Attention Albany: Berben and Wolff's Vegan Delicatessen is open for business! Filling in the space formerly held by The Brakes Coffeehouse and Provisions, Berben and Wolff's is stepping up to meet the demands of Albany's hungry herbivores with deli-style (and deli-sized, my people) sandwiches.
Before you dismiss B&W's as just "good, for a vegan place," you have to sink your teeth into one of their seitan sandwich options, like the cubano panini. It was confirmed by a local meat eater as not only delicious, but hard to distinguish in flavor from real ham, real cheese, and real mayo (along with equally flavorful pickles and dijon).
If you're still not convinced, all you have to do is take one good look at this reuben:
You should really, really try it. Not only is it completely vegan, it's just the right amount of messy, and it has a wonderful combination of complementary flavors. It's not "good, for a vegan sandwich," it's just plain good. Besides, the word "seitan" is fun to say, and you'll get to use it a whole bunch of times! Finish off your meal with one of their mini pineapple upside-down cakes or cupcakes, and you'll wonder why you ever believed those nasty rumors about vegan baking.
Pricing at Berben and Wolff's is in the usual range for a good deli, and the atmosphere is overall pleasant, already bustling with patrons since its opening on May 17. If you like good food (vegan or otherwise), stop by Lark Street's newest and only seitan specialty deli.