Craving the creative, quick and tasty lunch items featured at Carolina Dog & Deli

By Pamela Brownstein

The Lunch Bunch joined the many other hungry customers during the bustling lunch rush at Carolina Dog & Deli on Ribaut Road.

The Shankdaddy Dog topped with chili, cole slaw and jalapeños.

Peggy was the only one who ordered a hot dog, but the Shankdaddy Dog is the real deal loaded with mustard, ketchup, red onion sauce, chili, cole slaw and jalapeños. Not for the faint of heart, but Peggy declared this dog delicious, with homemade chili and cole slaw, and with a bit of a kick.

The restaurant just recently added pizza to its already extensive lunch menu, so we were happy to sample the barbecue chicken pie. It’s an individually sized pizza, but would be perfect to split between two people. The whole table thought it was scrumptious, and Nikki especially loved the barbecue chicken and perfectly cooked crust. Owner Joe Fox also said the shrimp-and-artichoke pizza has been a big hit.

David betrayed his Clemson roots and ordered The Gamecock, a fantastic sandwich made with roasted

chicken breast, lean ham, bacon, Provolone, lettuce, tomatoes and Honey Dijon dressing.

No deli would be complete without classic, warm meat-filled sandwiches. Elizabeth enjoyed her pastrami Reuben, piled high with pastrami, Thousand Island dressing, melted Swiss cheese and crisp sauerkraut. And Nikki had only compliments for The Philly — thinly sliced beef pastrami piled with spicy mustard and melted Swiss Cheese.

On the lighter side, I ordered a cup of the daily special of butternut squash soup, and it was rich and flavorful. I also had half of the Ham and Cheese. I have scarfed down many ham and cheese sandwiches in my day, but this version with ham, Provolone, Cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mustard was outstanding.