$29 ham and cheese sandwich a total rip-off — so why are NYers eating it up?

nypost.com ^ | April 14, 2023 | Jeanette Settembre

[lowbridge]

A ham and cheese sandwich at Eli Zabar’s E.A.T.  on the Upper East Side now costs $31.57 — $29 plus tax — and Gothamites are experiencing intense sticker shock over the cost of what was once a working-class staple.

It sparked outrage among eaters when a Reddit thread with a photo of the sandwich captioned “$29 Ham and Cheese sandwich” drew more than 600 comments and 2,000 upvotes on Monday.

“The first time I bought that sandwich I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ ” an Upper East Side psychologist who lives in the neighborhood told The Post, declining to give her name. 

“It’s not the best ham and cheese sandwich, it’s not the worst, but it’s just fine. I absolutely would not have picked up the sandwich had I looked at the price,” she added.

The luxury lunch item is actually two sandwiches made from ham, Gruyère cheese, mustard and four slices of seven-grain “health bread.” But even then, it’s fairly small.

“The idea of a ham and cheese sandwich selling for $29 is ridiculous – even if it serves two portions; no matter how good the ingredients are or where they are from; or how tasty the sandwich is,” Phil Lempert, editor of SupermarketGuru.com, told The Post.

When The Post went to purchase the sandwich on Friday, an employee at the Madison Avenue eatery was so embarrassed by the price, they offered to charge us a mere $22.

-snip

“Some people complain, but a lot of people who live around here, they know the prices, and they don’t complain because they like it [the food].”

We persisted with the $29 sandwich purchase — and found it to be reminiscent of an airport sandwich.

[tomkat]

But honestly we rarely eat out. It’s not worth the cost nor hassle

Roger that, especially the latter.

[Jolla]

I recall in around 1965 my aunt and uncle went to New York City, it was a big deal. They paid $1 for a coca-cola that cost us 10 cents at that time, we could not believe it.

[arthurus]

“The first time I bought that sandwich I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ ”

But you bought it thus approving the price.

[Chode]

Katz's deli $25.95

[muir_redwoods]

Go to Katz’s Deli and get a real sandwich.

[vpintheak]

That much can get you about 3 pounds of some good beef. Who wouldn’t want some good steak or beef instead of a ham sammich?

[dragnet2]

Man I feel pretty damn poor. $30.00 for a sandwich? If someone tried to peddle me a 30 dollar sandwich, I’d laugh in their face. Or maybe pistol whip them.☺ They must be importing some unearthly exotic cheese and meat from a planet light years away.

[broken_clock]

Now we’re talking! 😋

[Roccus]

Because it’s ZABAR’S!

I see the East side joint is as big a ripoff as the West side joint was when I lived in Fun City. LOL

[algore]

My favorite burger place is $15 for burger and fry.

I remember when it was $5

[LibertyWoman]

My brother ordered a ‘medium’ pizza from Pizza Hut last week with around 4 toppings. The price? $27 before tax. and we’re in fly-over country. btw, he downgraded to a small but still ended up paying around $16. Screw that.

[genghis]

Me and my girl going for rib eye all the trimmings $48 including tax and tip. Las Vegas is great. Of course I have summer house nice and cool.

[metmom]

Now, THAT’s funny......

[metmom]

This actually demonstrates why my wife and I can live comfortably on Social Security. It just doesn’t cost much to live when you’re old. You don’t have the same needs you did when you were young my wife makes a killer ham and cheese sandwich for a Buck or so. But honestly we rarely eat out. It’s not worth the cost nor hassle

On the up side, you know mostly what is in it and who prepared it.

[Beowulf9]

[cuban leaf]

On the up side, you know mostly what is in it and who prepared it.

---

So true. We have chickens that produce eggs, and we have a lot of friends around here that grow their own cattle. Every now and then we’ll split one with them. I trust Steak Tartar from those cattle that I’d never trust from a grocery store meat section. Then there’s the garden. We’re finally harvesting our asparagus for the first time this year. It’s amazingly delicious compared to the store bought. Honestly, that surprised me.

[firebrand]

What kind of ham is it?

[firebrand]

It’s Eli Zabar’s. Same family, different business.

I don’t think the one on the West Side would try to get away with that.

[Chode]

yup, Katz and the Carnegie Deli are/were the best in NYC...

[mewzilla]

I just checked the census data for that neck of the woods.

Given the average income, I still don’t think it’s locals shelling out for that sandwich.