Steve's Downtown Deli & Bakery

Considering the menu alone, Steve's has elements of a classic diner, a health-food co-op, a French bistro, a soul food joint, and a big city deli. Add in the atmosphere and you may be uncertain whether you’re in a restaurant, record store, or campus coffee shop.

Part of Steve’s Downtown’s eclectic sense of identity is due to the building space itself, which has a long history of existential crises. Its full story isn’t known, but it started life as a dress shop when the building first opened, served as part of the City Auditorium in the 50s and 60s, and eventually became an art gallery at the hands of the late James Patterson, who later converted it to a sandwich shop before selling the business.

Almost everything on the menu at Steve’s is made from scratch. It’s all done with an attention to detail and a touch of creativity that is missing from most restaurants today, and really only possible on the smaller scale on which Steve’s operates. But, along with the atmosphere, this dedicated approach to high quality food is what keeps their customers coming back day after day, and year after year.