Tal’s Bakery & Deli

I’ve bought several things from Tal’s and have never been underwhelmed. (A little pricey.) But it’s one of those places where I’m like a kid in a candy store and would grab a little of everything if not for the cost. Sandwiches are huge.

Not a bad bakery, half convenience store almost. Cashier was nice, assistant at the bakery almost seemed annoyed that all we wanted was a small selection of pastries. No coffee was made, to wash down our dessert. Might return to try something else, assuming that maybe another day would be better. 2.5 stars specifically.

My company ordered the sandwich platter for a holiday party. The meat variety (turkey, ham, roast beef, salami and couple others) all looked very fresh and tasty. I ate the turkey, very tasty. The bread, again several varieties (white, rye, etc) all very fresh and very good. The potato salad, also good, tasted homemade, perfect amount of mayonnaise and seasoning to potatoes.
The treats also looked good, but after filling up on the food, had no room left. I had never heard of this place before, but now I will make a special trip to Parma just to check out the store as I have heard they have a lot to offer.

I was looking for a corned beef deli and this is the WORST. The hand sliced corned beef is the absolute most fatty and gristly, bland cut of corned beef I’ve ever had-​perhaps the points?. The small, thick slices do not stay on the sandwich and because they’re fatty and gristly you cannot chew it. It was absolutely inedible and if I had been eating in the store café, I would have handed it right back to them. Unfortunately, I was out $ 10.50. Recommend The Corned Beef Co. instead in the same neighborhood at the Pearlbrook Plaza; that’s where I would have been were they not already closed for the day.

I saw a health/​cleanliness violation today I’m pretty sure should’ve warranted an on-​the-​spot firing. I ordered a cold cut sandwich and, while a lady was making my sandwich, I became aware of an older server guy slicing up hot CB for a sandwich, awkwardly and clumsily. He had a plastic food service glove on one hand and a knife in the other — being careful to handle the meat with the gloved hand. So far, so good. On the other end of the counter was a customer — who either asked for, or was promised a taste of the CB. So after the requisite amount of CB was weighed on the scale, server guy cuts one more piece of CB, and tries to walk it over to the customer — holding it (clumsily) between the two-​prong fork and the wide slicing knife. Slippery little devil… the meat fell to the floor before he got it delivered to the other end. So he proceeds to bend over, scoop up the piece of meat with his gloved hand off the floor, and pitches it into the garbage can. Still, so far, so good.
Now the disgusting part. Without so much a thought to replacing the now-​contaminated glove, he goes back to the bulk piece of CB, slices off another hunk, and walks it over to the customer — who either didn’t see what happened; was afraid to say anything; or doesn’t really care about food service standards either… because he scooped the meat from the wide knife surface (with his bare hand, mind you) and wolfed it down. Server guy now goes BACK to the CB sandwich in progress and, with the still-​contaminated glove hand, grabs the CB meat off the scale and stacks it on the rye sandwich bread. Evidently it was a to-​go order, because no one at the counter claimed the sandwich after he wrapped it, priced it, and set it aside — awaiting pickup.
Not sure I’ll ever be back. If they let a guy do that in full view, what the heck is going on behind the scenes? Be forewarned, the five-​second rule may be standard procedure here.

Tal’s
First off, there were already many reviews that I have seen about the thick — rubber like corned beef. I truly did not want to believe it, as I remember going here with my father in the 80’s (the old store). I have had many different offerings of corned beef from around Cleveland area, and today was the first time at Tal’s. We ordered three sandwiches, one gyro sandwich, one hot corned beef, and on philly cheese steak. The total came to $ 25.
The gyro clearly was cut a day or so prior to sale, and not like your standard fresh cut gyro, the pita was even stale, I am not so sure we got a fresh sandwich here at all.
The Philly seemed all right, or at least the cheese that smothered it made it edible.
Last and certainly least — The corned beef was exactly like a lot of reviewers said THICK RUBBERY beef, totally un-​edible. I personally enjoy cooking corned beef brisket, and the key is low and slow-​no matter what method you use. And as rubbery as this was, I can say that the problem has to be that it was simply speed cooked. My dog did enjoy it, 11 bucks wasted.
I would like to say that I would want to give it another chance, but I think that is out.
Very worst corned beef in all of Cleveland — HANDS DOWN. Sorry!

I search for good corned beef sandwich near Independence, OH and came up Tal’s.
Reviews were good so there I went.
I was sorely disappointed. Corned beef was tough, cut thick & chunky with little flavor.

Had the worst corn beef sandwich I’ve ever had in my life there. It was filled with fatty meat. I will never return!

The quality of their corned beef sandwiches doesn’t seem to be were it used to be. It’s just kinda bland no real flavor to it. I don’t mind paying 11 dollars for the sandwich if it taste good but I just think it has no real taste like they used to.

For anyone that says the corned beef is the best, they haven’t had Joes Deli in Rocky River. This place is terrible… at first sight, they had a lot of nice options. We ordered the ruben sandwiches, $ 12.30/sandwich. I threw mine in the garbage. The thick slices of corned beef were the FATTIEST I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine anyone putting that in their body.

Omgoshhhhh!!! I love this place! The people are so nice and Angy is amazing! I met the owner and even though the store was closing he made my sandwich!!! I’m never going anywhere else! This place is to live for!

I bought a lean corned beef sandwich with cheese (costs $ 12.) and do want to know what it was missing? TASTE. It was so disappointing. We had to put so much mustard on it to have any taste.

I liked their corned beef better than slyman’s. Crazy, I know! But the corned beef sandwich is excellent. It’s enough for two meals…
Great local deli.

Best corned beef in Cleveland, period. «But Kels! Slyman’s is the holy grail mecca of corned beef in Cleveland according to the people of Unilocal!» Yeah, well I’m telling you no. I almost didn’t write this review because I want all of you to continue going to Cleveland Corned Beef Co and Slyman’s so the line is shorter at Tal’s, but today I’m feeling generous.
#1, the bread. You can choose whatever bread you want as it’s a bakery, but the delicious standard rye holds up to the sandwich.
#2, the meat. Cut thick, perfect amount of fat, perfectly seasoned, not mealy like Corned Beef Co or slimy and fat covered like Slyman’s. Tender, juicy and wonderful.
#3, variety. Tal’s has a ton of sandwich combinations in their deli, so if you’re feeling crazy, add stuff to it.
On second thought, continue going to Slyman’s. More Tal’s for me.

Went in for a corned beef and got a sandwich full of fat. The woman at the counter was extremely rude! She forgot all of the condiments that were asked for. I’m not sure how this place has so many good reviews. If the corned beef wasn’t so fatty it would be good. So better luck next time?

Best corned beef sandwich in ohio period it’s well worth the money… Alittle hidden gem in ohio

I got the corned beef sandwich. Im not versed in the corned beef ways but I know good corned beef when I taste it. Tender, tasty and having it on rye with Swiss, horseradish, and mustard seems to go so well together. They have a great deli and bakery to boot along with other fresh made sandwiches to order. If you are in Parma you need to try it.

The first time I went to Tal’s I fell in love. If you are into giant deli sandwiches, this is the place!
There is a plethora of meats and cheeses to choose from, but the shining star is the corned beef. Half the sandwich is a decent sized meal, but sometimes I feel brave and attempt to finish the whole thing.
The service is always great, and the really know how to boast about their corned beef. I was there waiting in a 20 person line for St. Patrick’s Day a couple days ago. The line was out the door. These sandwiches rival that of a popular little «Sly…» Cleveland deli, but is much closer to me.
I addition, they have other deli essentials, olive bar, and a cooler filled with all kinds of alcoholic beverages. They used to have liquor, but I don’t recall seeing the large sections anymore.
For an excellent deli/​corned beef sandwich, you can’t go wrong. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Decided to update past reviews and add a star for one of THE most important things responsible for Tal’s success: consistency. They’ve got it in spades.
Been going there at least 2x a month or so since rediscovering them, and their corned beef has been consistently good. Today I shared with Tiffany (a long-​time stalwart in the deli) that the corned beef I took home two weeks ago was better than I’ve had anywhere, period. Yes, even better than Mr Brisket (hold, on, I’m waiting to see if I get struck by lightning… no, I think we’re good). Now, is it usually THAT great? No, but, then, perfection is elusive whatever side of the Cuyahoga you’re on. However, Tal’s consistently cranks out CB I’d eat any day of the week.
While I don’t get there often enough to try other things I can tell by the steady stream of customers ordering sandwiches just a tad smaller than a basketball that this place is popular for a reason. And now they’ve added prepared foods (haven’t tried any yet), too. Their bakery cranks out good stuff, they offer pretty much anything you’d need to drink, and the people are nice. Seriously, if you’re hungry and in the area, what are you waiting for? GO! If Tal’s hasn’t earned «Legendary» status yet, they’re close.

I’ve been coming here since it was a tiny store about 20 years ago. I live in san diego now, and I really miss these kinds of sandwhich shops.
The corned beef, the capicola, and even the bologna sandwhich are all incredible. And who could forgot that giant cucumber they stuff in every bag. Its enough food for 2 people.