I have been going there for 15 years and my wife for 50 years. Always loved it. Today I was greeted by obviously new owners or managers. They spent the entire time yelling at each other and a radio blaring some kind of indistinguishable babble. I feel sad as I love this place but would not come back to that atmosphere. Not the serendipity I have come to know and love anymore. read more

I've come to love Serendipity! My fiancé's family lives walking distance and whenever we are visiting from Seattle I make sure to stop in at least once or twice a visit. The dining room gives off an old timey feel to it. Service is always quick and friendly. I tend to get either a Mexican turkey sandwich or a turkey sandwich on a hoagie roll. I've had the quiche and Philly before too. Everything is great. Can't wait to come back! read more

I have not been to Serendipity for many years. When I happen to be in Cary, I was excited to go back. What a disappointment! I had to wait in line for awhile. When I got to the front they didn't have one of the items that was written on their board. I had to get out of line to find out what my mother wanted instead. I had to get back at the end of the line again and wait to get back to the front of the line. My mom got soup and it was very spice. I got chicken salad and it was bland. Everything is served in environmentally unfriendly styrofoam containers. Such a shame. I will drive on by next time. read more

They really need to rethink their service and food. I called in an order to go and when I arrived, I was rudely told I'd have to wait in line for my order while 10 other people ordered. Additionally I ordered the grilled Reuben which wasn't grilled whatsoever. There was maybe a teaspoon of sauerkraut and half a teaspoon of thousand Island for almost ten bucks. There is nothing "gourmet" about this place. I will not be back. read more

Serendipity Gourmet - A rueben - but certainly not grilled - Delis Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I loved all of the food and the chips. I suggest there amazing chips and ranch. There bacon grilled cheese are over the top good.

I love this local mom and pop sandwich shop. The food is great. The inside of the shop makes you feel at home, just like at grandma's house. I also love their outdoor deck. It's quite popular, so there may be a wait, but it's worth it. read more

We finally got around to trying this little deli in downtown Cary and we were impressed! We sat outside since it was a lovely day and I love their simple patio setup. It was busy but that's to be expected during the lunch rush. Inside seemed a little cramped so we were glad to sit outside. It's true that the menus are old and a bit sticky lol, but it didn't really bother us. The service was just ok - we were forgotten a couple of times. I ordered the triple decker turkey bacon club and my fiancé got a grilled chicken wrap from the special board. We split both. They both came with a side of ruffles potato chips and a pickle spear. I really really loved my club. It was super tasty and had good ratios of bread, meat, cheese, and condiments. The grilled chicken wrap was alright but I didn't much care for it. The heat of the grilled chicken made the lettuce wilt. I think I'd have preferred either cold/room temperature grilled chicken or chicken salad. All in all, we will definitely come back! It's a cute super casual sandwich joint in a great spot in downtown Cary. I do want to try the chicken salad next! read more

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I'm surprised by some of these ratings. I recently took a job in Cary and have been looking for new places for lunch or carryout. I decided to try this local spot and was pleasantly surprised by their simple menu. I note that their menu is simple but they have 1/2 dozen or so specials and great soup selection as well. The shop reminds me of my grandmothers ol' basement, meaning that the walls are knotty pine, checker floor, bistro tables; please don't think you are heading into some sort of 'new skool' sandwich shop. The service has been great all 2x I have been here and their food is solid and pricing is fair. read more

This hole in the wall is a little gem I wish I had tried years ago. The inside feels dated and the counter area feels a little crowded, but honestly I can't even complain because the service was so friendly and the food was delicious, generous, and an excellent price. I got a half sandwich, which was by no means small, with a side salad, potato chips, and coleslaw for $8. And it was all delicious. I was so impressed with the quality and quantity! The outside is darling and has plenty of seating to enjoy on a nice day. I look forward to trying more of the menu on the patio in the fall! read more

By far the best sandwich shop in the area !!! Always busy, but their fast service is great. The fast, friendly service is alway a plus. You can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches. read more

Such a cute cafe! Love the indoor and outdoor seating options. I've been for lunch and dinner, yummy sandwich, wrap and soup options and the staff are always so kind. read more

I was surprised at the mediocre score for this one! My husband and I always sit outside when we go - it's a great spot to people watch (haha). The sandwiches have always been great when we have gone (the tuna sandwich and turkey club in particular). My reason for 4 stars instead of 5: 1. The "fresh chip" side is a bit just like you're getting store-brand Ruffles. 2. The service is a little slow for a place to stop and get sandwiches (but if you're truly pressed for time I suggest Panera) 3. If you do eat inside I do acknowledge that it is a bit cramped and doesn't exactly go with the name "Serendipity Gourmet Deli". read more

First the good - Great location, neat outdoor seating and excellent food. Now the bad and the reason for 1 Star rating - the service. I have NEVER been in a restaurant with such unfriendly staff. Our waitress and other staff seemed uninterested and bothered to be at work. This is a local place that we all want to support in Downtown Cary, but wow. I will NOT be back. read more

Nice variety on menu, staff nice and efficient, kitchen got food out quickly. Sweet tea a little weak tasting and barely sweet. Smokey cowboy sandwich was good as was the chicken salad plate. read more

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A star was deducted because the server said it came with a pickle and when I got home there wasn't one in the bag. Another star was deducted because in the short time it took for me to get home (2 mins) when I went to eat my sandwich my bread was ripped, I think cut wrong, it fell apart and ate it with a spoon. Also I found this deli to be pretty pricey! $11 for a small sandwich , no brand name chips, and a drink filled with ice. I went here on a Tuesday by myself. I took at the menu and thought it looked okay. I ended up ordering the special egg salad sandwich on sunflower seed bread. I enjoyed my sandwich very much, the chips I could of done without, same goes for my soda. The soda just tasted funny and was filled with ice. read more

Serendipity Gourmet - Menu - Delis Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Everything was delicious, the Mexican Turkey croissant was definitely a highlight and don't forget to try their homemade ranch dressing! The grilled egg salad and Reuben were also delicious. read more

Quaint little restaurant in downtown Cary. Clean and comfortable space. Nice selection of sandwiches and soups. I ordered the albacore tuna melt with cheese. Yum! Bread was crispy and hot. Tuna was creamy. Potato chips were fresh. Filling meal and reasonable prices. read more

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Love serendipity. Ever since I was little. Simple & delicious! You must try the chocolate pecan pie!

My mother-in-law often calls my husband and I 'gourmets' because we eat at 'fancy restaurants'. She also thinks Wendy's has the best chili out there, so take it for what it's worth. Yeah we like fun, new, hip restaurants, but sometimes I just want a good meal in an unassuming, cozy place, where the waitstaff is friendly and has no airs about them. I've driven by Serendipity a bunch of times and never gave it a second thought. Today, as I drove by, I decided to give it a chance. Sure the Yelp reviews weren't roaring about this place, but I've been known to be a Maverick a time or two. The second I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I had stepped back in time. The wood paneling on the walls made me feel like this restaurant belonged on an episode of fixer upper, but it also made me feel at home. The staff was incredibly friendly and didn't bat an eye to my kid. We took a booth for seats and were able to order a kids mac and cheese and a BLT for myself. While we were waiting for our food (which wasn't long) a few other patrons came in, and the staff knew each of them by name. Some sat down and didn't even need a menu, and they chatted with the staff about how they made it through the recent snow storm. When our meal came, I will say the portions were size-able (even if I'm pretty sure the mac and cheese was boxed) my BLT was delicious, and loaded with bacon, completely hitting the spot. Both came with a healthy side of chips and a pickle. I do agree with some reviews that the main sandwiches can be a bit on the pricier side, but the kids meals were priced well. I'm definitely keeping this one on rotation for when I'm looking for a solid deli. If I had to chose between a deli chain closer to my house or Serendipity, going forward, you can bet I'll choose to shop local. read more

While most of the sandwiches are not an exceptional value, there is one thing that keeps me coming back: the Egg Salad BLT. Toasted and delicious, this mouthful of eggy goodness has bacon and tomato for that extra wow, and the flavor combination is spectacular. I literally get it every time I walk in (four times in the past year). My wife's soup and salad were fine, but not exciting. Actually, to be fair, the carrot cake we ordered to go was amazeballs as well. Not sure it makes up for the sandwiches, though - it's basically a deli, and you gotta make more than one great sandwich to deserve more stars, people. Patio is nice but does not allow dogs, which seems weird for downtown Cary with its trying-to-be-Carrboro vibe... read more

Serendipity Gourmet - Delis Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Stopped in for lunch at Serendipity for lunch with the family this week. It's a quaint establishment with a lot of potential. Great location, awesome patio, etc. However, it just falls flat in terms of food quality. Everything just seemed prepackaged and meh. This told, prices are very reasonable, so the old adage that you get what you pay for is likely playing in here. I'd just say that to have Gourmet in the name is a stretch based on our experience. Service was okay, quick and friendly enough. Overall, an overhaul to the environment, menu and food quality would really make this place a gem. For now, it's just seems like a quick cheap bite in downtown Cary - no frills - that has a lot of potential with the right attention. read more

I arrived at this deli in person. The eatery is quaint and I was able to get my takeout order in quickly. I then waited a few minutes with my mom to pick up my reuben sandwich. I took my order to the bench in front of the nearby Cary Regional Library. The reuben was very good. I was happily surprised by the complimentary chips. read more

This was my first time here and I was not impressed. The debit looks like it was done in the 70's and never redone and this gives a feeling of the place being quite dirty. We came in for a quick sandwich and what we got was a mediocre sandwich with surly service. Bonus is after you're done eating you get to wait in a long line to pay your bill. Will not be back. read more

Great sandwich shop right in Downtown Cary that has been here forever. Nothing over the top or super special, but always great wholesome sandwiches served with a friendly smile. read more

This is a FANTASTIC place to eat if you have ill fitting dentures, require a soft, bland diet and simply cannot muster the strength to crawl to Bosphorus instead. Serendipity is truly a poor attempt at a greasy spoon in an uber pretentious area and falls well short of the Cracker Barrel standards the decor tries to imply it has. Want to pay $9 for an otherwise $2 sandwich? This is your spot! Aside from our waitress having crazy 80's metal glam makeup and another one busting out of cat-hair adorned yoga pants to keep me entertained (yummy - cat urine stinch!) the menu itself was sticky to the touch. I forgave those gross errors due to the 25 minute wait we had for a table of two (2!), which led me to believe this would be excellent food. SPOILER ALERT: IT'S NOT GOOD FOOD. I had the hot albacore with an upcharge side of macaroni salad in place of a handful of knock-off Ruffles plain potato chips. The albacore is, in fact, code for "canned tuna fish" which was mixed with a scant about of cheap salad dressing - Forget the standard Duke's Mayo, it was not even Miracle Whip! - Slathered onto a flattened croissant with a quarter of a floppy pickle spear. The same mystery sauce coated the elbow macaroni that was scandalously devoid of any celery, bell peppers, black pepper, etc. Just noodles and mystery sauce. Hmph. My dining partner bravely attempted the Shepard's Pie. Unseasoned, browned ground beef atop super salty, water based instant mashed potatoes adorned with a handful of canned corn kernels then topped with commercially shredded (cornstarch coated) government cheese, evidenced by its lack of both grease and flavor. If you're expecting a Southern Woman with a waist as wide as her long vowels slaving over a hot stove here, forget it. You have some kid standing in front of a microwave dead center of the place picking his nose while waiting for water to boil to recon some tater flakes between making sandwiches. Serendipitously unimpressed? Me, too. Annnnnnyway, I was really taken aback by the subpar grub and gritty staff on the heels of such a wait in ermygawsh super uppity and glamorous Downtown Cary.... Then I took a solid look around and realized no one in the joint was under 65, and absolutely no one would be out of place in a K&W cafeteria *or* a nursing home. To escape this unusual place, I had to stand in line by the microwave in the center. Luckily there was a classy stryofoam cup cut in half with the word "TIPS" engraved on it to avoid having to go back to my table. Pack a picnic basket and eat by the fountain instead. read more

Serendipity Gourmet - Delis Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Stopped here for dessert after leaving a tap house up the street. Kinda feel like you're in someone's grandmothers house/market, but it was cool anyway. The lemon meringue pie I ordered was amazing. My friend got a cookie and we both got coffee. Grand total was about $7.00. Fantastic! read more

Sandwiches were always the best to me, usually I get the crown sandwich and there's usually a great amount of meat in it but now was replace by bread. If you have to replace it with other meats that's fine but more bread? It really brought the taste downhill. I still love this place and will order something else but crown was always my favorite. Until that's changed, the rating can be changed to a 4 read more

Serendipity - such a cute word/hut. How can I NOT give this a try, especially since I live literally down the street from it. It was empty on a Monday after(work)-noon when I walked in. I had a very "dutch" feel to it, in terms of its wooden chairs and booths. Quaint. I decided on one of their specials - Shepards pie, then moved my eyes toward the desserts. They had all sorts of pies - peanut butter, lemon, chocolate pecan. then cheesecake..and..some other stuff. Plus the usual huge cookies and brownies. The shepards pie's portion was small. The flavour was OK, nothing special AT ALL. For $8...I got a small scoop of ground beef with frozen peas/carrots with a small scoop of instant mashed potatoes on top. SO DISSAPOINTING. It also came with toasted bread - sliced super-market wheat bread. Not worth the carbs. I got the lemon pie, and it must've been sitting in that fridge for weeks. I tasted that old fridge taste in the crust. I had to throw it away. The lemon filling part wasn't mixed well, so I had bits of unmixed wet flour in my bite. BLECH. The brownie was dry.. the chocolate chip cookie was....mehhhh...just didnt have that home-made taste in it. Too sugary. =( I wanted to like you so much - I am so disappointed. It's not me, it'd definitely you. on a brighter note, the counter guy was nice. Maybe i'll try a sandwich next time? Since all the other great reviews are of their sandwiches. read more

I was really disappointed in this place, and I've been wanting to come here for awhile. It's a really cute deli with one of the best patios I've seen in Cary, but the food and service is kind of bad. I had the vegetarian burger which was admittedly good but tasted like they'd nuked it. The potato salad was...interesting. My friends double decker meat sandwich (don't remember what type) was nothing special and he said he could have made the same or better at home. And the carrot cake was fresh out of the microwave. What the heck? The server did allow us to try the gazpacho which was watery, oily, and had really large chunks of veggies in it-- not what I think of when I think of a crisp, chilled summer soup at all. And the server seemed rather slow to understand my questions, which might have been a language barrier but I also had to track him down twice for drink refills and the check. I am really positively bummed about not liking this place, but I'm even more bummed I spent $30 to find that out. If it didn't have the deck and a decent veggie burger, this place would have been a one-star review for me. read more

I went here for lunch because it was a cute little place in Cary. To my surprise, it was a bit pricey for what it is! I had the club sandwich ($8 or $9), and the bread was really good! The meat was just OK, and I got the macaroni salad instead of chips (extra $1). The macaroni salad was weird-- vinegar based with peas in it! Strange, but it was OK. The worst part about the lunch was the atmosphere; there were about 10 children under the age of 5 in the building (all at different tables) and it was so loud you could hardly think straight. I would have eaten outside if it weren't 95degrees today... but I'm sure I still would have left with a headache. Not so sure I'll ever come back to this place.... read more

Overpriced and underwhelmed IMO. I had some things to take care of at the Cary Town Hall and went here for lunch with some business associates. The food took a while to come and wasn't all that great. I had the Lamb Gyro which was very unimpressive. The meat was ok but it came with provolone (on a Gyro?), very bland (and low quantity) yogurt sauce, and too few tomatoes for my taste. Because of the cheese and low quantity of acidic garnish (like tomato or more yogurt) it seemed very greasy rather than the lighter fare that a really good Gyro is like. On the up side, the place IS very quaint. It seems like your entering a small town deli full of regulars. Also, there's an outdoor patio which is always nice. read more

Cozy, casual atmosphere that makes you linger a bit. I had a cup of chicken @ yellow rice soup. It was absolutely delicious! I opted for the "Say Cheese" sandwich and wasn't as pleased. It was an open faced grilled cheese with lettuce (tasted like old bagged lettuce), shredded carrots and sprouts. It also came with blue cheese, to which there was no blue cheese in the dressing. Service is friendly but brief and the coffee is great! Mixed emotions about this place. I'd go back for more soup, though! read more

Everything u want in a deli. Food was great, service was quick and pleasant. The hours don't fit the current state of always open anytime, but I sure as hell wouldn't do that either. The only way I'd ever open a restaurant is if it would work these kinds of hours read more

Worst turkey sandwich EVER! Disgusting. Their croissant was store bought awful mushy and worse soggy. The turkey was some cheap deli by the slice and skinny. If all that wasn't bad enough, the white sauce that I suppose was taziki was an awful unexpected thick blob. The whole sandwich grossed me out. I ate the chips. And service? Slow like they have been in business for more than 30 years but I guess as they used to be the only game in town everyone puts up with. Update the interior! Make it brighter! Hire better help! Crosstown and belle and Academy Street Bistro are getting my dollars . Never going back! I left 1 star because I had to read more

So. I've eaten here probably 4 or 5 times. The food is pretty good. I'm especially fond of the reuben and it's delicious with the thousand island dressing or the dijon mustard. This is a really nice place to sit outside when it's nice. They have a great little patio area. read more

Serendipity Gourmet - Reuben attack! - Delis Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Delicious lunch spot! The food is light and perfect if you're wanting a satisfying small bite. Super affordable as well and it has a great outdoor seating area. read more

Best Reuben in the triangle, highly recommended stop for vegetarians and meat eaters alike

Bottom line: A-OK visit for Serendipity. I would not really say I would go with gourmet, but pretty standard in setup and with the tuna salad plate I had. Nothing over the top, but it hit the spot. My server was thumbs up. An A-OK average deli experience. The Deets: Walking around exploring downtown central Cary, I got the hunger pangs I get whenever the wind blows and saw Serendipity Gourmet Deli around the corner. Always wanting to try a new place out, I ventured on over for an early lunch. The place itself is small, quaint and modest in look, a lot of wood finishes and country home items on the wall for atmosphere. There is an outside area as well for the warmer months. I settled on one of the round tables in the back as I was guided and greeted by the server. Looking over the menu, it's a pretty standard deli-like menu with mostly sandwiches and salads/plates to choose from. I went for the tuna salad plate this visit. It ended up pretty standard, three medium scoops of tuna salad amid an average house salad type of setup. The tuna salad was ok, it did the job and there were crackers provided as well. The main positive was my server as she was pleasant, attentive, and helpful...she did a great job. read more

Service unbelievably bad! Food smelled good ... too bad I couldn't order any of it! Definitely avoid unless you have all day to wait.

Went here two or three times and each time it seemed less impressive. it's a bit pricey, and the food is decent but not as great as they should be for such an interesting little joint specializing in "gourmet" sandwiches and the like. Most likely you'll get a better sandwich somewhere for less. read more