Steve,
Little did you know, VI and I were dining at the "kitchen table" when you were at Eleven City. (We were at a booth at the back, near the kitchen.)
I'm not going to pile on. Here are some positives. I really like the design of the place, and I was pleased to see that this corner of the city has almost completed its transformation over the past few years into a living, even buzzing neighborhood. I think that 11 City might become the anchor, quickly. The mix of condo dwellers, small business owners, screaming drunks (ask VI), and mainly, lots and lots of students have turned something of a dead zone into a vital place. Makes da Mayor look like he has vision, kind of.
The main guy, who is trying a little too hard to be the "Brash Jewish Deli Owner" with a hipster twist means well -- that's obvious. He really seems to care what you think, and wants things to be right, even though he clearly disagrees with you. The guy's having fun, which is more than most of us can say about our job.
The help has serious problems. There are plenty of appropriately skilled waitpersons at various establishments with "Golden" in the name around town who would jump at the chance to make the tips that might come from 11 City. They should reach out to these career servers.
I agree with Steve and others about most of the deli food. Not sure it's going to get there, and what with the business already and the foot traffic, I'm not sure that anyone is going to be in a big hurry to raise the bar. I do have to disagree with the early comment that the meat is 87% as good as Langer's. Hardly, at least today. Not that my pastrami was bad. Pretty good, really. Think of it this way, sports and movie buffs: Jake LaMotta was maybe 87% as good as Ray Robinson. The 11 City Diner sandwich is ranked, an up-and-comer, an early undercard, but not a contender, and no, not a near-even match with the champ. Chopped liver was pretty good. My benchmark in Chicago is still Gibson's.
But the patty melt does look nice, and I was interested in the sliders. So the neighborhood is lousy with burger options -- Hackney's, Blackie's, that new Green Bay place, and now the unlikely Jewish Diner.
Oh, they have some nice looking smoked fish in the front case, that you can't buy yet.
I'm rooting for the place. Looks like a good late-night stop for a patty melt.
Last edited by
JeffB on April 7th, 2006, 9:17 am, edited 1 time in total.