The $29 Ham And Cheese Sandwich That Has Redditors Perplexed

A delicious and simple staple, the ham and cheese sandwich can easily be prepared at home. Still, some foodies enjoy ordering it at restaurants for a change of pace. There are tons of sandwich shops in New York City that are known for their creative takes on this traditional dish. However, one well-known New York eatery has generated buzz for its shocking price on this pre-packaged deli classic.

Eli Zabar's Upper East Side spot E.A.T. sells two wrapped ham and cheese sandwiches together for $29. The $16 version consists of one ham and cheese sandwich separated into halves. Sasha Zabar — director for Eli's companies — described the ingredients to Gothamist, saying, "Every morning we bake our seven-grain health loaf in a special size, which EAT [owned by Eli Zabar Inc.] then slices the long way, schmears with French mustard, and covers with thinly sliced roasted glazed ham and imported Swiss cheese." Regardless of its quality, the $29 ham and cheese sandwich has ignited a firestorm on the internet.

Social media users are flabbergasted that E.A.T.'s ham and cheese sandwich costs a whopping $29. A subreddit thread for the sandwich has gone viral. One user commented, "You can go to a supermarket, buy a loaf of sliced bread, 12 oz ham and a pack of cheese, make yourself a sandwich and throw the rest away and still not spend 29 dollars." Someone else remarked, "Is this real?? Who would pay for this??" Yet a cashier at E.A.T. told Gothamist that the pricey item, as well as the $30 salmon sandwich, are top sellers.

Unsurprisingly, some customers are unimpressed with the ham and cheese sandwich. A reporter for Gothamist described it as "dry," adding, "The 'health bread' tastes ... healthy" and "The middle is actually a little better, not so dry." 

Grub Street's senior writer Chris Crowley also criticized the offering, calling it "nuts" that such a basic meal is priced so high. He noted that for $29, someone could purchase a few cheeseburgers with a tip at New York's sandwich shop S&P. He wrote, "It's safe to assume that this could be the most expensive ham-and-cheese sandwich in America." Crowley was not satisfied by the taste, either. "This ham-and-cheese is nothing special," he revealed.

While E.A.T's ham and cheese sandwich may take the cake with its exorbitant price, it's not the only eatery that has garnered attention for its high charges. Yet there's a reason why it's so expensive to eat out in New York. In 2021, Eater revealed that the vegetarian restaurant Dirt Candy doesn't even produce a profit on its $14 croque monsieur. Food costs, fixed costs (such as rent and insurance), and workers' wages add up quickly. In fact, workers' wages comprise 50% of the price of the sandwich.

Inflation is another factor that's severely affected businesses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in New York City have jumped up 6% from January 2022 to January 2023. 

In 2022, Fox 5 shared that inflation had a big impact on New York bodega owners, including Francisco Marte. Apparently, the Bronx owner had to raise the prices on a variety of items, including the popular bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. The $2.50 item was increased to $4.50. Yet one customer wasn't overly concerned about the change, saying, "It means that I buy a good breakfast and stretch it to lunch and don't eat again until I get home, which means I lose weight. Got to look at the brighter side of things, because you know what? Either way, if you got to move, you've got to pay. If you're hungry, you have to eat."