Schmaltz Delicatessen

How have I never visited this place before today? Decor is no frills but the vibe is warm and inviting. We opted for table service rather than counter service. The staff knew most of the people dining and made sure to call them by name which is something you do not really see any more. We were greeted with a bowl of bagel chips that I will literally have dreams about! I started with the Matzah Ball soup and had the Sloppy Paul which was their Reuben and was perfection. The bread is house made the corned beef was perfectly sliced, lean and Melts in your mouth! We ended with the eclair which was light and delicious and perfectly sweetened. the portions are very generous so consider sharing! I can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu!

Ok, amazing corned beef and pastrami. Great sandwiches overall. Love that you can choose "overstuffed" if you want it packed with meat. Really enjoyed. Soup was also really good! Hint on the pickles... they give you a "half sour" pickle by default, but you can ask for a classic dill. It's the deli we've been looking for.

They truly went above and beyond. I placed an online order through the website, clicking order online before looking at any indication of holiday hours. I received a text message giving me the time my order would be ready, when I arrived, staff was cleaning and informed me they were closed. I let them know I had an online order and after assessing what happened, they apologized for not shutting off online ordering, refunded my order, and gave me a take home to heat up quart of soup (more than what I ordered). I was only expecting the refund of money when learning of the holiday hours, but for them to assess what went wrong and provide a solution is truly wanting to make things right for the customer. The soup was also amazing! Will definitely return! Thank you!

I paid almost $20 each for these sandwiches and if you look at the picture it barely has any meat on it when I used to come here before it had triple the meat of my sandwiches for the overstuffed. Also, the sandwich had too much sauerkraut I felt like I was eating a sauerkraut sandwich And the meat was the sauce I used to love this place but now it’s ( become overpriced because of lack of meat $19.99)and not enjoyable anymore. I wish you would fix your sandwiches because I can give it another try, by the way the bread is too thin as it falls apart as you’re eating your sauerkraut sandwich because it’s so diluted. Maybe it’s better to order online good quality pastrami that comes in the mail for 1/4 of the price.

Came in for dinner and was greeted by Eleanor, our waitress. She sat us and took our drink order. I wanted to try something different and she made recommendations. Was very pleased with the choice. Ordered a Sloppy Paul and a Lox bagel. Both came looking perfect and were absolutely delicious. Each dish came with a very fresh pickle. Added a fresh compliment to the meal. Got some cheesecake to go and it was excellent. Was a bit slow that night so we were able to chat with Eleanor. Her insight into the restaurant and general overall people skills made our visit very enjoyable. Will return.

Literally one the best kept secrets in the area. From the friendliness and professionalism of the staff to the all the homemade pastries, everything here is absolutely amazing. The attention to detail in their recipes and hospitality is what makes this place stand out amongst others! P.S. get the bagel chips, you'll fall in love!!

Nice place nice employees, very average food at luxury prices. Just under $20 for whatever they call a Ruben, it's not bad but not worth $20 by itself. It also took them more than 15 mins to make it so I missed most of my lunch just waiting for it.

Wow, this was great. All the sandwiches were delicious. I had the soup - amazing! Definitely will return!

Very friendly place the food is very good the service is superb I was not feeling well and I order soup and a corn beef sandwich I only ate 1/2 of it I was very good I also tried their chocolate cake it Was the best chocolate cake I ever had it was very moist and not Extremely sweet it was perfect My son order the cheeses cake it Was food but For me it Was a little bit Too dry The ambiance was older Community just Stopping by to have a haggle And coffee it was not very crowed because we went for breakfast I think manis in Chicago is better To My opinion

I wanted a sandwich and I had never tried this place close to my apartment. So I ordered online, and I thought it was strange that ordering ASAP was 45 min - an hour from when I ordered. I wasn't sure if that was an automatic time or if it was based on how busy it was. About an hour later I go to pick up my order, and the counter (not restaurant) side was completely empty other than one person. Luckily my order was ready! I was excited to try the turkey on a pretzel bun. I open my sandwich and it's on a bagel when it specifically said it was on a pretzel bun online! I was disappointed. The sandwich itself was good, and I would say the half stuffed is plenty of food. The sandwich was very messy and the meat kept sliding off and the honey mustard was dripping everywhere. Overall, disappointed in the lack of accuracy in my order as well as the confusion of the online order. I may give it another chance one day, but it's not somewhere that I plan on going all the time.

Corned beef, pastrami, matzo ball soup....all amazing! Great service, fun place, lots of room. Love this place!

Have you ever seen a sandwich nearly a foot tall??? I hadn't until I saw the overstuffed sloppy paul sandwich with corned beef and pastrami. I gorgeous the sweats just looking at it! Seriously, this place is the real deal with homemade jewish meals and pastries that deserve to be ooggled and tasted. We enjoyed a casual family lunch at Schmaltz and would have been happy with just the complimentary bagel chips and an order of their candied pastrami slices. Their matzo ball soup had a hearty matzo ball and delicious broth, their sandwich breads were fresh and their meet perfectly cured and prepared for devious sandwiches. Service was great and the dine-in atmosphere felt like home. Love it!!!

We visited the site in Naperville. It is warm and inviting but I do miss the charm of the old location which reminded me of a New York deli. Their menu is a little overwhelming with the various options. I tried to check out their menu online but the selection was limited. Once I got there it was a lot. We ordered cafeteria style and the waitress brought our drinks and meals to us. We ordered the Wall Street and the Sloppy Paul. Both were good. The Paul sandwich didn't hold up as well with the marble bread. The sauerkraut made it a little more wet but did add a touch of more flavor. The Wall Street was great with a touch of yellow mustard on rye. It was good! Their desserts look great and I'll be back for that and bagels. Go give it a go!!!

I've been here three times for breakfast takeout. I LOVE the pastry case and can recommend the rugalech and eclair. The eclair is easily a shareable treat and full of cream. For bagels, I've really enjoyed their plain and sesame bagels with whipped cream cheese. They have multiple creamshees flavors. The folks who have gone with me loved the bagel breakfast sandwiches. To save the best for last are the lakes. They are the size of a pancake, perfectly fried and come with applesauce or sour cream, as they should.

I finally decided to try this place and it happened to be right after Christmas so they were out of all the bagels except blueberry and chocolate chip so I wasn't able to get what I wanted off the menu. I'll have to try again. When you walk in, I wish there was better signage about what you're supposed to do. If you want to sit at a table, you wait to be seated. Or, you can go to the left and order food to go at the counter.

Super great experience here! This was our first time. Owner struck up conversation and brought us some free samples while we waited. Breakfast sandwich was delicious!

This place has gone downhill since changing locations. Waited 20 min after online order was scheduled to be ready. 2 sandwiches and 6 bagels in a bag... it wasn't even crowded

Was on the hunt for decent bagels in the suburbs since going into the city for a bagel is not always ideal. I stumbled upon this place and am so happy I found it! No, the bagels are not a replica of a NYC bagel but for conveniently being in the suburbs, I'm not mad at it. I loved it actually. I am speaking of their bagels as an individual and not comparing it to others. With that in mind, I would give them an 8/10. Their staff is always so warm, welcoming and cheerful. They do have a drive thru which is great. Yes the wait may be long for a drive thru but keep in mind it's made to order so I don't really mind that. I've tried several bagels from here including blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin (my fave), onion bagel with Lox cream cheese, everything bagel and a bacon egg and cheese on everything bagel. It hits every time and has yet to disappoint me. This place is easy and has become a new weekend morning go to for me.

My go to for NY style deli. My go to is a standard pastrami on rye with a half sour pickle. This place can't be beat in the 'burbs. Easy parking, pickup

Don't try to act like a 'New York' type Deli with the yelling orders. Packing the meat(Corned beef, Pastrami,etc high in the center).

Ate lunch at Schmaltz's in Lisle Illinois with a friend. Overall ok! Matzah Ball soup was good. Pastrami was good. Mustard & pickle were good. Also had a Cel-ray. Not as good as Manny's, Shapiro's or almost anywhere in NYC, but a good lunch for the area. There's a seating area, but you order at the counter. That said, everyone was pleasant and service was good. I havent been to every Jewish-style deli, but its only I've ever seen with a drive-thru window. Maybe it's a suburban thing. Additionally: I wanted to buy four bagels to take home. The girl behind the counter said, "take 6, it's cheaper." So I bought six. I'm adding the bagels to this review now that they're finished. Not bad. Not as dense as NY Bagel.& Bialy on Toughy, but toasted well. Schmere'd and nova's they did the job.

With winter flu going around, what better remedy than chicken matzo ball soup? Thus the decision was made to dine at the Western suburbs' few Jewish Deli choices - Schmaltz's Deli for a soup and sandwich. First, the soup. Matzo balls were nice and fluffy. Accompaniments in the chicken broth were chicken meat, carrots, celery and onions. Definitely a good elixir to ward off whatever ails you. Now to the sandwich. The Old New Yorkers - pastrami, coleslaw, Russian dressing (and I added Swiss) on rye. It was missing something from my recollection. I think it was a sweeter note in the Russian dressing or coleslaw that made it more crave able from orders past. Opted for ordering at the counter and taking a seat in the dining room. However, full table service is an option. Dining room is spacious and open. Now admittedly, this may be personal preference here, but I am a Coke products guy and Schmaltz is a Pepsi place. But the Dr Browns cream sodas were too overpriced for me to go there to compromise. Water it is.

Ok, it's not NYC level but the best I've had in Illinois suburbs so far and it's only 10-15 minutes away. The staff is super nice especially in the drive-thru. The wait can be long if you do a hefty order but the flavors are there. My only nitpicking is that I'm not a fan of their potato salad but all the sandwiches are tasty especially the corn beef and pastrami ones. My go to for bagels and deli sandwiches!

I really looked forward to having a corned beef sandwich on marble rye. No marble rye. Really????? The corned beef was horrible! Very stringy and dry. No real taste. The waitress was nice, but too busy w her boyfriend at another table to care what was going on at mine. Had to call her for my husband's refill, his horseradish that she forgot, for the bill, and for a box for my latke. The price was another issue along w a preset tip 18%, seriously? When dhe asked if everything was ok, we told her and she couldn't care less. She went back and sat at the table w her boyfriend. It was good when it was at the other location. What happened? Did they sell it? I don't think I'll be back!

This was my first visit to the new location. Let me clue you in to the changes. First, when you walk in there is a hostess stand. If you are pciking up or ordering you will be directed to the left. Now, you can dine in with table service. Yes, a wait staff person will come over and take your order and then deliver it to your table. That was the biggest surprise. Tables are to the right. You must wait to be seated. There is a separate room with double glass doors to the back on the right side. Keep in mind that if you go to the left upon entering, that side is for ordering carry-out, picking up carryout, drive-up window, and those who want to order and eat in (like at the old location). That is also where the glass cases of food items are as well as refrigerated items. The new setup may take some getting used to, especially if you knew how Chin's had been laid out.

It took me a long time since their move from the Naper Boulevard location to get over here and check out the new Schmaltz. Oy vey. Don't miss the turn into the lot (because it's probably not where you think it is). The full menu never did come back, and sandwiches cost as much here as a meal at other restaurants. There is the drive-thru, but it was pretty slow even when it wasn't the lunch rush. That said, the pastrami is still good (this is fatty pastrami, not lean, and sliced thin, which is my preference). Do wish they would bring back some of the old menu classics.

Went in and waited for the server side for a table. Guess they didn't want anyone to stay?

Paid $14 for a build your own with only cheese, tomato, and onion. They charged 50c extra for each ingredient and the wrong sandwhich came. Turns out they charged me for some other random sandwhich NOT a build your own. when I got the correct "build your own" it had a single slice of tomato cut in half, cheese, and onion. For over $15. Very disappointing for a place that stuffs their meat sandwiches to have such a skimpy veggie Sandwhich with extra charges for all the ingredients on it. staff was super nice, but it's clear the place has become all about money. Used to be great! Pickles and potato salad were also no good sadly

Schmaltz's Deli is the real deal, baby. Jewy, NY feel, knowledgable service, and all the greatest hits. While we may not be a member of "the tribe," we sure as hell love Jewish food, bread, soups, and the rest. Schmaltz's (even their name is great) is a counter ordering, Panera style setup with a HUGE menu, and a 2nd Avenue Deli feeling/ambiance. And yes, the ordering works perfectly so you can either take your order to go or enjoy the lobby. While we love brisket, salami, kosher hot dogs, and corned beef....we REALLY love traditional (sometimes even gentile) deli tuna. Ironically, some of the best Jewish deli tuna we've had was in Greenwich, CT. Schmaltz's is right on par with the tuna we've had at 2nd Avenue and better than Katz's...AND Schmaltz's has much better (RYE) bread selections. We got the LA Times tuna sandwich on toasted rye and really enjoyed it....just the right amount of seasoning and onion. While peppers may be an interesting choice, the whole sandwich just works. Without being too...(brace yourself)...SCHMALTZY, we really loved having a taste/reminder of NY and simply enjoyed the lobby energy. Lotsa discerning/picky sandwich fans. We look forward to getting off our tuchus and making our next tuna run!

The dine In deli experience was pretty good. It started with some welcoming service and friendly suggestions. We told our server it was our first time in and she really took her time to explain the menu. I appreciated the effort. The soup has multiple variations/ upgrades. I went with just the plain vegetable. It was really good! It was loaded with veggies and the broth was the right mix of not being too salty or bland. The sandwiches can be regular or overstuffed. I went with overstuffed and it was almost too much. I'd likely just do the regular now that I know. They are known for their sandwiches but are now featuring burgers too. The price is alright and the service was quick. Worth checking out for sure.

Nice clean and bright atmosphere. We were greeted by a very friendly man who showed us where to sit and the deli case is on the opposite side of the room. Server came immediately to the table with menus bagel, chips and bagel chips, which were delicious my husband had the pastrami sandwich And he thought it was delicious. I had the lox and bagel and I thought it was really good our friend had a hamburger which suited his fancy. We did get some bagels on the way to take them home and that would be nice to look forward to on these cold days

You can order at the counter or sit down at the restaurant for dinning. I decided to order at the counter. I got my order in and it took a few minutes to get my lunch. The Sloppy Paul with corn beef was very flavorful and big. I really enjoyed the mustard that they used in the sandwich.

I got 2 bagels with cream cheese and a lox sandwich (ACME) that lacked cream cheese, I attached picture for reference that is consistent across the board for the order. The pickle I received did not taste right, like it wasn't pickled enough as in, it tasted like a cucumber, if that makes sense. Overall when one is paying for a bagel with cream cheese, and the bagels are $4 and lox sandwich is $16 the main ingredient should be prevalent (cream cheese), which in this case it was not. Overall it seems that the reputation of having large portions in the past is not true here anymore. If you're looking for delicatessen type stuff with large portions pass on this place, mostly due to the fact that they're cutting corners and the food just doesn't taste the same as in the past.

Clean cute place, server nice. I was disappointed with the corned beef sandwich. It was tough. An extra star for all the diet sodas.

One word: DELICIOUS. My friends and I all ordered the "Sloppy Paul" half stuffed and some of us got the full stuffed. Honestly, the half stuffed would be what most restaurants consider fully stuffed. The sandwich was absolutely amazing. The pastrami is packed beautifully between Swiss cheese and marble rye bread. There was sauerkraut and Russian dressing that added so much flavor. The sandwiches are reasonably priced considering how much pastrami meat is packed into the sandwiches (half stuffed $15.50 and full $19.99). All the reviewers are right - you will leave FULL. They also have a lot of Jewish pastries available. I was particularly drawn to the caramel apple pie, pecan and cinnamon rugelach, and chocolate rugelach. The parking lot is a bit confusing!! So be careful! Service was great and friendly. This is a dangerously delicious place and we might have to be glad that we don't live so close to it. It was a 30 minute drive for us, but was worth it. We will definitely be back... definitely more than once!!

Best bagel pastrami egg and cheese sandwich. The dried bagels are addicting. One of my favorite places to eat in all of suburbs

My cousin and I stopped in Saturday for a sandwich. We both order the Sloppy Joe and the marble rye was so mushy. It was like the bread wasn't baked long enough. We ordered at the counter and sat down very hard to find a table that had been wiped down but plenty of servers standing around. We were so very disappointed by the quality of our sandwiches and service.

So so good. From the housemade bagel chips to the soup to the sandwiches. We enjoyed everything we had. Considered some baked goods, but we were so stuffed that we declined, unable to even THINK of eating another bite.

It was great that they have vegetarian and vegan options. They also have a drive thru which comes in great if you often travel with your furry family members. The bagel was good. The food took some time but it was clear that it was made to order. Portions are ample, sometimes too ample. I had a veggie sandwich that had two zucchini's cut in half. That made it a bit difficult to eat. It is a bit pricey. Service was great at the window. Extremely friendly. They even offered a liver treat for my dog. He gives two paws up (clearly easily bribed). I didn't go inside so I don't know the indoor situation but the parking lot is a bit confusing. You have to turn onto the side street to enter.

Great place omg What a hidden gem! The food and staff are equally amazing. The salt bagel with pastrami lox is my favorite, but everything is great.

I love this place. Dining in is always so comfortable. You never feel judged or rushed. It sounds weird, but I always feel as welcomed as a family's home. The waitstaff is so friendly. The food is always amazing. My go-to is the ACME bagels and lox. However, I've never had a bad meal. This place just makes me happy.

Absolutely love this deli the sandwiches are great and the bagels / bagel chips are amazing. Also their Ruben salad is to die for (I highly recommend getting an extra dressing, yum)! My all time fav sandwich from there is seasonal and hits the spot every time... Get the November [extra] special - Thanksgiving gobbler. Also, get the schmacon... On a sandwich, by the pound, take it home to crisp on your own... It's THE BEST. And if you are looking for great corned beef with all the trimmings for St. Patty's day, come here and order ahead!

Food is always fantastic. Patrick provides terrific service every time, the whole team is wonderful. Highly recommended!

Best Jewish Deli in the Chicagoland area! All the classics, serving the freshest fare going on 20 years. It's worth the drive, but be sure to know ahead of time what you would like to order. The service is a bit slow, friendly, but they could use some extra help. Tons of catering options, and grab and go for home. Nice and clean seating area and cases full of fresh bagels, fish, and desserts. Don't forget to take home some bagel chips !!! you guys do the same

For the first time in my life i had matzoh ball soup. I was pleasantly surprised how good Matzoh balls are, quite light and tasty with good chicken soup. I had the small sloppy paul, which is a untoasted rueben, made with pastrami, good sandwich! They carry Doc Brown sodas and have black and white cookies and a couple of different Rugelachs. Good jewish deli.

Overindulgent sandwiches were never better. Top notch corn beef and pastrami. The potato latkes are a perfect pair and honestly, the creamiest dreamiest cheesecake this side of ohio.

Just love the soups matzoh ball and the cabbage soup and of course the corned beef sand. Brings back old memories ! Service outstanding by a cheerful staff

Food is amazing. They don't forget the shmeeeeer. Service is really nice! Prob the best bagels in the area!

I stopped into Schmaltz after seeing so many positive reviews, and I'm glad I stopped in! The bagels were delicious and toppings were plentiful, and my husband really enjoyed his Pastrami sandwich. My biggest issue was the length of time it took to even get noticed. I was the only person in the store, but no employee could be found for 5-7 minutes. Had I not already made the trek there, I would have left, but wish they had a better way to keep track of customers coming in. Next time I'm in Lisle, we'll definitely come by!

I stopped in at the new location in Lisle recently for lunch. It was a busy Sunday afternoon and the place was hip & happening. Plenty of seating inside, and decent parking (just be careful getting in and out, as one of the openings is only for turning back out onto Ogden). I ordered an Acme (nova lox) on pumpernickel, a latke (potato pancake) w/ applesauce, and a broccoli cheddar knish (dough snack). The Acme was pretty good. The latke was okay; I ordered this mostly out of curiosity, but I can't say I'm a latke fan. I was looking forward to the knish since I had never tried one, but unfortunately they gave me a corn beef knish instead of broccoli cheddar, which I can't eat. That was a waste of $5, but I didn't want to bother driving back since I had a lot to do that day. It was busy at the restaurant and probably just a simple mix-up with someone else's knish, but still disappointing.

Sad but, also costly mistake. I went in on a Tuesday at 11:45. Should have been the lunch rush start but not so much. I thought that was strange but stuck around to order. Ordering... that's certainly a strange and awkward experience. The line seems backward and there was one person working the order area and no signs of life otherwise. There is no deli line. There is no Schmaltzy exchange when you order. There is an order taker who wears a massive headset and talks to mission control which is located somewhere other than in plain view. A sad change from the old Schmaltz's which leveraged the rudish banter at the counter as a calling card to the gateway to great sandwiches. Sadder yet was the pair of sandwiches i got 25 minutes after placing my order in an effectively empty restaurant. I had the turkey Gobbler because it's almost Thanksgiving and that sounded tasty. Who doesn't like a good leftover turkey sammie? Well, me if that's what I'm getting. Turkey lunchmeat with soggy cornbread stuffing, and a whiff of something like cranberry jelly on soggy white bread. But it was just about $20 so there's that. Additionally I grabbed a "Match Made In Heaven" which was a triple decker abomination of chicken salad with grapes and slabs of candied pastrami which act like little sandwich wreckers as you bite down on then only to find them un-bite-though-able. It's like having beef jerky strips on your sandwich. Not as appetizing as it sounded on the menu. It was only $18 so, well I don't know what to say. Im sure the sloppy paul is still goodish but I won't be going back to find out. The pickle... yech. It's just a cucumber if you don't pickle it. Save your half-sours for someone who cares. $40 for two sandwiches. No extras. Yikes. You really are out of your tree. My official view... you've gotten too big for your britches and I think you have been reading too many of your own clippings.

Excellent food served quickly with a friendly smile. Comfortable, pleasant environment. I hope to return to Schmaltz many times in the future. I was there for breakfast while my cat was having dental surgery nearby and the staff made me feel more than welcome. My favorite was the kreplach soup and I sure appreciated the option to order lean pastrami in my sandwich which was also great. I ate a lot of wonderful food while I was waiting to pick up my cat.

We ordered the Heavenly Hots this morning. They were delicious! Wonderful food and service. Thank you! And thanks for letting me keep the menu. I'll be back to try your matzo ball soup soon..

We ordered for dinner Friday night. The sandwiches were good, but the Pickles were awful. The worst we ever tasted, not edible. Surprising for a Jewish delit. They tasted like they were not fully pickled. THE worst we've ever had.

If you're looking for a Jewish deli, you need not look any further. Come hungry and get your food on. Schmaltz will make pastrami and corned beef sandwiches that will test your gastrointestinal limits. I got the half stuffed New Yorker, and I was questioning if I could finish what was labeled "half." The old NYer was great. Served on rye bread and that cole slaw balances out the salt from the corned beef and pastrami nicely. Don't fret. You'll also get a side of pickle. Schmaltz has bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and so much more. No matter what you order, come with a healthy appetite. You will walk away very full.

I am so happy that they didn't close their business, a lot of the business in this strip mall or in this area has closed down due to covid. The good news is that They are open and will be moving to the previous Chinn's seafood restaurant by Ogden (Better location I think). I heard there will be a drive thru!!! Some people say it is pricey but I think it is worth it! The sandwich is still delicious, the servings in my opinion is still the same. Some would increase their prices and cut down on servings. Not them, I will still be coming and buying chicago dog or Gramercy park sandwich!

I was looking for a good corned beef sandwich, Schmaltz Deli did not disappoint I really knew it was going to be good from when I walked in, the aroma screamed Jewish deli, they have three sizes of corned beef sandwiches, I had the fully loaded size the meat was piled on this very soft and tasty rye bread I had mine with yellow mustard, it was amazing just what I was craving, I also had a bowl of matza ball soup, What! you thought I wasn't getting a bowl of matza ball soup, come on I was at a Jewish deli, the soup was very flavorful, we also had a brisket sandwich, I thought it tasted delicious, and we tried a latke also very good, I'm looking forward to returning to this deli, I'm going for the large corned beef sandwich, be sure to bring your appetite, I think you will be surprised and happy that you tried this place, I was