Word of Mouth: Telly’s

By Shannon McAleenan

Telly’s operates in a tourist-free zone, though you can imagine the adventurous few poking their heads through the door. They’d enjoy the company of locals, who have come to rely on Telly’s for a quick and delicious lunch.

The eclectic décor has guests admiring modernist ceiling fans and track lighting. For those more interested in the past, fleur de lis window treatments and straight-from-your-grandma’s-kitchen vinyl tablecloths help round out the look. Local artists display their wares on the wall, with oil paintings ranging from the staid landscape to native-inspired folk art. All of this is visually interesting. But since you are at a restaurant, what will interest you more is the smell, the very yummy smell coming from the kitchen of this small sandwich haven.

Telly’s serves more than 13 different sandwiches, but we heard they put butter on their burgers. Who could resist verifying that one? Burgers it was. The dissident among us chose the New Orleans’ classic muffaletta: ham, Genoa salami, Swiss and provolone cheese, vegetable and olive salad on ciabatta bread. At $6.75, it’s the most expensive thing on the menu. Telly’s will not break your bank.

Our burgers arrived, appropriately messy, with perfectly crisp and cool shredded lettuce. Cooked to perfection, and with enough ketchup for dipping, the burgers left us more than satisfied. The buns, liberally buttered and delightful, did their best to hold the sandwich together. The muffaletta was a mixed-media art piece, satisfying our table visually, edibely and scentually, enticing us with the salty smell of olives and cured meat.

We also ordered Greek potato salad because it stumped us. Greek potato salad? Faultlessly boiled red potatoes, drenched in a homemade Greek dressing. This is not your typical Labor Day cookout potato salad. There was no success in trying to ply the recipe from the wait staff, but we were able to weasel one spice out of it, oregano. Not quite enough to go on, so we’ll be back to eat some more.

Telly’s is open for lunch Monday through Friday. The atmosphere is laidback, so I wasn’t surprised when my question, “Will you be open the day after Thanksgiving?” was answered in typical family-owned style. “Not sure on that yet.” Keeping me on my toes. I like that in a restaurant.

I still can’t wrap my head around Greek potato salad, but I will be back soon to stab my fork in it.