pride or attitude. It is stripped down to the bare essentials: ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, grilled onions, and pickles. To satisfy my own existential needs, I asked them to hold the chipotle mayo and replace it with regular—a choice that restores its true authenticity. Served alongside a crisp pickle spear, your meal arrives wrapped tightly in aluminum foil like a vessel of pure clarity. In a single bite, it reduces the chaos of our modern lives. It returns us, if only for a fleeting moment, to a better, simpler time—delivering a profound sense of peace and quiet enlightenment to the hungry soul.
4.0 out of 5.0 Solid Sanctuary
— Don
So, this is our first foray into a non-burger review on The Straight Beef. We went to Oakwood Deli to try The Chopped Cheese sandwich. If I told you I had a sandwich with ground beef, American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo, you would assume that I had a burger. You would be incorrect. Chop up the ground beef and put all that on a hero, and you get The Chopped Cheese. Imagine a cheesesteak but with hamburger meat and American cheese, and you have this sandwich.
If you get it as it is on the menu, you get chipotle mayo. I would suggest using red pepper relish instead of chipotle mayo if you want spice. I went with regular mayo because I wanted it to be as close to a burger experience as possible.
Oakwood Deli nailed it with this sandwich. It is somewhat reminiscent of the loose meat sandwich popular in the Midwest. This was ground beef cooked on a griddle, chopped up, mixed with onions, and cheese melted on top. It had the right amount of toppings, and the bread was fantastic. Crispy on the outside and soft without being too chewy.
I strongly recommend Oakwood Deli. I wish I lived closer because I could see it being a regular lunch spot for me.
