Spotlight on C's Deli

For the students of the Falcon Playhouse--the theatre program at Scripps Ranch High School--the full theatre experience is more than tech rehearsals and performances.

For years, C’s Ice Cream and Deli (better known as “C’s Deli”) has been a staple of every theatre kid’s Falcon Playhouse experience. This deli, located at 9969 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92131, is a family-owned business that has provided patrons with the best sandwiches, milkshakes, and memories.

I first went to C’s Deli for a fundraiser for the Falcon Playhouse. The minute I stepped in, I looked around and smiled. The deli has the look and feel of a family-owned business; it is cute, timeless, welcoming, and homey. This was a place with good food and good people. Happy voices sounded throughout the deli and when I went to the counter to order and pay, the man at the register, Tom, greeted me with a disarming smile and friendly voice. He asked my name for the order and remembered it the next time I was there; he remembers all of the students’ names.

At the moment, the place was filled with my classmates and castmates, all theatre kids who talked about the deli’s Chicken Club sandwich like it was the Holy Grail. Of course, I had to try it.

And I am so glad I did. Every bite of the sandwich is melt-in-your mouth goodness that warms you up from the inside and puts a smile on your face. The Chicken Club from C’s Deli is legendary for a reason. It only took one bite to make me a returning customer. Somehow, their combination of hot breaded chicken breast, melted swiss cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, vinegar and oil, and mayo on a toasted onion roll defines “delicious” and tastes like heaven. Oh, and don’t forget the dill pickle spear.

The meal was complete with another fan favorite: the cookies ’n cream milkshake, malted. After all, it is C’s Ice Cream and Deli, and the milkshakes there are nothing short of amazing with full flavors and perfect consistency. Any ice cream lover would be pleased by the desserts C’s Deli has to offer.

And if you’re looking for a healthier but just as tasty option, C’s Deli has several salads to offer, including their Greek salad. This standout salad, with crispy lettuce, ripe red tomato, hearty cucumber, imported feta cheese, Kalamata olives, red onions, and a Greek vinaigrette on the side--not to mention the optional addition of tender mesquite chicken--is the perfect way to treat yourself while still eating clean.

Of course, these are just a few highlights of everything C’s Deli has to offer. With dozens of quality sandwiches (and the option to build your own) alongside salads, desserts, breakfast bagels, snacks, soft drinks, and root beer, C’s Deli is perfect for everyone at any time.

The students of the Falcon Playhouse know this very well. C’s Deli has become the go-to place not only for hosting fundraisers but for hanging out, enjoying good food with friends and family, and even grabbing a bite to eat to refuel before tech rehearsals that will stretch late into the evenings. As mentioned before, a student's Falcon Playhouse experience is not complete without trips to C’s Deli.

Beyond being an irreplaceable, beloved part of the community, C’s Deli always gives back to the community by supporting the Falcon Playhouse and the students there. Its kind owners not only support the Falcon Playhouse’s fundraising efforts; they put the posters for the shows up in their windows and donate to the program. They always come to see the shows and remember the students’ names.

Even though the deli has been impacted by the pandemic, they continue to show support for the theatre program and make a positive impact on the students in it. Once the pandemic ends and in-person life (and in-person theatre) resumes, the students will once again be able to enjoy the opening night tradition of going to C’s Deli and look forward to seeing the deli’s owners in the audience.

To learn more about C’s Deli, you can check out their website at https://www.csdeli.com/. Please remember to support your local restaurants during these trying times. Thank you for reading!