The Carthage Deli

Carthage, Missouri

MissouriDining

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The Carthage Deli has been serving sandwiches and sodas along Route 66 since 1979.

You’ll find this restaurant on the historic square in Carthage, across from the Jasper County Courthouse, tucked into the northwest corner inside the old Bank of Carthage building.

While the deli has been around since the 1970s, the interior leans into a 1950s soda fountain style. Find black-and-white checkered floors, vintage signs, Formica countertops, and even seating built into the back of a classic pink Chrysler.

The menu centers on sandwiches, with a wide range of options. You’ll find traditional picks like roast beef, BLTs, tuna melts, and Reubens, along with more modern options like a grilled honey-mustard chicken and turkey pesto. Try the famous Zebra Sandwich, made with roast beef, turkey, pepper cheese, creamy Italian dressing, and lettuce on marble rye.

Drinks are also popular menu items, with coffee and tea, Italian sodas, milkshakes, ice cream sodas, and specialty lattes on order.

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Retro interior at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant

The Carthage Deli

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Address:

301 S Main St, Carthage, MO 64836

Hours:

7:05 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday) 
7:05 am – 3:00 pm (Saturday)
Closed (Sunday)

Cost:

$

Phone Number:

(417) 358-8820

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Photos of The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri

Exterior building - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Exterior building - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Pink Chrysler seating and A&W sign  - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Retro gas pump and seating  - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Pink Chrysler seating  - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Woolworths sign  - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Pink chairs and tables  - The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Italian soda and zebra sandwich at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Italian soda and zebra sandwich at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Counter service at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Retro interior at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant
Retro interior at The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri Route 66 restaurant

Know Before You Go

To make the most of your visit to The Carthage Deli in Carthage, Missouri, here are some things to know before you go.

Where is The Carthage Deli located on Route 66?

The deli is located at 301 S Main Street on the historic square in Carthage, inside the former Bank of Carthage building. It sits just a short distance off Route 66.

What are the hours of operation?

The Carthage Deli is typically open Monday through Friday from early morning (around 7:00 AM) to late afternoon, with shorter hours on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

What is on The Carthage Deli menu?

The menu includes sandwiches, breakfast items, coffee, ice cream, and sweets. Popular options include sandwiches like turkey pesto and Reubens, along with breakfast specials such as biscuits or breakfast sandwiches.

The Zebra Sandwich at The Carthage Deli is one of our picks for the 15 Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in Missouri.

The Carthage Deli Menu

Sample menu, subject to change.

Coffees

  • Gourmet Coffee of the Day
  • Cappuccinos and Lattes
  • Espresso
  • Mochas: Hot, Frozen, or Iced

Teas

  • Black Tea (Earl Grey, Cafe Spice Chai)
  • Green Tea (Blueberry Green, Mint Julip, Jasmine Green)
  • Oolong Tea (Rose Flower, Iron Goddess)
  • White Tea (Acai Berry, Strawberry)
  • Red Tea (Berry Shortcake, Chocolate Mint)
  • Herbal Tea (Chamomile, Lemon Ginger)

Breakfast Meals

  • Omelet Meal (Ham and cheese omelet with bacon, wheat toast, and house coffee)
  • Ham Steak Meal (Grilled ham steak with biscuit and gravy and house coffee)
  • Breakfast Platter (Two eggs, bacon, wheat toast, and house coffee)
  • Southwest Scrambler (Eggs with sausage, green peppers, onions, and cheddar, served with toast and coffee)
  • Three Meat Scrambler (Eggs with ham, bacon, sausage, cheddar and pepper cheese, served with toast and coffee)
  • Ham & Cheese Scrambler (Eggs with ham and cheddar, served with toast and coffee)

Breakfast Sandwiches

  • Breakfast Sub (Eggs, sausage, bacon, onion, green peppers, and pepper cheese on toasted sourdough hoagie)
  • Steak Bagel (Grilled steak, egg, onions, and provolone on a toasted bagel)
  • Sausage, Egg & Cheese (Sausage patty, egg, and American cheese on biscuit or toast)
  • Ham, Egg & Cheese (Smoked ham, egg, and American cheese on biscuit or toast)
  • Bacon, Egg & Cheese (Bacon, egg, and American cheese on biscuit or toast)

Breakfast Favorites

  • Burrito (Eggs, sausage, cheddar and pepper cheese in a tomato & herb wrap)
  • Single Country Biscuit (Biscuit with egg and American cheese topped with gravy)
  • Double Country Biscuit (Two biscuits with eggs and American cheese topped with gravy)
  • Single Biscuit & Gravy (Biscuit topped with gravy)
  • Double Biscuit & Gravy (Two biscuits topped with gravy)
  • Loaded Country Biscuit (Biscuit with egg, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, gravy and cheddar)
  • Double Loaded Country Biscuit (Two biscuits with eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, gravy and cheddar)
  • Pancakes (Buttermilk, cinnamon swirl, maple bacon, or chocolate chip)

Lunch Sandwiches

  • BBQ Melt (Roast beef, ham, bacon, cheddar, onion, pickle and BBQ sauce on Texas toast, grilled)
  • Big Bear (Roast beef, bacon, cheddar, pepper cheese and mayo on toasted kaiser)
  • BLT (Bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on wheat toast)
  • Chicken Filet (Chicken with mayo, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta)
  • Chicken Salad (Chicken salad with lettuce, tomato and onion on wheat toast)
  • Club Deluxe (Turkey, bacon, American cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and banana peppers on kaiser)
  • Corned Beef (Corned beef, Swiss, mustard and lettuce on marble rye)
  • Grilled Honey-Mustard Chicken (Chicken with honey-mustard, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta)
  • Ham & Cheese Melt (Ham, cheddar, Swiss, honey-mustard, onion and pickle on Texas toast, grilled)
  • Reuben (Corned beef, Swiss, kraut and 1000 island on marble rye, grilled)
  • Three Cheese & Turkey Melt (Turkey with multiple cheeses and Italian dressing on Texas toast, grilled)
  • Tuna Salad (Tuna salad with lettuce, tomato and onion on wheat toast)
  • Tuna Melt (Tuna with cheese, onion, pickles and mustard on Texas toast, grilled)
  • Turkey Club (Turkey, American cheese, bacon, mayo, lettuce and tomato on wheat toast)
  • Chicken Club Sub (Chicken, bacon and American cheese on sourdough hoagie)
  • Deluxe Grilled Cheese (Multiple cheeses with bacon on Texas toast, served with pickles and ranch)
  • Grilled Chicken Wrap (Chicken, onion, cheddar, ranch, lettuce and tomato in a wrap)
  • Super Sub (Roast beef, turkey, ham, cheeses, Italian dressing, lettuce and tomato on hoagie)
  • Club Ciabatta (Turkey, bacon, cheddar, ranch, onion and lettuce on ciabatta)
  • Turkey Deluxe (Turkey, Swiss, onion, mayo, lettuce and tomato on focaccia)
  • Turkey Pesto (Turkey, provolone, pesto, onion, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta)
  • Torpedo (Turkey, ham, salami, cheeses, mustard, Italian dressing and pickle on hoagie)
  • Veggie Sandwich (Swiss, vegetables and Italian dressing on wheat berry toast)

Additional Sandwiches

  • BBQ Ham (Ham, American cheese and BBQ sauce on kaiser)
  • Beef-N-Ham (Roast beef, ham, American cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato on kaiser)
  • Deli Delite (Ham, salami, pepper cheese and Italian dressing on kaiser)
  • Frito Pie (Corn chips topped with chili and cheddar)
  • Grilled Cheese (American cheese on Texas toast with pickles)
  • Ham & Swiss (Ham, Swiss, mayo, lettuce and tomato on marble rye)
  • Mini Sub (Roast beef, ham, American cheese and Italian dressing on hoagie)
  • Roast Beef (Roast beef with mayo, lettuce and tomato on wheat)
  • Smokey Joe (Roast beef, American cheese and BBQ sauce on kaiser)
  • Smoked Turkey (Turkey, Swiss and mayo on kaiser)
  • Turkey (Turkey with mayo, lettuce and tomato on wheat)
  • Zebra (Roast beef, turkey, pepper cheese and Italian dressing on marble rye)
  • Chicken Deluxe (Chicken, bacon, American cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta)
  • Classic Club (Turkey, ham, cheeses, bacon, onion, ranch, lettuce and tomato on wheat)
  • Deluxe BLT (Bacon with 1000 island, vegetables and cheeses on focaccia)
  • Deluxe Reuben (Corned beef, Swiss, 1000 island and kraut on marble rye)
  • Double Decker (Roast beef, ham, cheeses, mayo, lettuce and tomato on triple-layer rye)
  • French Dip (Roast beef with cheeses, onions and mushrooms on roll with au jus)
  • Steak Sub (Steak with peppers, onions and provolone on hoagie)

Salads

  • Chef Salad (Turkey, cheddar, vegetables and dressing)
  • Grilled Chicken Salad (Chicken, cheddar, olives, corn chips and dressing)
  • Taco Salad (Corn chips, chili, lettuce, cheddar, olives and salsa)
  • Side Salad (Lettuce, tomato, cheddar, onion, peppers, mushrooms and dressing)

Sweets

  • Cookies (Assorted cookies)
  • Scones and Raspberry Croissants (Pastries)
  • Giant Cinnamon Rolls (Large cinnamon rolls)
  • Big Cookies (Reese’s Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chunk Pretzel, Triple Chocolate Raspberry)
  • Frosted Sugar Cookies (Decorated sugar cookies)

Ice Cream

  • Sundaes (Raspberry Fudge Ripple, Turtle, Fudge-Brownie, Strawberry, Caramel)

Shakes and Malts

  • Cappuccino Shake (Blended coffee shake)
  • Shakes or Malts (Classic ice cream shakes and malts)

Favorites

  • Ice Cream Sodas & Floats (Classic soda fountain drinks)
  • Frozen Lemonade (Peach, Mango, Strawberry, Cherry)
  • Frozen Mochas (Blended coffee drinks)
  • Dips of Ice Cream (Single or double scoop in cone or cup)
Do they serve breakfast?

Yes. Breakfast is available, including items like a ham, egg, and cheese biscuit served in the morning hours.

Where can you park?

There is plenty of parking around the square.

Where to Stay Near The Carthage Deli

Complete your travel itinerary and get a good night’s rest on your road trip with a stay at one of these Missouri hotels near Route 66.

Boots Court Motel

The Boots Court Motel in Carthage, Missouri opened in 1939. This historic Route 66 motor hotel hosted actor Clark Gable numerous times.

Rockwood Motor Court

Rockwood Motor Court opened as a Tourist Camp in 1929, just three years after Route 66 was commissioned. Renovated in 2019, you’ll enjoy clean and comfortable rooms themed to eras of Route 66 with vintage décor, furniture, and memorabilia.

Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven

After a day behind the wheel, stopping at all of the Mother Road’s iconic roadside attractions, museums, restaurants, and more, a good shower and a comfy bed is always a welcome sight. Take that and add modern amenities, vintage charm, and a touch of Elvis, and you have the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven motel in Springfield, Missouri. Book a stay in the iconic Elvis Suite for a unique night!

Attractions Near The Carthage Deli on Route 66

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Let the Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit be your guide.

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Planning your Route 66 road trip? Our Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit is your go-to resource for crafting the perfect itinerary! With over 1,300 stops, including quirky roadside attractions, historic sites, and classic diners, our toolkit helps you prioritize what matters most to you. It’s the ultimate guide to making your road trip truly unique and memorable. Ready to hit the road? Start planning your adventure now! #Route66 #Route66RoadTrip #Route66TravelPlanning

Is road trip planning driving you crazy?

Let the Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit be your guide.

Are you ready to hit the Mother Road but feeling overwhelmed with planning? The Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit is your one-stop solution! Spanning 2,448 miles of pure Americana, Route 66 is packed with quirky attractions, historic sites, and unforgettable experiences—so why settle for a generic, outdated itinerary? Our toolkit offers a customizable travel spreadsheet with over 1,300 stops, a detailed eBook, and a step-by-step video guide to help you craft your dream Route 66 road trip. Don’t miss out—start planning your perfect Route 66 adventure today!

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