Yom Kippur Ruined by Solly's Deli...

[CucumberBoy]

So my Significant Cat and I were looking forward to a nice, rainy Yom Kippur when I made the decision to order take out from Solly's deli.

Big mistrake.

First, the "person" at Solly's couldn't figure out the word "bundt"; second, they seemed clueless as to several of the items we ordered. I guess that's not a surprise considering how overly huge the menu is at that place.

Anyway, the Cat goes to Solly's to pick up the order; she asks "Is everything I ordered here in this bag?" The "person" behind the counter breaks into a toothy, overconfident grin and says "Of course, we are professionals!"

So the Cat pays for the stuff and heads home.

That's when we discovered that not only did they forget to put our dessert into the bag, but they also forgot an entire entree. Yes, we were charged for two items that we didn't receive.

By this time it's raining bagels and pickles and I'll be darned if I'm sending the Cat back out into the squall.

So we call Solly's (now rechristened "Surly's") back, spend about an hour explaining what happened, all while eating the worst roast-beef sandwich we've ever had the misfortune of masticating/digesting. And the sweet/sour cabbage soup? No thanks, I don't drop acid anymore.

The "person" we spoke with took a solid hour to grasp the concept of client dissatisfaction; after repeated assurances that the evening "manager" would tell the day "manager" we'd be by tomorrow to collect our money for the items we paid for but didn't receive, we sulked and watched TV.

Another Yom Kippur down the drain.

Next day the Cat drops by Surly's and has a knock-down drag-out fight with the day "manager". After causing what can only be described as a "scene", the day "manager" grudgingly returned our cash refund, but only after wasting a half-hour trying to convince the Cat to accept a restaurant credit.

"As if we'd eat here again, growl!" said the Cat to the "manager".

I've lived in Sherman Oaks forever and I've never taken a shine to Surly's; the Yom Kippur Incident of 2007 has only cemented my distaste for this shoddily-operated delicatessen.

Next time, I'll make the drive to Canters, they have better Matso ball soup anyway.

[yummyinmytummy]

I think your first mistake was to order from a deli that is open on Yom Kippur...a sure sign that something is off.

[hrhboo]

I don't see what that has to do with anything. Solly's has bacon, shrimp and cheeseburgers on the menu, why would they bother closing on Yom Kippur? Both Solly's and Jerry's have been lousy for as long as I can remember!

[ChinoWayne]

Concur, I believe Solly's is owned by the Jerry's corporation, so why so much kvetching about poor deli performance, that should be expected from the Jerry's conglomerate.

[Servorg]

I made the error of going to Jerry's in Marina Del Rey the other day because I needed a very early breakfast and they are open 24 hrs. Really bad food. I had an ortega chile and jack cheese omlette that was 90% ortega chile and a little bit of cheese. It was sort of like eating raw ortega chile's with a little bit of egg. Also the side of salsa is really a side of chopped tomatoes with a bit of onion. Just bad, that's all I can say.

Oh yeah, I had asked for it done with egg whites, twice and it still came out without being done the right way. At that point I was pushed for time and couldn't afford to have them do it over again.

[ChinoWayne]

Repeat after me:

I - WILL - NEVER- PATRONIZE - JERRY'S - DELI - AGAIN

Next time head over to Junior's.

[Servorg]

Don't worry, I have your oath tattooed on my... (never mind). If Jr's had been open I would have gladly gone there, but 5 am is well before they are doing biz. Next time I'll just go to Norm's or Dolores on Santa Monica Blvd., (unless I feel like spending the big bucks and doing breakfast at PDC on Wilshire).

[ChinoWayne]

What time does Du-Par's at the Farmers Market open? Farmer's Market was always the destination that I rewarded myself when I used to pedal up from Palms.

[Servorg]

They are also 24/7 but considerably farther from my house. If I had not had to leave to drive south to meet someone I would have taken the time to go to Dupar's.

[Diana]

The only thing I go to Jerry's for is the Midnight Madness dessert...once a year or so!

[ElJeffe]

Yeah, not a fan either. Tried Junior's for the first time recently. Wasn't a huge fan. Pastrami was fattier than at most of the other places. May be a good thing for some, but I am Jack Sprat. I would say overall, I like Izzie's the most for West Side delis.

[CynD]

Izzies?!?!?! I've had a "never eat there again" experience every time I decided to give poor Izzy one more try. Bleh!! It's now second on my list, along with Jerry's. And imho, Junior's is only for those occasions when it's the only port in a storm (i.e., Nate'n'Al's is closed, and Brent's is too far).

[Emme]

Sorry to hear that, as egg white omelettes are the *only* thing I will patronize Jerry's for... then again, I don't do eat at the Marina branch (only Encino, WH, Westwood, Beverly Center) and my filling is tomatoes,onions, and mushrooms, and I've never had a problem. Good to know to definitely avoid the Marina branch, unless I want vegetable or chicken matzah ball soup.

[Diana]

In a way, going to Solleys or Jerry's for High Holy Days and such is like going to Panda Express for Chinese new year or Mooncake festival.

They used to be authentic, but now they've grown into a franchised monster with people who have no connection or link.

[SIMIHOUND]

Brent's is closed for dining on YK anyway. I think you can get platters for "break the fast" later in the day.

[Jack Flash]

Some of the absolute worst food I've eaten in my 37 years of existence has come from Solley's, and that's going back to the 1980s, before it was purchased by Jerry's (and Jerry's was actually decent in those days). Never my choice. Considering I've had the misfortune of eating there, or eating food from there on more than one occasion, I can confidently say that I've had more bad food from there than anywhere else, except for the dining hall in college.

[stacyface]

oh do i remember the days when i was a little kid and they had the HUGE jars of cloudy, juicy super sour pickles you can pull out with a pair of tongs...THAT's when it was awesome. now i won't put one foot in there BECAUSE it's owned by jerry's deli, which i hardly call a deli.

[brandygirl]

Agreed on Solly's--the last time I went, years ago, I said would be my last.

Next time, either take a drive to Brent's in Northridge or go to Art's in Studio City.

[Golem]

No question about it, Brent's in Northridge or Art's in Studio City beats anything Jerry's, including and especially Solly's. In my 'umble opinion, the only two delis in the Valley are Brent's and Art's. It's worth the drive if you aren't close. And, in case you don't know, Brent's does deliver. I've seen their delivery vans all the way in Los Feliz and Santa Monica.

[The Chowhound Team]

Just a reminder that we're here to discuss deliciousness. If you've got an opinion on the food at Solly's or a better deli choice in LA, please let us know, but posts that are focused on whether it's okay to eat on Yom Kippur are off topic and will be removed.

[compucook]

I totally agree with the comment that Solley's is the pits! We recently had breakfast there one Sunday morning with our 2 year old grandson. His pancakes were the ONLY thing that was decent. DH's chiliquiles were disgusting- We're used to homemade (recipe on the back of the tortilla package) or Hugo's. My poached eggs were swimming in water and my waffle was inedible. I returned it for an onion bagel. What came back wasn't onion- it was an everything bagel...blech- and it sure as heck wasn't from Western Bagel! DH's comment, "What a waste of $32!" No kidding.

[carter]

Question: Why would anyone, compucook included, go to Solley's to order chiliquiles?!
You go there for deli food, period! Do not deviate and the food is at least as good as Jerry's, which is not saying much, but.....
But chiliquiles - stay home or go elsewhere!

[compucook]

Hey Carter, back off! He doesn' tLIKE deli food. If they have an enormous menu, then they should be able to make something decent. We went there because it was expedient and would hopefully have something for everyone. Their bagel and the waffle were awful, so they struck out on all counts!

[CEfromLA]

This reminds me of the time my Sweetheart (who was being obstinant) ordered soft tacos (??) at Brent's
When the tacos came, they were made with MUENSTER CHEESE.
I almost passed out, I laughed so heard....

[Emme]

the only thing i've found to be repeatedly tasty here is a dry egg white vegetarian omelette, served with a heaping pile of steamed veggies... the omelette filling is always surprisingly flavorful, and lacking grease.

[klaatu]

Just think of it as Solley's helping you fast.

But, yeah, Solley's always has the worst service. Without fail. Jerry's, like it or hate it, has good service. They must send all the bad servers to Solley's.

[arkestra]

sounds like solly's has some repenting to do . . . .

[ashlee]

You can't expect too much...I think they are owned by Jerry's Deli. Enough said!

[Diana]

Solly's is hit and miss, ever since Jerry's bought them out yonks ago. It depends upon who you get serving you and what you order. Some servers just have no clue of a basic Jewish Deli menu.

It's like the time a new kid at Gelson's deli served me. I asked for a #1 of tzimmes. he came back with a #1 of Hummous. I though it had first been that he just hadn't heard me right, so I said, "I'm sortty, I asked for tzimmes" and enunciated more clearly. "Actually, ma'am" he responded, "it's calle HUMMUS" and smiled. "No, "I said (ma'am? do I look that old?) "It's Tzimmes". and I pointed it out to him. "oh," he said, you mean the "T-zimes. Why didn't you say?" At that point, a vet deli guy came over and gently corrected him.

Poor kid.

Seriously, though, once at Solly's I had to explain what a black and white cookie was.

[krez]

"Seriously, though, once at Solly's I had to explain what a black and white cookie was."

Wow. Just wow.

[lad1818]

Oh my God, that made me laugh.

This whole thread reminds me of the time a few Yom Kippur mornings ago, I was at Western Bagel (yes, I know, what can I say? ) and I saw a woman sitting at the window counter, chewing a bagel and reading a book titled "A Guide to the High Holy Days." I'd say "Rule 1. Put down that bagel."

I have very little faith in Solley's, I'm afraid. I used to love their hamentaschen, but the last time I got one it was almost unrecognizable. Their prices went way up, their quality way down.

[ozhead]

What's the problem with Western Bagel?

[tigercactus]

not a problem with Western bagel, I think, but that he was eating on Yom Kippor . . . fasting is part of the atonement.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i think 'what's wrong?' referred to the (yes, i know, what can i say?) disclaimer.

[lad1818]

Tigercactus was correct. I was bageling on Yom Kippur.

Western Bagels are okay.

I see people voting for Art's - and I like the place, but not the food. I always find it very mediocre. I wish I liked it better because it has a nice, laid-back atmosphere. And every year I get their little calendar.

[Golem]

Mediocre is probably as good a busy deli can get. I love Brent's but I've had better individual dishes elsewhere. Overall, it's about as good as a deli can get. Delis aren't great by definition, and especially by definition of the folk who go there (my aunt made better knishes; my wife makes better tuna melt -- etc). But Art's is overall wonderful and Brent's is even better. Only better is eating at home, but ....

[oldusedcop]

Well, you've arrived at your own answer. Jerry's Deli is universally disliked by the Hounds, and if Jerry's bought out Solly's, there's nothing to expect but disappointment.

[krez]

Awh, that sounds awful. I've not tried Solly's yet, and this isn't quite a ringing endorsement. I guess the only consolation is that the cat will always check the bag from now on. I've learned my lesson about that a long time ago - they always forget something.