• New Roast Beef Competition! Should We Be Afraid?


    by on Mar 24th, 2010

    Courtesy of Village Voice

    Mmm… doesn’t that roast beef look delicious? Well, it ain’t from Sheepshead Bay – home of the two best roast beef joints in the nation. It’s from a new Bay Ridge eatery called Ziggy’s. In terms of style, they seem to be more along the lines of Roll-N-Roaster‘s (2901 Emmons Avenue) not-so-fast fast food, as opposed to Brennan & Carr‘s (3432 Nostrand Avenue) more cultivated sit down joint. But they’re a bit jacked up on price compared to Roll-N-Roaster ($5.25/sandwich + $0.50 for cheese). They’ve got more variety in cheeses, and their specialty is cheez whiz. How does it compare, though? Well, Village Voice’s food critic Robert Sietsema says they beat Roll-N-Roaster in terms of quantity and moistness, but gives the nod to the Sheepshead Bay establishment’s larger menu. Have you tried Ziggy’s? How does it compare? Should Sheepshead fret?

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    • GregK718

      The bread and beef look way too dry for my tastes. I will work my way over there though to try them out some time.

    • LPHead

      You guys clearly haven't tried John'd Deli roast beef. Hands down the best!

    • tj

      agree 1000000%

    • nolastname

      Basset's makes a good roast beef hero w/mutz and grilled onions and a sauce.
      The price if good also.

    • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

      Where's that?

    • LPHead

      johnsfamousdeli dot com

    • Local Broker

      they didnt put the address on their website

    • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

      Not only are their two(!) websites among the more grotesque I've seen, they left out their address on both! I finally found it, and I'll pay them a visit one day. But sheesh!

    • LPHead

      make sure to order extra muttz and gravy on the side… mouth watering just by thinking bout it

    • Local Broker

      its funny you take time to make a website for your store but no info on how to get there.

    • GregK718

      Actually on one of their websites: JohnsDeli dot com , they have a picture of the place with the address on their sign. Regardless, its still foolish to not have it in print anywhere on their website. I live right by Brennan and Carr, but i do love to have Johns Deli roast beef every once in a while. Get it with fresh moz, and gravy on the sandwich, if you prefer it soaking wet, like B&C sandwiches.

    • GregK718

      oh yeah, and throw something in the tip jar for the guys there. For some reason they all yell “Subway!!” when someone tips them.

    • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

      The reason is obvious. So people will go online and say, “Hey, throw these guys a tip. They all yell subway for some crazy reason!”

      Actually, the whole story is on their website. Old deli chaps used to be tipped a nickel back in the 50s, and then they'd yell subway to let their boss know they weren't stealing the money and that it would be their subway fare home.

    • alias

      I grew up between 28th and 29th on U. Back then Brennan's house was on U between 29th and Nostrand where the OTB is today. The house and surrounding large lot were a green oasis compared to what you see there now. Growing up so close to Brennan and Carr that I could hit it with a football from our apartment, it was regular cuisine at our dinner table. I remember the beef being roasted on open spits out front, their juices dripping into a catch pan below that provided the essential ingredient for the classic Brennan and Carr Roast Beef DOUBLE DIPPED. I left Brooklyn a little over thirty years ago, coming back on occasion and never missing the opportunity to stop by for what was one of the staples of my youth. Most recently I was there in the fall and I can tell you it never gets old.

      I've run into past patrons of Brennan and Carr from Los Angeles to St Martin in the Caribbean. All have sung the praises of what certainly is the best roast beef sandwich, not only in Brooklyn, by quite possibly on the planet. I'm glad to see that they are still held in such high regard. The outdoor spits appear to be gone, at least the ones facing Ave. U. Perhaps a result of some health code ordinance, but the flavor and the feel of the place are still present. I guess there is some truth in the old saying after all true, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

      In my book, Brennan and Carr will always be the best.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=839675042 Holly Renee Reinhardt

      Late comment is late, but I went today and it was fabulous. I had a nibble of my partner in crime's sandwich, but I got broccoli and chicken. They are a bit pricier than Roll N Roaster, but they might just be (gasp!) better than them.

    • Katrinawaves

      I will take your word for ir, but it doesnt look that appetizing. I wouldnt order it based on this photo. I am true to Roll-n-Roaster

    • justin cantor

      Fuck ziggy's… do you honestly think some bay ridge asshole can compare to the delightfully delectable roll n roaster?!?!?! I think NOT!!!

    • Animo916

      Where is Ziggy's located? I remember another beef place called Zeke's on 65 St and 8 Ave, but it is now a Chinese Buffet. Zeke's was also on the same style as Roll n Roaster, and the taste and style were quite similar. Bassett's on Ave X and E 15 St makes a mean RB hero with plenty of meat and good prices. John's Deli heroes are also pretty good, but the beef is over cooked, however, that magic brown gravy and melted mozzarella make it a worthwhile visit. Roll n Roaster has, in my opinion, lost it's allure. Portions are small, prices are decent, but it just doesn't compare to Brennan and Carr. There's just nothing that compares to a cheese beef “KFJ”!!! Plus, You can actually sit down and get a beef plate with fires and vegetables.

    • Animo916

      Where is Ziggy's located? I remember another beef place called Zeke's on 65 St and 8 Ave, but it is now a Chinese Buffet. Zeke's was also on the same style as Roll n Roaster, and the taste and style were quite similar. Bassett's on Ave X and E 15 St makes a mean RB hero with plenty of meat and good prices. John's Deli heroes are also pretty good, but the beef is over cooked, however, that magic brown gravy and melted mozzarella make it a worthwhile visit. Roll n Roaster has, in my opinion, lost it's allure. Portions are small, prices are decent, but it just doesn't compare to Brennan and Carr. There's just nothing that compares to a cheese beef “KFJ”!!! Plus, You can actually sit down and get a beef plate with fires and vegetables.

    • Animo916

      I found Ziggy's and tried them last week. As mentioned in my other post, I remembered a place off 65 St called Zeke's. Well it turns out that the owner of Ziggy's used to be the cook at Zeke's. As for the food, I was very pleasantly surprised. the roast beef was moist with a good amount of meat for portion size, plenty of broth on the sandwich. the fries were piled a mile high on the plate, and the melty cheese was just right. Then I tried a bacon cheeseburger, that was every bit as good as home made. 1/2 pound patty that seemed fresh, not frozen, crispy bacon and you have a choice of different cheeses. In my opinion, this place blows Roll n Roaster out of the water, and comes in a close second to Brennan & Carr. But you need to remember, B & C is actually a restaurant, not really a fast food stand like R n R.