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Mensch's Deli in Evanston

Mensch's Deli in Evanston
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  • Mensch's Deli in Evanston

    Post #1 - August 28th, 2024, 1:09 pm
    Post #1 - August 28th, 2024, 1:09 pm Post #1 - August 28th, 2024, 1:09 pm
    This traditional Jewish deli has opened fairly recently. My recent lunch there was excellent. I had the half sandwich and cup of soup. Pastrami on rye with mustard was on point as was the matzo ball soup. The standout, however, was the latke, which are fried to order. Crunchy and well seasoned.

    No pickles on the table, but that seems to be because they take their pickles seriously. The sandwich came with 3 different types of pickle slices, all excellent. You can also get an extra side of green tomato pickles.

    One of my companions said she'd heard the pastries were good so we tasted the chocolate babka. Jewish desserts are not generally my favorite, but this was pretty good.

    They seem to focus on keeping the menu limited, but doing what they do very well. By this I mean, for example, they had pastrami and corned beef, but no tongue,

    The place was busy at lunch on a Wednesday, so from that absurdly small data sample it seems they may have found a niche. They are generally open from 8 to 3;00.

    Go have a nosh or two.

    Mensch's Deli
    1608 Chicago Ave.
    Evanston, IL 60201
  • Post #2 - October 27th, 2024, 12:00 pm
    Post #2 - October 27th, 2024, 12:00 pm Post #2 - October 27th, 2024, 12:00 pm
    Both the Lovely Dining Companion and I were fairly certain that we had independently read about Mensch's making their own bagels. So we've been curious for some time to try and compare to NYB&B which is our go-to, particularly since its Dempster location is only a ten-minute drive from the house.
    Popped in yesterday and bought some to try. We both thought they seemed remarkably similar to NYB&B bagels. So I thought I'd see how the prices compared, per bagel. I went to Mensch's website where a careful reading of the menu surprised me by saying that in fact Mensch's buys their bagels from NYB&B.
    We must confess to a bit of disappointment since we we believed they made their own and were quite eager to try the new kid on the block (relatively speaking).
    Live and learn.
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #3 - October 27th, 2024, 7:05 pm
    Post #3 - October 27th, 2024, 7:05 pm Post #3 - October 27th, 2024, 7:05 pm
    Mensch’s has always been forthright about their bagel supplier.

    The newish bagel bakery in Evanston is Lefty’s Righteous Bagels at 827 Chicago Ave. They sell a wood fired, Montreal style product.
  • Post #4 - October 27th, 2024, 9:02 pm
    Post #4 - October 27th, 2024, 9:02 pm Post #4 - October 27th, 2024, 9:02 pm
    On the plus side Gypsy Boy, you now have a tip for a rare Bagel style to try in Evanston!

    Thanks, Scottsol!

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #5 - October 27th, 2024, 9:27 pm
    Post #5 - October 27th, 2024, 9:27 pm Post #5 - October 27th, 2024, 9:27 pm
    Cathy2 wrote:On the plus side Gypsy Boy, you now have a tip for a rare Bagel style to try in Evanston!

    Thanks, Scottsol!

    Regards,
    Cathy2

    If they're anything like the ones I had at St Viateur Bagels or Fairmount Bagels when I visited Montreal this summer, prepare for disappointment. Definitely nothing to write home about. :(

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #6 - October 28th, 2024, 4:05 am
    Post #6 - October 28th, 2024, 4:05 am Post #6 - October 28th, 2024, 4:05 am
    scottsol wrote:Mensch’s has always been forthright about their bagel supplier.

    The newish bagel bakery in Evanston is Lefty’s Righteous Bagels at 827 Chicago Ave. They sell a wood fired, Montreal style product.


    I'm not accusing them (Mensch's) of anything. We made a mistake.

    We'll be trying Lefty's soon (and hoping Ron is wrong.... Nah, that won't happen. Well, maybe our tastes diverge. Yeah, that's it. Anyway, looking forward to trying them and finding out.)
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #7 - October 28th, 2024, 4:11 am
    Post #7 - October 28th, 2024, 4:11 am Post #7 - October 28th, 2024, 4:11 am
    Lefty’s technique differs from the typical Montreal in one respect, the dough is proofed overnight, yielding more rise.
  • Post #8 - October 28th, 2024, 8:03 am
    Post #8 - October 28th, 2024, 8:03 am Post #8 - October 28th, 2024, 8:03 am
    Gypsy Boy wrote:
    scottsol wrote:Mensch’s has always been forthright about their bagel supplier.

    The newish bagel bakery in Evanston is Lefty’s Righteous Bagels at 827 Chicago Ave. They sell a wood fired, Montreal style product.


    I'm not accusing them (Mensch's) of anything. We made a mistake.

    We'll be trying Lefty's soon (and hoping Ron is wrong.... Nah, that won't happen. Well, maybe our tastes diverge. Yeah, that's it. Anyway, looking forward to trying them and finding out.)

    Lol, it's a low barrier to entry. No (culinary) reason not to try them out. On a trip to Montreal during which we ate really well, the bagels were the biggest disappointment. Hence, my harsh comments. Now, if Lefty is owned by the same Lefty who owns the pizza place, there may be other reasons one may want to steer clear. There's a thread here somewhere . . .

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #9 - October 28th, 2024, 9:43 am
    Post #9 - October 28th, 2024, 9:43 am Post #9 - October 28th, 2024, 9:43 am
    ronnie_suburban wrote:, if Lefty is owned by the same Lefty who owns the pizza place, there may be other reasons one may want to steer .
    =R=


    Clearly not. The bagel Lefty is a righteous dude.
  • Post #10 - October 28th, 2024, 9:57 am
    Post #10 - October 28th, 2024, 9:57 am Post #10 - October 28th, 2024, 9:57 am
    scottsol wrote:
    ronnie_suburban wrote:, if Lefty is owned by the same Lefty who owns the pizza place, there may be other reasons one may want to steer .
    =R=


    Clearly not. The bagel Lefty is a righteous dude.

    Hahaha! :lol:

    =R=
    Same planet, different world

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