NYC's Best Bodega Cats, Sandwiches, And More: See The Winners

NEW YORK CITY — Ask New Yorkers for their bodega favorites and you shall receive.

Patch's best bodega contest's results are here. For a month, we asked our dear readers for what you thought what bodega had the best cats, sandwiches, beverages and snacks.

And readers didn't hold back.

Delving through your responses took time from our busy lives as hyperlocal news purveyors, but the results were as rewarding as petting a bodega cat while a cashier rang up an egg and cheese, coffee and Takis.

Without further ado, here are the results by category.

Best Bodega Cat

Many Patch readers fancied they knew the best cat, but one bodega feline took the title by a whisker: Oreo.

Oreo has set up shop in Yeyo Food Corp, a bodega along Ditmas Avenue near McDonald Avenue in Kensington. Patch reader Chris from Flatbush nominated Oreo and sent a bevy of cute photos that helped seal the win.

"When Oreo was a kitten, and the owner was deciding between giving him away or his sister, Oreo came running from somewhere in the store and jumped immediately onto the owner's lap. He chose himself," Chris told us in his submission.

Another strong contender was Pancha, at Clinton Fruit Market at 9th Avenue and 47th Street in Hell's Kitchen.

"Pancha is a beautiful Calico cat that lights up the Flower Stand at our corner Bodega," wrote Patch reader Jone Noveck, with the West 47th Street Block Association. "Truly she is a celebrity on this block with many admirers that come by to give her treats and attention."

Leo at York Deli along (you guessed it) York Avenue near East 87th Street in Yorkville (sensing a pattern here?) was another purrr-fect submission.

"Leo is not only friendly and sweet but is just a super cute 'fat cat,'" a reader wrote us.

A Clinton Hill feline — Mishi — sounds absolutely divine. She calls Greene Food Deli at Greene and Classon avenues home.

"Whether she is hanging out behind the counter or roaming the aisles, she has been a staple to this deli since I moved to the area 7yrs ago," wrote Kesley Boerema, a Bed-Stuy reader. "Shes probably been there longer & the owners are the best."

Finally, we're also warm on Marshmallow.

Marshmallow calls First On First at First Avenue and East 91st Street home, according to reader David Leeds. And why did he nominate Marshmallow?

"Because she is beautiful and friendly and she comes when you call her name, even if she's never met you before," Leeds wrote us.

Best bodega sandwich

A smorgasbord of mouth-watering favorite sandwiches were served up by Patch readers.

Once we dribbled our drool, a pattern emerged: Galaxy Deli in Washington heights appears to be a cut above the rest.

Galaxy Deli is the bodega, by Patch submissions, that takes the prize as the serving the best sandwiches. And readers were particularly enamored with their Savory hero.

Joe, a Washington Heights resident, made a compelling case for the sandwich going the extra mile.

"Almost every bodega in the city has a sandwich made with chipotle chicken, but only the Savory Hero at Galaxy truly brings that chipotle kick, with melted, gooey chipotle gouda and pepper jack cheeses, hot and sweet peppers, and red onion, plus chipotle mayo and sauce," he wrote.

"Galaxy deli makes the best deli sandwiches in NYC, no contest," an anonymous reader wrote. "Their chopped cheese is amazing, but my favorite sandwich they make is called the savory hero. It is an explosion of chipotle: chipotle chicken, chipotle Gouda, and chipotle mayo. The grilled onions and fresh veggies provide an amazing contrast to the richness of the rest of the sandwich. They then press the hero in the panini press, like they do every hero, making it absolutely perfect."

Traditional egg and cheese variations, with or without bacon or sausage, also made a strong showing.

One former New Yorker — Steph Sklut — made a particularly appetizing argument for the bacon, egg and cheese on a roll from Brooklyn Deli on Franklin Avenue near Prospect Place in Prospect Heights. Simply put, it's the perfect balance of egg and cheese, she wrote.

"We live in NJ now and my kids still talk about how good this is," she wrote. "They say next time we go to Brooklyn they are making a best certificate to give to deli guy."

"Plus the lady who works the counter is so sweet and will spot you some change or lend you an umbrella if you need it. Best Bodega anywhere and we miss it so much!!! They deserve the honor!!!"

Another bacon, egg and cheese submission of note is from Merrick Deli & Grill on Merrick Boulevard near 228th Street in Laurelton.

The rolls are always soft and fresh, the bacon is cooked just right, wrote an anonymous reader, who gets it with pepperjack, tomato and hot sauce.

"Can’t ask for much more after placing this order. #NYCStaple," they wrote.

Best bodega beverage

Forget Starbucks, Patch readers told us.

Coffee emerged as their clear choice for best beverage. Readers made clear that their favored coffee's flavor was enhanced greatly by the atmosphere.

And location seems to have the perfect combination of flavor and neighborhood cheer than the bodega at Flatbush Avenue and Lincoln Road in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

Patch reader Katharine Nixon — whose favored order is coffee light and sweet — rhapsodized over the bodega known as "Coffee Shop" and its proprietor, Roberto, the "best breakfast maker in PLG."

"Roberto remembers everyone's breakfast order in the entire neighborhood," she wrote. "He's got my coffee ready when he sees my face. Everyone knows him, everyone loves him, and he works his butt off to send money home to his family in Mexico. The line out the door at this bodega is consistent every morning and Roberto serves everyone with the quickness and the love."

Best bodega snacks

We're not going to lie, this was a tough one. (But also sweet and savory.)

Readers offered a mix of off-the-shelf snack options and those that are made behind the counter.

But Simply Gourmet Market Place, an Upper West Side bodega on Amsterdam Avenue and West 84th Street, checked both of those boxes, said Patch reader ZPerez.

"The cleanliness of their store, diverse snacks, affordable healthy juices, customer service, variety of hot and cold foods always fresh and good lunch special deals," ZPerez wrote.

ZPerez's choice of mixed berries napoleons won the best snack prize for uniqueness and deliciousness.

"They are flaky, fresh, huge slices and again affordable prices, so good that during pandemic, I would plan my alternate daily treks outside and if they didn't have any left, I would come back down after 8:30pm when the bakery truck would make their daily deliveries," they wrote. "They are that good."

A close second fell to Reyes, a South Slope shop along Fourth Avenue near 14th Street.

Sandye, a Gowanus resident, told us that they favor Reyes' breakfast taco, egg and potato.

"I am a sucker for the "secret" food counter and old-timey feel of getting just cooked food in a grocery store, pharmacy or other shop," Sandye wrote. "Reyes happens to be a Mexican leaning bodega so the tacos and tamales are natural fit. The food is good and perfect for unexpected overnight guests when a great breakfast is needed. Whoever is behind the counter is always friendly and you can get some back-up dried chiles, avacados or chips while waiting for your order."