Mensch's Deli

Finally got to try out my buddy's place Mensch's Deli in Evanston today, and it did NOT disappoint! From the moment we walked in, it smelled amazingly delicious! 😋 The atmosphere was great with lots of people having lunch in booths and at tables, we loved all the old photos that decorated the walls throughout the dining area. We were greeted, seated, and served with warmth and kindness! Such a wonderful menu with great selections of foods you would expect at such a deli! I asked the owner (and friend 😉) for his recommendations, and again they did not disappoint!! We ordered the recommend Latke, served with applesauce and sour cream. My wife ordered the BLT with extra crispy bacon 🥓 served on Challah bread with a variety of pickles on the side: dill, half sour, and a very tart but delicious pickled green tomato!! I ordered the recommended bowl of matzoh ball soup (YUM!!!) with a half Mensch's pastrami sandwich 🥪, with the homemade lemonade 🍋. Everything was great, and we can't wait to return to taste our way through the entire menu! Mahalo Jack and crew for a wonderful lunch date with my best friend and eternal companion 🥰💞

I got the BLT sandwich, dill pickles, and a small fresh squeeze grapefruit juice. The pickles were only $2 and they gave like so many. The BLT was overloaded with perfectly cooked bacon and the aioli was great. Also loved the grapefruit juice; wish I got the large. I saved this spot for future visits when I’m back in Evanston to try other items. I will be back! Parking is horrible over here though. Had to park illegally with flashers on. Be prepared for bad parking lol.

Wish I could give this place more stars. Exactly what Evanston needed. The latkes, chicken soup, and pastrami were delicious. I was especially surprised at how wonderful the pastrami was. Some of the best I have ever had! Gets a bit busy, but rightfully so. Plan to wait for a table. Staff is friendly and overall vibes reminds me of being in New York City. Can’t wait to come back.

Food was phenomenal, vibes immaculate, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend dining here if you have the chance. Don't forget to try the Latke!! I had to try the pastrami sandwich so I got that to go!

A great place with really good food. Service was a bit slow, and the place was loud, but that is to be expected when it's completely full! Which I love for a new spot in town. Hope it stays full, just don't expect a quite conversation during Sunday brunch. Matzo ball soup was delicious, it's a must if you never had a good kneydle before.

Sandwiches are very good and plentiful, but pricey. And they don't even come with chips. Those are another $2. A pickle is included but they were awful. Tasted like a plain cucumber; no flavoring at all. Matzo ball soup was barely lukewarm and overly salty, though the matzo ball itself was delicious. Service was quick and efficient and everyone (hostess, wait staff, bussers) was super friendly. Restaurant was excessively noisy. Not only is the music loud but the acoustics are terrible so voices carry. We had to shout across the table to hear each other. If you don't get a booth, the small tables are all right on top of each other. Bathrooms are on the opposite side of the restaurant, so you have to try and cross over all the waiting people in the tiny lobby, then again through the people waiting in the pick up line. Terrible design. Two sandwiches, two cups of matzo ball soup and one iced tea + tip: $60. 😳

A classic Jewish Deli in the heart of Evanston!! Good bagels, good latkes, and good vibes. Be prepared for a short wait, especially on the weekends but the food comes out fast to make up for it!

The atmosphere and interior design nail it. Authentic deli look and feel. The latke was superb. Probably the best I’ve ever eaten. The matzo brei excellent. The scallion cream cheese was solid. I was disappointed in the poppyseed bagel and surprised to learn the bagels come from the top bagel bakery in Chicagoland. Loved the coffee and service. Excellent value. Will eagerly return on my next visit to town!

So close, but no cigar. FINALLY, Evanston gets a decent deli. It's long overdue, and very welcome. Fortunately I was meeting someone at Mensch's so I went directly to the table without noticing the entrance area. I had a corned beef sandwich, David had a bowl of matzo ball soup and half a corned beef sandwich. The sandwiches were really good, good bread, generous with the meat without being too much. The sandwich was large, but not too large. We both agreed that the corned beef was quite good, but the bread was dry and made the sandwich needing a bit of mayo. Just a bit. I took a bite of the matzo ball, very good but a tiny bit on the soft side. It tasted quite good. I also had a side of potato salad, Very good, but the potato's had been cooked a bit too much. Just a bit. The service was excellent, very friendly, THe dining area was very clean and well lit. Al of this was very good, enough to come back. Now, why they missed the mark. My sandwich came with a pickle that wouldn't be seen in a New York deli. No, No, NO. It was limp. no crunch, and very little taste. NOT N.Y. deli standards by a LONG shot. Not even close. The sandwich at $17.00 had no chips. None. It was a good sandwich, but no chips? Then, WORST OF ALL, I SAW THE ENTRANCE AREA. Yes, there was a deli case, a very short case, with NO deli items, no meat, no cheese, nothing but store branded items. T-shirts piled up, and other apparel all branded Mensch's. Not good, BAD! What could they be thinking? There is a lovely wall behind the show case that would work perfectly for displaying the apparel. And the display case. NO! It is TOO SMALL. When I walk into a deli I want to see a big case showing all the delicious things to be had. And, no bagels to be seen. The sign said there were some, but none displayed in a basket tempting you to order one with a schmear or a bit of smoked salmon ..... not seen in the Susy Homemaker dinky display case. What deli doesn't display their bagels? Mensch claims to be an homage to NY delis. In fact, there is a book there "Zabar's". In my opinion Zabar's is the mothership of New York deli's. If you go to NYC and you never go to Zabars. I think you may as well have stayed home. In the book is a picture of one of Zabar's cold display cases loaded with delicious looking stuff that makes your mouth water. NOT branded wearing apparel. NO! It makes me wonder if those connected with Mensch have been to Zabar, or any good NY deli because they missed two VERY important parts of a NY Deli, big tasty pickles with a crunch, and a cold display case that make your mouth water the moment you walk in. Mensch is good, quite good in fact. It is a welcome addition to Evanston dining, and should do very well. Hopefully they will expand their hours to include dinner. I'm certainly going back. Hopefully they will get the right pickles. Hopefully they will get a decent display case and load it up with mouthwatering yummies, not wearing apparel.

The food was delicious! We had excellent matzo ball soup, a veggie bagel, patty melt and we split a latke. All items were tasty and good portion. The bread and butter pickles that came with the patty melt were delicious. Be prepared for the noise volume though. When it's full, it's pretty hard to converse with others. But it's a fun atmosphere.

No idea what the rave reviews are for. We experienced zero ambience, no music, and slow to negligent service. Arrived on a non-busy Tuesday for lunch. Shown to a table set with empty water glasses. Waitress wore a mask, good for her, but she mumbled. Had to ask her to repeat herself. Waitress said she'd get water after taking our order. We waited, no water. Waited some more. Order arrived, no water. Said she'd bring some. Took a bite of my Classic Breakfast Sandwich (all alone on its little plate, zero circus) and I'm thirsty. No one around. Finally flagged down a busgirl. Even eating very slowly, I was half done with the sandwich by the time busgirl brought water (I could have run to the Lake and back). But the check miraculously appeared on time. Apparently, water refills are not offered. Breakfast Sammie: limp bacon, everything smushed together, brioche bun taste overpowers all else. Overall, mega bland and disappointing. Pastrami Reuben Sandwich: Bread to pastrami ratio is 2 to 1. $19 is ridiculous for mostly bread; it was 2" high in the middle and a measly 1.5" on the edge - lousy, skimpy sandwich-making skills. Sauerkraut overpowers the Reuben because, duh, not enough pastrami. On the receipt, an extra 40 cent upcharge for the egg, of course not mentioned at time of ordering. So $30 plus $5 tip (I didn't even want to leave a tip for the lousy service but hubby is a softy). Staff should be better trained. Pastrami is $17 lb. at Jewel. His sandwich weighed 13 oz, again, mostly bread and sauerkraut. You do the math. Poor value, dull food and experience, we will not be back.

Picked up a Corned Beef Sandwich for lunch at Mensch's. Came to about $17 dollars. I will let you know that the mustard they use is similar to a brown mustard, which they classify as "deli mustard," I wish I would have known because I would have asked for regular yellow mustard as that is my personal preference. Luckily it didn't subtract too much and my sandwich was still good. One side of my sandwich was definitely fattier than the other, assuming it was just because of the slicing of the meat. I'll probably return next time I'm in Evanston, overall food quality was good, staff was kind, and I for my sandwich pretty quickly. It does seem like a nice place to dine in as well.

This is a solid place for breakfast! I had the lox egg and onions with a pumpernickel bagel. All were really good. I like that they didn't overdo the onions and the eggs were cooked perfectly. I tasted the potato pancakes and they were as good as anywhere else.

Loved their fish platter, their chopped liver was pretty good, great cream cheese and whitefish salad. Their pastrami was really dry and I would have enjoyed a fattier cut. Don't sleep on the pickled tomatoes - they do them really well!

Mensch's opened last year in Evanston and has all the core components of a classic Jewish Deli. Our server had plenty of recommendations when we had narrowed down a few things. Plenty of seating area and very lively and bright inside. LOVED the - Matzo ball soup with fresh dill & parsley - House made pastrami sandwich on rye with pickles & mustard - Latkes served with apple sauce & sour cream

So far, this is the only place I've been to more than once in Evanston (besides Chili's of course)! I love the open faced lox bagel. It is the perfect weekend morning treat. And honestly, a perfect weekday morning treat - I've just been thinking too small. The takeout process is pretty efficient and I've also enjoyed dining in. I recently tried the corned beef Reuben which was excellent. Their pickles are solid and they have freshly squeezed OJ!

WOW! This spot was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint! We got the latkes, matzo ball soup, pastrami sandwich, and nitkosher bagel all for $30 and it was DELICIOUS. The pastrami was so soft and flavorful, the latkes were perfectly crispy, and the bagel had the best chew and crunch. Service was very quick and I loved the cozy vibe of the restaurant, with photo frames on the walls.

Welcoming! Was expecting more of a cafeteria like setup like Manny's. More of a restaurant/ diner feel where you have waiters. Got an Arnold Palmer and Pastrami on Rye. The pickles they give you are like half sour.Came late morning+ early afternoon. Was surprised by amount of other diners.

Pastrami sandwich was amazing! Staff were friendly and attentive! This deli brought back a lot of NYC deli vibes. Would make the drive back here 10/10

Such an amazing experience with friendly staff and delicious food. So many good things on the menu, we couldn't narrow it down so we tried all the essentials: the fixins open faced bagel, pastrami sandwich, corned beef Reuben, potato salad, banana bread, and bakba. Everything was done exceptionally well but special shout out for the bagel which was perfectly crispy but chewy at the same time. We will definitely be back to try to soup next

Mensch's Deli is the ultimate love letter to the classic Jewish deli! Make your way up to Evanston downtown and go to this new restaurant to feast on classic pastrami sandwiches, potato latke, matzo ball soup! Popular place on weekends! Very happening and vibrant atmosphere. Food comes out pretty quick and service is very friendly. #jewishdeli #evanston

I've been here a couple of times for lunch pick ups. The inside looks clean and spacious, and it gets crowded. I always order the sandwich and soup combo. Their hot turkey sandwich is delicious and it comes with a side of pickles. The matzo ball with noodles soup is mild and perfect for a cold weather day.

First time in the deli, ordered the corned beef Reuben, at it a bar seat near the window. It came out piping hot (good) and the bread was the perfect texture. Soft but with a crunch. The thousand island dressing was great and they gave the perfect amount. Not sure if the bread and dressing were made in house but it kinda tasted like it was. It has an old school diner vibe inside which is cool. My only knock is that it's kinda pricey in my opinion.

This was a big but unfortunately not altogether surprising disappointment for Evanston, which rarely seems to be able to attract great restaurants. Evanstonians could have had the chance to not have to drive all the way to Kaufman's or NY Bagel and Bialy when they wanted a good deli sandwich, but alas... My bagel with whitefish salad was the worst I've ever had, full stop. The bagel was, I don't know, middling, I guess. I couldn't pay too much attention to it because the whitefish salad was about 50% lemon juice, 30% mayo, 15% celery, and 5% actual fish. Like, someone could have told me it was vegetarian and I would have believed them. Also it was topped with lettuce leaves; who thought THAT was a good idea? My companion's pastrami was, well, it was corned beef. No peppering to the meat whatsoever. It was also dry, and the 'rye bread' barely qualified and would have been at home straight out of a Mariano's bag. I do truly try to have something redeeming to say at the end of a bad review, but I'm coming up blank here.

I stopped in to see the new deli in Evanston. Ordered a bagel with lox and it was delicious. Kinda expensive. Place was also really loud, sound just reverberates. Fat guy who seated me was less than gracious. But my waitress did a great job. A good spot for those wealthy Evanstonians who like Deli food.

We just visited the new Glencoe location. The deli is very cute, clean. There is a very nice patio. Our server was pleasant and the floor manager checked in to make sure everything was satisfactory. My turkey melt was delicious. My partner was very happy with his bagel sandwich (The Fixins). We both enjoyed the latkes. We'll definitely be returning.

OK Deli fans: I visited Mensch's for the first time this afternoon -- if you like corned beef or pastrami you are in for a treat. According to one of the owners, Eric, unlike other places, Mensch's brines them both right at the restaurant. Then they smoke their pastrami in-house as well so the smoky flavor explodes in your mouth. I've been to the other delis around town -- trust me ... you're NOT gonna get this deep smoked-in flavor anywhere else. Worth the drive to Evanston, but it gets crowded at noon, so come early for lunch. Try it, let me know if I'm right or not.

Superstar is all I can say. Haven't had anything but an incredible meal there. We bring people from out of town there and they rave about it. Amazing atmosphere and service. The food in outstanding. Didn't realize we were missing a sit down deli in the area but now I can't live without it.

**Yelp Review:** Took mom there Saturday and had a blast! The food was great--pastrami had a smoky, rich flavor, and the potato pancakes were some of the best I've had, super crispy and seasoned perfectly. The matzo ball soup had a tasty broth but could have been hotter. Prices were reasonable, though the pastrami sandwich could've used more meat. A bit surprised they charge extra for a small bread basket and pickles . The atmosphere was classic NYC deli, but it was really loud. Overall, a good spot!

I decided to try this place today which was a challenge onto itself. Since the news has gotten out that this place is now open, it seemed like all of Evanston came here for lunch. Since there aren't too many lunch spots downtown, I shouldn't have been too surprised that it was PACKED. Due to the crowds and short on time, I went with the "to go". Ordering was easy and the guy behind the register was super nice. However, he said it would be about 20 minutes. That was generally accurate (25 it appears) and I do appreciate him setting expectations, that is kind of long for a half pastrami and cup of soup. Those two items, generally speaking, can be put together quickly. There's nothing to "cook". As for the food? It was excellent. I was worried that the food wasn't going to meet the time waited, but it did! I was especially impressed by the soup which was a pretty big portion. Will I be back? Yes, but I might wait a month or two. I would like to try the sit down side to see if my experience would be different. I also hope they will eventually have a way to order for pickup online. I would have liked to be able to see the menu before arriving, but I guess that's new restaurant jitters! Still, if you want a Jewish Deli place, here it is!

DISCLAIMER: My food photos do not do justice to the actual food!! I read plenty of fantastic reviews on Mensch's so the expectations were high. My daughter suggested we get there before noon on a Thursday, and she made the right call because 30 minutes later the place was packed, and people were waiting outside. The staff is friendly and relaxed. The place has a comforting, welcoming vibe. It is an open format for dining in so the ambient noise can get loud but honestly, that adds to the community atmosphere. Every detail, from the ambient music, lighting elements, seating, signage, and substantial dinnerware, projected a classic deli vibe from decades ago. My daughter had The Purest [locks on bagels with scallion cream cheese & onions] and I went with the 1/2 sandwich and cup of soup Deli turkey sandwich and chicken noodle soup. Not very interesting you say? Let me tell you, even these simple menu items were fantastic! The bread was fresh and soft, the piled-high turkey juicy and tender, the coleslaw tasted freshly made, and the 1000 Island dressing was perfectly proportioned. Likewise, the locks were perfectly sliced thin and brined perfectly, the bagel fresh [from Bagels & Bailey in Skokie I believe] and covered with delicious cream cheese. All-in-all a great first-time experience at Mensch's. We will surely be returning to try their breakfast menu next time. I would highly recommend giving Mensch's a visit, but be aware that it will be busy during peak times.

My Corned Beef Sandwich was very dry. I can't imagine it being this dry again, but this being my first time there...I can't see myself giving them a 2nd chance. The interior is nice...the staff too. Just had a bad 1st impression with the food.

Came here for breakfast a few times now and I can't wait to come back again for lunch!! We ordered a variety of dishes - the fixins bagel, whitefish bagel, banana French toast, latkes, and some breakfast sides. The food came in a timely manner and the 99 cent unlimited coffee was the absolute best - our cups were constantly being refilled by the very attentive staff. Ive also tried their egg dishes which aren't pictured. And though they were super delicious I can't help but always want to come back to their bagels. The open faced concept is amazing and the toppings are so generous. Highly recommend going with the classic fixins! I will say we've had no issues with wait time cause we get here early. But by the time we leave the place is PACKED so definitely be prepared for a bit of waiting but it's so worth it!

Tasty food! Healthy choices! New York style deli atmosphere. The owners' (such good people--mensches!) family photos covering the walls. Wait staff helpful and cheerful. What's not to love? We'll definitely be back and bring others!

My standard test for a deli is matzahball soup, pastrami on toasted rye and a Cel-ray. Mensch's is a relatively new deli restaurant in Evanston, Il, right next to Northwestern and across from a retirement community. Interior is brightband clean. Staff is friendly. Mensch's has both takeout and table service. Good matzahball soup. Matzahball dosen't float, but made with parsley and has good flavor. Chicken soup is nicely spiced and has the right amount of fat floating on top. Package of oyster crackers included. Pastrami sandwich is 3.5 stars. Has a smoky flavor, but not much else. Just enough meat. Mustard was good, but the rye was somewhat dry. Pickle is crunchy and not very sour, can still taste the cucumber. Pickled tomato is salty and great, not often included with sandwiches. Cel-rey is perfect, and came with a glass filled with ice. Little things go a long way. $25 w/o tip. Equal to Schmaltz's, not as good as Manny's.

Absolutely the Best Deli and Gigi our server was outstanding. She was so helpful, efficient and knowledgeable . Loved the food and highly recommend Mensch's and Gigi

Loved the atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service. Everyone had a smile on their face and loved serving us. Really enjoyed the Matzah Ball soup and the omelet.

Their food is absolutely outstanding. The pastrami Ruben is my go to !! And if you are a lox and bagel person, there simply is not a better smoked salmon bagel, and I consider myself a professional because eat salmon nearly every day. The bagel is super crisp, and the salmon is amazingly fresh.

Very good ambiance. Food reasonably priced and very good. The service was fast. Would definitely come again.

There are still some great Delis! The corned beef, matzoh ball soup and potato latkes are all very good!! The wait staff was very friendly and our waiter was so nice! It was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon, but we were quickly seated since we were just a party of two. We will be back.

Four of us went to Mensch's for breakfast today - at 9AM on a July Friday there was plenty of space but it did fill up. This was my first visit. Service was great - lost count of the number of staff that came by to check on us. I tried the two eggs (fried over medium) with corned beef hash in a patty. Hash browns were not in sight - which is ok. Every on the table liked their food so much that we forgot to take photos. But tried to get clear photos of the menu. Bagels and latkes were also very good. I'd like to give lunch a try for my next visit. Great addition to Evanston's restaurant scene.

Great food, staff, and atmosphere. A welcome addition to Evanston. Gonna be a regular!

A fantastic spot!! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Although some entrees are better on different occasions, you will always leave stuffed and happy. The service was very attentive, always on the lookout to fill your water or coffee. While taking orders, the waiters were patient and very kind. From the myriad of photos on the wall along as well as the historic food packaging that lines the room, you really feel connected to the past and culture that this diner has. It's a great experience and I hope to come again soon!

The devil is in the details and this place gets everything right. The space. The waitstaff. The food. Downtown Evanston is lucky to have this place.

I have been there a number of times. I like the atmosphere. I like the windows being a storefront deli. They have authentic sandwiches. Their sides are good. The staff and the servers work together very well. They are right in the heart of Evanston. They have been there a while now that is a very good sign. I will be stopping by soon. George C Chicago

What a delightful place with comfortable seating and delicious deli food - including New York Bagel and Bialy bagels!

The special High Holidays menu was my first taste of Mensch's Deli. Everything was outstanding, from the perfectly cooked and seasoned braised brisket to the cabbage rolls (which apparently are not on the regular menu, but are a special holiday dish, which is such a shame, as I'd definitely order those scrumptious vegan cabbage rolls again and again!) I have eaten in nearly all of the North Shore Jewish delis at some point in time. I have to say that this is by far the best food I have ever tasted in any of them (including holiday meals I have ordered in the past.) Each dish was perfect. What a wonderful introduction to this new Evanston locale! I have not had the pleasure of dining in the restaurant itself yet. I look forward to many future trips to Mensch's.

Food is excellent. Service can be somewhat spotty if,for example, you want a coffee refill. A bit loud at busy times.

Excellent matzo ball soup and corned beef sandwiches, at a very fair price. Really good, crispy latkes. Nice bright setting with proper table service. Actually, four different people checked on us to make sure everything was ok. It was! Deli counter has all the great takeout stuff. Why settle for old, dingy, and indifferent at the usual north shore deli suspects?

Went on the July 3rd opening day for lunch and it was insanely busy. I've been looking forward to Mensch's opening since they had their little bagel shop inside of Picnic across the street! They have never disappointed me. Today was the same. I walking in and saw maybe a dozen people waiting for a seat. I myself went and ordered at the counter to go to avoid the crowds. I got the Late Night breakfast sandwich and the Cheese Blintzes. They were both amazing. The cheese blintzes were soft and filled with a cream cheese-like mixture and had powdered sugar and berries on top. A great sweet treat! The breakfast sandwich was very unique, having salami and a latke in addition to the usual breakfast sandwich ingredients. I love the vintage decor and interior choices they made, it kind of brings you back in time, but then it also has an undeniably modern feel to it. My partner tried to go around 2 (the hours are listed as 8-3) but they had a sign saying they were sold out. Very happy for their success, and I'm glad others were just as excited about the opening as I was. I look forward to going back as soon as possible!

My first time here. Arrived 9:30. Corned beef sandwiches are served at 10:30. So I got the lox n cream cheese on an onion bagel. Huge portion of lox on a cream cheese bagel, full of onions and tomatoes, capers. Excellent quality. The atmosphere was nice. Nicely fixed up deli. I'll be back for the corned beef + matzo ball soup.

I saw this place when I arrived for the campus visit and knew I wanted to try it. The campus tour and lecture ended at 3pm and I headed straight to Mensch's, just a 10-15 min walk from the Visitor Center. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and got "I'm so sorry we're closed". Just a note to the management that there are hundreds of campus visitors a day from out of town (like me) who would love a good deli sandwich... after 3pm. If only your place were open another hour or two. I do hope to be back in Evanston, to try your place. I really do. (4 stars since it looks great!) Obviously I didn't eat here so I'm just posting a comment about my experience discovering they closed at 3pm, when I got there about 3:20. A suggestion, not a rant!

We got there in the morning when it opened. Had a great experience. Shared an awesome lox bagel with all the fixings on a toasted gluten-free bagel. They were very generous with the toppings, and the GF bagel was good (they'll never taste like a real bagel, but at least it isn't a giant dense brick as some GF bagels/other rolls often can be. Friendly staff. Very nice pleasant decor ambience (that feels perfect for a Jewish deli), good music, and super clean. They have vegan cream cheese as an option too.

A work in progress. The chicken soups weren't hot. The vegan vegetable soup was hot, but needed more taste ( was improved by adding a splash of vinaigrette salad dressing). The pistrami on the pistrami sandwich was room temperature, and had minimal peppering. The chopped liver also needed more taste. The vegan salad was good. The coffee was ok, but nothing special. Of note, 2 slices of bread with the salad was an extra $1.99, there was no bread basket for the table. This restaurant only recently opened, hopefully will improve as it matures .

food is good service needs to improve. Must of asked for more water 4 times. Nobody came to check to see if we needed anything. Food was good not great.

Great food and service. Felt like a classic Jewish deli. Think the latke and corned beef sandwich were my favorites. Excited to come back once it has a bit more experience

Visited on their opening day. Excellent classic Jewish deli food all around from the matzo ball soup to the corned beef sandwich. Great service, and great diner layout and atmosphere. Will visit again soon and figure it will be another regular Evanston dining destination of mine.