Corner of Jefferson and Randolph
1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 939-2855
http://www.mannysdeli.com/
When you think of food in Chicago, there are several staples and institutions that stand out. There is the Chicago hot dog with the nuclear green relish, celery salt, NO KETCHUP, and more making it the “salad on a bun.” There’s the stuffed/deep dish pizza that could fill you with one slice. Don’t forget the Maxwell Street Polish sausage, Italian beef and Italian combo, and so on. Walk through the different neighborhoods, and you’ll taste food from around the world. 26th Street makes you feel like you’re in Mexico. Just south of downtown, the start of the South Side where the University of Illinois’ Chicago campus is lies “Jew Town.” This is where the famous Maxwell Street Polish sausage is located that hot dog places everywhere try to mimic.Jew Town holds another institution in Chicago called Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen. This place has been around since 1942. It was my favorite deli until Porthos introduced me to Katz’s Deli in NYC, but this is a very close 2nd. In fact, it may even be able to top the list if I try other foods. Though I’ve only eaten the corned beef sandwich at Manny’s, they have so much more comfort food there. Corned beef is to Chicago what pastrami is to New York City. I’ve been going to Manny’s for years, and it’s always the same order for me: corned beef sandwich. And it’s a beautiful sandwich. They are the textbook definition to “piled high.” It also comes with several spears of a dill pickle and a large potato pancake like none other that you’ve seen. These sandwiches are generally made and served by Gino Gambarota who is, himself, a known name in Chicago when it comes to food. This guy has been working at Manny’s since I started going there many years ago. I was surprised to see him this past weekend with grey hair, since I was used to him with dark, black hair – but he’s still got it! He adds to the experience of Manny’s.
The guy has a smart mouth. Try barking back, and he’ll bite. He’ll snap off some wise cracks, compliment little, old ladies, and all the while making your sandwich quicker than anyone you’ll see at a Subway. He’ll have several pounds of corned beef in his hand, shaving it on the slicer, twirling a large serving fork, throwing it like a dart so it stabs one of Manny’s large potato pancakes, grabs a plate with another hand, flipping it, then catching it, set it on the counter, flip the fork with potato pancake, letting it land on the plate, scoop a very generous helping of the sandwich meat, place it on the bread, magically make a knife appear in his hand, slice it in half, and plate it. All within 2 seconds. Amazing. Every time, daily, without skipping a beat. This time around, he tells me to try some of the pastrami, and adds some to my plate. I ate some, and gave the plate back, you know, playing the smart ass role. He asks me in his very Chi Town accent: “What, you don’t like it? Then don’t come back!” I reverse it and tell him: “No, don’t be so cheap. Plate’s down, so you can gimme more!!” He laughs and piles on some more. He throws it back at me and says I shouldn’t eat any more. He’s good. And quick – both at the mouth and hands.
My problem with this place is it closes early. That is until this week. Those of you in Chicago are lucky, since it’s opened till 8PM for dinner. They had a party, and even Mayor Daley attended this. Many famous Chicagoans go here and eat along side truckers, construction workers, white collared workers, ghetto-fab people, students, and more. You will see that I included a picture of our possible future president Barack Obama eating a corned beef sandwich at Manny’s with Mayor Daley. Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and Tommy Lee Jones were in a movie called The Big Town where part of it was filmed here.
The sandwiches are pricey, but they are worth it. Eating half is enough, and there are bags and paper to wrap the rest readily available. While there, be sure to partake in other foods that are offered. They have everything from the very Jewish to familiar American, but all in the true sense of the deli. They do open early, so breakfast is served, too. Look for matzo ball soup, roast beef, knish, borscht, kreplach, tongue, soups, liver & onions, short ribs, and so much more. In addition to the corned beef sandwich plate and sampling of pastrami, I also sampled a turkey sandwich. The bad thing about poultry is how dry it can be, and the meat was moist on this sandwich. Can Manny’s do no wrong?
The bill for the two sandwich plates and one drink was about $25. A bonus, which is something new (to me), is valet parking. Complimentary valet parking. It helps a lot, since a lot of times; parking isn’t readily available around there.
To try to help you experience Manny's, check out the videos below. The first video even captures part of Gino in action when making a sandwich if you fast forward to 3:20. As you can imagine, being there in person to smell, feel, and, of course, taste, is the best way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMNKVxzu9es
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NgrmuMe6hE
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