Zeitlin's Delicatessen — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I’ve never been a shopper. It’s just not my thing, I don’t understand it’s appeal, and it doesn’t get any worse for me than clothes shopping. 🤦‍♂️ The phrase, “You should probably try that on” can raise my blood pressure even if you’re not actually talking to me.

And speaking of shopping, what a revolution in how that can take place these days. An entire wardrobe can be selected and accessorized entirely online!

It wasn’t always that way, and some will find this hard to believe, but there was a point in history when shoppers eagerly awaited the annual delivery of the voluminous Montgomery Ward and Sears catalogues at their doorsteps. And how long did you keep those entire reams of colored glossy paper? Until next year’s arrived, of course!

What you may not know is that the Chicago Post Office was the primary distribution point of those catalogues and it could process 19 million pieces of mail each day. 📬

As you might imagine, when the mail-order business diminished the need for this facility followed suit. After its closure the building remained vacant for nearly two decades before undergoing a $900 million renovation that transformed it into an office and retail space in 2019. If it looks vaguely familiar it may be because while it was vacant it was featured in “Batman Begins” in 2004 and “The Dark Knight” in 2007. 🦇

While I’m not interested in walking across a room in order to go shopping, I gladly walked in 22 degree weather to visit this building so that I could try the Ruben at Zeitlin’s Deli. I asked to have mine prepared on a bagel (rather than the traditional rye bread) and I had no reason to save the receipt because there’s no way that I’d want to return it! 😋

And that’s…Henry’s Take.

#chicagoruben

Photo credit...

To make some mistakes resulting in a sopping wet, disintegrating, greasy $17 rueben is one thing, to consciously serve it is just a disappointing lack of pride. Both of the people behind the counter knew what they were serving. It was so wet they almost dropped it on the way into the bag. I mean it folded on itself.

It happens, there are bad days, but as someone who made sandwiches for a living.. I'd be mortified if this was served at a place I worked.

Without some QC this place will lose repeat customers for sure. Manny's isn't that far after all, with a sandwich three times the size. I hope they figure this out -- we could always...

Lots of positives about this spot and the man, Sam, running the show. I stopped by their location in the Old Post Office food hall and had the Reuben. The meat was near perfect, the bread was exquisite, cheese slightly melty, and Sam also sent me home with one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve had since I moved out of my mom’s house. Really looking forward to their brick & mortar location opening up soon, to continue my journey through their deli...