“When thinking about what kind of place he would want to run, Grant Schley, owner of Ham & Cheese Deli, asked himself, “Where would I want to go?”

The answer? A sandwich spot serving mammoth-sized sandwiches made with elevated cooking skill and culinary creativity, good coffee and retro video games costing only a quarter a play.

“It’s a couple of guys doing exactly what they want, because this is what they would have wanted when they didn’t have the money or the know-how to do it,” Schley said. “We got old arcade games, man. We can play them whenever we want.”

“With pinball machines, vintage hats for sale and colorful packages of Flossie cotton candy, Ham & Cheese Deli feels like a beloved sandwich shop in a college town. Naturally, the names of the sandwiches are pun-riddled; think Beefer Sutherland and Shrooms over My Hammy ($16.50), a melty combo of wild mushrooms, goat cheese, French ham and mozzarella. The mushrooms are so flavorful — lots of rosemary — that you won’t miss the ham on the vegetarian version ($14.50). Vegetarians, in general, are well served here compared to many other sandwich spots, with options that don’t feel like sad “ham and cheese, hold the ham” compromises.

“Stopping by Ham & Cheese Deli always puts us in a great mood. The outside is painted bright yellow and blue, arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong are inside, and rainbow and Pac-Man decals cover the walls. But the real day-maker at this lunch spot is their creatively named (and super flavorful) sandwiches. One we love is the Dropped A Banh On Mie loaded with smoked chicken, rich pâté, and spicy pickled carrots. It’s pressed until toasty and oozing with creamy lemon pepper mayo. Grab an Arnold Palmer or fresh orange juice to go with it, and feel better about taking on the rest of your day from one of the sidewalk tables. “