Sam's Place Deli
188 Hunter St. West, Peterborough, Ont.
Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays
It was just over a year and a half ago that Sam's Place Deli opened its doors and established itself as the new premier deli in town, and today that reputation is still holding as strong as ever.
Owned and operated by Daniel Fitchko and Sam Sayer, with assistance from one of the Trasheteria's former managers Ted Whelpdale (pictured), Sam's Place has turned from the neighbourhood deli into one of Peterborough's favourite lunch destinations. This was achieved through great food, amazing customer service, and a willingness to go a little farther to please their patrons.
Upon entering, the restaurant's atmosphere provides the customer with a feeling of comfort. It is decorated with old and amusing framed posters, and in the front window hangs a stained glass pane which casts a beautiful light through the dining area. The highlight of the decor is the extensive collection of unique shaped salt and pepper shakers which line the counter, and are fascinating to look at while waiting for your sandwich. You won't have to admire for long though, as the cooks at Sam's Place will generally have your meal done in no time at all.
Sam's Place also decorates with one other thing that is important to Peterborough: news of the 
surrounding area. On your way in (or out) of Sam's, you can grab one of several pamphlets which discuss everything from local events to environment impact reports that are informative and great to read if you are passionate about the Peterborough and Kawartha area. Sam's Place is run by people who care about Peterborough, for people who care about what they eat in Peterborough.
The appeal of Sam's Place doesn't just come from its friendly atmosphere however, but from the staff's knowledge that the people of Peterborough want a fresh, fully house-prepared sandwich that meets almost any standard.
There are a plethora of house sandwiches for any picky eater, from the massive BBQ Beef Brisket pulled to perfection, to the aptly named Piggy with all the fixings. The menu is spiced up even further by the daily addition of a special sandwich that is posted to their Twitter feed so that anyone can find out and go down to Hunter St. These specials are usually gone by early afternoon however, because of the increasing demand for their sandwiches, and their smart use of marketing strategies.
Meals cost between $7 to $13, with the latter price including a freshly prepared side and beverage to go with your sandwich. The side dishes range from baked beans cooked down with meat, to a potato salad that had one patron so enthused he told his mother that it was better than hers and made her travel from Kingston to sample the truth.
Whichever way you go, you won't leave Sam's Place Deli unsatisfied or with an empty stomach.
—reviewed by PtboCanada's food columnist Matt Ferguson
PtboCanada's new food reviewer Matthew Ferguson has a passion for food and cooking. Matt's worked at several establishments in town, both cooking and managing in kitchens, and now plans to insight Peterborough to have the same love for food that he does. Follow him on Twitter @PtboFoodie.
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