Pumperniks in Montgomeryville

[givemecarbs]

Just thought this place needed it's own thread. Was so delighted when this restaurant opened up a few years back. I used to live in North Miami and Pumperniks and the like are all over the place down there. Stopped in today for a late lunch and the quality has stayed consistently high.
My problem is that I don't go often enough so I always always get the same thing. A chocolate egg creme and the smaller sized roast beef special. Did I have room for their delicious soup or a slice of cheese cake? Ha! No way! But both were perfect. I'll try to restrain myself and not go on and on about the delights of their chocolate egg creme. Dreamy sigh. It was really chocolaty and went down nice and smooth but didn't ruin my appetite like a milk shake would have. So refreshing.
I had some pickles from their help yourself pickle bar, free with the purchase of 3.50 or more per person, and my friend got broiled salmon, broccoli and stewed zucchini. Since he is trying to test for a gluten intolerance he had to pass on the chicken noodle soup, but got borscht instead. I stole a few spoonfuls and it was very good.
Our meal was a bit over thirty dollars including tip, the service was friendly and fast. They even have a kewl register that scans the check like a upc code so paying at the register is lightning fast. They are taking reservations for Rosh Hashanan, they have two seatings, and I bet they sell out.
I love their chicken soup but I only get it to go from their take out department when I am grabbing a sandwich too. You see they can't really make egg cremes to go. I could use another egg creme right now. :)

[burgeoningfoodie]

So they have on in Philadelphia? WHen I was little my parents use to take me to Pumpernicks in Fl when visiting my grandparents in Coconut Creek/Boca area. They said I use to devour the little egg rolls/challah like knots. I didn't realize it was a chain of sorts.

[mitchh]

Burgeoningfoodie,

I am almost 100% certain that the only thing the two places share in common is the name. I do not believe that there is any connection between the two.

Juju,

Michael's diner and deli are two separate restaurants. Both, IMO, are horrible.

[jujuthomas]

well, i'm SO looking forward to dinner there next week! ;)
NOT

[givemecarbs]

Cheer up juju! We will be waiting for your witty and scathing review of the place. Who was it who said "if you don't have anything nice to say about anyone come sit next to me!"?

[jujuthomas]

that was me! lol... actually it was Alice Roosevelt Longworth, but it's one of my favorite quotes! :)
yes, I will sure to post my impressions - as long as I don't down too many ciders! ;)

[givemecarbs]

Heh juju! I love that cider too. My one friend tells me you can get a keg of it.

[jujuthomas]

i've had it on draft and it's even better than bottled!

[Jdbc]

You know, back in the late sixties (yes, I'm that old), Michael's was the place to go for great sandwiches. How far they've fallen.

[cheesewit]

This Pumpernik's (no "C") has no relation to the old Pumpernick's of South FL.

[givemecarbs]

You sure cheesewit? They seem very similar to me but it has been awhile since I've headed south. (envies the birds) My one big gripe about all the Fla places is that they would leave the strong smelling relishes and such on the tables. I used to love to eat dinner at home and then go out for some fantastic cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae. The odors would overwhelm my more delicate dessert until I would quickly move the relishes to the next table. Hey I was young and the waitresses were kind of intimidating to me! I love that pickle bar!

[cheesewit]

Definitely. There is no connection to those old FL restaurants. To correct something I posted earlier: The FL restaurants were spelled without the "C".

[Bacchus101]

It was both interesting and enlightening to hear these comments about the Jewish Deli at Pumperniks. Thank you all. Are there other Jewish Deli's you would suggest in the Philadelphia area? Area being the center city and the burbs west and north? Thanks very much.

[jujuthomas]

i was just told of one in King of Prussia, Michaels. I've never been, but will be going next Wednesday.

[Prettypoodle]

Save your money and dont go. McDonalds is better. Seriously. The portions are skimpy, the service stinks. I have never had a decent meal there. It was a MAJOR disapointment.

[jujuthomas]

I have a dinner meeting there, so I don't get to choose the location.

[Prettypoodle]

I am so sorry. :(

[mitchh]

I completely agree with that review, poodle. Michaels is terrible.

[jujuthomas]

I've been to a Michael's diner that was terrible, but my friend had really good things to say about this Michael's deli. I'm checking out the reviews online and they are so crazy varied! well, even if the food is bad, they have a huge beer selection, including a type of Woodchuck hard cider i've never tried! :-D

[Prettypoodle]

They do have a HUGE beer selection. I dont drink beer, haven't in years and it even impressed me!

[Bacchus101]

Interesting threads on Pumperniks; thank you. But are there really NO recommended Jewish Deli's ? Perhaps my defination of area was too limiting. How about the entire Philadelphia standard metro area? Does it really required a train to NYC for real good deli? Hoping for some good news that will save me an Amtrack fare.

[jujuthomas]

Famous on 4th is pretty amazing. I don't know if it *really* qualifies as a jewish deli tho. :)

http://famous4thstreetdelicatessen.com/

[Prettypoodle]

Skip Amtrac and take Bolt bus or Mega bus for as little as a buck per person per trip (plus a $.50 per trip processing fee)
The ONLY place I can think of is in Cherry Hill and I forget the name. :( It is right by the Voorhees border and right off of Springdale on Evesham. Maybe someone else can figure out which i mean. KILLER mushroom barley soup!

[Bacchus101]

Thanks for BOTH tips.

[Kshell]

In The Bag in Maple Glen (near Ambler/Horsham) is a good Jewish deli with many other offerings. Their smoked fish selection is particularly good.The only thing I don't like is their turkey which is too salty and not fresh roasted,as I would prefer. Note that it is takeout only--no sit down service. It's always mobbed around lunchtime, so when I want a sandwich I always call ahead.

[Bacchus101]

Kshell, thanks sounds like a winner and just an easy drive!

[Kshell]

Bacchus, I forgot to mention that they only accept cash or checks--no plastic.

[cheesewit]

There are plenty of Jewish style delis in the Phila. area: Hymie's in Bala Cynwyd and Lafayette Hill, Murray's in Bala Cynwyd, Moish & Itzy's in Newtown, Famous Deli in Holland, Steve Stein's Famous Deli in NE Phila., Jack's in NE Phila., Ben & Irv's in Huntingdon Valley, Michael's in King of Prussia, Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill, Herman's Woodcrest Deli in Cherry Hill, F&M Deli Restaurant in Mt. Laurel, Famous 4th Street in Phila (and their other location in Center City), Hesh's in The Reading Terminal Market, and Mrs. Marty's in Broomall.

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Kibitz Room
100 Springdale Rd Ste A2, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

[seejanebake]

To expand the reach of Cheesewit's list a little farther but still not as far as NYC, I HAD to jump in here to add Harold's New York Deli Restaurant in Edison, NJ. He opened my eyes to Harold's. It's literally an eye-popping experience to newbies as they enter the foyer and the first thing they see is the dessert case with gargantuan cakes, cheesecakes, eclairs and apple turnovers. (Having been there more than once, I delighted in watching other newbies enter the deli. You can always pick them out with their eyes popping and jaws dropping. LOL) EVERYTHING on the menu follows the same scale. It's like you magically stepped into the Jolly Green Giant's favorite deli, so take some friends and plan to share. You GOTTA go to his website (and the restaurant) if you're interested in excellent Jewish-style delis: www.haroldsfamousdeli.com. P.S. Harold's puts out a salad-bar-sized pickle bar with delicious varieties of all things pickled. And (SURPRISE!) the stacks of rye bread at the end of the bar are there for the taking, either to make manageable-sized sandwiches out of one to share at the restaurant, or to take home for leftover sandwiches.

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Harold's New York Deli
3050 Woodbridge Ave Ste B, Edison, NJ 08837

[Prettypoodle]

Murrys is about a half a step aboive Michaels. It was not worth it at all. Bummer. It seemed so promising. It was so disapointing.
I am slightly adicted to Hesh's kasha and bow ties (to die for) and I so miss Hermans. I used to live very near there and miss it . I hate being an hour away.

[mitchh]

Yes, cheesewit, there are plenty of Jewish style delis in the area (as you listed), but the list of good ones is extremely small. IMO, Pumperniks is the best of the bunch in PA and the Kibitz Room (the place that I think prettypoodle is referring to) is the best in NJ.

[Prettypoodle]

The Kibbitz Room is on the land that used to be Holly Ravine Dairy and that is NOT the one I was refering to. There is/was one on evesham road closer to the hospital which i loved. I have not lived in that area though in about 12 years though and I forget its name. it may no longer even exist. :(

[cheesewit]

Mitchh: I agree with you that of the 16 to 18 or so in the area, only a few are good. My choices would be Pumpernick's, Ben & Irv's, and The Kibitz Room and Short Hills Deli in Cherry Hill.

Prettypoodle: were you thinking of Short Hills Deli? It reopened after incurring a fire a couple years ago.

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Kibitz Room
100 Springdale Rd Ste A2, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

[Prettypoodle]

YES! I just thoughto f the name and then i saw your post,.Thank you! Yes it was Short Hills deli. I am sorry they had a fire, I hope no one was hurt. LOVED the mushroom barley soup they served.

Having been to three of the 4 top places you mentioned above, I would have to agree that they are all really good! I guess I need to try the Kibbitz Room now.

[Bacchus101]

Great stuff! Thanks cheese wit and seejanebake for a great list of locals I can start to work on.! Thanks very much!

[jujuthomas]

i've never had a bad meal there.... :)
love the soups.

[mitchh]

I've been going to Pumpernicks (called the Pickle restaurant by my 4 year old) for a lot of years. It continues to be good meal after meal. Once golf season is over I probably have brunch virtually every Sunday with the family.

[curly girl]

I have always had a good meal at Pumpernicks. I have only tried for lunch on a few occasions when I was in the Montgomeryville area. The only problem when I went was lack of parking. Other than that, the menu is extensive, the food is good and great value for the money which is important these days.

[jujuthomas]

the parking is a pain, especially when they are busy! in the evenings we've parked in the next lot over, in front of the jewelry store, since they close early.

[givemecarbs]

I do that too juju. In fact one time my friend wanted Mexican and I wanted a roast beef special to go so I just parked at Baja Fresh and hot-footed it over there. I don't ever even try to pull into the little parking area in front that serves Hot Foods and the other little places too. Got trapped there once and that was enough.

[dberg1313]

Although I never actually ate there, I can report they have EXCELLENT catering--deli trays, sandwich trays, etc. Good variety, very fresh.

[AmblerGirl]

A pickle bar!? I had no idea such a thing existed except for in my dreams!! I need to get over there!

[crazyspice]

You do AG! their pickle bar it fabulous! They even have picked green tomatoes. We hit Pumpernick's at least once a week.

[Prettypoodle]

Try thr cucumbers. OMG I could eat a plate of them right now! YUMMY!

[missfunkysoul]

the pickle bar is totally righteous. it is the only place where i can find real half-sours other than schlepping to the northeast for the russian grocery stores... the cucumbers are to die for also, and i can shovel the cabbage salad into my face at an alarming rate as well :)

best deli i've found around these parts for sure. awesome corned beef. really tasty knishes too, not dry. split pea soup is yum... everything is good, really!

[thehungrything]

I agree, this is a really good Jewish deli, Their smoked fish is the best we can find in this area outside of NYC.