An American man angry that a deli had fouled up his sandwich order decided to take his beef to police.

The man, identified by police as Rother McLennon of East Hartford, Connecticut, called 911 on Wednesday and complained that he "specifically asked for little turkey and little ham, a lot of cheese and a lot of mayonnaise" and the Grateful Deli in East Hartford got it wrong.

"You're calling 911 because you don't like way that they're making your sandwich?" the dispatcher asked.

"Exactly," McLennon replied.

McLennon explained that that the person he was talking to at the deli was not the person who made the sandwich and was refusing to fix the problem.

"I mean, I just want to solve this the right way," he said. "Her sister made it, but she left. They are playing games with me, so I was just wondering if you could come by. I just want it resolved and I want to be able to come back here and get the regular sandwich that I ask for."

Before ending the call, the dispatcher advised him not to buy the sandwich.

Deli owner Tila Azinheira tells WVIT-TV that McLennon had placed an order for 14 sandwiches and the deli made them to his specifications. She said he was told that because the sandwiches were special orders, the deli couldn't take them back.

She said he used her phone to call police.

McLennon called the deli back on Thursday to apologise, she said.

"I think the customer realized how wrong he was," she said.

No charges have been filed.

Attempts to reach McLennon weren't successful. There was no listing for a telephone number at his address.

- AP