I love a good Jewish Deli. Being from the South, though, and growing up around Atlanta, I've been handicapped my whole life in finding one. At least a half dozen times, I've gotten excited when a new place would open and advertise as being an "Authentic Jewish Deli." But when I would go in to eat, I would discover that none of them had my favorite deli sandwich, chopped liver and onion. When asked about it, the response would always be something like, "Oh, we don't serve that here, no one would buy it." Well excuse me, Andrew Jackson. Are you kidding me? It's the greatest deli sandwich of all time, and if you don't have it, then quit calling yourself a genuine deil.
Agreed - A true Jewish deli is one thing missing from the MSP dining landscape.
In regards to your other choices, I cannot believe you didn’t mention a tongue sandwich in any of your reviews. For me, it’s not a true NYC-style deli unless they’ve got a tongue (hot and cold) sandwich on the menu.
The best list: Katz’s certainly is up there. Sarge’s on 3rd Ave has become our best backup option (over 2nd Ave Deli).
I miss the Carnegie, Stage, and Ben’s from not so long ago!
Andrew you’re right on about Langer’s. Brent’s in Northridge in the Valley is also excellent, just not as good as Langer’s. If only Poughkeepsie had a great Jewish Deli when we were at Vassar!
I grew up in Indianapolis and I never cared for Shapiro’s. Now I’m in California, I’ll have to head to LA to try out the one you mentioned there. Love me a good Reuben!!
Just no love for Chicago?! I 2nd or maybe 3rd Mannys. I’d also ad Jeff & Jude’s. Many years ago, as the possibly only gentile at my work in Wilmette, I brought some co-workers to near cardiac arrest when I pulled out a Lenders bagel with my lunch! It was tossed in the trash & I was brought to Kaufman’s. And my introduction to proper bagels, bialy, pastrami….began. Also added Schmear & dollap to my vocabulary. But this pickle bar you mention??? Yup! Yup! Yup! Im in.
I sadly have to disagree about Wise Sons. Just because they make everything doesn't mean they make it well. They are also very over priced for what you get. I do see lots of new bagel places in the Bay Area, namely Boichik that is excellent for New York style (better!) bagels. They also have some good fish (sable, whitefish, lox) .. They lack the corned beef or pastrami though. That's literally all the Bay Area has going for it. LA is the king of the Deli, and I'm surprised that only one LA Deli made the list. A better deli is Brent's for all things.
Benji’s in Shorewood (Milwaukie, WI) famous for their Hopple Popple; Kaufman’s in Skokie, IL and Manny’s in Chicago, also Jack’s Cleveland.
I love a good Jewish Deli. Being from the South, though, and growing up around Atlanta, I've been handicapped my whole life in finding one. At least a half dozen times, I've gotten excited when a new place would open and advertise as being an "Authentic Jewish Deli." But when I would go in to eat, I would discover that none of them had my favorite deli sandwich, chopped liver and onion. When asked about it, the response would always be something like, "Oh, we don't serve that here, no one would buy it." Well excuse me, Andrew Jackson. Are you kidding me? It's the greatest deli sandwich of all time, and if you don't have it, then quit calling yourself a genuine deil.
Yes, Katz's of course, but what about Barney Greengrass, "The Sturgeon King"?
In NYC
Ben's Kosher Deli 38th and 8th
Also Sarge's not Kosher in the Murray Hill area
Agreed - A true Jewish deli is one thing missing from the MSP dining landscape.
In regards to your other choices, I cannot believe you didn’t mention a tongue sandwich in any of your reviews. For me, it’s not a true NYC-style deli unless they’ve got a tongue (hot and cold) sandwich on the menu.
The best list: Katz’s certainly is up there. Sarge’s on 3rd Ave has become our best backup option (over 2nd Ave Deli).
I miss the Carnegie, Stage, and Ben’s from not so long ago!
Russ McGill
Lakeville, MN
Sam LaGrassa, Katz’s and Zingerman’s
Longing for sablefish.
Shapiro's (Indianapolis) pastrami is also fantastic. But Bagel Fair in Nora is where you want to go for bagels.
Also, your copy editor seems to have removed all the delis in the Greater Chicagoland Area. Did that get split out for a later post?
Andrew you’re right on about Langer’s. Brent’s in Northridge in the Valley is also excellent, just not as good as Langer’s. If only Poughkeepsie had a great Jewish Deli when we were at Vassar!
I grew up in Indianapolis and I never cared for Shapiro’s. Now I’m in California, I’ll have to head to LA to try out the one you mentioned there. Love me a good Reuben!!
Leibmann in Riverdale, NY...Classic!
next time you're in Seattle, you gotta try Dingfelders Delicatessen! https://dingfelders.com. Their Corned Beef is next-level
Protzel’s with Carl’s coming in a close second, both in St. Louis, MO. I’m heading to Chicago this weekend and plan to try Manny’s.
Just no love for Chicago?! I 2nd or maybe 3rd Mannys. I’d also ad Jeff & Jude’s. Many years ago, as the possibly only gentile at my work in Wilmette, I brought some co-workers to near cardiac arrest when I pulled out a Lenders bagel with my lunch! It was tossed in the trash & I was brought to Kaufman’s. And my introduction to proper bagels, bialy, pastrami….began. Also added Schmear & dollap to my vocabulary. But this pickle bar you mention??? Yup! Yup! Yup! Im in.
I sadly have to disagree about Wise Sons. Just because they make everything doesn't mean they make it well. They are also very over priced for what you get. I do see lots of new bagel places in the Bay Area, namely Boichik that is excellent for New York style (better!) bagels. They also have some good fish (sable, whitefish, lox) .. They lack the corned beef or pastrami though. That's literally all the Bay Area has going for it. LA is the king of the Deli, and I'm surprised that only one LA Deli made the list. A better deli is Brent's for all things.
Woodside deli in Germantown,MD.