Long Island Delicatessen brings a bright, informal lunch stop to Hastings' restored Municipal Building. A colourful tropical mural and the long island counter give the compact deli its visual identity, while outdoor stools and the shared Opera Lane behind the building provide places to settle in. It works equally well for a quick cabinet lunch, coffee and cake, or food packed for a nearby park or desk.
The counter is deliberately changeable rather than built around a fixed list of dishes. Salads, proteins, sandwiches and sweets are prepared onsite, with the selection moving through the day and from one visit to the next. The kitchen places clear emphasis on free-range and ethically sourced ingredients, including Woody's pork and Havana coffee, so the grab-and-go format still carries a thoughtful sense of provenance.
A protein-and-salad combination is a useful way to build a more substantial meal. Current choices run from dukkah-crusted salmon and crispy pork belly to potato, cheese and spinach fritters or falafel, each matched with salads from the daily selection. Across the broader range, roast vegetables, pink beet with pearl couscous, Greek orzo, quinoa and broccoli, tropical slaw and Caesar salad show how much variety the counter can hold.
Catering is an extension of the deli rather than a side note. Individual lunch boxes sit alongside corporate boxes, picnic packs, whole cakes and grazing tables assembled with cooked proteins, salads, cheeses, cured meats, bread, pickles, fruit and small sweets. That range makes Long Island as practical for an office lunch or park picnic as it is for a larger event that needs a complete spread.
Address: 319 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings 4122, New Zealand
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