Lucky 7 Deli sits on a corner at 1 East Main Street in Waterloo, and it operates on a simple thesis: make the sandwich right, make it big, and don't overthink it. The 2025 FLX Finest Gold for Best Deli is the kind of award that just confirms what the lunchtime crowd already knew. This is a made-to-order shop where the deli meats are quality, the bread is fresh, and the portions are built for people who actually work for a living. No artisanal pretensions, no $19 paninis with microgreens — just honest sandwiches done with care.

The space is compact and no-frills, the kind of place where you order at the counter and grab a seat if there is one. Expect a line at peak lunch, especially on weekdays when it draws workers from across the Waterloo-Geneva corridor. Waterloo is not a destination dining town, which makes Lucky 7 all the more valuable — it is the specific reason to stop here rather than drive through to Geneva. If you are touring the northern Finger Lakes, hitting wineries on Seneca or Cayuga, or visiting the Women's Rights National Historical Park in nearby Seneca Falls, this is your lunch stop. Call ahead at 315-220-8030 if you want to skip the wait.