Battle of the Bodegas: Which Deli reigns supreme?

By: Ariella Thompson & Kayden Martinez

At the corners of 1619 Boston Road reside two delis, each with its loyal following of hungry students. On the left side of the street, we have Boston Gourmet Deli, known by many for its overstuffed, savory, and warm chopped cheese sandwiches. On the right, just a crosswalk away you'll find Camila Grocery Store Inc. They are commonly known for their lower prices and two-dollar empanadas, which are a hit among students who are on a tighter budget, such as ourselves. 

At the Boston Gourmet Deli, it can be quite the wait for a sandwich, especially during the hours before school, you can still catch numerous Bard students waiting for their food minutes before school starts. We decided to get a statement from a loyal customer, Tenth-grade student Zariah Suares "You know I'm a scholar. So I would never be late to school without a good reason. So if I'm hungry, I may as well get a sandwich from the Boston Gourmet Deli, but I wouldn't be late to go to the other Deli (Camila Grocery Store Inc.) the sandwiches there aren't worth it." 

Although it is a long wait at Boston Gourmet Deli, students say across the street at Camilla Grocery is pretty underrated. As one anonymous student noted:  “I like the Dominican deli better because they always know my order, and they make pretty good sandwiches. They aren’t too heavy.” They also explained that the price is better:  “Also it's cheaper! It's only $4 for a BLT there. At the other deli (Boston Gourmet) they charge over $6! Everyone loves their empanadas, too.”

It's clear that both delis near BHSEC Bronx are notorious for one thing or another, but it looks like Camilla Grocery has a better reputation between the two. No matter which bodega you prefer, BHSEC wouldn’t be the same without these two delicious establishments that contribute to the heartbeat of our school.