Kinsley's Smokehouse Deli — Restaurant in Minneapolis

As someone who grew up in Jersey, finding a deli in the Midwest that even comes close to a Katz’s-type experience has been a challenge. But this spot gets it right.

The pastrami is the real standout—perfectly seasoned, tender, and packed with flavor. You can tell there’s actual care in how it’s made. This isn’t just some meat stacked on rye; it’s legit.

Matzo ball soup had a broth that hit the mark—rich and comforting. The matzo balls themselves leaned dense, but in a good, stick-to-your-ribs kind of way. I’ll be coming back for that alone when winter hits.

And the cannoli? Outstanding. Crisp shell, not overly sweet, and the filling had real flavors. Honestly this was probably my favorite cannoli I've ever had.

Feels good to finally have a place like this nearby. It’s not trying too hard—it just delivers where it counts.

I spent around $38, definitely NYC prices but the flavors...

The style in which the Reuben was made was amazing, the sandwich looked great and was thoughtfully put together. Unfortunately, the quality of the meat wasn’t up to par. The pastrami was tough and difficult to chew, to the point where I had to pick pieces out just to bite through it. In the end, I gave up and didn’t even finish my Reuben, a first for me, as I’ve never not finished a Reuben. Everything else in the sandwich tasted fantastic, and the guys making it clearly did a great job, but the star of the show (the meat) fell well below expectations. With better executed pastrami, this would have been an...

I would not get the New Yorker, if I had a second run at it. For my sandwich, the bread fell apart way too easily, the meat was thick and tough like a hockey puck, but the mustard tasted good. The chips are OK, I did enjoy the pickles, classic dill chips. I had high hopes for $19 sandwich that fell flat. Maybe next time, others seem to have better luck.

Despite the mixed reaction on the food, the staff were great and helpful, the atmosphere is awesome - a very cool concept. Nice for a...