Hidden Inside A Neighborhood Market, This Old-School Deli Makes The Best Sandwiches In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published August 13, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Dagwood was onto something with his crave-worthy, stacked-to-the-sky sandwiches. There’s nothing that beats a classic sandwich — especially one made by someone else! I’m not sure why food tastes better when someone else prepares it, but it’s a universal truth. In my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, there are some truly iconic delis and restaurants that have stood the test of time — Silverglades and Eckerlin Meats certainly come to mind. These places stand on their own, bolstered by critical acclaim, generations of experience, and word of mouth. Today’s feature business is a horse of a different color: an old-school deli hidden inside Cincinnati’s historic Findlay Market that, despite being a veg-forward restaurant in Porkopolis, makes some of the best sandwiches in Ohio. Period.
I love a good sandwich. Whether it's a classic PB&J, cucumber and hummus, or grilled cheese, a sandwich is my favorite lunch of choice.
But (and there's always a "but") -- I am vegetarian. I have been for 20 years. So does that mean Findlay Market -- and all its iconic delis and meat markets -- is off-limits to me?
Not at all -- thanks to places like Harmony Plant Fare. This plant-based iconoclast has been offering vegetarian counter-programming at Findlay Market since 2017, moving to Findlay Market in 2019. Ironically enough, the vegan deli's stall was a defunct butcher shop!
Whether it's a TLT (tempeh, lettuce, tomato), seitan turkey sandwicg, grilled cheese, chickpea salad, or Italian sub, Harmony Plant Fare's menu makes it easy to be vegetarian in Cincinnati.
Make no mistake about it, however: carnivores love this tiny-but-mighty deli, too. The seitan chorizo wrap is as spicy as its south-of-the-border counterpart, while the gyro is as authentic as anything you'd in the bustling streets of Greece.
Of course, a great deli makes more than just sandwiches; the sides are equally important to the equation! This is yet another area where Harmony Plant Fare shines: salads like kale caesar, potato, egg, and pasta create a ROYGBIV of salad deliciousness, offering vibrant, veg-forward compliments to any meal. Just don't forget to bring along your reusable utensils!
Cincinnati might be known as Porkpolis, but it's also a place where, well, pigs fly. So a vegan deli located in the most historic market in the city (and state) doesn't strike me as "odd" at all. All are welcome here in the Queen City, and that includes a NYC-style deli that just so happens to serve vegetarian 'wiches.
Did you know about this hidden gem deli in Ohio? Findlay Market is a destination in and of itself, and Harmony Plant Fare is a delicious deli worth seeking out — carnivores and vegetarians alike!
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