After Einhorn's letter to investors spread widely, several journalists visited Your Hometown Deli to evaluate its food. The New Yorker enlisted Ron Ferreira, a 40-year veteran of the Italian food industry in New Jersey, to evaluate four of Your Hometown Deli's sandwiches. Ferreira gave them largely positive reviews. At a time when Hometown International's market cap was about $2 billion, Ferreira estimated that the deli was worth no more than $50,000. Ben Gilbert of Insider visited the deli at about 2:00 PM on a Tuesday, when he was the only customer. Gilbert bought a cheesesteak and praised its quality and its low price, although he noted that the deli's building "looks more suited for a VFW outpost than a food establishment". A senior reporter at Philadelphia magazine found that the food was a good value for its cost, although he felt that the location was unremarkable. When he was visiting, four police officers were outside the deli to deter journalists and photographers from accosting customers.
