Wise Sons Jewish Deli 24th Street
Deli · Mission ·
In-house pastrami, corned beef, bagels, and Jewish deli classics
In-house pastrami, corned beef, bagels, and Jewish deli classics
"We brought some prejudice to the table on our first visit to Wise Sons. Hipster deli deep in the Mission? Pastrami as good as Langer's or Katz's? Matzo Ball Soup as good as 2nd Ave Deli? We'll believe it when we taste it. Sure enough, the food didn't meet those ridiculously high standards. The pastrami is not as good as the best of the best, nor does the matzo ball soup stand with the offerings from New York's finest. Our prejudices were confirmed, or so we thought. But we've started going back to Wise Sons recently, and have come to realize that we were missing the forest for the trees. While many of the individual items are not the capital-G-Greatest version of that thing you've ever had, Wise Sons is, on net, a great place to eat. Especially at breakfast. If there's a better place in town to stroll in on a sunny Sunday morning, order some eggs, and sit back and read a goddamn NEWSPAPER like the septuagenarian we secretly want to become...we ain't seen it yet. And those eggs will be good. The challah? Good. Breakfast sandwiches? Damned good. Nostra culpa, Wise Sons. We were unfair. You're not a deli for tourists stacking smoked meats and taking pictures. You're one for menu-spelunking and hanging out on early mornings. For that, we love you more. Food Rundown Semite Sandwich The super-delified version of an Egg McMuffin. Badass, will help you work off your hangover. L.E.O. Just a nice egg and salmon plate with a bialy kicker. The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast. Challah French Toast Looks as good as it tastes, and it looks insanely good. Unweave that illogical wordplay at your own risk. Pastrami Sandwich As established: OK, but not up with the big boys. So let's take a diversion down Langer's shout-out lane. It seems every up-and-coming deli, including this one, has an ode to the famous #19. But the true pros know that the #1 is in fact the sandwich king. That extra slab of swiss? Pure ornamentation. Matzo Ball Soup It's warm soup, which we hear is good for a cold day. Not that we have any more of those in this drought-ravaged desert scape they call California." - Max Child
"A special Hanukkah menu offers an entire meal for a family of six with a choice of brisket or a herbed roast chicken dinner with all the fixings. Supplemental sides and mains include braided challah, a half-dozen suganiyot, or a pastry box filled with babka, rugelach, and chocolate chip cookies. Pickup and delivery are available at all locations — including the Mission, Fillmore, the Jewish Community Center San Francisco, and the Temescal shop in Oakland — and the special menu runs from Sunday, December 22 to Thursday, January 2. The full menu is available on the group's website." - Dianne de Guzman
"Gluten-free bagels are tough to find, so cherish the ones you have: Wise Sons notably makes one such option, perfect for the schmear of your choice. This gluten-free bagel also means you have access to any of the shop’s bagel sandwiches with a simple swap. This is definitely not a wheat-free facility, so just be mindful that there is a possibility of cross-contamination." - Dianne de Guzman
"The Bay Area’s most recognizable Jewish deli covers all the savory and sweet bases with a Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur menu that offers roasted brisket and apricot-braised chicken, carrots tzimmes, and schmaltz-roasted potatoes. In addition, there is also challah, chopped chicken liver, matzo balls, and potato latkes. A complete dinner for four people costs $110 and includes round raisin challah with honey, carrots, potatoes, roast chicken, and honey cake. Orders must be placed online by 9 a.m. two days beforehand, with pick up at select locations. Delivery is also available and starts at $26." - Eater Staff
"The popular new-school Jewish deli has one of the most extensive slates of Passover offerings, running the gamut from a full seder kit (which, at $196, even includes the Shabbat candles, along with a 2.5-pound brisket) to individual items like potato kugel and housemade gefilte fish. The Passover menu is available for takeout and delivery orders between April 7 and April 16; East Bay customers can arrange for pickup at Beauty’s Bagel Shop on April 8, noon–3 p.m. only." - Luke Tsai