Art's Delicatessen & Restaurant — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Open since 1957 Art’s is one of the more well-known delis in the valley. My main issue with it is that it doesn’t taste as good as some of the other competitors and the pricing is overly steep. We were a table of two and ordered one soup, two sandwiches, and two cookies and our bill was $115 which I think is absurd. All the delis are starting to price themselves more than diners but less than the LA hotspots but for someplace that specializes in sandwiches, I feel that many of them are climbing too high in their pricing. Art’s being one of these. Inside looks exactly how you would guess in that there are many booths as seating options that run the entire length of the restaurant in rows, along with a giant kitchen and a predominantly Hispanic kitchen staff. Our server was polite and everything that we ordered came out quickly, but the bill at the end really kind of soured the meal.

As you would expect the menu here is giant just like it is at most delis but once you look over the menu, you realize there aren’t as many options as it seems like. If you’re not a fan of sandwiches or salads, this would not be the place for you. For my first visit I chose the Super Reuben which is a combined pastrami and corned beef Reuben. It was good, although not my favorite that I’ve had in town. The sandwich was gigantic and I was thinking of reducing it to the lighter portion but for a $3 discount I didn’t feel that it was worth it. I also started off with a bowl of the Beet Borscht and thought it was pretty good, although not as strong in flavor as other versions that I have had recently.

Overall, I think this is a good deli, but there are better options around LA, especially given the price point. I will give it another try sometime in the future after I try the other delis that I have not...

The place can be great again, the only issue is that it seems to have gotten stuck in the past. When I was there it seemed that the staff outnumbered the customers 4 staff per customer, possibly that could be why it's so overpriced. We have to cover the overstaffing. 2 people at the register, 3 waiters, and possibly 8 kitchen staff. There was only 4 people in the deli.

The food, carrots from a can or possibly frozen as they were not evenly cooked. The Matzah ball was the only thing good that came out of the kitchen. Turkey pastrami was dry and lacking, getting stuck in my mouth and hard to swallow. The Potato kanish was not crunchy, rather mooshie and soft. It seemed that it was old as I could taste the fridge. Who eats a Kanish with Gravy, you eat it with deli mustard.

Pricing was ridiculous, as when I was ordering I thought it would be a great experience. Rather not, so of course I will complain about the bill as it did not represent what was served. I almost forgot, what is the deal with plastic cups from the 80's, having a smell and not being clean. I feel bad, as I wanted this to be a pleasant meal with my wife. It turned into the, ok we tried it and it was not worth it.

I hope the owners read this and reflect, you can make it a spot to go to again. Focus on giving great food, do not cut corners, and reduce your staff. If you are not busy, send people home, reduce cost and overhead and pass that onto the customers. We will keep coming back only if we have a great experience. Otherwise, the fact is, without changing you will remain in the past, becoming dusty and a distant memory of what was once a great place to go...

Art’s Delicatessen has been my North Star for deli cravings in Los Angeles since I first wandered in, and there is a reason this Studio City institution has been going strong since 1957. It does the classics the way classics should be done. The soups are the headline act. The matzo ball is light yet substantial, and if you order it my way, you get the full orchestra of comfort in one bowl. Matzo ball, kreplach, chicken, noodles, the whole symphony, and every note lands. Split pea is rich and velvety. Cabbage soup is bright and restorative. On days when you need a little fixing, this place is a reliable prescription, but today I went simply because it sounded good, and it still hit perfectly.

Corned beef is sliced to the right thickness with that tender, steamy bite that tells you they care about the little things. Whitefish salad is balanced, clean, and generously portioned, great on rye that actually tastes like rye. The pickle plate still has that old school swagger. Portions are honest and the menu sticks to what Art’s does best, which is exactly what you want from a legacy deli.

Service has always been kind here, but today Kelly from the deli made it feel like a neighborhood ritual. Quick, attentive, and all smiles, the sort of service that keeps regulars loyal and first timers impressed. The room has that lived in warmth that reminds you why Ventura Boulevard still matters for real food. Art’s remains my favorite deli in Los Angeles, an anchor for comfort and consistency, and proof that when you do the staples right, you do not need...