Wanted "cafe" food for lunch after a long morning of site seeing; also wanted to find someplace away from the downtown crowd. Saw this little jewel of a place and decided to give it a try; was greeted immediately upon entering the establishment; very pleasant hostess and waitress; nice atmosphere. Menu not that expansive, but good items. I ordered the half sandwich with soup combo; my husband ordered a 12 in cheesesteak with fries. My husband enjoyed his meal and though my sandwich was ok (hard to mess up a turkey sandwich), the clam chowder, which looked delicious by the way, was way too salty to enjoy. Aside from the clam chowder issue, we had an enjoyable time. read more

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Stopped in for breakfast this morning. Despite the restaurant being clearly busy, the service was exceptional. Everyone I encountered, from the host to my server (Lillia) to the chef who personally came out to apologize for a slightly longer wait, was incredibly sweet and attentive. The extra effort did not go unnoticed, and the wait was hardly an issue! Love this place, I'll definitely keep coming back! read more

Food=delicious! We've tried the Cuban, the Muffalatta, the meatball sub, and the Italian Stallion and nothing disappoints. My mom had the French Onion soup and I've also ordered the Caprese salad. Sometimes we order takeout before a day on the water and it's a perfect picnic. Service = A+ everyone there is sweet and friendly and it immediately feels like home when you walk in. Like you're in your Aunt Linda's living room and there are just a lot of other visitors. Ambiance = casual. It looks like it used to be a Japanese restaurant so you sort of see what used to be the sushi bar and the separate areas are defined by dark wood framed sections. It's just a nice friendly little soup and sandwich bistro in the Uptown neighborhood of Fullerwood Park near the School for the Deaf and Blind where you might run into your post man or hairdresser and it seems like everyone knows each other and it's just very warm and welcoming. Highly recommended for both dine in or take out. read more

Excellent sandwiches. Polite and friendly service. Ambiance of an cheap Chinese restaurant. Go for a unique, well crafted sandwich, close to downtown town. Can't complement the food enough for what it is, lunch. read more

I've wanted to try Drake's since first reading about this deli for a few years. I never seemed to be in the area when they were open or if I was in the area I had the boat attached to the back of the truck and didn't want to trailer the boat down that congested street. Or park it on the street. Today, Thursday 12/27/2018 it finally happened. I stopped and ate a sandwich. First let me say that I waited to long to try it. I didn't think it would live up to my expectations but my expectations were exceeded. The sandwich was the best sandwich I've ever had in Florida. I ordered a King Roast which is a 1/2 a pound of roast beef. It also has homemade herbed cream cheese, with red onions and lettuce on an onion roll. I almost ordered the BLT Tower which is a 1/2 pound of bacon. Maybe next time. The King Roast was so delicious even a 1/2 lb of bacon may not be able to make me try a different sandwich however. I took a bite after buying it in my truck outside the location. It was so good I sat there and finished it before pulling out. You will be full, satisfied and impressed after eating one! read more

Drake's Deli - King Roast - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The sloppy jazzy jersey is a hit 10/10. Sweet corn beef swiss coleslaw heaven. This is my new fav for now. The cheesesteaks, rare roast beef sandwiches and now this. All so damn good read more

Undoubtedly in the top 3 sandwich spots in town. Always so good, so heavy, and so affordable. And the folks are great, whether it's over the phone or in person, they're just rad. read more

Awesome spot ! Where locals eat! Kept it simple and had their grill cheese with macaroni salad. Best grilled cheese I've ever had ! Hubby had the beef cheesesteak. Delicious ! Highly recommend this place. Can they make it better ? Yes - staff was super friendly . If you go with the "touristy" spots , you've missed out! read more

We went here for lunch on Saturday. They were busy but we were able to get order in a decent amount of time. The menu has something for everyone in my family (aged 8-45). The sandwiches were on fresh bread and made to order. Portions were excellent. Reasonably priced and locally owned. Would recommend a visit here. read more

Highly recommend and seems to be a popular spot with the locals. Great service, especially when we had to pivot to make it to-go! Had a kids grilled cheese which my son loved, we split a Turkey Rueben and cheese fries both where amazing. So much Turkey and proportionate share of all the other toppings! Delicious bread on all sandwiches! read more

Drake's Deli - Turkey Rueben - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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My family always enjoys Drakes. Our waitress was so sweet and friendly. She had great customer service. I got the Italian and as good as it was I wish I would have asked them to warm it up. An Italian sub just doesn't taste as good cold as it does hot, but that is my preference. read more

This isn't just a deli; it's a neighborhood institution. They make everything so delicious and have a lot of pride in what they do. I started going here when they were at the old spot down the road. I was in a rough patch and that gem of a human, Maria, was so warm and welcoming; I can't begin to explain how much I needed that. The Drake sisters and mama...phenomenal. Lexi is a powerhouse. The crew quickly felt like old friends. It's clear from watching them engage with others that this is how they roll! They nail it on customer service. Onto the food: I don't eat much meat, and they're always accommodating about that. I have tried many other things on their menu from taking bites of my friends' food, just to see how everything is. I've never had anything even mediocre. My go-to is fried egg and ghost pepper cheese on a croissant, occasionally a Rachel, and omg any soup they have because they're all amazing but my ab fave is the mushroom. Local, family-owned and run business with stellar customer service, bangin sammies, and a great location? Do it. read more

Awesome food, great price. Tried the bean/ham soup. Omg. Super good, portions are huge

My husband and I have only lived here for 6 months. Had breakfast here and besides the food being fantastic, Maria made us feel like a local/regular which we will be. What a great restaurant. Everyone knew each other and they made us feel like a part of the community. Going to be our favorite place. Thank you, Maria. Quality of food is top notch. read more

THE SCENE Our first ever visit was specifically for the Hummingbird Cake talked about in so many of the reviews. However, to our disappointment they only make one cake per day and some greedy 'person' (caught myself from cussing) bought the whole thing earlier in the day. Forgive me, but man was I disappointed! So, since we already had dinner plans with some old friends that live in the Jacksonville area, our family of four decided to share two sandwiches as a pre-dinner snack! ... THE FOOD Drake's Deli is small, as in 8 people is probably considered a fire hazard small! But they are big on flavor! While I would only rate the Cheesesteak sandwich a 3.5, the DRAKE'S LAST STAND is LIFE!!! If you get nothing else in St. Augustine, get this! It is made with roasted turkey and topped with grilled onions, provolone cheese and pepperoni, on a fresh grilled baguette with a garlic mayo, lettuce and about a pound of love and YES, I do believe love is a measurable ingredient. One of the staff (whom I believe was the owner's daughter) said she created this sandwich for herself while working at another sandwich shop and never thought anyone else would like it! She be cray-cray, because this sandwich is DE-Li-CIOUS! You would have to be devoid of taste buds to not love its deliciousness. As far as the Hummingbird Cake, we came back the next day on the promise they would save me a slice. It was absolutely scrumdeliumptious. If I weren't trying to loose a few pounds before thanksgiving, I may have inhaled two slices all by myself. The owner was so fun that we sat around talking for about 25 minutes. She also gave me a sample of her award-winning (literally) vegetable beef soup. I'm not a fan of beef soups, but hers was amazing... practically tasted like a beef gumbo. So add that to your must have list also when visiting St. Augustine if it is available. ... THE VERDICT Drake's Deli is proof really good things come in small packages. Please do yourself a flavor (haha) and come here for three delicious menu items that will cause your taste buds and belly to thank you: Sandwich - Drake's Last Stand Dessert - Hummingbird Cake Soup - Vegetable Beef 2019/103 read more

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We love here sandwich,cake and stuff are awesomeThank you Merry christmas for everyone read more

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Sandwiches are outstanding, especially the Reuben. Don't order the loaded tots, as they will give you about 7 tots for $8. Not sure why they are so generous in one area but not the other. Overall I would go back and try other sandwiches. read more

What a gem! The locals love it, and my friends swear by Drake's sandwiches...I was completely blown away at how absolutely delicious my lunch was yesterday! I ordered Lexi's Muffeleta w the soup of the day (shrimp corn chowder) on the side. The chowder was thick, creamy, and tasty with a nice amount of shrimp and chunky potatoes...now for the sandwich...on my list of best Italian sandwiches I've ever had! This sandwich has Italian meats and cheese, garlic mayo, olive spread, and cherry pepper relish...not sure if lettuce, tomato, and onion comes on it, but I requested it and got it all on a fresh baked baguette that was so perfectly toasted...omg...my mouth is watering writing this review and remembering how satisfying eating this sandwich was! Also, the staff are amazing! Super friendly, check on you often, knows their regulars, and you can definitely tell they all enjoy working here. An absolute must go when looking for a really delicious sandwich! They have fries and onion rings available upon request, so don't forget to add them to your order! read more

Drake's Deli - Lexi's Muffeleta - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Touted to be the best sandwiches in town. I can't comment on that since we didn't try any other spots but we were happy with our lunch. And they were very busy, which is usually a good sign. A very unique menu. Not your typical sandwich shop. Every sandwich is basically a specialty item. We really enjoyed our order. We got wraps and picked the only vegetarian choice. The Fountain of Youth wrap which is basically a caprese salad in a wrap. Super yummy, items were very fresh, nice quality mozzarella and basil. I'm going to cover this review with my classic Pro and Con list. Pros 1. Unique choices 2. Friendly staff 3. Good maybe even best choice for the area 4. Breakfast and lunch options 5. Comfort food 6. Variety of refreshments available including local Sonoma County favorite Yerba Mate! Cons 1. Not vegetarian friendly 2. No vegan options 3. No tuna fish (although they did say it's sometimes on special) 4. Comfort food is yummy but not healthy read more

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We visited Drakes Deli yesterday after our friends highly recommended this place. We ate there once several years ago, decided to try it again today, and were very disappointed to the point we do not plan to go there again. Upon our arrival, we approached the front area and looked at the menu and stood in place for what seemed to be a long time. No one looked at us or even acknowledged our presence. Another patron arrived and asked if he could be seated and was told anywhere was fine. We followed suit and sat a table just next to him. A waitress approached his table offered him a menu and talked for several minutes with this person and later return again for several minutes to discuss his waiting for another person amongst other things. The waitress never acknowledged our presence over a fifteen minute period of time sitting at the table, no menu, no water, no eye contact, nothing. We decided to to depart the premises and as we came close to the exit door another employee at the cash register said "Bye". I really wanted to try out one of their Philly Steak sandwiches. It's a shame I can't go there again given this strange set of circumstances. read more

Drakes is the type of restaurant that gives you hope in humanity! It's a small family run business with delicious food, and more importantly, amazing service. Lexi and her family are so kind and accommodating. Their cake is homemade and sooo good. The coconut and chocolate are incredible! The ambiance is pretty old school hole in the wall-ish but don't let it scare you away. Definitely recommend! read more

LET'S GET A KILLER CHEESESTEAK: In Florida!!! Despite having lived in Philly for 5 years, I've never really been a fan of cheesesteak sandwiches. Crappy meat + crappy cheese + crappy bread = a crappy sandwich. [Actually, the REAL Philly sandwich is the classic roast pork with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone, preferably from Di Nic's in Reading Terminal Market.] But, in my experience, if you HAVE to have a cheesesteak, you pretty much MUST get it in Philly, since what passes for a cheesesteak in most other places is even worse. But for every rule, there is an exception, and the excellent Drake's Deli in "The Ancient City" (St. Augustine is America's oldest city) is a great example of this. After a chat with the charming family who owns Drake's (who originally being from Michigan recognized my MSU Spartan's cap...amusingly, I was actually directed to Drake's by a retired MSU football coach who I met at nearby Hazel's Hot Dogs the day before), I ordered: ~DATIL CHEESESTEAK (12" for $11.50): Ribeye sautéed in Datil pepper sauce, home-made-cheese sauce, onions, peppers, mushrooms Non-traditional (my Facebook friend Chris D is gagging over the green peppers lol), this was an ooey-gooey masterpiece, and the very spicy Datil sauce really put it over the top. Menorcan Datil peppers are a local specialty, being almost exclusively grown around St. Augustine, and have great flavor with Habanero-level heat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datil_pepper). Located on the main drag in St. Aug, parking is fairly easy on the street out front. 5 counter seats inside and ~18 more table seats in their pleasant patio outside (where you can't watch those annoying red choo-choo tour trains drive by every 10 minutes!). Living in Boston now, I thought the Cape Cod kettle chips were a nice touch. ;-) read more

Drake's Deli - DATIL CHEESESTEAK: Ribeye sautéed in datil sauce, cheese sauce, onions, peppers, mushrooms #spicy - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Absolutely delicious! Hearty portion sizes and fresh food! It's a tiny building with only the kitchen & ordering counter inside. They have a small patio with about 5 tables outside & they will bring the food to you. Appeared to be family owned and operated & they were all very friendly. I had the Cobb salad and it was so so so good! Everything was incredibly fresh. There was also a homemade chicken salad wrap that was enjoyed. Today's soup was gumbo - not bad but could use more spices. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Best Reuben sandwich in town!!! They make a mean Rachel too. Might be the best cheese steak I've had in town. Only complaint is that they aren't open for diner hours. read more

All I have to say is AMAZING! The best sandwiches I've had probably anywhere. We tried a few different ones and they were all good. The hummingbird cake was also amazing. We love the owner and all the employees they were so personable and even shared some of their favorite restaurants to give us suggestions of what else to try during our short stay. If or should I say when we are back in the area we will definitely be stopping back by for another round! Until next time... read more

We come to St Auggie a couple time a year to visit friends so I joined a local food page on social media to get some ideas to eat. They led us here to Drake's. Tammy was awesome even though they were busy. They're sandwiches were really big and very delicious. We will eat lunch here again. The pic is the cordon blue on the left and the Italian on the right read more

Drake's Deli - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

A local institution! They are experts in soups and sandwiches. Clam chowder is full of clams and delish! French dip is good, but be aware the dipping sauce isn't the typical salty, savory dip. Mine had an almost soy sauce kind of taste to it. I liked it but it was different. The Conquistador was very good. Full of flavor! The staff makes you feel right at home. They do get busy and at times are understaffed so be patient. Parking at the new location is better but the lot does fill up. Street parking is available, too. read more

Great deli. Picked it up before heading to the beach. Had their caprese salad which had a delicious vinaigrette on it. The tomatoes where so fresh and tasty which we don't get this time of year in Wisconsin. Then my husband and I also split the Italian Stallion cold and it also was so good. Just the perfect amount of dressing and a great roll that is was on. The people at the counter were super nice. read more

My family has tried a number of items on (and off) the menu. We try to dine here or grab takeout at least once every other week. Great family owned local place. Every single thing we've eaten has been amazing. I can't pick a favorite but I will say Lexi's Muffuletta is always a top 3 choice for us. Excellent cheesesteaks too. They offer a variety of customizations as well. Do yourself a favor and stop in for a bite! read more

This is a wonderful bistro with extremely fresh food! Everyone is welcoming and very quick service! But most of all, the food is delicious and I've been here now for times and always had a great sandwich or salad. They're very conscious about temperature checks for each customer & wearing face masks. I feel very comfortable dining here. Try them. You won't be disappointed! read more

Drake's Deli - Menu - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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This place was wonderful!!! The people were so sweet An the sandwhich which was the Ruben out of this world. My 13 year old son got the pizza Panini An loved it as well. You MUST GO! read more

Drake's Deli - Amazing are my only words! - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The food was all a cut above, maybe two. My favorite item was the Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Cake. I believe it was the best cake I've tasted in a long time: it was very moist, and I'm one that likes sweet cream cheese frosting. My companion's club sandwich was really good: mayonnaise and bacon are delicious. I'm not sure if it was better or worse than my sandwich: a Philly cheese steak with American cheese. Mine was certainly the more interesting sandwich, and a superior example, with good meat and bread. But it was too hot for me to enjoy for a long time. So was the last item we had: the soup of the day, mushroom cheese tortellini. It was very flavorful, though perhaps my least favorite item of the meal, and the only one I'm not sure I'd be happy to repeat. I might repeat all the items, though, which is rare for a meal. The setting was poor, so I'd do takeout next time. There are just a few stools, not the most comfortable ones, and there wasn't any obvious restroom. They say they're looking for a bigger location. You had to pay for any drink, even water, so I drank less than I would have liked. Their soda case wasn't particularly interesting, but I liked and would repeat my choice: a Fresca peach citrus flavored soda. It cost us $30 for 2, though I ate far too much in an attempt to try a lot of the menu. I'd definitely try this place again, as the food is undoubtedly among the best in town, though getting takeout (for a better setting, all I want to drink, and so the dishes can cool down). For next time: a staffer recommended their Italian sub with garlic mayo and the Drake's Last Stand (or I'd try most of what I got this time again). read more

Awesome sandwiches! Had three different sandwiches and all were great. Heather was very polite, helpful and attentive during our visit. All around great lunch and we all went away happy, full and very glad we came. Clean and well kept dining area. Would highly recommend it and make sure you go to the new location! read more

Food is delicious, but I truly expected during Covid, that employees would be wearing masks and gloves while preparing the food. Not too much to ask. They were not. One lady had gloves on but she was answering the phone, touching everything, and then packing customer's food. read more

While on a family vacation everyone gave Drakes two thumbs up!!! I ordered Drakes Last Stand. Highly recommended. The sandwich was loaded with the garlic mayo which was delicious. I made it a meal with a can of soda, cape cod chips and a good pickle. Owner and employees were friendly and walked our meals outside to the outdoor tables with a smile. If visiting Saint Augustine add this on your lunch bucket list, if you live in Saint Augustine you probably already know this place is delicious. read more

Small place with huge taste! Just find a spot to park...street is best because there's no parking lot. I've had the BLT Tower which is filled with crisp and fresh ingredients. The tomato looked and tasted home grown. The artisan lettuce is a welcome switch from iceberg! Sliced thin and piled high...this sandwich is loaded with 1/2 pound of perfectly cooked bacon. Yes. Fresh and made to order. Change it up however you like add an egg for $1 and service with a smile. Lots of bread options and like I said fresh fresh fresh. The cheese steak hoagies are absolutely delicious. Did I mention 1/2 pound of meat? The Italian Stallion is a favorite just dripping with the goodness of Ham, pepperoni, salami, hot cappicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, cherry peppers and the House Italian dressing. A sandwich call the Fountain of Youth (which is across the street), salads including caprese and a seven layer...I could eat lunch here every day! read more

Tiny spot but absolutely delicious! I love a good sandwich and this place hit the spot! The employees are very pleasant!

OMG, the best deli sandwich I've ever eaten, the Italian Stallion. And the best waitress, too. Thank you Layla!!! read more

My sandwich was great. That's really all you need to know. If it's lunch call ahead. Not much seating, just a small bar-like counter. BLT loaded with the B read more

Drake's Deli - A cake - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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After living here a year, how have I not heard of this place before? Luckily, I'm apart of a Facebook group and the members were raving about drakes. The pictures tempted me so I had to give it a try. The staff was very nice, and they graciously delivered to my house for a minimum of $20. Can get 8" or 12" sandwich, they are MASSIVE! Piled on meat and cheese, like subs are supposed to be!! The deli meat and cheese is the star of the sub, the tasty bread is a soft and tasty compliment! Each sandwich comes with chips and a pickle! Thanks for lunch drakes, made my day! Keep up he great work! read more

Drake's Deli - Build your own of the sandwich board--massive and tastes amazing!! - Delis Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida