From the outside, Gourmet Deli at 90th Street and First Avenue seems like every other deli spread across the city.
On a typical morning, various locals pop in for bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwiches and $1.50 drip coffee.
But, another wave of customers is flooding in through food delivery apps — only they don’t know they’re ordering from a bodega.
The deli located at 1741 First Avenue is advertised as no less than 27 different restaurants across Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub, Seamless and DoorDash.
On those platforms, it’s listed as First Avenue Gourmet Deli, Hero Sandwich Shop, Bosscat Cheesesteaks, The Pancake Snob, Wraps on Tap, Insomnia Buffalo Wings, Panini Fantasy, Jasmine’s Coffee Bar, Jen’s Burger Blaze, NY Smoothie Joint, Nomad’s Bagels, Tina’s Tea Shop, Aldo’s Wraps Spot, Wonderland Wraps, Sam’s Sandwich Spot, Smoothie and Dessert Spot, Princess Panini, Tessa’s Fruity Treats, Empire State Panini, The Sandwich Slut, La Bella Italian Desserts, Seth’s Sandwiches, The Sandwich Vibe, LV Taco Bar, Queen’s Quesadillas, The Gourmet Burger and Drip Check Coffee Shop.
Each spot has an eerily similar menu, but prices can differ — especially from the original outpost.
Princess Panini, Empire State Panini, and Panini Fantasy all offer a Tuna Melt Panini for $16 to $17. First Avenue Gourmet Deli sells theirs for $9.
During the pandemic, virtual restaurants — in which a single brick-and-mortar space operates a number of “delivery only” operations under different names — sprang up as businesses looked for new revenue streams. They rose alongside, and are often confused with, ghost kitchens, in which an existing restaurant is rented by a new crew to operate a delivery-only kitchen.
Both business models continue to exist — in a quick sweep, The Post found 10 delis across the five boroughs that operated, on average, eight different “restaurants” — but some customers say the virtual spots feel like false advertising.
nypost.com
I don't understand the fuss ...... nobody is being cheated out of anything
On a typical morning, various locals pop in for bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwiches and $1.50 drip coffee.
But, another wave of customers is flooding in through food delivery apps — only they don’t know they’re ordering from a bodega.
The deli located at 1741 First Avenue is advertised as no less than 27 different restaurants across Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub, Seamless and DoorDash.
On those platforms, it’s listed as First Avenue Gourmet Deli, Hero Sandwich Shop, Bosscat Cheesesteaks, The Pancake Snob, Wraps on Tap, Insomnia Buffalo Wings, Panini Fantasy, Jasmine’s Coffee Bar, Jen’s Burger Blaze, NY Smoothie Joint, Nomad’s Bagels, Tina’s Tea Shop, Aldo’s Wraps Spot, Wonderland Wraps, Sam’s Sandwich Spot, Smoothie and Dessert Spot, Princess Panini, Tessa’s Fruity Treats, Empire State Panini, The Sandwich Slut, La Bella Italian Desserts, Seth’s Sandwiches, The Sandwich Vibe, LV Taco Bar, Queen’s Quesadillas, The Gourmet Burger and Drip Check Coffee Shop.
Each spot has an eerily similar menu, but prices can differ — especially from the original outpost.
Princess Panini, Empire State Panini, and Panini Fantasy all offer a Tuna Melt Panini for $16 to $17. First Avenue Gourmet Deli sells theirs for $9.
During the pandemic, virtual restaurants — in which a single brick-and-mortar space operates a number of “delivery only” operations under different names — sprang up as businesses looked for new revenue streams. They rose alongside, and are often confused with, ghost kitchens, in which an existing restaurant is rented by a new crew to operate a delivery-only kitchen.
Both business models continue to exist — in a quick sweep, The Post found 10 delis across the five boroughs that operated, on average, eight different “restaurants” — but some customers say the virtual spots feel like false advertising.
Your favorite takeout joint is actually a catfishing scam — and it’s totally legal
The next time you order delivery from Seamless or DoorDash, look closer.
nypost.com
I don't understand the fuss ...... nobody is being cheated out of anything