The Yellow Deli!… the time I almost got inducted into a cult.
I took a trip up to Oneonta to visit a couple of friends from college but mainly to live that college lifestyle once more for a few days. During this trip, there was a food spot everyone mentioned repeatedly “The Yellow Deli”. I instantly thought of a bodega because it only makes sense unless it’s a city thing that a deli and bodega are basically the same things, right? It wasn’t until the night before while we were at “The Library” (Come on Oneonta what is with these weird names) that I found out the yellow deli is a cult.
Okay if we are to be more specific, The Yellow Deli is a restaurant owned by a cult. They’re rude, take their time with your food, smell weird and will try to recruit you but everyone looks past it all because the food is amazing. So, Of course, I had to check it out. I mean, how good could some food be that you’re willing to ignore that the people serving you probably serve the devil as well “Hail Satan, oh here’s your fries!” So my Sunday Morning (which you guys know is usually reserved for brunch) was spent with a cult.
There was an old-timey vibe about the place. Like as soon as you walk in you’re taken to a lesser time. Aesthetically this place was pleasing in a very cute and quaint kind of way. It gave me a small-town dining room vibes. Opening at noon left no space for empty chairs the entire place was packed! From hungover college kids to families, every seat was filled; maybe people do like a little worship with their eggs. Overall it was a very beautiful look and I didn’t see any suspicious or weird signs that it would turn into a blood sacrifice or anything so this place was already winning me over.
After we were seated the server gave us menus and went about his way. When they tell you that they carry natural products they genuinely mean that this is an all-natural place. They made juices, tea, and even had root beer on tap. So being the foodie that I am I ordered one of their more popular sandwiches however there is the option to make your own for those who wanna table in a little food art.
I was disappointed to say that the reviews were right. The food was amazing! I spent about two hours there and no one said anything about them being a cult, no one made any weird worshippy comments or anything but in their defense, the first rule of cult is to never talk about cult. Right before we left our server invited us to a wedding the upcoming week. (Little did I know this wasn’t your average invite) I was willing to go but let’s be honest I wasn’t going to travel to Oneonta for another weekend. In all honesty, I enjoyed this place. If you don’t mind that they are a cult and they have beliefs that seem a little outdated I say go for it. The food is definitely worth it!
*** The Yellow Deli (in Oneonta) will invite you to an event; dinner, party, etc as a way to invite you into their “organization”. Upon the completion of the first dinner, they’ll invite you to a second one where if you go you will be initiated into their “organization”. The wedding they mentioned to us was the event to speak to us where they try to get us to join.
*** The Yellow Delhi is an organization that believes in the 12 tribes
