Kenny and Zuke's

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Seek the Unique: West End: Kenny and Zuke's

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen offers classic NY deli foods with a NW commitment to local products and slow food principles. Nearly everything is made from scratch on-site, including breads, bagels, and pastrami. Dine-in or take-out. Catering, sack lunches, breakfast boxes for pick-up or delivery. Monthly fixed-price family dinners and seasonal take-out, such as Thanksgiving and other holiday dishes. Named one of the top ten sandwich shops in the country by Bon Appetit.

Seek the Unique promotes unusual items in downtown Portland. For more information, check out www.downtownportland.org.

Keywords: Jewish / Kosher

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Pastrami

Pastrami is out of this world. Sit at the counter and watch them work. FUN!

Keywords: Local / Regional food, Dress casual, Restaurant, Everyone, Moderate (US$ 11 - US$ 20), Breakfast

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Smoked Meat in Heaven

That's what will be there waiting for me when I hear the trumpets call, cross the rainbow bridge and start pushing up those daisies. But it couldn't possibly be any better than the smoky deliciousness that is the pastrami, as well as the corned beef, I had last week at the new restaurant called Kenny & Zuke's next to the Ace Hotel downtown.

While styling themselves as an old-fashioned delicatessen, its got that slightly upscale feel of a nice Northwest restaurant, with its open kitchen and light wood accents. They also have a store at one end, selling their bagels and bialies, as well as those amazing smoked meats by the pound and the various salads, all made on the premises.

And the food is totally worth checking out. As soon as my son heard they had matzoh ball soup, he immediately grabbed his dad and rushed down there for a bowl. And a whole reuben. Which got two thumbs up from a guy who considers himself a connoisseur of both.

This place has been slammed with business since the moment they opened, but tables seem to open up fairly quickly and the service is more than adequate to the task.

But with spring on the way and warmer temperatures in the forecast, eating outdoors again is looking like a possibility. Luckily for you, if the weather gods are smiling upon you and the sun is shining (or even if it's just not raining), there is a deli at one end of the restaurant that carries nearly all of their meats (including smoked fish and pickled tongue), breads and salads at very reasonable prices.

So you can get a homemade bagel with cream cheese ($2.75) or a bialy and a salad, head to a nearby park and, as your mother used to say, "Get out and get some fresh air. It's good for you!" She'd be so proud.

Keywords: Dress casual, Restaurant, Everyone, No smoking, Cheap (US$ 5 - US$ 10), Dinner, Moderate (US$ 11 - US$ 20), "In" place / People watching, American, Comfort Food, Lunch, Breakfast, Eating late