Molly Martin
Audio By Carbonatix
From Denver’s burgeoning bánh mì scene to the affordable options at Lucky’s and the massive meals on freshly baked bread at old-school Italian deli Carmine Lonardo’s in Lakewood, we love sandwiches.
But where’s the most iconic place to get a sandwich in Colorado? According to a February 12 Tasting Table list, it’s the Bagel Deli & Restaurant at 6439 East Hampden Avenue – which is a solid pick.
Founded by Holocaust survivors Paul and Lola Weiner in 1967, the New York-style Jewish deli has been a south Denver staple for nearly sixty years and is still family-run. “What You’ll Find in Our Authentic Jewish Deli: Attitude; Corned Beef; Pastrami; Lox; Bagels; Cream Cheese; Chopped Liver; Familiar Faces; Rye Bread; Chicken Soup; Matzo; Challah; Friends; Kosher Salami; Giant Hot Dogs; Cheesecake; Rugelach; Knowledge; Brisket; Matzo Balls; Kreplach; Tradition, especially Tradition,” reads its website.
In 2011, the Bagel Deli got a host of new fans when it was featured on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in which host Guy Fieri dug into its matzo ball soup and brisket knishes – which are both still on the menu and very much worth ordering.
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Fieri has visited twice more since then, and the Bagel continues to draw crowds, particularly on the weekends. It even offers a Triple D Sampler that includes the matzo ball soup, meat knish and kishke (which Fieri “thought was like a matzo ball gone wild!” the website notes).
One part of the Bagel Deli is a market while the other half is a dining room.
The Bagel Deli/Facebook
The menu is sprawling, but you should start with one of the standouts.
Our go-to: the hot pastrami sandwich, piled high on your choice of bread, though we prefer the marbled rye. We also like to order it New York-style, loaded with coleslaw and Russian dressing.
Other favorites include the large latkes served with a side of apple sauce and sour cream; chicken soup with a choice of noodles, matzo balls or kreplach (small dumplings that the Bagel Deli describes as “Jewish won-ton”); blintz with sour cream and cherry topping; and a Dr. Brown’s to wash it all down. We also always order some sweet treats to take home, usually rugelach and a couple of black and white cookies.
One thing we typically skip at the Bagel Deli, though, are the bagels, which it sources from Moe’s. They’re a fine bagel, but the sandwiches are the real stars.
Soon, the Bagel Deli will add an outpost at Denver International Airport; we’re looking forward to getting a fix on our way out of town, or a satisfying bite after returning home from afar.
The Bagel Deli & Restaurant is located at 6439 East Hampden Avenue and open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information, visit bageldeli.com.
