Jerry's Famous Deli

06/22/09

Jerry's Deli in Studio City

by marcy_stevens at Citysearch

In the past, when in LA on vacation, we have made it a point to eat at Jerry’s “Famous Deli” on Ventura Blvd in Studio City.

We decided to give Jerry’s a try last night (on Father’s Day) only to find a half empty parking lot. All the other restaurants were overflowing with diners, but Jerry’s was not. That should have warned us, but we decided to give it a try anyway.

The place has a rundown look, the autographed photos on the wall are gone, and the booths are shabby and worn. The place was about 1/3 filled. The bakery and deli selection in the front was sparse.

The “new” menu has changed considerably – much fewer choices and more advertising. The sandwiches (which used to be HUGE) now come in two sizes – LA Size (4 oz) and NY Size (7 oz).

The complimentary appetizer plate (dill pickles and green tomatoes) are no longer served.

We decided to share a corned beef sandwich on rye and split a bowl of their Hungarian Goulash. The goulash (only served on Sundays now) was so over-spiced as to be unedible.

The sandwich looked and tasted like store-bought, served on thin cut light rye. The corned beef was thin and processed and served in a pressed rectangle between the two slices of bread. You had to break up the cube of corned beef and spread out the thinly sliced corned beef to cover the bread. The sandwich was served without a pickle.

The side dishes (cole slaw or potato salad, baked beans or chili) all tasted like something from the supermarket – tasteless and bland.

We asked the waiter if things had changed – he said that the owner had died and the son had taken over.

We quickly finished our sandwich and left.

We would NEVER return nor would we recommend anyone else go to Jerry’s.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Terrible food

04/13/09

Jerry's is going down hill

by MadameVarooshka at Citysearch

This place is crazy.

Prices are way out of whack and the clientele is out of control.

Food is just o.k.

The servers where the only redeeming part of the experience.

• Pros: The servers
• Cons: The prices

02/12/09

Not Feeling Well After Eating At Jerry's

by kelsu7 at Citysearch

I wish I had looked at the reviews before I ate lunch here! I just tried this place for the third and last time! My boss treated us all to lunch and he picked this place or else I would not have eaten here more than once. I ordered the overpriced buffalo chicken sandwich. It was greasy and only came with a bit of wilted lettuce and some soggy fries. No tomato or pickle. I immediately felt sick and had a horrible headache. Now that I read about the MSG content in their food I know why - I am very allergic! Now, about another time I ate at Jerry's, I ordered eggs benedict - one of my favorites. Well, they nearly put me off of eggs benedict forever! Not only was it cold, greasy, and disgusting, but there was a hair in my food! Gross!!

• Pros: none
• Cons: everything

From borscht to burritos, this deli serves mighty portions to an eclectic, devoted crowd.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
This after hours deli is a popular late-night nosh spot for locals and tourists alike. Cold cut-loving celebrities, such as Jerry Seinfeld and Larry Flynt, have been spotted digging into triple-decker sandwiches--pastrami, turkey, Reubens and Monte Cristos are house favorites. The menu features hundreds of other items, as well, and crosses multiple ethnicities. A broad selection of vegetarian-friendly salads and pastas are also available.

08/26/08

It burned down once, let's pray it will again!

by BACCAS at Citysearch

Stay away if you care about life as we know it.

I used to love this place. Even went bowling. I'd use this place to have lunch with old friends from Universal Studios. We?d have a great meal, they didn?t rush you, there was always big Deli portions, so you had a nice doggie bag to take home, the dill green tomatoes and pickles were great, and they refilled the tray over and over, and the price was reasonable.

Not anymore! Sometimes it?s best to trust the signs of fate. This place burned down about five years ago, and it took about two years to rebuild it. Something happened. Either they didn?t have enough insurance money, or they got greedy, or the good chefs burned down with the original place, because now, simply said this place is a nightmare! The trademark deli sandwiches look and taste more like something you buy out of desperation at an AM/PM at two in the morning, the food is tasteless and obvious of the lowest quality, and I got the men's room trots from eating the pickles. And two of my lunch guests spent the rest of the day throwing up. Seriously.

My chef salad, which used to be big enough to feed a soccer club, was so small that I actually said to the waitress ?No I think he ordered the dinner salad?. And she said ?No, that?s the chef salad?. I asked her if the chef was Mini-Me.

Point is, Art?s Deli, a great Valley tradition for over fifty years is only two block East on Ventura. Go there. Art is still around. He cares. He loves his customers, and the food shows it. Unlike ?Jerry?, who is obviously an uncaring greedy punk, who just wants to make a quick buck before the Anti-Defamation League closes down his greasy spoon.

• Pros: There are no pros working here
• Cons: Too many to write about. Simpy - stay away at all costs

01/18/08

Soup contains MSG - I'll miss their chocolate cake

by leilamh at Citysearch

I got chicken rice soup when I felt sick last week. Soon after I had to rush to the doctor for a shot of Benadryl. There was so much MSG in my soup, I had an allergic reaction - my whole body broke out in hives. That has never happened to me before, ever.

I'm impressed the manager was honest when he later told us the ingredients. Unfortunately, this means I can't recommend the restaurant and I'll never go back.

• Pros: cake
• Cons: MSG

11/02/07

GOOD...not the best.

by wise1too at Citysearch

All the jerry's are good delis. But any true deli lover knows that their corned beef and pastrami are not the real thing. The only place in LA that has true quality pastrami is Langer's downtown. But beyond this Jerry's has good, fresh deli fare!

12/23/06

Nummy Num

by lizwombocker at Citysearch

I really love this place. I come here when I have a little extra money I don't mind spending. I really love the creamy tomato pene pasta. Give it a try, I get it every time I come here. Their milkshakes are also good.

• Pros: Good Food, Clean/Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Pricey/Service slow

11/18/06

Place for great Pastrami or Cornbeef sandwiches

by dcracer at Citysearch

Hey what a great place for Hot Pastrami and/ or Cornbeef Sandwiches. Great homemade Matzoh ball Soups. Sometimes food comes out cold and must be turned back and returned to get the sandwich or food right, even if it's busy. In the end, everyones happy. Sooner or later, product will come out hot and fresh on the first time.

10/04/06

poor management, poor service, food quality not consistant

by rickone at Citysearch

If you are not hungary and if you dont mind waiting 40 minutes to get cold food that was supposed to be hot, and you don't mind paying 14 dollars for a sandwich that is less than an inch thick, then go to Jerry's Famous Deli in Studio City. Sometimes Jerry's is very good, and sometimes it is very bad. The last time I went it was very bad. Jerry's Famous Deli in Studio City is not a well run business. There are employees everywhere standing around doing nothing, watching tv, counting tips, eating, doing everything except serving food and providing quality service. What a waste of time and money. On the bright side, it's a great place if you are on a diet and have lots of free time to waste.

• Pros: location
• Cons: poor service, inconsistant quality