WILLIAMSTOWN -- Consistency is the name of the game for the town's most noteworthy deli, a regular pitstop for notables visiting the area.
Pappa Charlie's Deli, located at 28 Spring St., has been serving up sandwiches since 1976, building quite the menu over time by taking inspiration from favorites requested by Williamstown Theatre Festival's celebrity visitors.
Posted all over the menu and the Wall-of-Fame at the back of the space are names like Richard Dreyfuss, Dick Cavett, Christopher Reeve, Gwyneth Paltrow, Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Stoltz, Gilda Radner and many more, each represented by their ideal deli choices.
"Every [celebrity] on the menu has actually been here and eaten that particular meal," Jennifer Karampatsos, the deli's owner for the past six years, said.
Karampatsos says the business has their particular formula "down to a science."
"We've kept to what we do best while paying attention to popular trends and always having room on the menu for a few new sandwiches," Karampatsos said.
The formula involves broad offerings of fresh-cut deli meats and cheeses on a range of bread options like whole grain, sourdough, pita or a hard roll -- all paired with often-forgotten touches like sprouts, cranberry sauce, celery salt, sauerkraut, guacamole and a host of dressings.
The restaurant also has a significant list of vegetarian options, spotlighted by its weekly rotation of soups, including
In its depth, the menu resembles that of a typical city deli, perhaps explaining its popularity with Williams College students and the town's famous visitors.
The Harry Jay Katz -- hot roast beef, turkey, ham, melted swiss and coleslaw with Russian dressing -- offers an appeal to carnivores, and is one of the business' most popular concoctions. Herbivores might happily settle down to an Olympia Dukakis -- sprouts, feta, avocado, lettuce and tomato with house dressing on pita.
"We want to keep going as is," Karampatsos said. "I think the consistency is the key -- [alumni] of the college come back to the college for visits and they're always happy [the restaurant] is as they remembered it."
To reach Phil Demers, email
pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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