Knickerbockers Deli

Was a little hesitant to visit this establishment as it took the place of the red onion, which didn’t have the best track record and was visited more as a convenience than for its good food or service.
That said I took the plunge and actually was quite impressed. Food was good value, about $ 9 for ½ sandwich, ½ salad, cookie and pickle spear seems good. I had the rueben and southwest salad. Salad was fresh, sandwich was decent. The people were super nice, and though the NY theme is cheesy it’s nice that this place makes an attempt to identify itself. Definitely will be making a trip back.

I’ve been in here three times. Here’s what I think:
1. Went in a couple of days after they opened. Got a warm welcome and my questions about the new place were answered in a friendly manner. I had already brought my lunch for that day so didn’t want to get food but I saw some muffins and bought a chocolate one. I was hoping it was from somewhere local or made in house, but it turned out to be a generic muffin from Costco or similar (like so many other places in SLC!), because they took it right out of the box in front of me. Dry and flavorless. Disappointing.
2. I go back a week or two later to get a coffee. There are 3 other people in line in front of me. One orders coffee at the register, pays, then goes to wait by the coffee bar to get it. One orders directly with the barista at the coffee bar and waits for it there. So now I’m confused — should I order at the register or with the barista? I decide to go for the coffee bar as the lady on the register was now helping the third customer who has a ton of questions. However, my plan was stymied when the barista left the coffee area and went to stand behind the lady on the register to wait to ring up the guy who ordered directly with her.
I’m now more confused — can’t one person stick to making coffee and the other operate the register?
By this point, I’ve been waiting around in front of both the register and the coffee bar (which are right next to each other) for like 8 minutes and I’m getting impatient.
The lady on the register walked off to the kitchen, so the barista starts ringing up her customer and chatting away to him.
No-​one acknowledged me at all during this time.
By now, I’m up to 10 minutes and I have to get to work. I only wanted to quickly pick up a pre-​brewed coffee so I leave.
3. Went back last week. No-​one in front of me to so I can go straight to the register. I’ve already caffeinated at home but fancied a decaf latte to warm me up as it was a chilly morning. I ask at the register for a decaf latte and get a curt reply of ‘we don’t serve decaf here’. Okay, wait… aren’t you an Illy espresso bar? Couldn’t you just have one can of decaf ready in case? I was surprised they didn’t have it, given that a lot of people in Utah don’t drink caffeinated drinks but more to my surprise was that the lady on the register didn’t say anything else. She didn’t offer me any of their alternatives, like a tea or hot chocolate, just kind of stood and looked at me. So I left empty handed again.
I’d like to give them another try, because the food at the Cottonwood location looks good (at least as per the photos on Unilocal), and also because they are new and I understand that new places sometimes have teething troubles. But, after 3 underwhelming visits, I might not bother.