Restaurant Review: MacK's Deli

As a New York Jew, delis are my love language. Since I moved south, good delis are one of the number of things I’ve missed. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a deli moving into the old Betsey’s restaurant located on Laurens Street. I was even more excited when I learned that the owners are from New Jersey!

David and Amy Kangas, owners of MacK’s Deli, named after their daughter, Mackenzie, will give you a taste of the tri-state area because they make incredible sandwiches you will crave. Their menu has everything from a delicious cheesesteak, the Boardwalk Special, to a gigantic pastrami sandwich, the Ludlow. My dad raves about the pastrami, and the man generally complains about any food we eat down here.

My personal favorite sandwich I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a decent chunk of the menu) is the Dubliner. Piled high with pastrami and turkey on buttered and grilled marbled rye bread with swiss, coleslaw, and bacon jam, this sandwich is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It’s served with a side of Thousand Island dressing for dipping, and I truly don’t believe you’ll try a more satisfying sandwich than this one.

I highly recommend ordering a side of the waffle fries as they come with a dipping sauce that is out of this world. It has a similar taste to Chick-fil-A sauce but has more depth and it’s a sauce I would gladly pour on any and everything.

MacK’s Deli is open 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday-Saturday and is located at 159 Laurens St NW in Aiken. Get there early because the line generally goes out the door — especially on Saturday!