Taste this: Reuben at Diamond Deli, located at 378 S. Main St. in Akron (330-762-5877)
Creator: The history of the Reuben sandwich hearkens back to Omaha, Nebraska, and New York City. Co-owners (and brothers) Brett and Chad Migilavy at Diamond Deli add a family twist to the sandwich to make it their own.
What makes this item special: This sandwich is a classic that features thinly sliced, brined corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and homemade Thousand Island dressing in between grilled rye bread. The dressing is the secret sauce in the sandwich.
Eye test: The first thing your eyes will gravitate toward are the layers of corned beef. This sandwich is piled high with the brined meat, then sliced in two to expose the tiers of — mostly — corned beef, cheese, dressing and sauerkraut.
Process: After waiting in a line that’s often out the front door, you’ll quickly move through the cafeteria-style assembly line. The sandwich is assembled and grilled on a heated press. The rye is placed on the grill first, followed by the rest of the ingredients.
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Creator’s backstory: Their dad, Chuck Magilavy, and aunt, Lynda Slikkerveer, started the deli in 1997. Brett and Chad carry on the deli under the Magilavy name. Corned beef was a popular dish even before the family occupied the building.
“It was a deli before my dad and aunt took over,” Chad Magilavy said. “They had already had corned beef on the menu, so it’s always been positive since we’ve had it. That’s the one thing we’re known for.”
Pairs with: All of the sandwiches at Diamond Deli are paired with a pickle tucked on the side of the red and white paper basket the sandwich is served in. The sourness of the spear adds a bit of tartness and crunch.
About the company: Diamond Deli is a downtown Akron staple that has been serving up soups, salads and sandwiches for almost three decades. This family-owned business is best known for its Reuben and more recently for its humorous, small production Instagram reels.
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Since they bought the restaurant from Slikkerveer and Chuck Magilavy in 1997, the duo continues to push classic corned beef and humorously named stuffed sandwiches like “Old Bald Guy” and “Chuck’s Working Hard, Lynda Isn’t.”
The restaurant places sandwich lovers in an eclectic and nostalgic atmosphere. Loaves of bread and bottled sodas are stacked on the windowsills. Memorabilia hangs on the walls of the restaurant from front to back. Signed baseball bats, jerseys, bobbleheads and basketballs from past decades sit on shelves above booths in the sandwich spot. Framed photos of family and friends are placed on the ledges above almost each booth.
The latest addition to the restaurant is a multicolored mosaic created by local artists Donna Webb and Joseph Bluesky. It covers the lower front of the building on both sides of the front door. The mosaic has four symbols resting in a sea of color that represent the evolution of the building. It started as a jewelry shop, became a bike shop, then a hat shop and is now a restaurant.
How to buy: Diamond Deli is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orders can be placed in-person, by phone or online for carryout only.
