390427 Tue Apr 10 17:57:37 -0700 2007 64 8 Midwest 0 2468777 Just what is the best corned beef sandwich in metro Detroit? I've been to numerous delis in the metro area, mostly in Dearborn, to sample corned beef, but I haven't tasted any as good as the Star Deli in Southfield (24555 W 12 Mile Rd on the SW corner at Telegraph next to Starbucks). It's a hole in the wall--take out only. I don't remember if I learned of the Star Deli first from a post by chowhound Cheri or from my neighbor when, at her son's Bar Mitzvah, I inquired as to what is the best Jewish Deli in the Detroit area, but I am thankful. Just as what makes a good burger is the beef, not the bun, cheddar, or grilled onions, so what makes a good corned beef sandwich is the corned beef, not the rye, swiss, or slaw. The corned beef at the Star is not the least bit chewy--it crumbles when you bite. Oh yes, I've been to Zingermans, and their corned beef sandwich is good too. But I'm waiting to hit powerball before I return. Tue Apr 10 17:57:37 -0700 2007 59147 dearborn barkis 1 2468811 There is a little gem on 8 Mile Road, the north side, just west of Gratiot called House of Reuben. I lived in the area and have been going there since 1967. The menu hasn't changed, though the owner have. But the food is as good as I remember it from my youth. They still use 8A as the large reuben, and it is. The corned beef is lean, the pastrami tasty. Oh yeah, only about 11 stools, no tables, all counter dining. The place doesn't look like much, but as your momma told you, don't judge a book by its cover. Tue Apr 10 18:09:13 -0700 2007 2468777 80304 mty917 2 2469090 If the place doesn't look like much but it's been in business for over 40 years, then you know the chow has to be good. I'll have to find it. Tue Apr 10 19:47:07 -0700 2007 2468811 59147 dearborn barkis 3 2469489 House of reuben IMMEDIATELY came to mind when I read your post...You Will not be disappointed ! Huge sandwich, with piled high corned beef at a price you won't need the powerball to afford. The place is owned by Armenians (fyi), try their grilled chicken, and the beef barley soup is awesome too ! Go hungry ! They have another location in a remodeled taco bell west of freedom hill on 16 mile (sterling heights ?) Two more reccomendations #1 eph mcNallys (http://ephmcnallys.com) eclectic sandwich shop in Corktown and a new location on Woodward Downtown. #2 Gratiot Central Market (There is a sandwich shop (hambones ?) located in the market that specializes in STACKED Ham sandwiches (I think they offer Ruebens Too) . Enjoy ! Tue Apr 10 23:09:11 -0700 2007 2469090 87537 bigcab 4 2490861 House of Reuben... I went to location SW of 16 & Van Dyke - in the former Taco Bell. Reuben was amazing. Beef barley soup was good, but I went there for a reuben, and it was gooooood. Tue Apr 17 21:14:03 -0700 2007 2469489 69720 blues 1 2469535 Hey barkis. I, too, am familiar with the Star Deli, and while it's certainly no slouch, the corned beef at Stage & Co. in West Bloomfield (on Orchard Lake Road a bit south of Maple) is the best I've had. It's *not* inexpensive, either: my corned beef on Jewish rye with cole slaw and Russian dressing runs an eye-popping $11. Plus tax and tip. And yes, that is an outrageously high price. I fully admit this, and yes, it bugs me. Adding to that is the pretty lousy service the place has. I don't go there often. BUT! You knew I wouldn't leave you hanging out to dry, now didn't you? Anyway, the best idea is not to go to the actual original deli in West Bloomfield, but to go to one of the satellite locations that they have in a few of the local malls, like Somerset Collection for example. There's one in their food court area. I don't like to shop there, but hey: they do have Stage & Co. in their food court, and it's hard not to go. BEST OF ALL: the same sandwich that costs $11 at the West Bloomfield location only costs around $7 at the Somerset Collection, and it's just as good. It really is a cut above any other corned beef I've ever had. Star is good, but Stage is better for sure. Give it a try and tell me what you think. I'm betting you'll "see the light," so to speak. ;) Wed Apr 11 00:04:22 -0700 2007 2468777 44316 boagman 2 2472378 I use to frequent the Stage Deli at Fairlane Town Center's food court in Dearborn. It was good. But unfortunately they closed. I guess at $7 a sandwich they were pricier than the competition-- A&W, Kerby's, Sbarro's, Taco Time, Bourbon Street Chicken, and a corn dog specialist whose name I can't recall. There was always a line, however. I don't know why they closed. Unfortunately I usually shop at K-Mart and Target--not Somerset Collection. But Somerset is great for a stroll when the weather is chilly, like today. I'll have to get go to the food court to get a corned beef sandwich. Wed Apr 11 17:36:18 -0700 2007 2469535 59147 dearborn barkis 1 2471813 The Star is pretty damn good (I used to go there when I worked nearby, and miss it) and I am a big fan of Lou's Deli. It has lots of locations but the "flagship" is at 6 and Wyoming, near Marygrove College. NO ambiance and bulletproof glass, but great sandwiches. Wed Apr 11 14:54:54 -0700 2007 2468777 84809 AmyIM 2 2472226 I like the Bread Basket, at Greenfield at Lincoln (10 1/2 Mile). Huge sandwiches, great crusty bread. I know they now have several outposts, but the original location is best. Also much cheaper than Stage. Wed Apr 11 16:50:18 -0700 2007 2471813 24054 gooddog 3 2472315 Ick. Much lousier than the Stage, too. And the Star. In fact, when I tried the BBD, I did try the original location, and it was some of the most tasteless corned beef I'd ever had in my entire life. I guess there's a *reason* that it's cheaper. Stage continues to get my money, though Star isn't bad, either. Wed Apr 11 17:15:12 -0700 2007 2472226 44316 boagman 4 2473113 I have to disagree 100% with the slam on Bread Basket. It is, in fact, some of the most flavorful corned beef to be found anywhere (the original location in Oak Park). I grew up in Southfield and have enjoyed many dozens of corned beef sandwiches at both BB and Star over the years. I've also worked in two deli's. There's absolutely no way that Star is superior to Bread Basket. In fact, the quality of food is pretty similar except that the sandwiches are a bit larger at Bread Basket. The only thing you have to do (at either place) is pay a bit more for extra lean. I've also had Zingerman's a few times, and what I've had there hasn't been on a higher plane than Bread Basket. With all of that said, this is my personal taste. I don't claim to be the ultimate authority on corned beef, just someone who loves it and has had more than my share of it over the years. DB, I hope you try as many of the suggestions as possible and let us know what some of your favorites end up being. Wed Apr 11 22:16:34 -0700 2007 2472315 23292 Jeff from Michigan 5 2474543 "I have to disagree 100% with the slam on Bread Basket. It is, in fact, some of the most flavorful corned beef to be found anywhere (the original location in Oak Park). I grew up in Southfield and have enjoyed many dozens of corned beef sandwiches at both BB and Star over the years. I've also worked in two deli's. There's absolutely no way that Star is superior to Bread Basket. In fact, the quality of food is pretty similar except that the sandwiches are a bit larger at Bread Basket." Well, we can just agree to disagree without being disagreeable, then. I'll put it this way, though: on another food-related website, I made the same claim to someone who *also* swore by the BBD. On my recommendation, he tried the BBD again, and wholeheartedly agreed with my assessment. The meat itself was basically flavorless, or at least the most flavorless corned beef I (or he) had ever had in his life. In a corned beef sandwich, the most important part to get right is the *meat*. Simply because they give you a *lot* of flavorless meat doesn't make it good. Then again, perhaps I was there on a particularly bad day at the place, and when the other person went, the same thing happened. The odds of that happening, though, are pretty astronomical. Glad you like it, though. I'll continue to patronize the Stage. Thu Apr 12 11:13:09 -0700 2007 2473113 44316 boagman 6 2476035 Bread Basket Deli vs Lou's Deli--- Before me I have two half-eaten corned beef sandwiches--one from Bread Basket Deli and one from Lou's Deli (on Greenfield and 9-mile, sorry I didn't go to the flagship in Detroit, but this store is only 2 miles from BBD). Both are corned beef (cold, not heated) on Jewish rye, Russian dressing, Swiss cheese, and cole slaw. The classic Dinty Moore. Each cost $8 and change. The rye bread on each is nearly identical, fresh with crispy crust. But the BBD sandwich is much more substantial in size, has *real* creamy cole slaw, substantial swiss cheese, and excellent tangy Russian dressing. The cole slaw on the Lou's deli sandwich looks like it's shredded lettuce--it's that dry. And the swiss cheese is so thin that I had to check that it was there. Lou's Russian dressing is miniscule--not enough to test its tang. But most importantly where Lou's sandwich stands out is the quality of its corned beef--it crumbles like Star Deli's. In contrast, BBD's corned beef is a bit chewy. Maybe they gave me yesterday's delivery. It's a toss up which of the two I would rather go back to. Thu Apr 12 17:24:45 -0700 2007 2474543 59147 dearborn barkis 7 2489721 Hey, I'm sorry Lou's didn't work out sandwich wise--I must say I usually have something with pastrami, not corned beef. They can be inconsistent at times. However, after reading this thread I am working up a MAJOR deli craving! DB, I am new to the boards and always enjoy your posts for the friendly debate they spark and the new places I learn about! Tue Apr 17 14:39:08 -0700 2007 2476035 84809 AmyIM 8 2497920 Thanks AmyIM, I'm always willing to try new places, especially if they're recommended by fellow chowhounds. Most chowhounds come here as much for the camaraderie in a shared interest in chow as they do for getting information. And the liveliness of the discussion only increases its interest. We love debate. Without impassioned discussion, no one would visit this site. Because Boagman gratefully informed us about the amazing Scotty Simpson's Fish & Chips--I've been there half dozen times since his original post--I'm willing to forgive his dubious indifference to Bates Hamburgers or his strange preference for Stage Deli to Star Deli. Thirty years ago I loved discussing Jewish history and Russian literature. Today I'm more interested in Jewish corned beef and Russian dressing. I don't know if this means I'm getting older or getting younger. But I find myself visiting Chowhound daily. Thu Apr 19 19:04:57 -0700 2007 2489721 59147 dearborn barkis 9 2498160 "Because Boagman gratefully informed us about the amazing Scotty Simpson's Fish & Chips--I've been there half dozen times since his original post--I'm willing to forgive his dubious indifference to Bates Hamburgers or his strange preference for Stage Deli to Star Deli." I just ate lunch at Scotty's today. It was, as it always is, delicious. Bates just hasn't rung my bell like, say, Green's does. I remember thinking that it was just so-so at Bates. Doesn't mean it was bad, nor do I recall being unhappy. Just...eh. As for the Star/Stage debate, I do like them both...I hope everyone caught that. Of the two, I'd prefer the ingredients in Stage's sandwich, but fully acknowledge that the extra expense at the original location (in addition to the almost-always-shoddy service) may not be worth it. Believe me: I've had more than my fair share of Star Deli sandwiches. Personal preference, I guess. Always good discussion with you, barkis. :) Thu Apr 19 20:35:28 -0700 2007 2497920 44316 boagman 6 2479374 I went to the Bread Basket today for lunch. First time. Had the pastrami on rye. It was terrific. Meat had just the right amount of fat. Bread was crusty. Mustard had just the right amount of zing. Didn't order anything else so I could focus on the important stuff. I pronounce it at least as good as Zingermans in A2, which is my reference for good pastrami in the Detroit Metro area. Much better deal than Zingermans. I can't comment on the corned beef, because I didn't try it. However, my lunch companion today who goes to BBD regularly had the corned beef sandwich and pronounced it as good as usual. Fri Apr 13 17:27:48 -0700 2007 2474543 11051 bellmont 6 2498990 Fair enough, Boagman. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I have eaten at both BBD and Star recently. To me, the flavor and texture of the meat are virtually identical at the two. (Maybe I have been lucky and have visited both on good days.) It's funny - I've learned over the years that food reviews can sometimes be dubious at best when it comes to judgement of food quality. Even among friends, relatives, "professional" critics and within the Chowhound community, I'm sure you'll agree that you sometimes sit there shaking your head wondering what the heck people are talking about when it comes to a particular place. (Perhaps you're doing just that at the thought of BBD.) I guess we have to agree that personal tastes differ greatly, and appreciate the community for what it is - a fantastic jumping-off point for a journey. I've found many hits and misses at Chowhound and the other food sites, but every time I'm turned on to a gem that I wouldn't have discovered on my own, it makes the whole thing worthwhile. I don't know why I haven't tried Stage yet, especially since a guy I used to work with also had a second job there and recommended it, and since I've been to the Starbucks right next to it probably a dozen or so times. I think I might have walked into the Stage at some point and gotten scared away by the prices. But I'll give it another look the next time I'm in the area at lunch time. Based on the recommendations here, both Ron's and Steve's also sound like must-try's. I guess I'll just have to sample them all........... BTW, thanks also for the Scotty Simpson's recommendation. That place truly is the real deal when it comes to fish and chips. Fri Apr 20 07:40:55 -0700 2007 2474543 23292 Jeff from Michigan 2 2472383 6 and Wyoming? I'm there. Tomorrow. Thanks. Wed Apr 11 17:38:21 -0700 2007 2471813 59147 dearborn barkis 1 2472381 Just a vote for Steve's at Telegraph and Maple here ... haven't tried the corned beef, but their pastrami can rival anybody's. No argument on Zingerman's stratospheric prices, but they do have an unusual related food that the other places don't have: Montreal Smoked Meat. It's cured like corned beef and smoked like pastrami, I believe. Very tasty. Wed Apr 11 17:37:01 -0700 2007 2468777 13409 Jim M 2 2476655 YES - I'm glad you mentioned Steve's Deli (Maple & Telegraph), it is wonderful for all kinds of things. Usually when I go there I get their fresh roast turkey dinner (available each and every day, they roast fresh turkeys every day), their stuffing/dressing is the best (think it is made from challah), their lemon chicken is also great. I am the original Cheri that mentioned Star Deli having the best corned beef sandwiches, and I still stick by that recommendation, although I have never tried one at Steve's because their other things are so good. But based on the quality of all of their food, I'll bet their corned beef is great too. As far as I am concerned, Zingerman's is over-rated and over-priced, although their corned beef is high-quality, I don't find it as tasty as Star's. Everyone must try Steve's Deli, I highly recommend it. Their brownies are excellent also! Thu Apr 12 21:28:35 -0700 2007 2472381 23423 cheri 1 2475003 When in Ann Arbor, my husband and I have an ongoing lunch debate, which usually ends out in two sandwich stops. Zingermans for me, smoked turkey, tomato avocado, munster, Honeycup mustard on grilled challah at $12...and Angelo's (next to the med school) for him, grilled thick-sliced pastrami piled with sauteed onions and swiss at $6 giving him change left over for two loaves of raisin bread...which he grudgingly shares as french toast later. We both know he gets the better sandwich, but I'm addicted to the Honeycup mustard buzz. Thu Apr 12 13:00:04 -0700 2007 2468777 83852 grmdmom 2 2480567 Ron's Bagel Deli Restaurant on 14 mile in Commerce Township(Corner of M5 & 14 mile) comes to mind. Excellent corned beef. Just picked some up today along with a loaf of freshly baked rye bread to make a sandwich at home. Delish! Sat Apr 14 10:07:59 -0700 2007 2475003 16249 Rheta 3 2482040 I had a great pastrami sandwich at Ron's a couple weeks ago. I believe the owner and/or his family were the original owners of the Bread Basket. Sun Apr 15 00:23:44 -0700 2007 2480567 24054 gooddog 1 2499291 No love for Deli Unique in West Bloomfield Hills? It's been years since I was there, but their sandwiches were wonderful at the time (sinfully good rye bread)... Fri Apr 20 09:06:02 -0700 2007 2468777 55363 nsxtasy 1 2503235 Star Deli , best place I know of in Detroit unless you drive down to Wigleys and cook it yourself and slice it and make your own sandwich , which you should really do sometime . Sat Apr 21 21:22:01 -0700 2007 2468777 12504 GoalieJeff 1 3003873 Yesterday, I ate at the Onion Roll Deli at 11 Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak. GREATTT corned beef, and plenty of it. I had it with mustard and swiss on Grilled rye. Heavenly. Thu Oct 04 09:25:16 -0700 2007 2468777 132167 dmallia 2 3235074 good stuff Mon Dec 24 15:16:33 -0800 2007 3003873 152209 oaklandfoody 2 5171624 Thank you for the Onion Roll review. I have returned to Detroit after 15 years and in California there are no deli's at all. Onion is as good as I remember and the same owner. I haven't been to bread basket but I heard it is owned by Chaldeans. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I'm afraid to go there because I might get let down after all if not easter european jewish its just a subway. I used to Bread Basket for their Kreplach soup. The bread was thick, moist and crusty and cut from a loaf when you ordered your sandwich. Also check the facebook site for "save the deli". Really interesting site for deli and I am starting a thread for Detroit Deli's. Anyone know what happened to Katz's Deli on 9mile, I think close to the old stage location? Is the 9mile stage gone? Tue Nov 10 19:19:14 -0800 2009 3003873 1082967 dave59 3 5171907 See my reply to your Katz's query on your post below, but the same can be said of the Stage on 9 Mile. It's long gone, but it was there longer than Katz's was, IIRC. What's happened is that much of the uppercrust Jewish community has moved up to the West Bloomfield/Bloomfield Hills area, and the delis have followed them, for the most part. Oak Park is now a pretty dodgey area, and many businesses have just plain packed up and left, including *all* of the little Jewish bakeries/restaurants that used to be there on 9 Mile at Coolidge. The Star Bakery on Coolidge between 10 and 11 Mile is still there and their Jewish rye bread (they supply it to Star Deli, I know that for a fact) is still absolutely untouchable by anyone else. I stinking *love* their bread. Still, it's a far cry from 9 and Coolidge in terms of neighborhood, and I'd say that it really belongs more to the Berkley crowd than Oak Park. There is still a contingent of Orthodox Jews who live in Oak Park near the synagogue on 9 Mile there, but by far, most have moved further north on the map of metro Detroit. Tue Nov 10 22:11:49 -0800 2009 5171624 44316 boagman 1 3006364 Bode's in Plymouth serves awesome corned beef. They corn their own meat and it's great. The place is very, very plain. It's on Main Street by the RR tracks. Ask anyone in Plymouth and they'll give you directions. No pastrami, just corned beef. Bob Thu Oct 04 20:35:10 -0700 2007 2468777 107452 SonyBob 2 3006416 Try it for breakfast. Corned beef hash is top-notch. Yes, it's plain--but the regulars' coffee cups hanging on the wall are a nice bit of Midwestern detail. Thu Oct 04 20:59:23 -0700 2007 3006364 13409 Jim M 1 3008028 Samuel Hoffmans in Clawson for pastrami. Corned beef is so-so Fri Oct 05 10:44:20 -0700 2007 2468777 109573 coney with everything 1 3065528 Steve's Deli is what youre after. Real Jewish deli the corned beef is moist but not all fatty and chewy, the matzoh balls are light and fluffy and the broth has tons of flavor, the ruggalah is to die for...super clean and bright inside its located at Telegraph and Maple. Bon Appetite Thu Oct 25 05:06:07 -0700 2007 2468777 44895 loopidi 2 3066927 Well, that makes three votes for Steve's (yours plus Jim M and cheri). I'll have to try it on my next drive north on Telegraph from Dearborn. It'll be hard driving past the Star Deli at Twelve Mile to get there, though. :) Thu Oct 25 11:53:42 -0700 2007 3065528 59147 dearborn barkis 1 3215649 Former Detroiter here, now in New York, who grew up eating at the Stage (old location, in Oak Park), Lou's on 6 Mile, Lefkofsky's in the Broadway Market, and the Nosherie (now the Bread Basket). I'm a pastrami man. Tried Stage & Co. about five years ago for the first time in a while and was just appalled at the food and the service. Would NEVER go back there. The less said about it the better. The best pastrami sandwich in Detroit through the nineties and up till it closed in the past couple years (not sure when, exactly...in fact, I'm not entirely sure it's closed, but I think it is) was one that hasn't been mentioned: Mr. Fofo's, on Second about a mile north of the Fisher Building. An African-American-run establishment serving a sublime Jewish pastrami sandwich on Jewish rye with yellow mustard. The biggest, the tastiest I've had anywhere. Blew away all local competition as well as the offerings at Katz's, the Second Avenue Deli, and the Carnegie in New York. Fofo's also had excellent desserts: fresh-baked fruit cobblers, banana pudding, the tallest cakes you've ever seen. I have never tried the Star; I will vouch for Steve's, which is probably the only one I'd bother with these days. And I've been dying to try House of Reuben since a trustworthy friend told me about it not long ago. Cheers, M Mon Dec 17 11:37:57 -0800 2007 2468777 45899 mrfinewine 2 3220632 mrfinewine. Excellent post. I will certainly try Mr. Fofo's. Oh yes, i tried Steve's, finally. Three posters recommended it. Wonderful corned beef. Wonderful. But I lost all my lunch money for the entire week. It's pricey. I'm on a Dearborn budget, not a Bloomfield township budget. Tue Dec 18 19:32:23 -0800 2007 3215649 59147 dearborn barkis 3 3220963 Mr. FoFo's...does anyone recall if there was a location on Evergreen between 6 and 7 Mile Rds. in the 1980s? Used to ride by there on the bus to school and my simpleton friends and I used to laugh at the name...little did we know! Barkis, I ate at Mati's (Monroe, half a mile south of Michigan) for dinner today: corned beef on rye. I'm sure you've posted your opinion on the joint prior to now, but thought I'd ask anyway. Remind me/tell me what you think. I love their corned beef, I do, but the amounts have varied the past few times I've been. Tue Dec 18 22:22:55 -0800 2007 3220632 95259 amandaqtpie 4 3221889 amanaqtpie: ha, funny picturing you and your little school friends laffin' it up at the fofo moniker! the ignorance of youth. i used to laugh (cringe, actually) at a place i'd drive by on woodward all the time in the eighties: ASIAN CORNED BEEF. it was always bathed in a putrid green neon and sounded disgusting. now i regret not having tried it! long gone. Wed Dec 19 09:01:38 -0800 2007 3220963 45899 mrfinewine 4 3223637 Hi amandaqtpie: I revisted Mati's on the way home from work today, ordering Ellen's Favorite: "Hot corned beef, coleslaw, swiss cheese, and russian dressing on rye......$6.60". And that's before the AAA discount. Excellent sandwich, flavorful rye, tender corned beef, although not crumbly tender like Star or Steve's. And Kraft (!?!?) Russian dressing--(yes, I asked). But for my money it's a better bargain than what they serve north of 8-Mile. Other sandwich shops in Dearborn, La Penguina and Noah's, don't do corned beef as well as Mati's. And the cream-cheese brownies are amazing. Wed Dec 19 17:47:25 -0800 2007 3220963 59147 dearborn barkis 5 3450386 So is this in West Dearborn? Address or general location? Sat Mar 01 15:46:08 -0800 2008 3223637 10844 berkleybabe 6 3451616 It's on Monroe, the northwest corner of Monroe and Tenny. About two blocks south of Michigan. Sun Mar 02 08:01:12 -0800 2008 3450386 95259 amandaqtpie 3 3221877 dearborn barkis: WAIT! as i said in the post, i THINK it's closed. poke around on the internet for a phone number and try it before you go. i think mr. fofo used to bake desserts for the white house or something. they were GOOD. Wed Dec 19 08:59:31 -0800 2007 3220632 45899 mrfinewine 4 3226214 I drove by Mr. Fofo's earlier today. I did not have time to go in, but it looked like it was open. Definitely worth a call. Thu Dec 20 13:28:00 -0800 2007 3221877 13409 Jim M 2 3434184 BTW, there was an article somewhere about Mr. FoFo's the other day. Didn't make a note of it, and now I can't find the link. But the thrust was that it's now being run by a nonprofit that trains young people for life in the workplace. They may well have good food and a laudable program, but it doesn't sound as though the original Mr. FoFo, whoever he may have been, is there any longer. Mon Feb 25 16:43:26 -0800 2008 3215649 13409 Jim M 1 3226310 I am a former Detroiter now living in Arizona. I can't find a decent corned beef sandwich, or rye bread, here to save my life. My DH, DS and I ate at a deli the other night and I had a corned beef sandwich. It was just good, not the o m g good that I grew up with at Bread Basket and Stage (and does anyone remember Katz Deli, down the street from the original Stage in Oak Park?) I was trying to describe to my DH how fabulous the rye bread is back there, double-baked, w/ that thick, crackly, crunchy crust. Here, the rye bread is all soft and soggy, w/ caraway seeds. So sad. So I'll continue to live vicariously through all of you till I can get back there. Thu Dec 20 13:49:37 -0800 2007 2468777 140805 mdepsmom 2 3226774 I remember Katz! I used to go there with my grandma as a little kid and get the kreplach soup and dill pickles (among other things, but that's what stands out). I hear you on the deli desert out west- I lived out west almost 15 years. I've been back a little while now and indulging in Stage Deli at the mall and Zingerman's whenever possible, but I'm going to have to take a special trip and try the Bread Basket. My mom said that we went there years ago so I guess I need to refresh my memory. Thu Dec 20 16:25:35 -0800 2007 3226310 52234 kellycolorado 1 3235073 eph mcnalys Mon Dec 24 15:15:48 -0800 2007 2468777 152209 oaklandfoody 2 3320136 Tried going to Eph McNallys yesterday while I was downtown for the Auto Show, they've closed down for good. Never got to give it a try. Tue Jan 22 08:31:58 -0800 2008 3235073 159610 jddetroit 3 3320188 They've reopened in the heart of downtown, on Woodward just north of Congress. Look for the big pickle. Tue Jan 22 08:46:34 -0800 2008 3320136 13409 Jim M 4 3321063 and it is good. Tue Jan 22 12:14:13 -0800 2008 3320188 12267 xman887 4 3323658 I wish I had known that. I got their address off their website, it never said anything about moving. Wed Jan 23 07:27:11 -0800 2008 3320188 159610 jddetroit 5 3323686 That place is the classic example of a restaurant that serves good food but can be a royal pain in the butt. They don't serve water. They close when they feel like it. They don't update their website. The service isn't particularly good. But whoever's buying the darn corned beef knows what he or she is doing, and the sandwiches, all cheap, are good for a couple of meals each. Wed Jan 23 07:35:23 -0800 2008 3323658 13409 Jim M 6 3324470 you are right about the water. their sandwiches are priced from $7 to $10 and include a drink. personally, i would rather they knock a buck off the price and let me just have water. Wed Jan 23 10:45:21 -0800 2008 3323686 12267 xman887 7 5088824 BTW, they have given in on this and now serve water. Also recommended: Mudgie's, in Corktown in the old Eph's space. Thu Oct 08 11:47:36 -0700 2009 3324470 13409 Jim M 8 5089224 I will second Mudgie's in a heart beat.... Thu Oct 08 14:08:46 -0700 2009 5088824 178033 JanPrimus 1 3358261 Al Famous Deli on Woodward about two blocks south of 14 Mile in Royal Oak is definitely in the running. Al Winkler has been in the deli business for at least twenty-five years and he knows it well. Both the corned beef and the pastrami are top notch. Sat Feb 02 08:00:39 -0800 2008 2468777 28337 jcbroder 2 3942896 jcbroder, Al's Famous Deli on Woodward is part of the Bread Basket chain, and it is fabulous. Will be taking my brother and brother in law there during the Dream Cruise week....we'll gorge on a classic corned beef and watch the classic cars zoom by on Woodward...then if possible eat a wonderful Bob's Custard ice cream, right next door to Al's. Sat Aug 09 05:55:09 -0700 2008 3358261 217141 lynnland 1 3443874 Also not yet mentioned--to my amazement--is the Vineyard on Northwestern between 13 and 14 mile. Better than Star, IMO and only a tiny bit short of Zingerman's quality. Prices are 75% of the latter's for about the same sized sandwich. For reubens, the city's hidden gem is Hy Grade Deli, 3640 Michigan Ave. (just a few blocks west of Tiger Stadium. A bit of a sketchy neighborhood but I've never had a problem there. Don't bother looking at the menu: come for the reuben. Order the reuben. Return a different day for another reuben. Drink plenty of red wine in between to have a prayer of handling the cholesterol. Thu Feb 28 10:08:49 -0800 2008 2468777 59933 Ignatz 1 5171751 I have to say one of my favorites is Plaza Deli on Norhtwestern. They actually know what kreplach is! Does anyone know when Katz's on 9 mile closed? Anyone remember Brother's at Northland? Tue Nov 10 20:37:52 -0800 2009 2468777 1082967 dave59 2 5171888 Wow...Katz's! I didn't know that anyone remembered that place in Oak Park but my family and myself! That place has been closed for, bare minimum, 25 years. We used to get our sandwiches from there, and they were darned good, too! I haven't been to the Plaza Deli on NW Hwy. I'll have to check it out one of these days. From what my folks are telling me, the Star Deli on 12 Mile just raised their prices *again* to the point that the corned beef with slaw, Russian dressing, and a new dill is darned near $9. It's getting ridiculous now, since they're not the best in the area. They're a decent place, but that price is just too high now. Plaza does have new dills, correct? Tue Nov 10 22:00:24 -0800 2009 5171751 44316 boagman 3 5172144 Plaza is part of the Matt Prentice restaurant group, like Deli Unique, in case you didn't know. Wed Nov 11 04:34:38 -0800 2009 5171888 92112 Fibber McGee 4 5173407 Thanks. I ended up looking it up last night and found that out. Is there any discernable difference between Plaza Deli and Deli Unique? If not, then Stage is still my favorite. Not that Deli Unique is bad...no, far from it! But when it comes to comparing the corned beef sandwiches that I like from DU and Stage, Stage still wins. Wed Nov 11 12:42:19 -0800 2009 5172144 44316 boagman 5 5173455 I'm actually looking at both menus as I type this. There are minor differences. For instance, Deli Unique has a turkey burger, while Plaza does not. Also, Plaza offers sandwiches with amish chicken breast. Deli Unique does not seem to. At least, not on my menus. I think Plaza might be a little cheaper. I practically grew up behind the Stage (our house was on the street in the subdivision directly behind that strip. Our dogs loved going outside and sniffing the air anytime the scent of brisket was in the air. Wed Nov 11 12:52:46 -0800 2009 5173407 92112 Fibber McGee 2 5199216 Great suggestion! I tried Plaza Deli a couple of days ago, and both my parents and I agree: very, very good. Good enough to supplant Star Deli for our normal corned beef on rye with Russian dressing sandwich. It's a more-than-solid #2 in my book, cheaper than most, and considering that the Stage's sandwich is a full $4 more than Plaza's, and the Star is $1 more, we've got a new destination for corned beef sandwiches. Thanks for dropping the idea! Sat Nov 21 18:39:35 -0800 2009 5171751 44316 boagman