Patricia Street Deli - Jasper

New favourite lunch place in Jasper. Such friendly personable staff, fresh ingredients, so many unique and home-made sandwich toppings. For sure a hidden gem everyone needs to know about!

It was the end of a two-week vacation across Western Canada, a full loop from Prince George to Courtenay, through Kelowna, Banff to Edmonton, and back home. Edmonton was a disappointment, boasting little of interest outside of oxygen and paved roads. A planned two days in Jasper was reduced to a single afternoon after discovering the gloomy weather. Instead of taking in three restaurants, I was allowed only one. Jasper is not big, with maybe three roads worth walking down—a place I have not spent time outside of stopping for gas in the past thirty years. But with no timetable to return home, we took our time to give this little town a chance. Somewhat of a shame really, as I would’ve preferred to have spent three days here rather than in our previous destination….assuming the weather had behaved. Everything here just had more personality, with the notable exception of those half-dozen souvenir shops all selling exactly the same selection of Great Canadian Maple Syrup products. It didn’t matter, because we had a destination, a certain popular deli on Patricia Street. That’s all we had to go on, and with my iPhone Map app set to walking, we wandered around, doubling back twice in a vain effort to locate this fabled deli. After five minutes, this place was starting to feel like the Ark of the Covenant—I wouldn’t have been surprised if there were spring traps and pits on the way. Or maybe said deli changes location with each sunrise, forcing a quest to locate the Emerald Seer and tame Fire Mares in order to reach the destination in time, like the Black Fortress in Krull. Yeah, I went there. Turns out, it was nestled in an alley about fifty feet off the street. Such a shame, after that entire preamble, I was kind of hoping for a level in Tomb Raider. Anyways, those reading this should look for an alley and follow it to the sign. Inside, the deli is built more out of function than attraction with little rationed for tables. Basically, when you cross the door, you’re already partway in the kitchen. Nearby deli refrigerators buzz loudly like I’m being scanned by a tricorder. The coolest and most artistic menu blackboards ever seen beckon interpretation…and yes, they do require it somewhat. Arrows help as you combine ingredients with sauces, but I had a feeling if left to my own devices, I may accidentally order something with raisins and bones in it. It should be noted that this place only has like four prices. Delis are like food trucks in a way, keeping it simple. For a place like this, the offerings should be a soup, sandwich, or soup sandwich. Mine was amazing, like the best. No, I’m serious; I’m forty years old and I’m making that declaration. It was like Soup-Nazi good. Like I said, I’m 40 years old and am making a joke reference proving it. What kind of sandwich did I have? I honestly don’t know. There was lettuce, tomatoes, feta I think, and some kind of curry mayo, but the finally point is that it was far and above better than anything ever offered at Subway. Damn it, now I have to stop in Jasper from now own for lunch. I can never just gas up and drive on in an effort to make Calgary before evening. I have to make an afternoon of it. Yes, Patricia Street Deli is fantastic, a bona-fide treasure, a literal hidden gem, a secret ruined by those cretins on review sites that insist on sharing their experiences with tourists. The two workers that day, one including the owner, offered small talk throughout our meal, sharing stories of themselves and their town. Both were authentic and direct without being rude. Not just a weekly lunch spot—this is the kind of place I’d walk in to get recognized, where I’d sit and just wait for whatever strange culinary chimera awaited me. By the end of the meal, I felt satisfied, a feeling shared by my fussy girlfriend. She agreed with my praise of the service and overall atmosphere. Patricia Street Deli is pure comfort food, like tapping a maple tree— wholesome unfiltered sweetness. Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Presentation: 2.5/5 Value: 5/5 Recommendation: 4.25/5

We first went to the deli 2 years ago while on vacation, loved the food (homemade cranberry chutney on the turkey! owner hilarious, great place. Last week, back in Jasper, couldn't find it, so we stopped and asked in a store and found they had moved. Love the new locale, great food, well worth the effort!

Finally got to go back here after 8 years! Aside from it moving, it hasn't changed a bit! Chicken sandwich with garlic mayo and cranberry sauce is to die for! Glen will hook you up! Thanks again!

So when I lived in Jasper I was here pretty much once a week for a chicken curry wrap. Today found me back in Jasper for the day and I knew I had to stop in for a wrap. Found out they have moved locations but it was still as awesome as I remembered it.