Bites Nearby: Manhattan Deli

A month out, it seems the has stolen our New Year's resolutions: better organization and efficiency, appreciating others, saving money and, the one already likely broken, cutting carbs.

The deli is located at 8900 Mentor Ave. behind , cornered in the shopping plaza where the smell of fresh corned beef lingers outside in spite of a winter wind. It offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with standard deli fare at expected deli prices. One twist: Lebanese specialties like tabouli, falafel and shawarma.

Like any delicatessen, be it in Manhattan or Paris, meats and pastries greet guests. In fact, you can eat at the counter on barstools (though no alcohol is sold), having your coffee warmed up repeatedly by your server or another. Teamwork is encouraged among staff; waits are therefore rare.

The tables and booths are spacious, and the floor plan gives conversations their privacy.

Tim Shaker and his wife, Siham, opened Manhattan Deli in 1987, and customers “become extended family,” says their web site, which includes the menu, also catering and interesting information, like that the deli presses its own olive oil using olives from Lebanon. Orders can be faxed using an online form. Could online ordering or an e-mail option be next?

Of the regulars, one cashier said: “We know some people's orders when they come in the door. Some people come in three times a day.”

Three is a lot, but once, at least, is a great idea.