Bye Bye Morty's

[theoneontheleft]

Stopped in for lunch at Morty's deli in DC today and was told by the waitress that the staff was told last night that today (11/2) was the last day -- they're closing down. I know it wasn't a great deli, but it was nice having a place in town that had NY deli-style food that allowed you to linger for a while.

[skipper]

Try the chopped liver at Shalom Kosher Market in Wheaton.

[monpetitescargot]

where is that? is that the same as max's?

[Lori D]

It's in the same shopping center as Max's, but it's a different place.

[skipper]

But it and Max share ownership although Max's has a partner who is not involved with Shalom. I haven't tried the chopped liver at Max's (assuming that it is offered) because of the falafel and shwarma, but I'm guessing its the same as at Shalom.

[Lori D]

Yes, they share ownership, but Max's doesn't have chopped liver on the menu: http://www.theshalomgroup.com/maxs-ca...

[piafoodie]

Is this the Morty's in Tenleytown? Not surprised - mediocre at best.

Is there nowhere in this town to get decent chopped liver????????????????

[Elyssa]

There is most definitely no where to get good chopped liver in DC proper. Although I did have some delicious chopped liver this past weekend at a book party for cookbook author Joan Nathan. Really hit the spot! Perhaps I will just have to start making my own.

[Bob W]

Loeb's has good chopped liver. They should be reopening soon in their new location.

I know there is a wide range of opinions on Loeb's in general, but their chopped liver makes the grade.

[Elyssa]

I actually have never been to Loeb's but have been meaning to since it's not that far from my office. Where is the new location going to be?

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Loeb's Restaurant
832 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

[Bob W]

Oh good, you might be pleased with their chopped liver. I was actually pleasantly surprised. Much better than Chutzpah's.

It's going to be about three blocks west on I. Maybe 17th and I or something like that? Farther from my office but actually better since I'll be able to walk off more calories.

Hopefully the new location will be more spacious, too.

[ClevelandDave]

Try Calvert-Woodley- not a sit down deli (a cheese shop in a wine shop) but very good chopped liver. Snyder's Deli also has good chopped liver...

[Doh]

Haven't they closed once or twice before and reopened under a new name? Any chance that would happen again?

[Elyssa]

That has happened before. I think they were Krupins at one point.

[monkeyrotica]

Yes. Krupins was actually quite good about a decade ago, but then began a slow slide into mediocrity. I went to Morty's once and found the food just meh. Chutzpah, Parkway, and Woodside are the only delis worth going out of your way for now, and Deli City for the reuben.

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Deli City Restaurant
2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018

Woodside Delicatessen
9329 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Chutzpah At Tysons
8100 Boone Blvd, Vienna, VA 22182

Parkway Deli & Restaurant
8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

[fudizgud]

Woodside is rumored to be going in near Rockville Town Center. Don't know if they are moving or its a second location. I prefer Parkway over Woodside for both service and food.

[monpetitescargot]

AND parkway has that awesome pickle bar. yum yum yum.

[DanielK]

I think Brooklyn's (Gaithersburg, Potomac) is better than all of these right now.

[monpetitescargot]

oh man. it looks legit. homemade rye bread? and meats? someone sign me up. any reccomendations?

[sweth]

This reminds me: anyone know if Bagel City is any good, either purely for bagels or in general as a deli? Tony Kornheiser is always pimping for them and their homemade rye, but I've never been motivated enough to trek up to Rockville just to try them out, and always seem to have plans elsewhere when I'm in that area.

[DanielK]

The bagels at BC are pretty good, and breakfast is too, but the deli is just ok.

Ize's, across the street, is about the same. I change my mind from week to week as to which is better. Between the two of them, probably the best bagels in the area.

[DanielK]

The rye bread is great - corned beef and pastrami both good not great.

But the corned beef hash is amongst the best I've ever had anywhere.

[nickdanger]

Agree that Brooklyns is probably the best deli around, and now open for dinner in Potomac. Unfortunately the meats are just fair. I believe their bagels are from Bethesda Bagelry. Bagel City bakes their bagels, and bialys!, the traditional way, boiled first, and should satisfy anyone, "ambiance" included.

[ClevelandDave]

Of course if you are in a real fix, Attmans in Baltimore is a real old fashioned deli. Same place for like 75 years. Looks like it hasn't been renovated in about 25, but they've got all the right elements- very good corned beef and pastrami, good shaved turkey and brisket, very good pickles and knishes, I'm told they have good matzo ball soup (they were out when we were there- a shonda!), and they know how to put together a sandwich. Prices are decent (six to 12 dollars for most sandwiches). IMHO rye bread is a bit weak and desserts so so but it will get you your deli fix.

[nickdanger]

If anyone is going to Pikesville, Edmart on Reisterstown Road has excellent corned beef, tongue, pastrami, whitefish, sable, etc. An "appetizing" store, if you know what I mean. And, they will sell you slices of decent rye bread if you don't need a whole loaf. It is what Parkway's deli counter used to be,and Hofberg's before that.

[ClevelandDave]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but an appetizing store traditionally would not have meat, a la Russ and Daughters or Barney Greengrass- nothing "treif"- so fish, pickles, kugel, lox, cream cheese, egg dishes, even perhaps bagels, but no mixing with corned beef, tongue, pastrami, turkey breast, etc...

[Bob W]

I can't offer any help on the proper definition of an appetizing store, but I am 100 percent sure that Edmart is kosher. It's very highly regarded among my many friends in B'more.

Mmmm, Barney Greengrass, the Sturgeon King.

[DanielK]

As long as you are keeping the equipment and utensils separate, a retail store can stay kosher while selling both meat and dairy products.

They can't put cheese and meat on a bagel for you, but they can sell you a bag of bagels, a tub of cream cheese, and pastrami in the same order.

An "appetizing" store is a NY Jewish tradition, meaning "stuff you put on or with bagels". FWIW, neither Russ & Daughters nor Barney Greengrass are kosher. BG sells meat, R&D does not.

Edmart in Baltimore may sell kosher products, but the store itself is not kosher - they are open on Saturdays.

[Elyssa]

Are you serious??? That's really too bad. DC is officially a deli waste land now!

Again not the best deli in the world but certainly fills that void when the cravings hit.

I wonder where David Gregory is going to go for his deli fill now. He gets Morty's delivered every morning for breakfast. And goes there almost every Sunday with his family after Meet the Press.

[Mister Big]

Coming soon to Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle -- Uptown Deli.

[spinachandchocolate]

Who cares about David Gregory and how he's going to get his deli fix; he's up in NYC on assignment enough to deal with that. Be worried about the DCers without cars.

Parkway is good but too bad it's not closer to the city.

[Elyssa]

Ummmm it was a joke.

I don't have a car so I have to settle for Morty's as well.

[Lori D]

Parkway is actually only three blocks across the DC line.

It's not that close to the Metro, but it is not far from DC.

[Elyssa]

I've been to Parkway and it's very good (I was taken there on a date 6 years ago haha) but pretty impossible to get to without a car. You have to realllly want your deli.

[DanielK]

Ize's is across from the White Flint station. Bagel City is a 10 minute walk up Rockville Pike, or a 5 minute walk south from the Twinbrook station. And the not-yet-opened Uptown Deli in Bethesda will be a 5 minute walk from the Bethesda station.

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Uptown Deli
7501 Greenway Center Dr Ste 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770

[foodtrip]

Where exactly in Bethesda will the Uptown Deli be located? Also, any idea on an opening date?

[Doh]

It's next door to Corner Slice (across from Rock Bottom) on Norfolk near St. Elmo. I think someone said it will open this weekend (but it's been on the verge of opening for a while).

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Corner Slice
7901 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD

[DanielK]

Yeah, soft opening has been going on, so I'd guess within the next week.

[spinachandchocolate]

Is this the same Uptown Deli as the one in Columbia Heights, AdMo and West End?

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Uptown Deli
7501 Greenway Center Dr Ste 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770

[DanielK]

No, definitely a sole proprietor. I spoke to the owner, who has poked his head in here from time to time.

And they opened this past Saturday, though the website still says coming soon. http://www.uptowndelibethesda.com/

[Lori D]

The Montgomery County Ride On bus (#1 - from Silver Spring metro) stops in front of Parkway. I would also assume that, since it is relatively close to the Silver Spring metro, it would be a relatively inexpensive cab ride.

It may take more time (or money) than you want to spend to get there, but far from impossible.

[monpetitescargot]

plus, it's sort of a cool little experience. you walk through the deli/retail bit and end up in this jewish dining room that can't have been updated in the past 30-odd years. nor has the food, which is a good thing. probably take 4 trips to the pickle bar before my triple meat sandwich arrives. that's right. toungue, pastrami and chopped liver. this girl ain't tryin to live forever by any stretch of the imagination.

total little old jewish blue hair territory, though. a slice of jewmericana that isnt often seen outside of new york anymore.

and wash it all down with a pilsner urquell. skip dessert, skip it big time.

[Lori D]

According to Google Maps, Parkway is 1.3 (or 1.5?) miles from the Silver Spring metro.

That's a not too close, but not impossible walk. Or an under $10 cab ride.

[Mister Big]

A very hilly walk along East-West Highway. Can't remember if there are sidewalks the entire way.

[Teddybear]

It's a pretty long walk, and I'm a walker. Take the J2 bus from Silver Spring metro and get off at Grubb St.

[Lori D]

A little playing around with Street View appears to show that one side of E-W Highway has sidewalks up to Washington Street (where you turn for Grubb Street).

When I go to Parkway, I drive, but it seems as if there are options to get there without a car. It's not like going to somewhere with no public transportation options (for example, Lotte In Chantilly, where, according to my friend who lives across the street, there are a few commuter buses along Rt. 50 at rush hour, but nothing else).

[DCDeb]

That's too bad. I used to work down the road. Some days, I just needed some comfort food. I was just there last Tuesday. Good thing I stopped by when I had a chance.

[fisherdm]

I understand how many in DC have a nostalgic connection to this place, but on the food/ambiance alone, I won't miss it in the least.