For those searching for authentic Jewish Food Near Me, the culinary landscape of Charlotte, North Carolina, has recently become a whole lot more exciting. Just as the year 2023 drew to a close, two brand-new Jewish delis emerged on the city’s outskirts, sparking a wave of anticipation among locals and transplants alike. For someone with roots in Chicago, a city renowned for its Jewish deli culture, this news was particularly thrilling. Growing up in the Windy City meant easy access to comforting pastrami sandwiches and soul-warming matzo ball soup, especially cherished during the long, cold winters. The memories of my Bubbe Becky, my Yiddish-speaking grandmother, crafting potato and meat knishes in her kitchen also came flooding back – food truly was our shared language.
Living near Manny’s Deli, a Chicago institution for over seven decades, instilled in me a deep appreciation for quality Jewish cuisine. The pastrami slicer there knew my regular order! Since relocating to Charlotte in 2019, a piece of my culinary heritage felt missing. The Queen City, despite its growing population of New Yorkers and others familiar with deli fare, seemed surprisingly devoid of a proper Jewish deli experience.
A close-up of a juicy pastrami sandwich from Joan’s Bakery & Deli, a top spot for jewish food near me in Charlotte.
However, the deli drought is officially over! Despite a recent doctor’s visit for a stress test (perhaps brought on by the sheer excitement of new deli options!), there was no way I was missing the chance to explore both Joan’s Bakery and Deli in the Metropolitan and Schreiber’s on Rye in Optimist Hall. In fact, my first stop, Schreiber’s, was immediately after the stress test. Matzo ball soup and a knish seemed like the perfect, albeit slightly unconventional, post-medical indulgence. Pastrami, I decided, could wait until my visit to Joan’s the next day – health-conscious decisions in the new year, you see!
Schreiber’s on Rye is the brainchild of Chef Larry Schreiber, a familiar name from Moffett Restaurant Group and the culinary talent behind Bao & Broth and Good Food on Montford.
Schreiber’s on Rye in Optimist Hall, Charlotte – a popular destination for jewish food near me.
Arriving at Schreiber’s on December 23rd, just a day after its grand opening, I was greeted by a long queue and the news that several items were already sold out. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one in Charlotte yearning for authentic jewish food near me. I opted for Opa’s matzo ball soup, but sadly, knishes, rye bread, and potato salad were already gone. The matzo ball soup arrived in a generous container, featuring three matzo balls, plenty of carrots and celery, a scattering of onion slivers, and small pieces of chicken. The broth itself was mild, neither particularly flavorful nor unpleasant. It seemed the initial opening day rush was causing some operational hiccups. Food delivery was slow, and the ordering process was a bit unclear. While my first experience was slightly underwhelming, I planned a return visit, understanding that opening week kinks are to be expected.
Joan’s Bakery & Deli, which opened its doors in Midtown’s Metropolitan shopping center on December 15th, was bustling when I visited on a Saturday afternoon. Currently operating from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for takeout only, Joan’s offers a few tables outside and nearby seating along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
Jon Dressler, owner of Joan’s Bakery & Deli, with Chef Rob Clement, offering authentic jewish food near me.
Meshugganah, the deli concept within Joan’s, began as a pop-up venture by Rob Clement, who previously collaborated with Jon Dressler at The Porter’s House restaurant. Dressler, the owner of Joan’s and other restaurants within the Rare Roots Hospitality Group, mentioned plans to extend operating hours in the spring and to provide food service at the upcoming Lost Worlds Brewery next door.
My Joan’s order included a 7-ounce pastrami sandwich (a 10-ounce option is also available), matzo ball soup, a side of chopped liver, and a potato-and-onion knish. The pastrami was generously sliced and boasted a pleasant peppery edge, although I personally prefer a more pronounced spice throughout and a richer, fattier texture for maximum flavor (stress test be damned, indeed!). Served on quality rye bread with grainy mustard, it was undoubtedly a superior sandwich, even if not quite my ultimate pastrami dream. The chopped liver was smooth and creamy, reminiscent of my mother’s homemade version. I also sampled the corned beef, sliced thinner than the pastrami. While corned beef isn’t usually my top choice, this rendition was excellent and evoked nostalgic memories of my Chicago best friend’s favorite deli.
The matzo ball soup at Joan’s had a darker hue than I was accustomed to, almost suggesting a beef-based broth, but Chef Clement assured me it was chicken. It contained two sizable matzo balls and a more generous portion of chicken than Schreiber’s, alongside the expected vegetables.
Hearty matzo ball soup at Joan’s Bakery & Deli – a comforting jewish food near me option.
It was deeply satisfying, and a squeeze of fresh lemon at home elevated it to exquisite. The potato knish revealed a primarily mashed potato filling with a delightful, thick crust that contrasted beautifully with the soft interior. I also indulged in rugelach, those delicate cream cheese dough cookies filled with nuts, poppy seed paste, chocolate, or jam. Joan’s offered chocolate and apricot varieties that day. And then there was the babka, a sweet, braided bread, potentially filled. Joan’s babka hinted at cinnamon and perhaps a touch of chocolate. Growing up, Jewish desserts weren’t my favorite, but these samples suggested I might have been missing out.
Of course, no visit to a Dressler establishment is complete without Mom’s cheesecake, a signature dessert from his restaurants, based on his mother Joan’s recipe (the bakery’s namesake). It never disappoints. I’ve been known to make detours to Fin & Fino, Dressler’s restaurant closest to my home, solely for a slice of this cheesecake. Now, Joan’s provides another convenient location for Mom’s cheesecake, along with carrot, coconut, and chocolate cake options. The service at Joan’s was notably efficient, especially compared to my initial Schreiber’s experience. The ordering process was clear (being a standalone location rather than a food hall stall certainly helps), and everything was promptly prepared.
Ready for a Schreiber’s redux, I returned to see if they had smoothed out their opening week wrinkles and to compare their pastrami and knish to Joan’s.
The signature pastrami sandwich at Schreiber’s on Rye, a must-try for jewish food near me in Charlotte.
Inventory issues seemed resolved, as everything I requested was available. I ordered The Bowery, featuring a half-pound of house-smoked pastrami with deli mustard on seedless rye. Like Joan’s, the pastrami slices were thick, but Schreiber’s version was fattier and more intensely peppery. If pastrami sandwiches were blind dates, this one and I would have instantly connected. The potato knish had a firmer potato filling, and while I slightly preferred Joan’s, both were excellent choices.
Schreiber’s describes itself as a New York-style deli on Facebook, but I’d categorize it as a hybrid of a Jewish deli and a general sandwich shop. Their menu includes turkey and roast beef options, along with an Italian sub and a veggie sandwich, perhaps catering to a broader audience less familiar with traditional Jewish delis. Intrigued, I tried The Mullbery, an Italian sandwich with soppressata, capicola, mortadella, prosciutto, aged provolone, oil and vinegar, and mayo on a hero roll. The banana peppers provided the most prominent flavor, but the overall sandwich lacked oomph due to insufficient oil and vinegar to enliven the other ingredients. The biggest disappointment was the roll – dense, flavorless, and lacking any satisfying crust. A sandwich roll can make or break the experience, and this one unfortunately broke it. I wouldn’t recommend The Mullbery for that reason alone. Regrettably, the same hero roll is used for most of their sandwiches. Schreiber’s might consider upgrading their bread selection or steering customers towards the left side of the menu, featuring the corned beef on rye and the combo pastrami and corned beef on knish – three deli staples in one dish!
The great news for Charlotte residents searching for jewish food near me is that we now have two solid new deli options. If you’ve been missing authentic Jewish deli fare, I encourage you to try both Joan’s Bakery & Deli and Schreiber’s on Rye and decide which best satisfies your cravings. Even better news for me? My stress test results were excellent, so I can confidently return to both delis whenever the urge for pastrami, matzo ball soup, or a good knish strikes.
