Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen
Sign near main entrance
Map
Restaurant information
Established2007
Head chefKen Gordon
Dress codeCasual
Street address1038 SW Stark St
CityPortland
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97205
CountryUnited States
Seating capacity67
Websitewww.kennyandzukes.com

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen was a Jewish delicatessen in Portland, Oregon serving primarily non-kosher foods. The restaurant closed permanently in November 2023.[1][2]

History

The restaurant opened in October 2007, however, the principal owners, Ken Gordon and Nick Zukin, began their venture at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market as The Pastrami King in 2006. After regularly selling pastrami, they moved to Ken Gordon's restaurant, Ken's Place, for a Saturday brunch, renaming the venture Kenny & Zuke's. Because of its popularity, the two started looking for a permanent location for the deli. Nick Zukin no longer is associated with Kenny & Zukes.

In September 2019 Ken Gordon confirmed that the company's LLC, Body by Pastrami, was to undergo Chapter 11 reorganization. The decision was prompted by a civil suit from food distributor Performance Food Group, alleging Kenny and Zuke's owes $184,494 in unpaid invoices. According to Gordon, the planned reorganization was to allow the debt owed to multiple creditors to be paid back in full over the course of eight to ten years while drastically decreasing their monthly payments, and allowing the business to remain open. He added that the restaurant was in "absolutely no danger of closing, or curtailing operations in any way".[3]

Awards and recognition

The deli was named one of the top 10 sandwich shops in the country by Bon Appetit.[4] It was also named among the best restaurants in Portland by The Oregonian,[5] which also called the Pastrami Burger one of the city's "Best Bites",[6] and the Willamette Week,[7] which also named it among the best spots for lunch, sandwiches, pre-show dinners, and lines worth the wait.[8] Its Cobb Salad was named best in the city by Portland Monthly.[9]

  • Featured in The New York Times as the future of delicatessen.[10]
  • Named one of the best delis in the world in Maxim.[11]
  • Highlighted in Gourmet as one of two delis in North America leading an artisan revival in Jewish foods.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wong, Janey (2021-01-20). "Portland's Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  2. ^ "Pastrami Powerhouse Kenny & Zuke's Is Permanently Closing Its Last Deli". Willamette Week. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  3. ^ Singer, Matthew (2019-09-18). "Portland Pastrami Staple Kenny & Zuke's Is Filing For Bankruptcy". Willamette Week. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  4. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (2008-04-06). "The Hot 10: Sandwich Shops". Bon Appétit.
  5. ^ Kramer, Matt (2008-06-09). "Kenny & Zuke's - Diner 2008". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18.
  6. ^ Skidmore, Nathan (2008-10-10). "Best Bites: Burgers". The Oregonian.
  7. ^ "The Willamette Week's 2008 Restaurant Guide". Archived from the original on 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  8. ^ "The Willamette Week's "High Fives"". Archived from the original on 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  9. ^ Barker, Brian (2009-05-19). "Best of the City 2008". Portland Monthly.
  10. ^ Moskin, Julia (2010-04-14). "Can the Jewish Deli Be Reformed?". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "Eat Like a Mensch". Maxim Magazine. 2009-11-05. Archived from the original on 2009-11-09.
  12. ^ Sax, David (October 2009). "Meet the New Deli". Gourmet Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30.

45°31′20″N 122°40′56″W / 45.522301°N 122.682333°W / 45.522301; -122.682333