I think people want to be treated as if they are at a super welcoming sit down breakfast place, but this is not what this is. However, this place treats you exactly the way I would expect to be treated at a New York style bagel deli...which is what they are. Great food, fast service, decent prices and a chocolate eclair the size of my forearm. Don't come here if you're looking for a place for a large group, or if you want to hang around for an hour. Excellent matza ball soup, great bagels, the eggs are awesome. Bagel and lox is perfect. I will keep going here as often as possible.
(5)
Matt B.
Kornblatt's is a Portland institution. If you like reuben sandwiches, this place is a can't-miss. I personally recommend the combination reuben (pastrami and corned beef), but you really can't go wrong!
(4)
Joy E.
Pains me to write this, but our experience for an early dinner was truly awful. What happened to the Kornblatt's of years ago? Came in at 5:00 pm on Sunday; few tables were occupied. We ordered a bagel sandwich "combo" with one half whitefish salad and one half lox. The whitefish was good but the tiny amount of it was laughable! What?? The lox was of good quality. The bagel itself was WAY over toasted; we should have sent it back but it took so long to receive our order and we had time constraints. One of us ordered a bagel with sundried tomato spread; we both agreed that it tasted sour and we chose not to eat it. Really, I wish Kornblatt's well but their doors may be shuttered if everyone's experience is like ours was. A final insult: the floor was beyond dirty. Really not very appetizing.
(1)
Jenn T.
I was told there was some amazing pastrami here so I had to check it out. It's located in the cool alphabet district, which has a lot of yummy looking restaurants and places to hang out. This is a deli for to-go orders and some tables for restaurant service. Not sure about the to-go service, but the restaurant service here is VERY VERY SLOW. There is only one person working the entire place, but still our waitress was on the side talking story. Another kinda awkwardly weird thing is that the waitress let some kids help serve our food, which was nice of her to let them help out, but quite unsanitary. I got the hot pastrami sandwich, which came on rye bread and stuffed with pastrami. It came with a good potato salad as well. The pastrami was yummy, but not the best I've ever had. I thought it needed a lot of mustard or horseradish sauce. Overall not the greatest experience here, but was a decent meal. Don't come here if you're in a rush.
(3)
Monica N.
Cute New York style deli. We shared the combo that had the pastrami and a corn beef sandwich on Challah bread as well as the the hearty chicken soup. The toasted challah made the pastrami and corn beef sandwiches taste great. Its a small place but it has a lot of character.
(4)
Myra F.
Yuck! Dry bagel and thick icky plain cream cheese. How can you screw up a bagel that much?
(1)
Jerry M.
I ordered a corned beef, turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich from the list of "Empire State Sandwiches" at Kornblatt's. It was good, but not great, and was a bit expensive for what it was at $9.75. It was a triple decker which came on three slices of rye bread. (I never understood the necessity of making a sandwich with three slices of bread. . .you really only need two slices.) First of all, it throws off the "ratio" of bread to ingredients, then it doesn't really add anything to the sandwich to make it taste any better, and it also misleads people since it makes it LOOK big, but a lot of it is actually just bread. In fact, I just pulled the middle slice of bread outta there and tossed it (don't need those extra carbs anyway). To be fair, the meat was very tasty, but my opinion is that there are other places where I could get a similar sandwich just as good which costs less (and that third slice of bread in the middle wouldn't be wasted).
(3)
Joel V.
Been here for breakfast 3 times now. Super consistent. Good service. Good omelets. Great bagels. They also give you a giant jar of pickles as you shove your face with food. Unlimited pickles = I am always coming back.
(4)
Lauren B.
One star only because the server we had this last time we have gone here was super sweet. However, the older blonde lady that works there is the rudest server I have ever come across. Shocked that she still has a job.
(1)
Rosalynda S.
At one pm on a Sunday, with every table full, kids and everything, I got my (foodgasmic as always) pastrami on wheat, got my check, and got outta there in TWENTY MINUTES. A definite NW 23rd standout.
(5)
Erin T.
Went here a week ago for a late lunch with my BF. We had previously come to Kornblatt's over the summer and had an OK visit, but this time I was extremely disappointed. First level of disappointment: Walked in and stood there waiting to be seated for about 5 minutes before even being acknowledged by the waitstaff. I ordered an everything bagel, toasted, w/plain cream cheese. Not only did it take 15 minutes to get the bagel (I mean come on, how long does it take to make?), it came out cold and seemingly un-toasted (because it was mushy and soft). I took a couple bites, realized I didn't want to eat it like that, and asked my waitress for replacement. She was very nice about it, apologized and went to get a replacement from the counter. I watched her go over to the counter, speak with the cook, and I saw the cook ROLL HER EYES when the waitress returned the bagel. REALLY? I CAN SEE YOU!!! I got the replacement bagel after waiting another 10 minutes, and honestly, it really wasn't much better. It was lukewarm and there was a hair on the plate. Come on! The BF's sandwich was meh--soggy and over-salted, plus the potato salad was just horribly bland. I wanted to like Kornblatt's, esp. because it seems to be something special to a lot of people in Portland, but I will not be returning.
(1)
Jenni L.
I stopped in here for lunch one afternoon with my sister and her husband after lusting after this place for months. My sister and I decided to split a hot pastrami sandwich with kraut and a side of pasta salad, and her husband ordered a pastrami sandwich and a side of chicken noodle soup. Kornblatts does pastrami right. The meat was hot and flavorful and stacked with an ample amount of kraut on fresh crunchy bread, which I slathered in grain mustard and horseradish. The pasta salad was delicious also. This is definitely one of those meals that just 'hits the spot' completely. The bro-in-law also enjoyed his sandwich and said that the chicken noodle soup was some of the best he's had at a restaurant. I really need to visit again soon, Kornblatts is completely fantastic.
(4)
Fred O.
This has to be, by far, the worst breakfast experience I have had anywhere! The service was terrible. But, in all fairness, perhaps because the cook was the only one there to take orders AND cook said orders. It didn't help that the cook was still sleeping. I'm being generous and speaking euphemistically so as not to offend. Then, finally, another employee came and he was either new or also asleep. It took forever for the food to come such that when I had reached my limit of waiting, I asked if the order was started since I would have left had it not been. Unfortunately, it had been and I emphasize "unfortunately" because it was so greasy as to make me feel like I just got an oil change! I live in Berkeley, CA and visit my daughter who lives here in Portlandia but next year, I will definitely NOT repeat.
(1)
Craig S.
1st time and I ordered for delivery through a 3rd party service. I really expected more considering how they bill themselves online. I am from NY but have not lived there in decades, but go back on occasion. At no time should this deli have NY in the title. I got Pastrami on Rye, 2 Knish's (they were out). Noodle Koogle and Chopped Liver. None of it was NY Style. Pastrami was cold, dry and about 1/2 the size expected for $14. The amount of cole slaw was a small bathroom dixie cup worth. Bland. Sandwich came w/o any condiments, no mustard, no pickle nothing. Chopped Liver was awful. I think it's spoiled or they put something in it that causes it to stink to high hell. One sniff and it's not safe to eat. Tossed it out, afraid even the raccoons would get sick. Koogle is not like any of the many dozen I have tried. Does anyone here know a Jew or ever been to NY? The canned Jam they put in there was the best part, fruit and sugar. $45 delivered.. better off with a happy meal. Totally wasted the money. Will not order again or recommend. Please I urge you to look elsewhere.
(1)
Denni P.
Very good and cheap food in a GREAT hood. They service all day breakfast and the bagels are better than the other guy down the street. Service was friendly, ordered my sandwich on a pumpernickel bagel. Very good bagel.
(3)
Charles H.
I just started going there one month ago I believe they have some great food everything great on the menu . The staff is very pleasant. They have great breakfast so if you haven't tried Kornblatts come on down.
(5)
Rhs D.
This is a tough one for me. I hate to give a restaurant 1 star based on one thing. However, I just cannot get over how bad my sandwich was. Let me start by saying that I love Pastrami and was so excited to try a NEW YORK style Pastrami/Swiss. What a huge disappointment. Can I also mention that it was over $11 for two slices of warm somewhat soggy bread and some Pastrami. Nothing else. They slapped some awful bread on some Pastrami and threw it on a plate. The Pastrami was just average. The restaurant appearance, location and service were all fine. However, too much to overcome when the food is just this bad. I would take SUBWAY any day over this place and that's saying a lot. Buyer beware. Lot's of better options out there for a good sandwich. I will certainly not be back.
(1)
Jeff C.
I had their famous reuben sandwich. It was fresh and pretty good. They also serve jars of half sour pickles on the table. Not the best reuben in Portland but very good.
(3)
Valerie S.
I'm kind of surprised that Kornblatt's only has three and a half stars, because by my standards, it's definitely worth the visit. 1. The ambiance, proper New York style diner/deli, is so well done. From the tables and chairs to the open kitchen, small space, and decorations, it's all so New Yawk that you'll feel transported. 2. The meals are all homey, harkening to family meals, but creative in the Portland style. 3. Bagels. Have the bagels. Dense, flavorful, made perfectly for butter, jam, or lox, but tasty enough to have with no toppings. I personally had breakfast, with crispy hashbrowns and a spinach ommlette. It was good, and came quickly. I'd definitely do it again!
(4)
Cola V.
We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon...maybe this was our first mistake (guessing it's not AS busy during the week), ordered a sandwich + hoagie to go & waited...30 minutes for our order. While waiting we watched the madness. Management could use a crash course in Starbucks deployment to make things seamless & increase productivity...yes I just said that. The sandwich gal was SO slow, easily distracted & was also the one in charge of breaking large dollar- dollar bills yo - which is whack because it took slow to a WHOLE other level. The register gal, bless her lil heart was trying to help out as much as possible but this resulted in 2 customers walking out because she didn't realize they were at the counter and had her back turned to them while she was trying to help sandwich girl who was clearly flustered. The vibe overall made me want to jump in and help, you could cut the tension with a slice of toast. Sandwich was tasty, but my boyfriend's hoagie was cold because the cook had finished it way before the other gal put it all together. We won't be back, I know it's a PDX staple...sorry not sorry.
(2)
J S.
Terrible, terrible, terrible. We waited in line for a table for 20 minutes prior to ordering takeout b/c they were full. There were three parties of 3-4 in front of us, and they kept seating the LAST two to arrive in line. Granted, I understand that it happens when just a small table opens up, but to occur four times in a row tested everyone's patience. So we went to order at the counter, and the girl took a very long time to get the order (10 mins) for part of our group who ordered four pastrami sandwiches, and lo an behold, almost ONE HOUR later, they got three pastrami and a Reuben. Now, that part of the family used to run a restaurant themselves; so they KNOW ineptitude and idiocy when they see it. They watched in amazement at the disorganization there. We could have put the sandwiches together better ourselves. As for my sandwich, I was sorely disappointed when there was very little meat and it was on rye (I know, that's the classic way, but I made it clear to the person that took the order that I needed to substitute bread, and she wrote up the order correctly). It seems as though, after several attempts to remind them about our orders, they slapped a few slices of pastrami between two slices of bread and threw them at us, or they gave us whatever sandwiches were made up at that point for someone else. Horrible experience for us. We've had wonderful service and better quality and taste of food/sandwiches at other places.
(1)
Dan H.
I am going to go out on a limb and say these are the best NY style bagels in Portland. Sadly Kornblatts doesn't make their own. They claim to be a bakery, but I guess they bake some of their other goods in house. Not the bagels. I couldn't get out of the guy behind the counter who actually makes these bagels, but he kept telling me they were Kettleman's style which is a good style to be in my book.
(4)
Calily B.
Good, simple and affordable breakfast. I had the bagel with lox spread and boy were they generous with the spread! There was a good amount of salmon in each and every bite! My boyfriend got the sauteed mushrooms/onions omelette. The dish wasn't overcooked and was satisfying. It's a small place so you'll have to wait if it's a busy morning, but you can always get it to-go as well!
(4)
Cori W.
Kornblatt's is your standard breakfast n deli fare establishment with NYC influences. Living in NW I have come by for breakfast about 4-5 times, sometimes they are super busy with a line, other times you can walk right in. Their vegetarian menu is a bit limited but you can enjoy a couple meat-free omelettes, a veggie hash and there's a veggie rueben that is simply grilled veggies. My go-to item is the early riser, simply 2 eggs, home fries and a bagel. The dish is very filling as they give you a large portion of home fries. Their bagels are good but not quite NYC good. I'm a fan of the pumpernickel with chive cream cheese. Their omelettes are quite large and very filling. The pickles that come with their lunch items are really good, I imagine possibly from Boarshead. The only gripe is that their food tends to be rather greasy as their diner appearance would imply. Service has been friendly, coffee so-so, but overall the dishes here are satisfying and well priced.
(3)
Valerie W.
Neither super great nor horrible. Left a bit unsatisfied especially for the price. I think the only way I would stop back in would be to grab a quick bagel or something. The server we had was super friendly, but a touch slow. It took about 5 min. for us to be recognized and seated. The place was nearly empty on a Saturday night. Not the best sign. The menu is vast and there are plenty of options....I just think we may have ordered the wrong ones. ORDER: Turkey Reuben with side salad ($1 extra) Pastrami/Chicken liver pate Latke The Reuben was so-so. I understand people enjoy the fact Kornblats piles the meat on super high...but it makes for a huge mess and me trying to pick apart my sandwich just in order to eat it. The russian sauce they have on their sandwiches has an off twang to it. My side green salad was overly boring and certainly not worth the extra money. The ranch I ordered for it was definitely Kraft. The sandwich with the chicken liver pate had WAY too much of it and overpowered the tall-standing sandwich. Nothing to write home about. Food was plain and simple. The Latke was overly chewy and a bit under-seasoned. Free pickles before meal is nice but they were just your average dill pickles. All in all for around $33 it was a bit of an expensive meal for what we got. Plus, about half way through our meal our server was training someone and it was hard to get her attention. Drinks were never refilled. Had to go up to ask for check.
(2)
Heather F.
I am very disappointed to update this review. I was previously excited about a decent bagel location in my neighborhood, but my recent experience requires a complete 180 of a review. I went in for an omelette, and I was shocked to find THREE separate hairs in my dish. I discretely notified the waitress, and was compensated only with a few apologies. I did not receive a new dish or a refund. I didn't attempt to make a scene or request my money back, but decided that this warrants a loss of my business (and this negative yelp review).
(1)
Bob M.
Yes a5 old style new York style Jewish deli the pastrami here is one of the best I get the half and half both pastrami and corned beef. They make their own pickles, if your a pickle fan yuoll be in pickle heaven. The older waitress comes off all east coast attitude, But it'd you watch she has the act down and you see she's just messing with you. ...I think.
(5)
M S.
Having experienced many delis in my time, especially in NYC, I have to say that utter disappointment would be the highest rating i would give this place. I don't even know where to start. Was it the fact that we waited for 15 minutes to be seated in a fairly empty restaurant or the fact that it takes the utmost skill to continually burn things as simple as a cup of coffee? Or could it be, that despite the fact that we were 2 of maybe 20 people in a fully staffed deli that it took almost an hour to even get our order in to the line cook wearing Seattle swag. (Who does that in Portland? - Really..Seattle?) I digress from shear embarrassment to complete incompetence. Once we decided that waiting an hour for what we hoped would be an incredible sampling of eggs Benedict, we decided to cancel our breakfast as the waitress ( our silent distributor of over roasted, burnt coffee flavored juice) informed us that our complicated order of 2 menu items had been lost and the "Seattle Culinary Genius" had to "whip something up real quick". Ridiculous. So we left..hungry..yet again. Dine at your own risk. Beware of the loyalty. Bring your own chicken and incubator so you will have your eggs prepared on time.
(1)
Lime A.
This place was awesome! The food was delicious, the service was amazing, and I would come back here in a second!
(5)
Nina H.
We came in during a lunch rush but was still served fairly promptly. The servers were efficient and friendly. It took about fifteen minutes for the food to come out, and I didn't mind the wait especially when I received a huge double decker pastrami/corned beef/salami Empire sandwich. It was delicious, had good quantities of meat and veggies. I finished mine and was still hungry so we ordered the jumbo eclair. So good. I definitely plan on going back and trying something different. I was very pleased with my first visit. I'm already craving a Reuben sandwich!
(5)
T L.
A 20 minute wait for 2 bagels to go, which turned out to be stale. If I was a NY style deli, my number one priority would be a great bagel or at least a pretty good one; stale is unacceptable and the wait time was ridic. Clearly they are in need of a major management makeover Gordan Ramsay style.
(2)
Allyson L.
You CAN go home again. I grew up with these foods in New York and have tried to find them again in a lot of other cities. A bit pricey but worth every penny. Food is delicious. Staff is friendly and efficient. And the pickle bucket is heaven! Allyson L.
(5)
Zofia T.
Delicious! My favorite lunch place. Everything from delicious deli sandwiches to fresh bagels and matza ball soup. It's a great casual place to grab a tuna melt or a Reuben. Very good service too!
(5)
Jeff K.
As a previous long time diner here, I went in today to order their famous Brooklyn Bomber sandwich off the specials menu after not having eaten here in a long time. Not only had the sandwich gone up nearly 4 bucks, but it has decreased by HALF in size. Maybe due to a new chef? Was still tasty.....but NOWHERE tasty enough to be a $13 sandwich...sorry...don't get crowned up because you're a genuine New York deli, there's a lot of places to dine in Portland for that kind of money on a sandwich that would warrant that dollar value. Get it together, get your game back...you're better than that.
(2)
Allie W.
The eye-opener special, at $5.95 for eggs, potatoes O'brien, and a bagel, is the best breakfast deal in NW. Service is always great and every time I've been there in the morning, it is never too busy.
(5)
Aaron E.
Amazing food and service! The sandwiches taste delicious and are very authentic. The coleslaw is everything you could want in coleslaw! I was helped and welcomed into the restaurant quickly and kindly. The waitress was funny and brought a very homey vibe. They have a great take on sloppy joes and they aren't shy with the meat. I had an eclair for desert and it nearly brought me to tears, so good! I am definitely going to come back here in the future!
(5)
Marc T.
I've tried their hot pastrami and hot corned beef. The pastrami is incomparably more flavorful. No question. As for a side, don't bother with the macaroni salad. I've tried it twice and wondered why I ever bothered trying it again. It doesn't really taste like anything other than cooked macaroni noodles. I've also tried their classic NY-style cheesecake a couple of times, and it was also very lackluster in flavor. So just stick with a hot pastrami, and if you're lucky, they'll give you extra pickles.
(3)
Anni H.
Waited at the front for over ten minutes as the hostess was nowhere in sight. When she did arrive she told us to sit anywhere and threw menus at us, yes threw them at us as if we had disturbed her nap. She had a very bad attitude and in retrospect that should have been my warning to get up and leave. This was starting to feel like a different Kornblatt's than I remembered. The lone overworked waitress was super nice in spite of not getting any help from the lazy unwelcoming hostess. My friend and I both ordered Rueben's with potato salad but the corned beef was chewy and it was not as I remembered the great Reuben from Kornblatt's. The potato salad was bland and not much of it. The waitress confirmed what I feared, that Kornblatt's had been sold and there were new owners in fact it had sold twice in the past few years and was now in the hands of a new Asian owner. What a disappointment. Kenny and Zuke's will have to be my "go to" spot when I am craving Jewish Deli because Kornblatt's is no more. Rest in Peace Kornblatt's. Amen.
(1)
E J C.
Sad to say this place was just not as good as the other times I was there. Oh well.
(3)
Miles S.
The most classic Jewish deli in Portland and the best classic breakfast in the city. Not a hipster joint though, which makes it even more hip. Quality meats and smoked fish. Great coffee. The Ruben is the best I've found in Portland.
(4)
Hilla H.
The food was good. There was an older gentleman that was sitting a table down from us and the waitress was SO RUDE. I was told by a lady sitting next to me that this blond server is always this way. The couple sitting next to my boyfriend and I were appalled. Fix your service or lose customers.
(1)
Spud W.
This might have been ok if this were my first time ever tasting food. But since I have so much food-tasting experience, I can confidently say this was awful. My hot turkey pastrami sandwich was not hot. It was plain white bread with plain turkey and nothing else. Just bread and turkey. My wife's Swiss omelet and bagel came without Swiss and with a cold bagel. She asked for Swiss and a warm toasted bagel, and the waiter put a piece of Swiss on top of her omelet and gave her another cold, barely-toasted bagel. In a city with so many great food options, there is no conceivable reason to go Kornblatt's.
(1)
Beno P.
My stars are based on one thing here, the only thing I've ever had here: the Rueben. Fantastic and authentic. The corned beef is excellent, and they use Russian dressing instead of thousand island (which is fine, but not the way the sandwich was originally 'designed'). Highly recommend the Reuben. Beyond that, their other foods looked yummy, and it's got an authentic New York deli feel all in all.
(5)
Jarred H.
Food was delicious and was served quickly. The two waitresses were fast and friendly and checked up on me multiple times. I will be back again to try other menu items. I had the omelette with potatoes and Bagle with lox. Amazing
(5)
Ana B.
Really, who has 11.95$ to spend on bagels and lox? Not me, but I did it just the same. I'd heard it was the best, not only in the city but in the entire west coast. I mean the salmon is flown in from NY weekly and cut to order..How could I pass that up? Even if paying 12$ for a bagel is slightly nauseating. Was is the best bagels and lox ever ... yes..Yes! The salmon was out of this world. That being said I doubt I'll ever go back and pay that much for a bagel again. It's one of those novelty things that I just had to try.
(4)
Joshua W.
I finally found the deli I have been looking for in Portland. So many traditional dishes, such as latkes, kugel, and matzo brie! They even have pickles on the table! The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Arun R.
Simple unassuming place. Warm friendly service. I had the veggie hash with scrambled eggs and some coffee.Both were good. They had a good selection of bagels. Will come back for them next time. They serve breakfast all day.
(4)
Ben B.
Let's start by saying the entire staff could use a course in hygiene. I saw all types of staff handling food without washing hands!!!!!
(1)
John E.
I have been to Kornblatt's several times now and have deliberately not Yelped the place. I wanted to run a gamut of items before I wrote up what is one of the few true deli's in Portland. We have great sandwich places and a few good deli's but this would be the ultimate Portland deli experience in my book. This last visit I had visitors from the culinary wasteland of Idaho. These poor people live in a land a chain restaurants and truck stops. Not that truck stops are bad, but there is little variety. So I took my fellow Jewish Spudland refugees to Kornblatt's for a taste of the promised land. When we walked in I saw my brother's eyes glaze over for just a moment, his nose sending signals to his brain that this was the real deal and there was corned beef and pastrami to be had. After perusing the menu for a while we all decided to was sandwich time. The Brother and The Niece ordered Reuben's while I just went with the regular pastrami. Our server was so nice, and quick on the drink refills too which always an added bonus. As we waited we kept talking about different things on the big menu over the deli counter. Suddenly, stacks of pastrami and corned beef made their way to the table, majestically perched on a throne of rye bread. The vat of pickles on our table practically jumped on their own onto our plates to be next to our sandwiches. The aroma was amazing. The taste was as good as I remember from any deli ever in my life. It was all topped off with a rugula dessert, decedent and warmed slightly it was heaven. My Idaho family had to be forcefully removed from the premises, they wanted to move in and have the owner adopt them. It was an ugly scene.....
(5)
James O.
Originally gave this 4 or 5 stars but recently it has been only unpleasant experiences. I've had to wait far too long when there were hardly customers in there. The cherry on top was a few weeks ago when my girlfriend's omelet had 3 hairs in it...yeah...not one, not two, but 3. She even tried to tough it out and ignore the first one, but a few mins later a couple more appeared. And no they weren't her hairs. She has long red hair and these were medium length black hairs. When I kindly told the waitress (away from other customers) she said she was "going to yell at the cooks." Didn't do much for us, though, because we ended up having to pay full price and feeling ripped off and grossed out. I used to come here a lot, but now I avoid it at all costs.
(1)
Alyssa C.
Sorry, Kornblatts. Kenny and Zuke's have you beat. Ordered a turkey pastrami reuben - it was soggy and lacked in flavor. The pickles are a 4, whereas at Kenny and Zuke's, they're a 10. Side of very dry potato salad. I don't get it. Will I go back? No thanks. ESPECIALLY for the price - $12 for this sandwich? PASS.
(1)
John N.
As a former New Yorker, this one of the most authentic New York deli's I have found here in Portland! Ingredients are shipped in from New York, adding to the authenticity. When I first moved to Portland, I tried this restaurant out first and it was great! Very friendly waitstaff and nice down-to-earth feel (felt like back home in NY). Thank you for helping me ease my new life here in the Northwest!
(5)
Micah H.
the egg + cheese bagel was awesome (delicious bagel, and fluffy, cheesy eggs), as were the house potatoes. lots of awesome breakfast choices. went for a friends birthday and got *way* tasty mimosas and bloody mary's. the coffee wasn't that good, but the staff was very amiable and polite, and the food was out pretty quickly.
(4)
Geordie R.
The veggie reuben is one of my all time favorite foods in the entire world. I cannot visit Portland without a trip to Kornblatts. There may be other items on the menu, I might have even tried some of the hashes, but the reuben is my go-to meal.
(5)
Carry A.
$12 for a VERY basic and flavorless Reuben. I had the traditional, each bit was like wringing out a greasy sponge. The potato salad was okay tho. :/ it was my first time. I may try again but some other items. The desserts looked great, and the stagf was very friendly and quick.
(2)
Phil M.
I'm not familiar with the classic New York delicatessen, but I can imagine that Kornblatt's is exactly like a place you'd find all over the Big Apple. From the sassy waitress to the sandwiches piled high with meat, this place is the real deal. My favorite thing to get is one of their Sloppy Joe sandwiches. You may hear "sloppy joe" and think "loosemeat on a bun". That's not the case here at all. The Sloppy Joe at Kornblatt's is tons of meat and cole slaw. I highly suggest the one with chopped liver, corned beef, and swiss. If their lunch/dinner menu wasn't awesome enough, try stopping in for some fresh bagels and lox spread in the morning. I don't think there's anything this place doesn't do well. Oh, when you eat in, you get a large container of pickles. Bonus! I don't think I can recommend this place more, if you like good sandwiches.
(5)
Cindy T.
This deli has awesome sammies! But what's better is the staff - they are all so nice and and welcome new visitors with open arms. My bf and I tried the hot pastrami and bbq brisket. Ahhh man, the sandwiches just melt in your mouth. Everything is so hot, fresh and made to order. Plus, there's all-you-can eat whole pickles!
(4)
Michelle S.
Nothing like hearing a loud DING noise from a microwave beeper to let you know your food order is ready! Been by here many times during afternoon walks on 23rd. It is always crowed for lunch, but dinner is another story. Went in at 7pm on a Wednesday and it was empty (literally one table of two other people). I ordered a cup of the matzo ball soup. I guess they don't keep the dinner soup in the large hot container as they do for lunch, so it was re-heated. Tasted fine, but knowing where it just came from was a tad off putting.
(3)
Michael M.
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(1)
Rick S.
Bottom Line - I was not impressed. I would give this place another try, but it wouldn't be my #1 choice. Next time I may just order a corned beef or pastrami sandwich that the other reviewers rave about. My friend and I came for lunch on Sunday, 24 April 2010. We shared matzo ball soup and latkes, and each had our own main dish: Matzo Ball Soup - We ordered this soup because it was a bit chilly out and we were both in the mood for a light broth. The soup itself wasn't salted enough (I'm pretty sensitive to sodium and you'll never see me reaching for the salt shaker, but this time I had to). The broth was only luke-warm when we got it. The matzo balls weren't as big as I'm used to, and the center of the matzo balls were cold. They should have heated this dish up more. I would not order this dish again. Latkes - The latkes were thicker than I've had them anywhere else. They actually provided a steak knife to cut them, and it was needed. I enjoyed the crisp edges, but the centers seemed too batter-y. I probably would not order this dish again. Knockwurst Plato (two knocks, beans and kraut) - My friend ordered this and she said it was enjoyable. I tried a bite of the knock with some kraut and mustard, and it was good. Not sure if I'd order it, though. Chicken Ala King (chicken salad, mushrooms, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese served on a toasted open-face bagel sandwich) - This was tasty and I liked the flavor. Bagels are pretty dense, so I was full after having just half of the sandwich... in addition to the matzo ball soup and latkes (= The service was pretty awesome. The wait staff were all very friendly and attentive!
(2)
Amber F.
Love the Empire State Sandwiches! Simply amazing! I get the roast beef, corned beef, and salami! If I lived in Portland I'd be a regular here.. Pickles on the tables are a cool touch!
(5)
Kendall M.
Service is generally nice and they mean well I'm sure, but... They have yet to get my order right once. I understand as I work in customer service as well that mistakes happen, but seriously.. No bueno. Count me out from now on.
(1)
Al T.
During the 80s and 90s, this was one of the top Jewish delis in town, or even The top. Not sure if there are any others in Portland quite like this one. It's definitely a staple of the city (or, at least, a staple of 23rd.) It's more authentic-feeling, or has a better menu than any other Jewish deli I've been to, other than Nate n Al's in Beverly Hills. The sandwiches are fantastic - pricey, and for that reason I don't go there much, but delicious!
(4)
Ana R.
New York City Deli in Portland. If you have had the real deal and craving it in the West Coast, this is the place to go. The service is great, the servers are sassy, but in a good way. I love this place.
(4)
Sherry S.
In a previous life, I was a jew from back east. That saying, I miss my ethnic food terribly, so when I come across anything that even resembles this I am there. Had not been on NW 23rd in ages. There are so many places to eat but I immediately stopped here and tried to catch up on the food I have not had in so long. We ended up ordering the lox and bagels (very generous portions of lox!), blintzes, vegetarian reuben (yes I know, that item is oxymoronic), and finally the latkes. The blintzes came with 2 types of jam and sour cream. They also brought us a bunch of kosher pickles. And so we noshed. In a nutshell, all the food was decent but replicating the food between my grandmother's cooking and the jewish delis back east? No contest for Kornblatts. They do try though. I would suggest that portions should go with pricing. That should be a given. I guess there's a new owner that was inviting us to dine and he did seem to have an accent - east coast? Maybe there's hope. There are so very few jewish delis/restaurants in Portland and I'm sure a big reason for this is that we have such a small jewish population here. So what? We have all kinds of ethnic food restaurant choices with small populations roaming all over Portland. This restaurant should truly work on the fact that they are one of the few and I know just what ingredient they are missing! Chutzpah! Then, they truly would be the chosen ones.
(3)
Mark A.
I'm a huge deli fan, and while this is not Katz' or Carnegie, Portland sure heck isn't New York, either! Yes, it's trendy, but it's still Portland. home of the moss lawn :-) Pastrami and corned beef flown in from NY, and the lox was truly heavenly! Who knew?
(5)
Jessica G.
Great hot pastrami, but they forgot a pickle which is quite important to the whole "NY Deli" theme in my world. Also had a matzo ball soup which was disappointing, tasted like French Onion and the matzo ball was way too dense for my taste and tasted too whole grain. The counter girl was very friendly and the food was quick, but overall just middle of the road.
(3)
Matt R.
Ordered to-go from the LivingSocial app. Food was prepared early and was still hot even though it took me FOREVER to find parking over in the area. I went with the Pastrami Reuben and a side of macaroni salad for 11.95. Pretty steep for a sandwich and small side. However, for the most part I enjoyed the meal. The pastrami was piled HIGH on the bread. I felt that due to so much meat, the kraut was an afterthought (and I love kraut). Not sure if this is a NY way of making these, but I would have preferred less meat to make room for an even tasting experience. I felt that too many times I was just getting mouthfuls of meat and bread (which was still good) and each bite was uneven on some ways. The bites that I did eat that had perfectly combined amounts of meat, kraut, and mustard were really delicious. The macaroni salad was different then I was expecting. It is definitely not the typical flavor that one associates with macaroni salad. I welcome new flavors/styles, but unfortunately I found it to be nothing spectacular. It was just OK. The amount was also small. Not sure if I would have received more if I dined in. Overall, I think I would like to try again, possibly something with a bagel as that appears to get some solid review. However, with the food options in the area, we will see.
(3)
Misty S.
Kornblatts is a small New York style deli. There is indoor seating as well as outdoor (weather permitting). If you go around 11:30am you can grab a table pretty easily but you may have to wait a few minutes if you get there around noonish to 1ish... because that's lunch time... and Kornblatts is yummy... so it gets busy at lunch time... Anyways, if there are tables available you can usually just make eye contact with the waitress and seat yourself, even though the sign says "wait to be seated" she usually will just tell you to grab a table. The line that starts to form infront of the cases are for take out orders. The service is pretty good, with the exception of one of the young girls there. She's a little rude or just in her own world. I don't have anything poor to say about the rest of those hard workers there. They really hustle and are always moving. I've been here a few times for late breakfasts or lunch and I think it's a great place. I've had the Locks and Bagel w/cream cheese & capers, as well as the Reuben. One of these days I am going to have to try one of their specials. Next time.
(4)
Heather S.
I love you, Kornblatts! In dire need of comfort in a bowl (chicken soup), Kornblatt's was the only place I could find that offered it (and was open for dinner). They have the best matzoh ball soup! And, delicious sandwiches, and good coleslaw (not too sweet, not too meh), and, after all of that, they have the best egg creams. Just in case you don't know what those are, they're chocolate syrup, soda water, a little milk, and boy, are they heaven! Every time I go in there, I want to go on Carb overload with their homemade bagels, noodle Kuegel (sweet or savory "pudding" which is really like a casserole), rice pudding, bread pudding, and huge pieces of cake. They also have NY cheesecake. They just got written up in the NY Times, and I hear they're changing their egg creams to have more of a malted milk taste. I hope they don't change it too much. Everything I've had at Kornblatt's is delicious. Not to sound like a Jewish mother, but "Go! Eat! And, enjoy a good meal at Kornblatt's!).
(5)
Kate G.
I visited Kornblatt's recently with all of my parents in tow for a late breakfast/early lunch on a Sunday. They were packed, and luckily two of our group of four arrived early and waited for a table (I think about an hour). The table service was slow but very friendly. As soon as I saw the bagel dog ($4.75) on the menu, I knew I had to try it. I used to love bagel dogs when I was little! It did not disappoint. It was huge and I took most home as leftovers, but ate as much as I could with their tangy yellow mustard. The bagel itself had the perfect soft chew. I also had a cup of barley mushroom soup ($3.25) that was amazingly thick, hearty and soothing on a cool, damp, gray Portland day. I sampled a bite of the latkes as well as a sip of a bloody mary and those were tasty. Some of us took home some sliced pastrami and a fresh challah loaf for later. This is a bustling, small deli with really comforting, delicious food in large portions and it gets really busy on weekend mornings and afternoons.
(4)
Andrew H.
Terroir, it's a French word. It comes from the olden days when commodity X was always better in community Y. It became a way of saying things like "your wine will never be as good as mine because they aren't grown on my plot of land which happens to be the best in the world". People still hold on to this concept to this day (and governments even make LAWS based around this irrelevant idea) Today, the world is flat again, and terroir has little practical relevance other than as a way for people to be snobby (or market their product), usually about a place they grew up/used to live. Examples: This sourdough isn't as good as the sourdough in San Francisco Guinness tastes better in Dublin Bourbon has to come from Kentucky We have cultured and tamed yeast strains (be they wine, bread, or beer), "US Guinness draught" is, in fact, brewed in the same brewery at St James Gate as the pints you'd get in Dublin, water profiles can be replicated perfectly, and Bourbon doesn't even have to come from Kentucky (it does have to come from the US and contain at least 51% corn, that's not to say someone in Canada could make a product that is technically the EXACT SAME THING as Bourbon, the US government would just shake its finger and not allow it to be labeled as such). We live in a commoditized world, if the Jones's have land better suited for growing grapes, you can just buy them and make wine just as good. Why this huge seemingly irrelevant side-bar? Because it seems like you can't even say the word "bagel" on the Left Coast without someone telling you you're an idiot and you need to go to NYC and eat one there, and until you do your opinions on all things bagels are irrelevant. Now that I've lost everyone: the bagels here are awesome. What I love most though is that they are LOADED with cream cheese....probably more cream cheese than anyone needs to eat in a week. What I love even more is that you can get a bagel as a side with pretty much any breakfast item. This reminds me of my days as a youngster in Florida, preferring the subtle tastes of 'Village Inn' to 'Denny's'. Why? BECAUSE YOU CAN GET PANCAKES AS A SIDE WITH ANYTHING. I've grown up now, but I still love when a breakfast place has an amazing side that I don't have to pay extra for. It's a good break from the toast/potatoes/*$1.50 extra fruit cup* monopoly you feel at most breakfast joints. Oh, and the women that waits tables most of the time here is EXTREMELY nice. Seriously, TRY not to smile, I dare you. I'm glad we have a place like this.
(5)
Elaine f.
The service was poor, ( one waitress), the food was even worst. Either everything was cold, overcooked, or just poorly prepared. I would have loved to write a good review, but not happening. It is a shame that a city this size can't have a deli that is first notch.
(2)
Alison P.
Ordered hot pastrami sandwiches to-go. Took much longer than necessary even though there were more people working than patrons. And the girl who took my order looked like she was just learning how to use a pen for the first time. Sandwiches came with nothing on them, no mustard, no pickle, no way jose it's not a pastrami sandwich!
(3)
Robert D.
I went to Kornblatt;s today for the first time in about a year, and I quickly remembered why I stopped going there. Yes, the food is great. The problem is the service. It's usually very slow, sometimes even non-existent. Today I went in just to get a pastrami sandwich to go. The place wasn't even that busy. I went to the counter and stood there for at least 5 minutes. No one ever acknowledged my presence. There was another woman there that had already ordered her to go order. The woman making some sandwiches behind the counter turned and asked her if she'd been helped yet. She had been. Then she glanced at me and went back to what she was doing. If you're busy, that's fine, but at least say, "I'll be right with you" or something. Just acknowledge the customer. SOMETHING!. So I walked out and went next door to Escape From New York Pizza. They were busier than Kornblatt's, and they still helped me immediately and I had my slices 3 minutes later. Kornblatt's could learn something from them. I'm guessing they won't though, since they seem to think they're so awesome.
(2)
Harry E.
This is yet another aging Portland restaurant pretending to be something it's not, with raving local patrons too ignorant to know its shortcomings. First, it's not a true deli, it's a restaurant feigning as such, and the prices will reflect that. Second, you could honestly get a better flavored, textured, and fresher reuben or lox bagel at Arby's or Einstein Bros. Soggy bread and no extra touches that make going to a deli worth it. You'll have better luck at the food carts or some of Portland's newer places for this type of food, don't go out of your way for this place.
(1)
Fatima D.
AMAZING!!!! This is where I have breakfast every time I visit Portland. They serve awesome turkey bacon now and on the "Eggs Benedict" it tastes great!!! Will always come back, amazing service and food! Thank you! Highly recommend it.
(5)
doc N.
With Roses closing, you now have Kornblatts as the NW 23rd option, but that's OK because this place is Portland's top delicatessen eatery. I love the atmosphere (a bit cramped) and fantastic menu. I recommend an Empire State sandwich with three meats like Roast Beef, Corned Beef and Chopped Liver... your doctor the heart specialist need not apply..! Yum! Ask for a bucket of pickles and Matzo Ball Soup as sides... Go! Enjoy! Don't count calories!
(4)
Terry S.
Todays' blunch' large fresh bagel with pastrami! For breakfast get it with scrambled eggs. Coffee not so great, but hot and good enough. 23rd is alive with beautiful food and people.
(5)
Jack D.
No dukedom nessisary here. Bland, tasteless sliced beef (French Dip) and Mac salad. Potato salad blander than bland. Best thing going about this lunch was the table pickles. Lots of older folks up in here at this time... FWIW
(2)
Gary M.
Pastrami sandwich is to die for!
(4)
Alan D.
This place is the real deal. The best kosher corned beef overstuffed sandwich on rye that I have this side of New York. The rye bread could have been a little bit better but nothing is as good as the Jewish deli's in NYC. I live in Seattle and wish they had a place like this here. It amazes me that city the size of Seattle that has so many great restaurants does not have one good Jewish deli. Kornblatts needs to open place in Seattle.
(4)
Rebecca R.
I've had better. Service was so so. It was 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed with a wait. It seems like it took forever to order. The challah bread was dry and the mac salad wasn't as creamy as I would prefer. It wouldn't be my first choice to return but I will try it again.
(3)
Danny O.
Hmmm I paid about 10 dollars for overly salted turkey,sauerkraut, and 2 pieces of toasted bread with a scoop of potato salad. Not to mention they pack people in here like sardines so I had to sit and awkwardly try to bite into my 10.00 dollars sandwich without disturbing my neighbors meal. Not pleasant at all. Do you think in a city like Portland charging this much for something so simple is really that smart? If this is NYC style then keep it back east. Luckily we can go elsewhere...meat cheese bread, bunk sandwiches, even Kenny and Zukes and get something more worth the dough with room to breathe and possibly take a bite to eat. -Won't diss the service though. They were efficient and attentive considering they work in a panic attack. -
(2)
Lisa B.
This was my first visit to Kornblatts Deli on 23rd Ave and I had high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations dropped to an all time low once I actually took my first bite of the Pastrami Sandwich I ordered. Where to start.....The bread was awful. The rye was so thin it crumbled and fell apart as I was trying to eat it. The sandwich was dry and unappealing. I asked for a pickle with my over priced Pastrami Sandwich and was told that the complimentary pickles were for 'dine in' customers. (my order was 'to go') . The sides were somewhat tasteless, however, there was a good quantity of Pastrami on the sandwich, but the bread was so lousy it was not enjoyable... The server I had contact with was not friendly- no greeting and no farewell was given . The establishment was not clean, tables were dirty with customers refuse.. Overall I would not recommend this Deli.
(1)
T C.
The service was prompt, the garlic bagel was tasty, and the price was reasonable. Now, I'd been walking around all day so I was starving, so maybe that was why I was super impressed. Either way I'd totally recommend this place for food and ambience that is simple and comforting, and not pretentious.
(4)
Lemonleen C.
Four-star average for this place? Seriously? It must be coasting on its old reputation, because it sucks now. This is the third time I've been there since moving back to Portland, but the first time I've actually gotten food. On my first visit, I was ignored for so long at the "wait here" line that I left. On the second visit, the place was super crowded and there was nowhere to wait but outside so I left. This time, the place was only half-full (Super Bowl Sunday), and I still got ignored at the "wait here" sign, but not as long as the first time. Anyway ... this isn't even close to an authentic deli and it's way too expensive for what amounts to a Safeway deli sandwich. My corned beef had the same squishy-slimy texture as packaged lunchmeat, and they forgot to add the Russian dressing, which I didn't notice until I got it home. The potato salad was OK, but not great. To add to the unpleasantness, the service is awful. I ordered a cold sandwich to go because I was in a hurry. There were two servers in front and four people behind the counter. After standing there for 20 minutes watching the counter folks wander around aimlessly (I didn't want to take up a seat and the servers didn't offer one) I peeked over at the prep station and saw my sandwich all wrapped up. They had forgotten to give it to me. That's how much they ignore you there. I agree with the others -- for authentic, delicious deli food, go to Kenny and Zuke's. Also, Elephant's Delicatessen serves one of the best reubens I've ever eaten. I should have gone there.
(2)
David P.
I have always wanted to try this place, it is in a really cool neighborhood, lots of shops and other restaurants to choose from. I was in the area and needed me some breakfast. We had a really great server, no waiting for coffee or food. The place was hopping and everyone in the place was a little Portland chic, talking and laughing. A real cool place. The food we had was cooked perfectly, hot and tasty. the folks at the next table had many special requests and special considerations and the server was very kind and the kitchen made everything just they way they wanted it. Great Corned Beef Hash, I will be back for lunch, The menu had so many choices.
(4)
Madeline H.
Oy vey! worst potato pancake ever. Made from a mix, too thick, then dipped in shredded potato and over fried. My companion ordered chicken soup which was delicious. I sent the pancake back & waitress took it off the bill, so that was kind. I ordered a green salad topped with a scoop of tuna salad, which was unremarkable, but it would have been better presentation to offer bagel chips or saltines at least with the soup and salad. My clothes and hair still smell like fried food.
(1)
C M.
Although more of a diner with deli type selections, it's close enough to the Brooklyn and Manhattan-like experience to keep me coming back. Good value for the money. Love the attitude of the servers. Oi-Vey!
(3)
Damien P.
Bagel pizza yummy food is very good. Stop by & try
(5)
Emilie C.
Hefty American style sandwiches, Russian influence soups such as Borscht, and bustling atmosphere, great place for a filling and inexpensive meal. I asked for the Three Cheese sandwich, grilled, with the tomatoes inside and a side of coleslaw. Apparently the waiter hadn't had anyone order it that way since 1997, woot! The pickes are already in a container at your table, beside the caddy filled with hot sauces, ketchup, and hot horseradish, so fret not. Also order a big cold beer with your food, whether you're on holiday or not. Sure it was a heavy duty sandwich, but I felt prepared for its epicness in my ravenously hungry state. Grab a table here if you need some serious soup-and-sandwich style fuel while cruising the wonderful boutique shopping of NE 23rd Ave!
(4)
Erich S.
Amazing borscht, bagels, and some of the sweetest waiters I've ever had. 10/10 would eat again.
(5)
Mark J.
Other reviews here prepared me for indifferent service, so I allowed ample time for my lunch. It was mid-afternoon on a Friday, and the place was maybe half full. The sign inside the door says wait to be seated, and you should be prepared to wait until someone notices you. During my meal I saw several potential customers enter, wait around a couple minutes unwelcomed, and wander out. Be patient! I ordered a pastrami and a corned beef sandwich. I've had better, but not within a thousand miles of Portland. The waitress was friendly, once she got around to waiting on us. The serving sizes were ample, the bread was wonderful, and the crock of pickles for the table was great. It took a while for the order to arrive, so again, be patient. The best part of the experience was desert. TRY THE CHEESECAKE! Then, after you regain consciousness, TRY THE KUGEL! Die happy.
(4)
Andy N.
Great sandwiches in the Alphabet District. I eat here as often as I can even though I don't live in Portland.
(5)
J J.
I love this spot!! Their food & service is consistently great. I love the window seat, gets busy for lunch :)
(5)
Rufus R.
Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, OK food. I had the "Eye opener" breakfast. 2 eggs, fried potato cubes, and a bagel of choice. Eggs & bagel were fine. I thought the potatoes were a bit tasteless, the only flavor I got was some green herb like basil or something similar.
(3)
Jimmy K.
Kornblatts in one word: Underwhelming. After hearing much praise about this deli, my first visit there was a big disappointment. Went there with my wife for a to-go order. Two sandwiches, two cans of soda-$27. I know good deli is a little more expensive, but this was pre packaged pastrami I can buy at the grocery store. Granted it was Thuman's, a classic east coast brand, but for 12 bucks a sandwich, we expected a little more. The potato salad was good and the coleslaw was bland, the tiny side servings we did recieve. And the biggest bummer, no pickles. We expected to get pickles with our order, but there were none. You would think they would ask if we wanted some or include them in such a pricey order. All thinigs considered, we will not be going back. For those thinking this is a Carnegie Deli-like place with towering sandwiches, this is not the place.
(2)
Wendy S.
If what you seek is real NY Deli-style sandwiches and cuisine (I think it's cuisine) then this is the place. Even so far as having pickles in a barrell on the table. GREAT pastrami, corned beef and a slew of other wonderful Jewish delicacies. IF you seek the traditional bagels and fish they even get real smoked salmon from NY. Makes me miss those Sunday morning of bagels and fish....
(5)
M S.
THESE are the best bagels in Portland and Vancouver! Real bagel tradition with that boiled chewy texture...and they have pumpernickel bagels! Other food is fantastic too, especially the pickles.
(5)
JW R.
I hadn't had a bagel in years. In fact, I can't remember the last time I ate a bagel. It may have been in high school. And I didn't miss much. This is not a breakfast place. it's a sandwich place that bought eggs. These are not the same. For about eight bucks I got the mixed deli omelette, which is salami, corned beef and pastrami served "pancake style". If you don't know, it means overcooked. For an extra buck twenty-five you can have the top coated with about $1.25 worth of cheese, which is too much. If there were a few more breakfast places on 23rd, this place would open at 11am. As it is, I wish they would.
(2)
Mark B.
This is the closest thing to an old fashioned deli you can find locally. Definitely reminds me of family gatherings at Juniors deli in Los Angeles. The aroma takes me back to a simpler time, when family was the centerpiece and food secondary. Not to say the food isn't good, it is. I consistently order the chicken salad sandwich. It's huge, and allows for a second meal at home. There is a gentleman server that could easily be anybody's grandfather. He is warm, talkative, and makes you feel like your part of his family.
(4)
Connie C.
Stepping in here is like stepping into a real deli. It's definitely not something you'd expect to find off of 23rd. There are refrigerated cases of blintzes, mayo based salads, pickles, latkes, and more. They posted menus from other delis to decorate the walls. It's no frills and it's all authentic. The place was packed so it's clearly no secret. We came here to grab some hangover food for ourselves and my friend who was visiting and couldn't make it out of bed. he requested hash and we thought of here. The bf and I both got turkey reubens and we got a corned beef hash for my friend. They were used to seeing our stumbling kind, laughed, and filled our order quickly. The hash was average. I've had a lot better. But, the reubens were messy and finger-licking delicious. The hot turkey pastrami made the russian dressing melt into the sauerkraut and dripped onto my fingers. The bread was griddled in butter for a nice crisp exterior. I'll be the first to tell you that it no where near as gourmet and smoky as Kenny and Zuke's, but it has the warm neighborhood deli feel that big K and Z's doesn't seem to achieve. Besides it definitely beats K and Z's on the hangover scale because there's nothing like a greasy messy homey reuben to calm your massive headache.
(4)
Neill P.
For the food, I'd give this place 4 stars. However, I think the prices are too high for the quality, so I'm knocking it down to 3 stars. I was not really impressed by the corned beef hash, and would not order that again. I do enjoy their reubens, and I LOVE their blintzes. Definitely order the blintzes when you go.
(3)
Sean G.
Breakfast was great. The sandwiches are very New York style LARGE! Great food. We sat outside it was great just didn't get as much attention for more water than I would like.
(4)
Leah H.
The pastrami is okay. The corned beef is okay. The bread is okay. The bucket of pickles is AWESOME! The actual pickles are okay. The service is a bit pretentious. Kornblatts hasn't blown me away although I haven't entirely dismissed the possibility that they could please me. Let me put a spin on what another Yelper said; there are two camps of people who like pastrami, the ones that like it lean and the ones that like it to taste good. I belong in that second camp and Kornblatts seems to reside more in the first. To each their own.
(3)
Elizabeth H.
This place is great. Delicious chewy boiled bagels and wonderful service. Sandwiches are a little pricey, but definitely worth it.
(5)
Anthony B.
"What would you like sir?" "A pastrami Sandwich" "Anything Else?" "Yeah...a loaf of bread and some other people" It's like a cow with a cracker on each side - Mitch Hedberg
(4)
Robert V.
A nice breakfast joint, located on 23rd, so fun to people watch as well. My favorite breakfast is the green onions, tomato, and cream cheese omelet. You get an omelet.. (duh), some homefries, plus a bagel of your choice. You will be asked if you want butter or cream cheese on your bagel. WARNING! If you decide on cream cheese, you must know the ramifications of your decision. TONS OF CREAM CHEESE!!! They do not skimp here at all. The latkes are great, and you cannot go wrong with eggs bageldict. One bummer is that I could go for larger portions of the homefries. Be prepared for a crowded house on the weekend, potential waiting line.
(4)
Tiffany C.
The three stars is for the variable food quality. I've been in a few times, my food has always been pretty good. The salmon hash is great and the bagels are delicious. The last time I was in the waitress misheard my order, but what I got instead (turkey rueben) was delicious! The only thing is, someone in our party ordered a Philly cheese steak and it came out with cheese made by science. We're in Oregon for god's sake, put some Tillamook on that! It's kind of weird. It's good and bad all at the same time, so it gets an A-Ok.
(3)
steve h.
Pumpernickel Bagel, Grilled Pastrami, Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Russian Dressing, and Dijon Mustard. Toasted. Impeccable service with an Unbeatable price.
(5)
Makenna C.
Kornblatt's is a good old faithful standby. It's pretty damn good food and has more reasonably priced items than some other Jewish delis, i.e. Kenny & Zukes. It's comfortable and unpretentious too (the staff are silly, super friendly and kind of amazing), which is a plus for this kind of place in my book. And free pickles! The eye-opener breakfast is a great deal, if I remember correctly: $5 for eggs, potatoes and a bagel of your choice. Perfect for a cheap hangover cure.
(4)
Mel O.
This place is great. Yesterday I went twice (once for lunch, once for dinner) & both times I was glad I did. The first time I got a "build your own bagel" sandwich. I got a vegi & it was delicious. Not to mention the guy behind the counter was crazy nice... The second time, I got a soy vanilla latte, (which was good but the steam wand could have used a wipe down) & another BYOB which was also delicious. I LOVE bagel sandwiches & between Kornblatts, Kettlemans, Noahs, & Portland Bagel Co., I'd say Kornblatts is at the top of my "I'd rather go to.." list. P.S. I'm going there for dinner tonight
(5)
Kevin M.
food was awesome....patio-sidewalk are is not so. I recommend them for their food alone its that good. It made up for the service, and crowded spaces for no reason.
(4)
Ryan B.
Great food, good prices. Pickle bucket at the table! The french toast is awesome, and so is the hash. Every meal we've had has been very tasty. Bagels,bagel sandwiches, knish, tuna salad, potato salad, soups, etc, all fantastic. My only critique would be the service times can be a little slow. The staff has always been very friendly, I think they may have been understaffed the last couple of times I've been in, as it was quite busy. All in all, I do highly recommend.
(4)
Amber C.
You will want to go here for a few things: 1. Corned beef 2. Ruben 3. Toasted bagels and Lox When I first moved to Portland from Denver, I set out to find a number of good bagel places. I found two: Kettleman's and Kornblatt's. Kornblatt's, while better than Kettleman's has slghtly higher prices, making it a place I frequent less. However, it's got an amazing selection of other items that you won't find at other Portland establishments. I've never eaten inside of Kornblatt's. I find it a little dark: I usually get a toasted pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, nova lox, lettuce, tomato, onions and capers and take it to the park nearby. Else, I just eat it on a curb or table outside. I don't think I've been to Kornblatt's in the wintertime. Kettleman's is better for that, and closer to where I live.
(4)
M R.
Probably the one place you can get a reasonably-sized breakfast/brunch for a total of $20 for two people! I highly recommend the reduced portion of the hot pastrami sandwich - mmmmm! Pickles tasted a tad funny, but a good place to go if you're starving and want quick service and good food for the price!
(3)
Jenna P.
I was a little reluctant to enter this New York deli. I am usually a default Japanese restaurant kind of girl. I would pass by this place almost everyday when I lived in this area and was always curious about it. Today my curiosity got the best of me and I'm glad! We were immediately greeted by the friendly staff and told we could sit wherever we'd like. What struck me first was all the sandwich options available. Meat here, Meat everywhere! The menu is huge. I wanted to order at least 5 things but stomach told me to be realistic. I ordered the corned beef hash. I am a huge fan of breakfast served all day long. While we waited, our waiter dropped off a whole tub of pickles. The pickles were delicious and the size of brats! My dinner/breakfast came after a quick 10 minutes. My beef hash topped with perfect over-medium eggs was the best I ever had(sorry Mom). It also came with a bagel, which was very good as well, but I was so stuffed I could only eat a couple bites. I can't wait to come back and try the matzo ball soup, the LEO scramble, and just about everything else. I recommend going here if you're really hungry or for a chill date night.
(5)
Mike A.
I've been hanging around the Alphabet District a lot lately, enjoying walking down 23rd people watching and window shopping. I was immediately drawn to Kornblatt's when I found it, and would easily recommend it, but your mileage may vary when it comes to service. The food is great. A friend and I were in for my first visit, and had a nice talk with the server about any items she'd recommend. I asked about the tongue sandwich and she mentioned there are staunch supporters of the sandwich served both hot and cold. Ultimately I decided on a Reuben, with two latkes to start. I love latkes, and was really delighted with Kornblatt's. Served with sour cream and applesauce, they were crunchy, flavorful, and delicious, and really brought back memories of homemade latkes. I enjoyed explaining what a latke is to my friend, and was happy to share with him. The Reuben was really tasty, and Kornblatt's offers several variations including the "traditional," which I had, as well as Pastrami, vegetarian, and other options. Kornblatt's rye bread is great, and since they sell loaves I'll be back for some. A few days later I was back on 23rd and stopped by Kornblatt's for an almost entirely different experience. The sandwich I ordered, the number five, was three pieces of rye bread with roast beef, turkey, and chopped liver, and the sandwich was great. I had latkes again, too. My only issue with this visit was the really atrocious service. I waited ages for the server, was then given a frozen can of soda, my latkes were brought when I didn't have silverware and I had to go inside to ask (seating outside is a nice option, and was definitely preferred that evening). The wait for a box and then for the check was eternal, and I was tempted to write, "Stay in school," on the tip line on the check. The service on my second visit (within a week!) was the only reason I am giving Kornblatt's four stars instead of five, and the next time I pop by I will be staying or moving on depending on who is waitressing.
(4)
Suzy K.
I was in Portland this past weekend and made my regular stop at Kornblatts for breakfast and a loaf of their delicious rye. How disappointed was I when I returned home in Seattle, opened the bag, and discovered they changed the rye? What happened to the most delicious rye bread ever? This loaf was stamped by another bakery - don't recall the past loaves marked by another but they may have been. So, so, so disappointed!
(3)
Alien T.
Liver - healthy but disgusting. That's what "they" say. I am sure I like eating liver. And when I want to eat, I go to this place. Good place to try good kosher, bagels, sandwiches and deli. This is my fav place for lunch in NW Portland.
(3)
Amanda J.
Tried Kenny & Zuke's? Now have the real thing. Ever eaten at Wolfie's on South Beach? Ever ordered a slice of pizza in New York? Then you won't be insulted by someone "yelling" at you for your order. Hey - at least they acknowledge your presence, unlike a lot of other restaurants in Portland. I ate at K&Z's yesterday and it was crap. The pastrami was cut too thick, leaving slabs of fat on the edges and the bread was damn near burnt. I had to dip each bite in a big puddle of mustard. (Which: yum!) The serving of potato salad was nice & generous but who cares when there's so much dill in there that it's inedible? The only thing they got right were the pickles - spicy with loads of garlic. I'm thinking they order 'em wholesale from Kornblatt's... Which, on the other hand, serves sandwiches with twice as much meat that is three times the quality for $2 cheaper. I use a knife & fork because you'd have to be able to unhinge your jaw like a snake in order to actually take a bite out of the whole thing. You only get a little paper ramekin of potato salad but who needs it when you have an entire bucket of crunchy garlic pickles on your table?
(5)
Laura N.
I few years ago had a short fling with the Eggel Bagel at Kornblatts. It was hot and heavy, (both the meal and our relationship) and then dropped off without explanation. Initially put off by the coarse and downright cranky wait-staff, I quickly realized that it was merely foreplay... a little game if you will. And I did. I began to truly enjoy being treated rudely - and to not be a selfish lover, I threw back as much attitude as I could muster up. However, other than the Eggel Bagel, nothing seemed to appeal - and regardless of the nobel effort to bring an "authentic New York deli" to Portland, I still want good food for a fair price! Alas, this Romeo and Juliet relationship wasn't destined. But I'm sure there is still lots of Kornblatts' lovin for the right patron!
(3)
Logan M.
This is my kind of Deli: good walk-up counter selection, with a little restaurant area for food made from items behind said counter. It's a good fit for its location on 23rd, a high foot traffic area, because it fits a lot into a small space (which helps a lot with its goal of bringing a NY deli to Portland). Some people might feel crowded, but I personally like the atmosphere little places that pack you in. Then there's the food. I had the Corn Beef Hash, while my girlfriend had the Veggie Hash. Both were excellent with good portions. We also got a Latke between us (on the house, as we actually ordered a Latte and were misunderstood), which was delicious but made it absolutely necessary to walk around to all the shops in the area to kickstart the digestion. So pretty much it was perfect.
(5)
Erin M.
Boyfriend loves bagels, and we've been big on Kettlemans for the past few years. Today Kettlemans had a long line & we decided it was time to venture out into the world of bagels. What a great decision that was! Kornblatts is like Kettleman's bagels on NYC-style steroids. There are three times as many menu options, everything is bigger (and better), and the price is twice as much. My boyfriend was raving over his lox bagel that was actually toasted, which means it stayed crunchy. My egg salad sandwich was really good as well. We got out at $18, which is a bit high. The things I loved: -options other than just bagels (they have a full deli set up here, as well as breakfast plates), but the bagels are still freshly made -the have a Seinfeld theme! You can order a big salad! -the guy who takes your order has a NYC accent. How authentic! Things I could do without: -way too expensive -waiting to be seated, they should really just have a counter to order & fend for yourself as far as seating goes In summary: Kornblatts beats Kettlemans
(5)
Carey T.
This place is always good! I go everytime Im in town. Richard is a great server! Friendly, Fast and has great suggestions! They dont have a bad sandwich!
(4)
Big S.
I had the club with hot pastrami on rye. It was delicious. Pastrami was excellent. Next visit I'm going for 100% pastrami on rye. The potato salad was average...disappointing for a good deli. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Esteban C.
Huge fan of the Super Veggie. It took two tries, but I eventually ate the whole thing. Great place to get a sandwich to go or dine in. Friendly staff too.
(5)
Blake M.
Random bagels stopped. 4/5
(4)
Nancy G.
Worst customer service ever. The website clearly indicates delivery. I went through and entire order for 12 people, get to the end and the person taking the order doesn't take the address. Then the next person goes through the entire order again and tells me they don't deliver. If you don't deliver take the advertisement off the website. And find someone that can answer the questions not say "We're really busy and I just work here". Really ? You wouldn't be working there for me thats for sure.
(1)
Sherry Y.
A decent breakfast deli. I've been several times (mostly Sundays). The food is always decent. The Eggs Bageldict (Eggs Benedict on a bagel with pastrami) used to be great, but their Hollandaise sauce started looking weird so I stopped ordering it. I had a bagel with lox, it was still tasty, but it looked as though they might have switched to a lesser brand of lox, nothing that they would sell at Zabar's. They still provide a generous portion though. They get four stars for the decline in quality over time and because the service today was not what it usually is. The waitress spilled my coffee all over the middle of the table and didn't care to clean it up (this was after she had to take our drink order twice) and didn't seem to provide much in the way of service. Maybe she thinks that having a NY attitude adds authenticity to this Jewish Deli.
(4)
Alex S.
The old owner retired and sold and the place is now complete crap. Horrible service, prices have gone through the roof and the food itself has dropped in quality. I ordered my usual pastrami and the cheese wasn't even melted and I had to have some angry 20-something give me shit while I asked them to fix it. This never, never, never would have happened 6 months ago. The legacy is dead, I'm moving on.
(1)
Michelle H.
It was recently a toss-up between Kornblatt's and Kenny and Zuke's for lunch, and I chose Kornblatt's. I have been eating here for quite some time now, being that I worked in the Nob Hill area for several years. The reason I often choose Kornblatt's over other delis is that I cannot seem to find latkes, knishes or matzo ball soup on the menus as readily as I can at Kornblatt's. Also, the reuben sandwiches here are very good. Due to my Polish/German heritage (among a variety of ethnicities, I am indeed part German and Polish), I grew up eating potato pancakes, and now that my German/Polish Grandma has passed on, I have to either make them myself, wait for my annual trip home for Mom to cook them up, or....eat them at Kornblatt's. Due to my busy schedule and the fact that Kornblatt's makes some pretty darn good latkes, more often than not, I choose the later of the three. When Mom comes to Portland for a visit, we always stop in at Kornblatt's at least once, for some latkes and matzo ball soup. As far as sandwiches go, I used to always order the reuben here, and I have always enjoyed Kornblatt's version...great Russian dressing and very good, fresh rye bread. I recently became adventurous and tried some of their other sandwich offerings...chicken salad with salami and swiss on rye, and it was very good. The meatloaf hoagie is also yummy, and the chopped liver, egg salad and green pepper sandwich is also good, so long as you don't mind chopped liver. I grew up eating this stuff, so I like it. The pickle barrels on each table are a nice touch, and their pickles really are good. In spite of some of the so-so reviews, I still like Kornblatt's. I like the authentic sandwich offerings, and of course the latkes!
(4)
Taco C.
I grew up here, even though I worked there on and off since 1997 I still love the food. However it wont be the same with the passing of Jim Caputo. He was the big brash guy behind the counter who was just as likely to tell you to go to hell as he was to hand out some of the best food on 23rd. He will be missed so much. The other staff is super amazing too, I am not just saying that because both my brothers still work there. I will always be proud to have been a part of that crazy and often fucked up crew. So do yourself a favour and order a hot pastrami to go, or a lox platter. If you really want the full treatment throw a little shit the staffs way. I promise they will be more then happy to give it back. Love you Jimmy baby.......
(5)
Gavin K.
Some of my favorite deli lunches have been had here. Must eats include the East Coast Nova style lox (amazing), Pavoratti's Pick (sloppy good), the traditional reuben and pastrami reuben, and the combo lox. Yum.
(4)
Ninihada C.
I've had breakfast here before and its "OK"- although pricey. I went in for lunch the other day and was very disappointed. The chicken soup was flavorless, the roast beef was chewy in the spongey sort of way (yuck), the cheesecake was not sweet - at all- and the texture couldve been a lot creamier. I'm used to NY cheesecake being dense and creamy. Because of the quality and price, I wont be back.
(1)
Michelle H.
Is there ever a wrong time for a bagel? I really don't think so. Bagel for breakfast. Bagel for lunch. Bagel for dinner. Bagel for a midnight snack. Bagel for a good day. Bagel for a bad day. Bagel for a sad day. Bagel for a rad day. The list is absolutely endless. Not only can I get bagels, fresh, heavenly fluffy bagels from Kornblatts, but I can get them with my breakfast food? That's brilliant. Not that I don't love toast, don't get me wrong. Toast has it's place in the breakfast world. I just really have a soft spot for bagels in my heart...and stomach. The only bummer was when I wandered in after a "lets think its a great idea to drink a martini, a bottle of wine, and two beers" night, the selection was pretty slim. We're talking maybe three varieties, maybe. I guess everyone loves bagels just as much as I do. And frankly, what do I expect wandering in that late in the day anyway? It's my own fault for that one. However, my liver just wasn't havin' any of that early rising nonsense. Lucky for me, I happen to love blueberry bagels, so I had just that. I got a little bit of a weird look when I wanted it plain. I almost didn't even want it toasted. I love to enjoy the plush doughy interior of a bagel without the vicious crispity-crunch of a toasting to wreck my gums. I'm not about that at all. It was a good toasting job, though. I was proud. Surprisingly enough, the highlight wasn't even the bagel, even though the bagel was damn good. One of the breakfast specials on the board was an insane chili and cheese omelette. Green chilies and cheese. Do you realize the awesomeness that is that combination? I was sold immediately. It was a slight hint of spice coupled with ooey gooey cheese wrapped in an eggy blanket. Does it get much better? No, not really, especially when coupled with that phenomenal bagel. I'm really glad it wasn't served with some sort of crazy side of potatoes, otherwise my stomach would have imploded. It was breakfast perfection. Service was quick and to the point. There were no excessive niceties, but it was dang efficient, you know? I can love on some of that. Just feed me and keep my drink filled, and I'm golden. The place is pretty small though, so peak times are definitely going to yield a wait. Have fun with that, but I can tell you it is worth it. Now I just need to come back for that pastrami sandwich I saw... ...and a bagel.
(4)
Jason W.
I've never had a bad meal here. We've been coming off and on for a couple of years, and haven't been disappointed. Sometimes we have to wait in line (for newbies, the line ENDS at the door and goes back inside), but that's because other people know it's good also. I've had a couple different reubens, corn-beef hash, and more recently the Pavarotti's Pick. Delish! Eat it up and get out so the rest of us can eat!
(5)
Mike L.
Dear Kornblatts, I love you... The end.
(4)
Anna L.
best bagels in portland by far. As a former east coaster, I've seek out every bagel joint in this place and this is the only place that has gotten the correct chewy to crusty proportion correctly.
(5)
Andrea V.
Sometimes, the stars align in just the right way, it stops raining for a brief moment, and you can actually find a parking place on 23rd. If this happens to you, you should go to Kornblatt's. And then you should have a reuben, the potato salad, a Dr. Brown's cream soda, and an eclair. Each one of these items will singularly excite your tastebuds. The 5 of them together may send you into orbit. One of those times when everything is as good as it should be. Warning: food coma may occur.
(5)
Ben M.
Alright, was tempted to mark this as a 3 or a 4 star experience, but for what it is (a bagel and sandwich joint) its a 5. Located in a great part of Portland, Kornblatts offers a cozy environment and exceptional meals at a decent price. Furthermore, I get a kick out of their complementary pickle bucket on each table. So check this place out, nom on a free pickle and I would recommend their french dip if you are in the mood. Eat up!
(5)
Eliot J.
When I go to this restaurant I feel like I'm going to eat dinner with my big Jewish family. The warm atmosphere, tasty food, and cheapest mimosas in town make for a great meal. I'd recommend the matzo ball soup and latkes. if you're going for breakfast, eat a bagel!
(5)
Al D.
Pickles tasted store bought (vlasic?). Knish was downright gross. Matzoh brie was ok...hard to mess that one up. Bagel and cream cheese mediocre. Kenny and zukes is better.
(3)
Chris M.
Stop! put that shitty bagel down and back away slowly...now get over to Kornblatt's and get the BEST bagel in town (sorry, Kettleman's). Great prices and even better staff. Can get a little crowded on the weekends but never a long wait, sit outside on nice days and people watch.
(5)
Brigitte S.
I called my dad today and told him that I didn't feel well, and that I was the first in Oregon to get the Swine Flu. He told me to stop watching the news, drink some OJ, and go to Kornblatts for some Matza Ball soup.
(4)
Alexandra A.
3.5 rating. I think the food is good and the portions are generous. Their bagels are good & they have a lot of variety. They are fresh. I had a bagel, eggs & bacon for breakfast and I couldn't finish the entire thing - and I usually can. It was cooked well. I've had their sandwiches for lunch and they are good and big in portion size. I've also had their motzah ball soup and it is the ultimate in comfort food.
(3)
Meredith O.
This is a favorite of mine when visiting Portland. I always go for the matzo ball soup and half a pastrami.
(4)
Phil F.
This place has been here a while. They're set in their ways and you have to adjust how they do things. Yeah, service can be spotty sometimes and, yeah it could be crowded, but it maintained their quality for years and years. When we went there at 3 PM Saturday, it was half empty, then within 10 minutes crowds of people appeared out of nowhere and all the tables were full and a long line of waiting people. The waitress got totally overwhelm, but much to their credit the cooks came out and helped take orders and seat guests - nicely done!! Despite only one waitress, they pumped out food from the kitchen and maintained great quality. I had the traditional reuben and my wife had the beef tongue sandwich - she said it was the best beef tongue sandwich she had ever had. My reuben was good - I LIKE the leanness of their meat. Cheesecake is large and a nice finish to the meal. Kudos to the staff at Kornblatts!
(4)
Randy S.
Outstanding! We had the Pastrami sandwich and it was lean, unlike most deli's we have been to and it was ummm, ummm, good! I will be going back to try the breakfast. Highly recommended at this point for lunch.
(4)
Cory S.
Great service and great sandwiches!! Probably some of the best sandwiches in Portland!
(5)
Enrique B.
I'm not positive that Kornblatts is still operated/supervised by a Jewish mother. The food seemed akin to that of a Denny's. While some Yelpers have found the staff blunt, I thought my waiter was very polite and attentive. The bagel case only had 3 selections available at 5pm, and the eclairs had sold out hours before. The benefit, in my eyes, is that Kornblatts offers an alternative to Rose's Deli in case they are too busy. However, I think the food is pretty similar between the two. A few things I noticed - the prices on the huge menu board above the bagels are mostly gone. Some items have prices, and others do not. I guess I would prefer that they either pull down all the prices or replace the missing ones. None of this in-between business. Also, the hash plates run between $9.25 and $11. I felt this was sorta expensive for the amount (moderate) of food.
(4)
Andrew Y.
A good old school deli in Portland! Been here 3 times. The Reuben's done right (both corned beef and pastrami versions), fresh chopped liver (makes a great appetizer side order), a mean lox-bagel-cream-cheese. OK, the egg cream isn't made with the snob-factor Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup, and I sure wish they had Brooklyn-style kishka here--but if you need a dose of real deli, Kornblatt's hits the spot. [see pics]
(4)
Brooke S.
I am from the Portland area originally and Kornblatts has always been one of my favorite places. I moved to LA 5 years ago and, to my utter disappointment, have never found a place that is quite as good. Every time my husband and I are home for a visit we make a point to stop by for lunch. One thing to look out for is that they are popular and it's a small place, so you may have a short wait for a table.
(5)
Adam M.
Finally a great pastrami and corned beef place here in the northwest. I was beginning to think that Oregonians idea of a good sandwich was subway. 1. We were seated after a short wait even though the place was packed. 2. Waiter was attentive and polite and we received a big jar of real kosher pickles to munch on. 3. The sandwiches were excellent and served piled high with ubber delicious, juicy and flavorful meat on fresh rye bread. 4. Got a dozen bagels to go and sampled them the next day. Awesome bagels, best in Portland hands down. 5. Very reasonable prices, friendly staff, and OMG the chopped liver was even better than dear old mom makes. Put all these together and you have a fantastic eatery. BTW, we have tried Roses down the street and only gave them 3 stars, good but not great.
(5)
Erin D.
We stayed right around the corner from Kornblatts so we decided to stop in for breakfast one day. We each got a corned beef and hash - this ended up being a bit of a mistake, as one serving could have amply fed both of us, but boy was it tasty. I also really enjoyed their Mexican hot chocolate. The waitstaff was super friendly, and they had outdoor seating that was perfect for people watching.
(4)
Liz C.
I love Kornblatts. period. I don't know if its the crappy coffee, the blunt waitstaff, or their kickass bagels, but I love this place. Their breakfast is THE best and its reasonably priced. Eggs, potatoes and a bagel with butter or cream cheese. sooooo good. There's not much else to say, its just plain good.
(4)
Chris B.
Not as good as Kenny and zukes
(2)
Ron u.
We went and had the pastrami sandwiches. Good portions, a lot of meat, good flavor service was good but we were there later in the afternoon. We will go back for lunch. Overall a good experience and good food. Have not had a better pastrami sandwich in a long time.
(4)
Sharon W.
Super fun experience, very much like a NYC deli. Awesome reubens with a great deal on Tuesdays. Great bagels and other classic deli options, and all the pickles you can eat (seriously). Has a fun, laid-back atmosphere bringing in a great mix of people, young and cool, cool and lame, families and dates. Gets crowded quick and the service can be slow, but that just gives you more time to savor your food. Portions are huge, messy, and delicious. Enjoy!
(4)
Michele S.
Super bummed over my experience here. I have been craving a real deli style sandwich and was told this was the place to go. The person behind the counter was unfamiliar with the menu and prices which was ok but if you are going to work in a resteraunt you should know the menu. I ordered a hot corn beef to go and after 5 minutes the cook finally decided to mak an apperance and work the tickets. I got my sandwich and left . The corned beef was great but to my dismay no mustard and no pickle I mean who serves corned beef without mustard and what New York deli does not put a picle in the bag. The potatoe salad was ok but not the greatest. It is sort of sad as I heard this place used to be one of the best deli's in town for authentic style food and service now it seems sad and the staff uncaring.
(1)
Jim T.
I was hoping for true NY style Pastrami sandwich piled high but was a bit disappointed, even though it is probably one of the best around PDX. The flavor was good but not the clean straightforward meat and fat flavor I expect for this sandwich. My wife's meatloaf sandwich was a disappointment but the Matzoh (sp?) Ball Soup was terrific. Parking is always a pain around NW 23rd. If you are in the neighborhood and can only try one place, *definitely* try the pizza next door. It is spectacular. Once you had that, if you are still craving a NY-style deli experience, definitely give this a try. Their bagels looked great and other diners were raving about their food. Maybe we just got the wrong items?
(3)
Z Z.
Kornblatts is quite good, I wish it was open later. Why on earth would it close so early? There have been several times when we have wanted to head over there but then realized....oh yeah it closes at like 8pm! Crazy! We finally made it over there the other day and we enjoyed our meal. I got a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich and one potato latke. The grilled cheese was cooked perfectly and there was a perfect cheese and tomato to bread ratio. Perfectly enjoyable! The pickles that they bring out when you first sit down were awesome, I loved them. The potato salad side was just OK it was a bit too sweet for me. The potato latke was good but it was a bit overcooked around the edges. My husband got the turkey pastrami Reuben and seemed to enjoy it. I kept asking him if he liked it and he kept saying yes, its OK. He ate the whole thing so I am assuming he enjoyed it. I noticed that it was a bit smaller than the deli sandwiches that he normally gets but that is OK with me! Normally those sandwiches are insanely large! Overall, 3.5 stars and we would go back there! Our food came out fairly quickly and the folks that work there were super nice! But, again....why close so early????? Oh, btw if I remember correctly it states on the menu that the deli imports its meat from NY every day, how funny is that?
(4)
Andy W.
I am seriously a big fan of Kornblatt's. I love the sarcastic service, the fact that I've never had to wait for a table (take that, every other breakfast place in Portland!), the close proximity to other patrons (forcing friendly interaction with strangers, which is good if I'm in the mood for that kind of thing) ... ... and the corned beef. Mmm hmm. Corned beef hash. Check it out. I don't need much more than that to be happy.
(4)
Amanda M.
The best corned beef sandwich I've had in over 15 years!! Was in Portland for the day and stopped here on my parent's recommendation. Any time I am in Portland I will absolutely eat here!! Only 2 downsides, no real kid's menu that I could see. Luckily my son will eat a Kosher Dog :) Other thing is parking is a real pain in the ass. Not really their fault but just an FYI to anyone visiting. Drove around for about 10 mins before finding a spot. Still TOTALLY worth it!!!
(4)
Kathryn R.
I'm a big fan of Kornblatt's. I've been coming here for a few years, and their breakfast has never disappointed. Don't expect anything too fancy (or ambiance), but you can get a great omelet, bagel sandwich, hash, or matzo brie here. I recommend the omelet plates: you get a huge omelet, hashbrowns, and a bagel and cream cheese all at a reasonable price. The fresh-squeezed OJ isn't all that bad, either!
(4)
Samantha M.
This place has the best bagel on 23rd now that Kettlemans is gone (*sniff*sniff*), but NO quality of food can make up for REALLY RUDE, MEAN, INCOMPETENT STAFF. I went in for the simplest thing on the menu today- a bagel toasted with butter. I took my wrapped up bagel to the tea shop down the way, order my tea and sat down to enjoy my snack only to find a COMPLETELY BURNT BLACK BAGEL inside the wrapper. The kind you need a knife to scrape off all the burnt crud to get to BAGEL. I couldn't believe a server would burn it, and then still wrap it up and give it to me! So, I told the tea girl I'd be right back, and walked BACK down to Kornblatts and politely explained I had received a burnt bagel, showing her the mess she'd just served me, she SIGHS, grabs another bagel and turns around to toast it. While she's standing there at the toaster and I wait at the counter I can SEE HER OBVIOUSLY talking poorly about me to a cook, who looks up at me, and then back at her. It was SO AWKWARD. She then comes over and just HANDS ME THE BAGEL. What an attitude. NO APOLOGY, NO SMILE, NO CUSTOMER SERVICE, NO NOTHING. What a B*#)TCH! This is when I really started to regret tipping! At least she didn't burn the 2nd one. I would have really enjoyed it had the horrible girl not put such a damper on my sunny afternoon out on 23rd! She has a short crop blonde hair cut, STAY AWAY FROM HER and you should be alright in this place. It just makes me so uncomfortable to come back. *sigh*
(1)
Doyle O.
Went for lunch. I got there about 11:15. By 11:45 it was full up. I don't know deli food but I had a traditional reuben and chips with coffee. I would have to say the portion was more than generous. It was huge. Regular sized bread but the meat was at least 11/4 inch thick. Seriously. Taste was good. No complaints on the food. Service was a little slow but at 11:30 another waitress came in so there were two so it was a little better. However when I got there it was a little too busy for the one waitress. Three stars, what can I say. The food was good but didn't knock my socks off. I would eat there again, the decor and layout are kinda cool. I wouldn't go out of my way but if I am in the alphabet district at lunch I will probably go again.
(3)
Chris E.
Kornblatt's is great. everything is large and delicious. I'm not quite sure why no one on the west coast can seem to get the right texture on corned beef, but they come close here. The pickles are stellar! Yum! It's no Katz's Deli, but whaddaya want from NW23?
(4)
Mags S.
The green chile omelet from the specials board was outstanding. Full plate of eggs and chiles and sour cream and potatoes; also came with a bagel which I brought home.
(4)
John S.
I stopped in last weekend for the first time. In a hurry and ordering to go, I asked what was good. I'd been eyeing the salamon hash (not know what to order at a New York style deli) and was imedietly directed to the less expensive corn beef hash. The man behind the counter told me it was the best, and they usually run out of it quickly. So I took him up on it. Turned out to be one of the best breakfasts i've had in a while. So good in fact, that I had to drive back in from Estacada to have it again today. An I'm happy to report, it was just as good the second time. This place is my new favorite breakfast spot, and for the price, you can feast and not go broke.
(5)
Rebecca L.
Their reuben is my guilty delivery pleasure, when I put up one hand and say, "$20 for some meat and bread driven across town", and I put up the other hand, and say, "I can lie on my bed watching 'Little Britain' and have a Reuben in half an hour", and the evil, lazy, fat hand wins. Hits the spot every time. French toast was good as I recall. I got my beloved lox sandwich tonight. They didn't skimp on the fish which was nice, the tomato was suitably plump and the lettuce suitably crisp. Capers were lovely, and on the side. The bagel was underwhelming, to say the least. They do a fine egg cream. Can I get a woot? P.S. I am disturbed by other reviewers' promises of complimentary pickles. I received no free pickles. I foresee pickle restitution.
(3)
Lori B.
Landed upon this one day when driving through before going home. I saw 'Bagel Sandwiches' and was in heaven. THE BEST BAGEL SANDWICHES EVAR! It was so New York style- busy, black & white, Italian atmosphere. Definately a hit for lunch. I can't wait to go here again just for this!
(5)
Jason M.
There aren't many delis in Portland so the bar isn't too high, but none the less I was pretty impressed by Kornblatts. I'm originally from Detroit and have been craving deli corned beef sandwiches ever since I moved to the NW. This place fulfills that craving and I've had good experiences with the wait staff. I liked it better than Kenny and Zukes, which seemed more like a caricature deli...
(5)
Jenni D.
I use to work at a bagel shop, so I have pretty high standards when it comes to fresh bagels and cream cheese. This place has great service, nice staff, and good food. The prices were very reasonable, and the food came within a few minutes after ordering. I will definitely be coming back here for breakfast again when I visit!
(4)
Emily W.
I both live and work in the neighborhood, and Kornblatts has been a godsend. I don't really get anything there other than breakfast - the green chili omelet "special" is amazing, the eye-opener special always a hit, and a bagel-with-cream-cheese-to-go generally accounts for my lunch on work days. My favorite part, though, has to be the staff. They are entitled to be exactly as nice (often very!) or curt as they want to be. I hate going places and feeling that overwhelming wave of saccharine customer service - I don't care how chatty they are, I care about getting what I came for. And I always do.
(5)
Amy P.
This is the closest thing to a NY Deli that you can get in P-Town. Not that I'm complaining, but give a girl a decent bagel already! The staff is super slow and way surly, which I don't mind. Makes me feel a little like I'm in NY. But the food, oy, leaves something to be desired. I do enjoy their noodle kugel, but the pastrami isn't so hot. It will do in a pinch, but seriously...someone open up a kosher deli already that is good!
(3)
Eric L.
I love pastami! Pastrami is my favorite sandwich meat and I'll never pass on a pastrami sandwich. Supposedly, Kornblatt's is a NY style deli. It looks like something you'd find in the middle of Manhattan, right in PDX. From the decor and dark wood furnishings to the atmosphere, it feels like NY...sort of. My order was very simple so I can only review my sandwich, the pastrami on white. It's simple. Get white bread, spread mayo and slap on the pastrami (that's what she said) and you're done. It doesn't get any more simple than that. The sandwich comes with chips, a pickle, and that's it. Bread, mayo, pastrami, and chips. You're set. Thank you come again. The sandwich was good. A bit overpriced in my opinion, but this was the best sandwich I've had since moving here. Geez, now I'm missing the deli's in the Big Apple =(
(4)
William B.
My fiancee is a recent transplant from Long Island, NY and claimed that if suitable pizza and deli could not be found, she would have to leave me. Desperate to prove that a worthy bagel did in fact exist in PDX, I turned to my fellow yelpers. My future nuptials have been saved! As soon as we opened the door, I knew Kornblatt's was the real deal. The decor and seating announced Old School Deli before reading the menu. We kept it simple this visit to verify authenticity; everything bagel with a schmear of veggie spread and a side of scrambled eggs for her, Nova lox over cream cheese on an everything for me. When our orders arrived, my bride-to-be said "we can come back here." High praise indeed! The bagels were cooked as they should be, boiled then baked. Chewy inside, a little crunch on the crust, and a fair amount of topping. Not as much garlic as I'd expect, but tasty nonetheless. These guys know what a schmear looks like and provide it. Considering what I paid for the lox, I certainly got my money's worth - I was trying to save room for a food cart visit later and failed! I am *very* much looking forward to trying a corned beef or brisket sandwich here at a future date.
(4)
Holly D.
There are so many excellent eateries in Portland and no, Kornblatts is not one of them. There were maybe three other parties at the time, and yet our waiter acted like he just couldn't bother to help us. Not entirely rude, but highly inattentive. I love scrambled eggs, but I despise omelets. It's a texture thing. So I am not happy when I order scramble eggs and get cooked eggs, chopped up. NOT the same. And this was even worse, because beneath the broken up hunk of egg was a puddle of undercooked eggs. Does anyone like their eggs served that way? Make me a good mocha, and you have my heart. I was a bit disappointed when my mocha arrived in your average smallish-sized mug. The flavor was so-so, not bad enough that I didn't drink it, but not much better than regular drip. After my second sip, however, I discovered an unidentifiable white powdery substance on the outside of the mug, right up to the lip. Could have been salt but more likely residual detergent. Needless to say I scrubbed the rim of the mug, and then some, with my wet napkin. Mess up my eggs and mocha, and I ain't coming back.
(2)
Jeni B.
I went to Kornblatts for the first time and their chicken salad is awesome! The guy at the counter was very helpful and the rest of the staff seemed pretty courteous. The sandwish was a little on the spendy side for what I got, but it was delicious none-the-less.
(4)
M S.
Longtime Portlander AND longtime deli fan - I love Kornblatt's and have been going there as long as they have been open. I also really enjoy Kettleman's bagels, so it's saying something that I give Kornblatt's my highest rating, but they have all-around quality and friendly service to boot. Plus they have great hours that really make them a fixture in the neighborhood. A few highlights: The lox at Kornblatt's are AMAZING - highest quality I have ever had in a deli outside NY. The only other place in PDX to get lox is Newman's. Comparison to the other bagel place, 'blatt's (as everyone i know calls it) wins hand-down for quality and presentation. Corned beef hash is also amazing and great value for the portion. Other breakfast all day items include the Eye Opener which, in a city full of breakfast joints, is again good value and high quality. Best eggs consistently. The blintzes, oh! the blintzes. Incredible and served the "right" way with preserves and sour cream. I was horrified at the blintzes at another supposed-deli place, but won't go on. If you haven't had blintzes, go to Kornblatt's and order them. Sandwiches and the good variety of traditional deli fare make this place a reliable destination if I am introducing friends to Portland's best accessible offerings. I note that other yelpers cite surly service and high prices - neither of which have ever stood out to me. Expensive sandwiches compared to...Subway? I suppose. I always get a smile and attentive greeting when I walk in, regardless of how busy they are. Often there is a line but they clear it as quickly as possible from what I have seen. The servers are definitely to-the-point but I have never once had an issue in all the years I have been going there. This is a great place rain or shine, winter or summer, native or visitor. You like comfort food? Deli? Go.
(5)
BoaBzOr B.
This is totally the only place in town to get a proper bagel with cream cheese and lox. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it. The lox is transcendental: not too smokey or salty, just fabulous. They pile on a good amount as well. Another bonus is the big crock of pickles that they leave on every table. The pickles are also just first fabulous: crunchy and tangy and perfect. I can't much comment on the rest of their menu, as that is the only thing I ever order. But whenever I end up their with company, everyone else seems to come out pretty satisfied as well.
(5)
Liz M.
This has been one of my all-time favorite Portland places since it first opened many years ago. My dad, a native New Yorker, loves the place. My mom totally digs the corn beef hash--and it is wonderful: salty and meaty....hmmm. I personally love the Eye Opener Special, because you get a whole plate of food and a large bagel for $5.50. I bet that is the least expensive breakfast place on NW 23rd Avenue. Service is fast and the coffee is flowing. Check it out soon!
(4)
Mark T.
Very good, even if they're a little stingy with the meat and heavy with the accoutrements like tomato and lettuce. Still, it's a good nosh, nu?
(4)
Lisa M.
Always enjoy the classic, real, deli food here.
(4)
Bill F.
Exceptional deli and restaurant in Portland. As a gentile, I found myself at their door for breakfast and I have returned many times to have some of the best breakfast I can find anywhere. The lox scramble is tremendous, and I was recently there and had a gigantic egg salad sandwich for lunch. For what you get, I think it's a value.
(5)
Janet L.
Stopped in to get a latte to go. It reminded me of being in a NY Deli. The people working were really nice and the whole vibe in there is a good one. I will definitely return for a bite.
(5)
Devan D.
I've lived in most major metropolitan cities and this is the best authentic deli in PDX. Shut up and eat, 'nuff said.
(4)
Erin O.
As one of those people who orders the same thing every time, I can recommend the veggie bagel sandwich with a side of potato salad and the veggie bagel sandwich with a side of potato salad only. But I recommend it heartily. (please disregard that little trickle of drool running down my chin.) The hours are great for late noshers, 8 or 9ish every night but Sunday. update: the menu has been changed. Veggie bagel? gone! however, they'll still make one, it just doesn't officially exist. Also, all cheese bagels are gone. A moment of silence for the asiago cheese bagel.
(4)
J M.
I love a good delicatessen. This one is tops for me. Its simple inside...no nonsense decor, no nonsense servers (don't flip them any crap). The food is classic, filling, and delicious. Order the "Brooklyn Bomb"...hot brisket, latke, Swiss and grilled onions. Yum.
(5)
Noah K.
Wifey used to live in NW and when I would visit I always had to enjoy my turkey rueben from Kornblatts. wish I could get one in the SF Bay area...
(4)
Mysti J.
I love this place! I go every time I'm in Portland and am never dissapointed. I won't even complain about the wait (and there's always a wait) because the Kornblatt's experience is WORTH the wait. The specials are always interesting and new, the regular menu items never fail me ( I love the Salmon Hash), and the wait staff kicks booty. They always seem to keep their cool even and remain friendly and helpful even though the place is hoppin'. The food is always fast and hot. This is as good as it gets for deli grub and breakfast in Portland.
(5)
John E.
Got the pastrami reuben. It was good. But 14$ for a sandwich and a soda? Too much.
(2)
Wes M.
Delicatessen isn't usually a very friendly word to us vegetarians. It inspires images of huge slabs of meat piled behind a counter, waiting to be sliced and applied liberally to whatever dish you may order. This can make going to a delicatessen seem like a poor choice for someone like me. However, I have a deep love and appreciation for good sandwiches, and I'd never had one from an East Coast style deli, and I felt that it was time to finally give that a try. When we were seated at Kornblatt's, we were greeted quickly by a server with a heavy New York accent. We were given menus and the server quickly moved to check on other tables while we were decided what to eat. I had seen the menu online, and knew already that I wanted one of their Empire State Sandwiches, and for me there was only really one option: The Super-Vegi. I ordered the Super-Vegi with a side of potato salad, while my girlfriend ordered their vegetarian Reuben. I have to admit that when we received our order I was intimidated. The Empire State Sandwiches are essentially two sandwiches stacked, held together with a toothpick. And we're not talking two small sandwiches, oh no. We're talking big, stuffed with low-fat chive cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. I wasn't sure how I was going to fit the thing in my mouth, and after a bit of pressing, I managed to fit the corner in and take a bite. It was absolutely delicious. This monster of a sandwich was easily one of the better sandwiches I'd ever eaten. The rye was a good flavor, the toppings were fresh, and the sandwich was filling. Then, there was the potato salad that I had to manage to put back, and that did not disappoint either. The only complaint I've got about this place is that it was too delicious. I ate all of my food, and I could feel it still stretching my stomach a good hour later. Didn't make me sick or anything, I just, you know, ate to much. While I had a bite of the Reuben, I didn't get to try enough of it to really review it, so I'm saving that 5th star until I go back for the Reuben. **Edit** Something I forgot to mention, and will actually be preventing that fifth star no matter how delicious their Reuben is when I try it, is that my girlfriend found a piece of bacon in her vegetarian Reuben. While I understand that everything is probably cooked on the same surface actually finding meat in your sandwich as a vegetarian is never a positive thing.
(4)
MAtt K.
A Frank with Kraut to go. Yummm. Friendly service, a nice environment if you decide to dine in. Like a family-friendly dinner with better food!
(4)
Maia Q.
Expect to be unbelievably full after you leave Kornblatts. The sandwhiches are huge and stacked high with delicious meat. For most of the dishes you pick a side, and I am sad to say that the potato salad is not the way to go. It lacks in flavor and the portion is on the small side. The pickles however are delicious! If you go expecting the greatest service, you will be disappointed. While the staff is friendly enough, they aren't exactly the most personable people, which is fine because the food is great!
(4)
Tami A.
I always get a bagel sandwich with lettuce, tomato and cream cheese when I go in here and I've never been disappointed. Although I guess it would be pretty hard to screw that order up, but still. It's good!
(4)
Dan V.
Didn't know what to expect from this place. Sat down in a plush red 50s leather diner couch and ordered the best Pastrami Reuben sandwich I've ever had. It was grilled to perfection, had just the right amount of spread, a healthy serving of pastrami, and a perfect melted slice of Swiss cheese. A little pricey for a sandwich, but well worth the price.
(5)
Matt K.
When a place has a "East Coast Nova Style Lox" that is "So good you'll plotz" you know they're not messing around! A recommendation from a concierge as a Jewish Deli, I knew this was a good place to go to satisfy my craving for a Lox and Bagel. I can say this is one of the best, if not THE BEST I have ever had, and I have had my fair share. Lots of fresh Lox, cream cheese, red onions, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, (i asked for no capers), on a garlic toasted bagel...it doesn't get much better than this. I also added an order of cheeze blintzs, also very good. This seems like a mom and pop shop and is a real comfortable place to dine. MUST STOP in Portland!
(5)
Sasha S.
I like spicy foods, and they deliver the best jalapeno cheese bagel I've had. For cheap breakfast eats Kornblatts makes my soul real happy. I usually get eggs with a jalapeno cheese bagel and potatoes. Lunch is also a good decent Jewish meal. I broke my vegetarian vows to have the matzo ball soup- which was devine. They had a big jar of pickles at our table for unlimited crunch. Later in the day the service gets a little lacking- but that's understood given the busy morning rush. Yum.
(4)
Donte P.
I may not be a corned beef expert, but this place serves up a damn fine corned beef sandwich. I don't even like rye bread most of the time, but in this case it was perfect. Sometimes you don't want art, you just want a sandwich. That's what this place does very well.
(4)
Amanda B.
I definitely liked the food here better than Kenny & Zukes. It was more... real? Maybe that's a good word for it, I don't know. But I had the traditional reuben and ohhh man! It was pretty dang good. And I'm a fan of any place that gives me complimentary pickles, so it's a win-win. They loose one star for playing awkward punk covers and totally ruining the moment. :)
(4)
Catherine C.
Bummer. I wish this place is good but it's not. The matzo ball soup is ok, but really, don't expect much here.
(2)
Krista T.
I like kosher hot dogs. I like bagels. The combo is not that difficult to find in town, but Kornblatts briliiantly combines the two and hands it to me in a tin foil wrap so I can eat it while stollin down the street. Perfection.
(3)
jodes l.
Best traditional reuben, ever. Russian dressing, saurkraut, toasted rye, and corned beef. DEE-licious. Couple this with the jug-o-pickles and I'm one happy camper The omelet is just "eh". Not many fresh vegetables in this place--go for what is on their menu (mean deali sando's) and don't get all worked up over your dietary needs. The waiters will probably roll their eyes and spit in your food if you ask for anything low-fat, on-the-side, low-carb, etc.
(4)
Mike K.
I know, Portland is not New York, and I'm not expecting a New York deli. The thing is, Kornblatt's gets surprisingly close. They have great corned beef, wonderful pastrami, chopped liver that's like buttah, delicious dill pickles on the table. There aren't many tables and there's usually a line, and service is often rushed, albeit pretty attentive, in that New York deli kind of way. Hubby and I have been at least three times. If Papa Haydn's delectable desserts weren't across the street calling our name, we'd probably be at Kornblatt's more.
(4)
Scott P.
Absolutely the best Pastrami you will find in Oregon. Try to stop for a Ruben every time I'm in Portland
(4)
E W.
I loved the sando. Good pastrami! Wacky waitress. They give you a jar of pickles to much on. Awesome!
(4)
Per H.
You line up and without wait you are seated and the the staff threat you like royalty. Nope, that is not it. You line up, wait, the staff gets your seated somewhat quickly, and then treats you with "New York under-handed love". Yeah, that is more like it. We actually do go here for the Reubens and the staff! Great place, lots of deli style foods to choose from. per
(4)
Tiffany R.
Excellent Pastrami Rueban & Matzoh ball soup! Pastrami isn't too thick, and the cheese holds it all together pretty well--and boy, is it tasty! Ooh, and the saurkraut! I love saurkraut, and would never turn the stuff down. Theirs is so delicious! I wouldn't be surprised if it's made in house. The soup was delicious as well, and the Matzoh ball was huge! I will return, and will save room for an eclair.
(4)
Arvonn T.
Kornblatt's seems to be the best that the West Coast has to offer when it comes to a deli. It isn't bad, it is a nice deli. I like it. I've been back several times. ... but.. it isn't a jewish deli, don't go their expecting a real jewish deli experience. I saw another yelp that said it was. Sorry, but it isn't. It is close. It is an approximation. It is like a ride at an amusement park.. pretty good.. lots of fun.. It is safe, and somewhat stilted. I've never seen the 90 year old guy sitting in the back complaining about his matzah there. They mix meat and dairy. Not a jewish deli. but.... Why the russian dressing? I've been to plenty of deli's on the East Coast, and there is not this obsession with Russian Dressing. I'm chalking that up to some strange PNW thing, kinda like all the mayo.. A pastrami sandwhich is my favorite. Pastrami on rye, with a little mustard. The rye is good, the mustard is good. The pastrami... well.. To be fair, there are two pastrami camps, low fat, and the good stuff. I like the good stuff, it has just the right amount of fat, to soak up and spread out all the flavor. See, no fat means no flavor. To get the full rich garlic-lious flavor of pastrami, you need to have fat. The pastrami at Kornblatts is the lean kind. it is good for the lean kind, but still.. it is lean pastrami. For those in the know, Carnegie Deli Pastrami this is not. Overall, it's the best deli I've found in the PNW so far, (and that is saying something, I go out of my way to find deli's in PNW, and most are crap). Two thumbs up... but only three stars..
(3)
brian c.
Im sorry, but the food was ok. You may like it but i did not. NOW the service was garbage. I asked the waiter, what types of bread he had. He told me and i asked for wheat bread. So our meals came out and it was on rye. No big deal, mistakes happen. I told him about the mix up. He said to me.... cant you deal with it. Well that sent me threw the roof. Come on really... who says that. I am the type of guy that tips 25 plus % if the service is good. Nobody should have their meal ruined by a rude waiter. Us paying costumers do not deserve that.
(1)
Glaciala A.
The potato knish was just okay, a little too buttery for my personal taste. The latkes were really oilly (I realize they are fried in oil, but these were crazy oilly). The latkes were also a little burnt and hard to chew. I was disappointed.
(2)
Angie H.
Kornblatt's is the very best! We love their reubens! Another favorite of ours is the pastrami, egg, swiss cheese bagel sandwich for breakfast. This absolutely makes you shut and eat. Pickles on the table are outta this world too. And, we like Jim, but don't tell him that.
(5)
Chelsea A.
Is this deli of the same cut as the famjous and popular eateries in NY and LA? No probably not. But I love it regardless. And while their actual meals may not be the most amazing things you've ever had in your whole life; however I'm there all the time, and love it regardless. LOVE!
(5)
Via H.
I frequent this place fairly often on the weekends when I'm in need of a good, cheap breakfast. The service could be better. But you get what you pay for. It's all about the Eye-Opener. Eggs, potatoes, and bagel for $5. What a score. It leaves you feeling uncomfortably full...and ready for that afternoon nap to sleep off your hangover.
(3)
Rick E.
Perhaps the only good reasons to brave the hassles of NW 23rd are (1) the chopped tongue sandwich and (2) the chocolate eclairs. Those two delights rate as 5-star-worthy. Deduct one star for the location and other things on the menu which were merely "pretty good."
(4)
Penny P.
I was craving pickles. The big and juicy kind to go with a greasy pastrami sandwich. I was pleased. Not only did they give me pickles. But I got four large ones to go with my sandwich. You have to be specific. They have a lovely dining area outside to accommodate moms with strollers and out of town friends and the location is perfect for some afternoon shopping.
(4)
Matthew K.
The Best Pastrami in PDX!!!! I have been coming to this deli since 2001 and I still love the food here, especially the Rueben. The waitstaff is really cool and down to earth. They will cater your order to your needs. The best thing was that I was in a really bad mood before I came into the restaurant. After talking to Bob for a few minutes and making my belly happy with an amazing meal. I feel like a million bucks! Since I am in sales, it's best to be in great mood when you are out working. With Kornblatts food in your stomach and Bob as a waiter, you'll never leave the restaurant without a smile on your face. Matt "The Clear Guy" Kurowski
(5)
Gourmet G.
A noble effort to bring authentic deli delights to Portland - the corned beef and pastrami allegedly are flown in from the motherland, i.e., Manhattan - succeeds on some levels but fails on others. The meat was flavorful enough to suggest it did indeed earn frequent flier miles, but knishes were a pale imitation of the originals, potato latkes were oozing grease, and blintzes were tough, their filling bland, their fruit topping cloyingly sweet. Avoiding the specialties and sticking to a hearty sandwich on rye will spare you disappointment. Sadly, the service is friendly - food like this needs cranky waiters with gruff attitudes to add to the flavor. Native New Yorkers will understand what I mean.
(3)
Maggie S.
This place is like walking into NYC. Great food, great staff, interesting people eat there. What more can I say.
(5)
Melissa W.
forgot my list of Portland restaurants to visit (only remembered Voodoo Donuts and Blue Plate special - and that was not open).. My husband suggested Kornblatts as we walked around and our friends Gloria and George thought it was a fine idea...I loved the 'vintage' look of the place and I was sold when I spied a bottle of Birch Beer Soda on display...I'm always on the lookout for 'different' (even beverages ! ) and this fit the bill ! Jim, and friends opted for the pastrami w/ Jim choosing a Reuben...I was enticed by the mushroom barley soup and a cheese sandwich----LOVED my sandwich---the BEST EVER ! usually the first bite into a cheese deli sandwich is good then it's usually too much (taste, size etc.) this was light and melt in your mouth good....The soup was just as good as the very first deli mushroom barley I've ever had (I was 8 years old---and the 'taste memory is still there !) The pickles were also fabulous....The staff was charming and friendly....what a great experience ! Totally fortified us for the Dragonfly Shopping expedition that followed (found so many 'MUST haves').. .Yet another installment in the Jim and Melissa's Excellent Pacific Northwest Adventure ! Will return in a heart beat..... If you don't like this place, you have no heart OR taste buds......
(5)
Randy D.
sandwiches piled skyscraper-high with pastrami, corned beef, or both. but i'm a total sucker for the liver and onion omelette with a pumpernickel bagel. heaven.....
(3)
Jacob G.
Let me say this: they claim they get their corned beef from New York, but it's really strange. Kind of rubbery. Thumbs up for having Dr. Brown's though.
(2)
LA to PDX ..
Sorry guys, I really wanted to love this place but frequenting cities with REAL Deli's (ie: NY and L.A., home of Jerry's and Nate N' Al's) this place is a very sad attempt to replicate those great dining experiences. I even gave Kornblatt's two visits on different days in the hopes that they were having an "off day". First trip, I ordered the egg salad sandwich with potato salad side. My buddy ordered potato pancakes, salmon w/ cream cheese on a bagle, and we each got an egg cream, a vanilla and a chocolate. I mention his food only because we shared everything to get a wider sampling of the goods. The Egg Salad was very bland and the rye (the HEART of any deli) tasted like it came from Safeway in a plastic bag. The potato pancakes were decent actually, but it's hard to ruin those unless you really try. Egg creams were warm... ewwww! You guys behind the counter do realize there's milk in there right? The flavors tasted like cheap syrups, and were generally not pleasant in any way. Potato salad was uneventful. I did enjoy the salmon bagle however, but this is probably more due to the simplicity of the dish than the skill of the kitchen. Second try, I got the tuna salad sandwich, mexican hot chocolate, and macaroni salad. My same buddy got potato pancakes again and cheese blintzes with hot tea. The tea provided was a bag so no point to review it, the blintzes were off in some way, they had a strange grainy texture I've never experienced in a blintz and there was an odd burnt flavor from deep within. Not good at all. Tuna salad was the worst I've had in a restaurant. No flavor except for an unidentified overwhelming taste that should not have been in tuna, it tasted like the fish was left out overnight. It sickened me enough that I couldn't finish it and made me think of the scene from the movie "Road Trip" where Horatio Sanz puts the french toast down his underwear. I actually liked the macaroni salad as it was flush with a good variety of veggies chopped within and tasted fresh and light. The Mexican hot cocoa was decent, but nothing to write home about. Again, for all the locals who love this place, sorry, as I said I really wanted it to be my Deli in Portland, but I fear that I need to keep looking. Any suggestions? The interior is very small, but I don't necessarily count this as a negative, just unexpected. It didn't bother me at all since we were able to sit down right away each time. Maybe that should have been an indicator of quality however, because you should always eat at the places with a line out front. They do have outdoor seating as well, in case you want to watch the homeless kids drinking from the left-behind glasses during your meal. (Sorry Portland, I really don't understand the fascination with pampering the homeless. While it is all of our civic duty to care for those who cannot care for themselves, this is a city that would benefit greatly if only it were to toughen up and stop doing everything but advertising it as the most homeless-friendly city in the known universe. If you want to continue your economic rise, correct this problem, it's the only negative thing I hear from visitors who otherwise love this beautiful city... rain and all.) The staff here is wonderful. A fun group of cute girls who are playful and a bit cranky at times, just as it should be. If you can stomach the food, or perhaps have nothing to compare it to, I'm sure it's a nice place, but having had the real thing for most of my life, I can't settle for a poor replica. So much promise, so little payoff. Maybe changing the name to Korn-Holes would be more appropriate considering what most of the food tasted like.
(1)
CJ B.
I haven't eaten anything but breakfasts at Kornblatt's but the breakfast is pretty good. I usually get a beagle and sometimes I get an egg beagle sandwich. My wife likes it more than I do so we get it more than other places. Chicken sausage is good.
(3)
Noy R.
My wife and I were out shopping and decided to stop in this quirky little place and what an excellent choice we made! I have been looking for outstanding pastrami for years, but never found anyplace that had any that was even decent. THIS PLACE DOES!!!! I was happily pleased with my hot pastrami on sourdough sandwich.......FANTASTIC!!!! Even the potato salad was delicious........I ate it ALL (and never in my life have I eaten all of any restaurant/deli potato salad until now). My wife ordered the meatloaf sandwich and was quite happily surprised with her choice too............needless to say, we WILL be coming back to this little gem in the Alphabet District MANY times over.........we have an entire menu to explore!
(4)
Maura P.
pastrami on rye was okay. pastrami pretty chewy. bf ordered the half pastrami half corned beef and couldn't tell the diff between the two meats. questioned if there were two meats! rugalach was good ...and the pickle comes seperately? you have to specifically ask for it!
(3)
Gveve C.
so good. gave us a free egg creme to try, food was great, great bagels, and the waiter chased away the homeless man trying to pedel money from us. new york style!
(5)
Matthew S.
Very tradtional, good service and the sandwiches are huge...Though the sides could be a bit bigger. I LOVE THE PICKLES!
(4)
Ryan W.
I have eaten here many times. I usually have a pastrami sandwich, and I don't really have any complaints about the sandwich. So, this last Sunday I had a mid-afternoon meal here, and I was (unfortunately) seated in a place that I could easily see then entire kitchen area. It was busy, so I had plenty of time to watch. To be clear, I have cleanliness issues.. so.. I am watching and apparently one of the waiters needed change or something, so the "cook" walks over to the cash register, pulls out a handful of ones and counts back a bunch of change to the waiter. I am watching and I think, ok, now he handled cash with bare hands, I am sure he will wash his hands (or at least use hand sanitizer) at the sink right behind him. Nope, he walks back over to the grill area, and picks up ingredients with his bare hands and continues cooking. Now, maybe this does not bother you, but it is gross to me. Anyway, so now I am paying even more attention.. there are two "cook" type people back there, a man (cash register hands) and a woman. It appears the woman is mostly making cold sandwiches and the man is mostly making hot sandwiches/hot food. So, as I said (and as you know if you have eaten here) is it Sunday afternoon and it is busy, so the woman comes out and helps clean off a large table. I watch and see her (bare handed) clear dirty plates, cups, etc from the table, and I watch her walk directly back behind the counter. She talks to the other cook for a minute, then starts making sandwiches. At no time did she wash her hands, use hand sanitizer or anything. I had a clear view 100% of the time and there is no chance that I missed a hand washing. So, I guess my point is, my sandwich was good, but if you like your food prepared the way I do, I would either go somewhere else or at least watch and see if some basic cleanliness is occurring.
(2)
Miz M.
Breakfast all day!!!! The service is a little slow but the food definatly makes up for it. My go to is the veggie hash but I've tried a few of their daily specials as well and have never been let down.
(4)
Sally S.
Was in PDX for 3 days and ate bfast here all 3 days. Hubby said best bagels + lox he's ever had.
(4)
Leia C.
Only one star for not letting us sit down and order an hour AND a half before closing. At that point they only accept take out orders. No, thanks, not taking a soup to go. We got there at 7:30 PM tonight and closing is at 9:00 PM. Last weekend we went there for soup and they wouldn't let us sit down until everyone from our party was there. Rude and inconsiderate. Then another waitress came she was nice to let us sit down and start ordering. Only going there for the soup and pickles. But it's time to look for that somewhere else, tonight was a huge disappointment.
(1)
Mike P.
I waited 15 minutes for a breakfast sandwich that was made incorrectly and was cold when I received it. The kitchen seemed understaffed and overwhelmed.
(1)
Maryjane R.
You would only believe these were New York City bagels if you've never had a NYC bagel in your life. Make no mistake about it, these are not NYC style bagels. They are yeasty, doughy, chewy chewy chewy rolls with holes in them.
(1)
Rebecca Z.
Dirty, expensive and extremely rude. sorry I did not stay long enough to eat.
(1)
Eric B.
It was already a long morning after the clock "fell back" with the end of Daylight Savings Time. My Son was hungry and ready for Breakfast, and I wanted to try out Tin Shed or Pine State Biscuits (both on Alberta) at 7 AM (or soon after) to beat the crowds. Then the Kid turned on the History Channel and we spent the next 2 hours watching American Pickers. I couldn't say no as these folks are from Iowa, and I was subsequently relieved to know that my collecting habits are minor league compared to some of the junk-filled building that were featured. By the time we rolled over to the restaurants, it was too late as lines of hungry patrons waited patiently on the street for their turn. Homey Don't Play That! So we drove around for awhile and ended up in the Alphabet District. How's that with going from A to B in Portland? After passing by Kornblatt's, my inner Yid sprung to the surface, and I immediately knew that there would be no "God Was in This Place and I, I Did Not Know" moment on this pleasant Sunday morning. Better yet, there was an available table. My guess is that Portlandia is so immersed in finding the most hip breakfast place, that they forget the "just as good" old fashioned places right under their noses. I had a Works Bagel Breakfast Sandwich (with scrambled eggs, cheese, and pastrami), while my Son had the French Toast. Service was fast and friendly, the neighbor discussions were fun to eavesdrop, the atmosphere was hamish, and of course the food was plentiful and delicious. "Shut Up and Eat" indeed!
(4)
Casey R.
We came here for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 8:30. We got a seat by the window which was lovely, and didn't have to wait at that time. They don't have bacon for breakfast sandwiches, which is because it is technically a jewish deli. Though the place has been sold several times, and I'm not sure if the current owners are jewish or just trying to uphold the authenticity. Anyway, the bagel sandwiches are pretty good. I would put them one step below Henry Higgins over in SE, though the bagels are technically from Henry Higgins. I think it has to do with the bagels being more fresh. The potatoes that came with my husband's breakfast were pretty tasty, and the bagels were definitely yummy. We also took a piece of cheesecake (I mean, we had to. Come on.) to go and it was not very good. It was extremely sweet, didn't have any tang to it, and didn't taste much like New York cheesecake. The crust was super thick and really hard. I imagine this place was much better when it was owned by Kornblatt, who was actually from New York, but it's still worth a visit for breakfast. I haven't tried any lunch items. My original review was 3 stars for being lackluster, but my husband thinks it's more of a 4 star place so I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and have another go.
(4)
Joyce L.
A group of us decided to dine at Kornblatt's recently on a Friday afternoon. We walked in and stood in line for a few minutes for a waitress to seat us. The waitress was super busy and it looked like she was working solo. A table near the entrance was available so we took it but probably not the best seat in the house. There's also tables outside as well. Kornblatt's is known for their Ruben sandwiches. Since I've never tried it, I opted for a safe route of a bagel sandwich (mistake). A jar of 6 dillpickles (free) were brought out for the 4 of us. Pickles, pickles, who wants pickles? I couldn't resist and had one before my food came out. Moments later the food came out. My bagel sandwich consisted of tuna, cheese and tomato (similar to a tuna melt). The tuna reminded me of something I could make at home and I must admit there was way too much tuna packed on the bagel. The bagels are made in house. I originally wanted the jalapeño but they were out. My second option was garlic and they were out too so I got a onion one. The rest of my family got a Ruben sandwich which I did try a bite of one and it was quite tasty. I should of ordered a Ruben but there is always next time. Our waitress was super attentive and friendly. The service was great. If you are in the area and want a little taste of NY, come on by for a Ruben sandwich along side of pickles.
(4)
J.C. L.
Legit as heck NY deli. Massive - and tasty - sammies... and they gave us a jar of housemade pickles that we almost completely housed. Great, great sandwich joint.
(4)
Dana M.
YUM. I was here last week for lunch and had an open faced bagel broiled with a bunch of toppings. Now in eating an egg and cheese bagel sandwich and it is life. So much better than Bagel Works down the street. It was $4.50 which seems expensive but it's a pretty big sandwich and worth it.
(5)
Erin H.
Not recommended. Cucumber salad was not a salad, just sliced cucumbers and onions no sauce or pickling or anything! Quite terrible really, they didn't even seem chilled or fresh. New waitress so I feel a little bad but she had no clue, my order was missing my drink so she had to refund us that. I had an onion bagel with garlic spread I believe it was. Oddly j could've used more spread while my table mates (cinnamon bagel with plain cream cheese) had almost a 1/2 cup of spread on theirs, they had to scrape quite q bit off onto the plate. The place was old and dingy and didn't seem very clean, they bathroom was kinda gross. They didn't seem to have much business. Maybe they get more business at night rather than at weekday lunch time? I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Andrew H.
I'm from the east coast and I've been to many a Jewish deli growing up. Chopped liver, sour pickles, salamis hanging from the rafters, fresh made cream cheese schmears in varying flavors, cole slaw, macaroni salad, pastrami, bagels, corned beef, knishes, gribenes, assorted cookies, smoked white fish, belly lox, turkey and the list can go on and on. The white aprons all stained and the guys speaking Yiddish with Eastern block country accents. It's what I grew up with. Katz's deli, the Carnegie, Jack Cooper's. All part of my childhood. These are all places that don't exist on the west coast. Kosher style, yes, Kosher, no. That heritage? No. But that doesn't mean they can't have some tasty food. Kornblatt's has a good name to start with. The food I got was pretty good, the #1 Corned Beef, Turkey, Swiss. ($9.25) with slaw. It was a big sandwich, just like it should be. A little trick, they have Sloppy Joe sandwiches on the menu for over $10, get one of the others and throw your own side slaw on it and you get the same thing. So worth it and you save a little for dessert, if you have the room. I will admit my service on that day was a little slow to arrive, but once I was eating she made regular stops to check on me outside. Nice place, and it brings back memories of youth.
(3)
Ryan M.
By far my favorite food on 23rd. Can't go wrong with anything. My fav is the latke. Can't beat them!
(5)
Jenny B.
I've been coming here since the early 90' s. I love the corned beef. My go to items are the Eggel Bagel and the Reuben. One of the best Reuben's in Portland. Decent coffee and eye openers
(5)
Brooke F.
It was good! Plus they just give you a whole jar of pickles.
(4)
Ruben S.
This place serves up a spate of very solid deli favorites. The sandwiches are all quite good and the portions just about right for those of us with a "healthy" appetite. Of particular note is the pastrami, which is excellent. They also serve breakfast food all day, though the bagel selection tends to thin out past 6pm or so. Service is usually above average, though expect a reasonable wait if it's busy. Devore and atmosphere is very New York as seen on Seinfeld. Comfortable seating and clean appearance are definitely a plus.
(4)
Faye W.
It was Friday night and the place was empty. Normally, that would not be a good sign since most of the restaurants in the area were busy. However, we ordered Chef Salad and a hot corned beef/tongue sandwich on rye. The woman who served us was personable and informative. The potato salad was homemade and delicious as was the Russian dressing. The deli meat melted in my mouth like butter - I found out that the meat source was the East Coast. That explains a lot since deli from the East Coast is the best. They sell bagels made the old fashioned way so we bought a few. Would love to try the lox some day.
(4)
Cassandra C.
I really liked this place! I work over here and came in for a bagel and a coffee. I had an Americano and an everything bagel toasted with cream cheese. It was really good! Kinda slow but I wasn't in a hurry. Cards accepted. They also have to go menus so I assume they deliver or you can do take out.
(4)
Christine S.
I love Kornblatt's. No, I'm not from New York and can't promise you you're going to have the same experience here as you will at a NY deli, but I can tell you you'll get a great meal. I have been here for breakfast and dinner, and I have yet to be disappointed. Now that I've visited several times, my go-to order is a bagel sandwich, usually with hummus and turkey and tomato. The omelettes are also worth trying. On weekend mornings, the waitress who is always there is sweet and knows what she's doing as the only waitress often working. Kornblatt's remains one of favorite places on 23rd. It's more casual than most places in the neighborhood, but not low-quality at all. Go here!
(5)
Brent S.
Warning to Portlandians! Pre-packaged pastrami, no-caraway having "rye" bread, Smart n Final quality vinegar "kraut" & "pickles", shitty "deli" mustard flavorless potato salad & sugary slaw ahoy! This place has no business masquerading as a legit NY style deli! I've been to Katz's, Carnegie, and Langers.. The pastrami at Kornblatts isn't good enough to feed to the hobos in the alley! A culinary embarrassment and facade!
(2)
Sara P.
I love the option of a New York style deli available in Portland. My family is of Eastern European descent, and I am thrilled to find a place where I can indulge in my people's specialities, like Lox or sauerkraut. Even as a pescetarian, I don't have to miss out. Vegetarian Reuben and free pickles? I'm sold.
(5)
Steve G.
Had Corned Beef on Rye and matzo ball soup.The corned beef what little they gave you was like rubber and the soup was way to salty.I'm not going to try anything else there because of my first experience it may be ok but for me no second try.
(2)
Noah U.
Kornblatts offers the special draw of being a consistently fun deli located at a special location at the height of trendy NW 23rd Avenue. With so much to see, do and shop for in the neighborhood, chances are you'll be in close proximity. You can sit down and be taken into New York City, wheather you notice the food, the themes inside or the ackward accents that some of the servers have. I walked in and I was seated quickly. After carefully reviewing their long menu of sandwiches and other deli specialties, I opted for the good old-fashioned rueben sandwich. I had potato knish on the side. Each item I had came to my table rather speedily. I then ate my Rueben, which I thought was good, but about average. The cheese and the pastrami made me fairly happy, but there's a lot better out there. The pastrami could have been a little bit more tender, but it fit in tune with the other parts of the sanwich. I had the knish and it was just okay. The knish could have been more flavorful. I hate to break it to them, but they're not the only reuben in town. The bill for two people was $31. I'd expect better at that price, especially in regard to common things like reuben sandwiches but the $11 a sandwich cost was mostly substantiated by the taste. The server was friendly and provided my ordering and order quickly, but forgot to omit ice from my drink as I asked. Kornblatt's is somewhat good with their food and okay in value. Their service was good. Nothing was distinguishable, even when somewhat impressive. One could do the same experience in many other places. I just wish that the whole experience was just a little more more memorable considering the cost. I still like Elephants and Kenny & Zukes much better, but this can do sometimes. Kornblatt's is not a place that can be summed up as something that can be encouraged, nor as a place that is discouraged.
(3)
Matthew S.
I really enjoy the sandwiches. It reminds me of where I grew up in New England. Check it out.
(5)
Bao P.
Here right now on a Roadtrip, what a great breakfast. The bagels, cheese and deli meats are so fresh and good. My table got a build your own bagel, french toast, eggs and corn beef hash and the bbq brisket sandwich. Zero complaints, excellent place to eat.
(5)
Randi W.
I've found my Portland Reuben. Maybe my food was tastier because I arrived after the lunch rush. The door was open, the staff seemed happy, and my meal arrived quickly. I ordered it to go, and practically ran home to open it up. Yes, the serving of coleslaw was small. And yes, the serving of meat was huge! But oh. my. god. I haven't lived in NY, but I have visited. Of course we visited a few delis. I'd say that Kornblatt's wasn't better than the best I had in NYC, but I sure thought from a Northwesterner's perspective that it could compete! The pastrami was hot and beautifully crusted with seasonings. The meat was piled high. The sauerkraut was a great mix of sour and sweet, and the sauce brought it all together. The top of the rye bread was still nice and toasted when I unwrapped the sandwich from the aluminum foil, but the bottom was already a bit moist from all of the meat juices, which is to be expected. And the coleslaw was almost more of a palette cleanser than anything else, which was fine because I came for the reuben, not the coleslaw. I can only imagine it would be even more perfect if I'd had it in the restaurant. Sure it was a little pricey, but pastrami and corned beef are expensive! It's an involved meat to prepare well, so I've accepted the fact that I'll pay a little more for a good reuben. This Reuben was far superior to the one that I had at Kenny & Zuke's, Portland's name-brand deli, and was on point price-wise. Service was friendly and fast, as I've usually found it is when I order takeout. Decor was homey and cozy. So maybe my order was the exception. But I sure hope not, because I'll definitely be back for more.
(5)
Wizardbunz Z.
Everyone that works here is a dick. The food is terrible and way overpriced. I can't believe this place exists. So many better places to eat in this neighborhood. Worst Reuben sandwich I have ever had in my life. Why does everything take so long and then taste terrible? Does it take extra long to make it taste extra bad? Seems so. Hope they go out of business and they all can't find work anywhere else and end up on the streets eating trash that ironically tastes better than what they serve at this establishment.
(1)
Lance Y.
It's a good thing that there's a Levi's store across the street because this place blew the pants off of this pastrami lover. Imagine a world where cows are born as seasoned pastrami-calves. We have arrived. I was literally singing the praises of this joint out loud, bravado style. Other patrons were looking at me like "shut up, your singing voice is the opposite of this pastrami sandy, not seasoned correctly." Then there's the pickle jar that sits on each table. All you can pickle!?! I think so! I even threw a nice firm dill in my pocket for later before I left. Sure I smelled like vinegar for the rest of the day but when I was a baker's dozen of PBRs deep at the bar that night, I was a king.
(5)
Scott H.
If this is New York, then sign me up. I found it very interesting to read the reviews that are posted about this place. People either love it or absolutely hate it. It sounds like there are some problems with consistency of product and service. I must have gone on a good day. My brother in law and I are on the hunt for the best Rueben. His favorite is this place in Goose Hollow, but Kornblatts is my new favorite. When I see my sandwich , the first question I should be asking myself is "How the heck and I going to put this in my mouth." The sandwich is giant with gorgeous tasty meat stacked so high there is no way you will look attractive eating it. When I order I ask for dressing on the side. I forgot this time and the dressing was the perfect amount and not overwhelming. I also love that they offer the Rachel. Sauerkraut has it's place, but if I can avoid it I do. I love the bucket o pickles at the table while you wait for your food to come. Based on the negative reviews, it doesn't seem like any of them got their pickles. Again, sounds like a consistency problem.
(5)
Hannah G.
My mom has been taking me here since we first moved to Portland in the mid 90's and I LOVE it here. It's very authentic, no nonsense east coast style eating. If you are looking to be babied and pandered to by your waitress/waiter, go somewhere else. They have a huge variety of options and I've never been disappointed with the food. They also do catering. I think this is a great Portland landmark and love how it hasn't changed with how fancy NW 23rd has become. Also, the buckets of pickles on the tables make it a truly awesome experience.
(4)
Megan M.
Great bagels, not so great coffee. Stopped in to see if the bagels were boiled then baked, and was happy to see and taste delicious bagels. However, coffee was pretty shady/truck stop worthy.
(4)
Erika W.
I am in mourning...truly, I am! Kornblatt's was my go-to sandwich place for so long and then - ?? I don't know what happened. It's like the owner died AND there was another Great Depression AND there was some kind of Mad Cow/Chicken with Club Feet/Pork Phlegm scare sweeping the nation... perhaps even a sad, debilitating Produce Becoming PlayDoh Phenomenon taking hold of our country. I just don't know? How long have I been away? Kornblatt's used to stand for fresh, mile-high abundance of real New York Jewish deli style sandwiches...not the shivering, limping, slinking-off-into-the-night-ashamed, sorry excuse for a sandwich that they are currently serving the good people of Portland in their place. For $13 ?!? I ask you, Kornblatt's, really? Are times that tough that you can embarrass your hard working wait staff and the trusting, loyal, long-standing customer base to put up with the rinds and remnants and thin, pathetic, barely edible scraps you now try to pass off as food...all to save a nickel here or a dime there? Shame on you, Kornblatt's. A Portland institution and true New York Jewish deli no longer. Hang your head for the fifty cents you've saved. L'chaim. ....mazel tov.
(1)
Thomas H.
I only really eat club sandwiches and they do a club with pastrami. I've probably eaten in excess of 800 club sandwiches in the past 22 years and this is a naughty little club. Triple layered. Filling how it should be. Urgh
(5)
Tara L.
I really wanted to love this place (since I'm from NY and all). I got the pavorotti sandwich (roast beef provolone veggies and coleslaw). Now when u go to a true NY kosher deli the sandwiches are piled high with meat and cheese def not the case here. My sandwich had more veggies then roast beef and when I pointed out to the waitress ( she said that's the way it's suppose to be). Omg to make things worse they serve u pickles in a jar that are amazing but come to find out when u don't eat them all they just put more in and serve them to another table.....omg that's gross and I would think that's not a good practice according to the health department. So this place gets three starts because the konish was bad ass and the Bloody Mary cured my hangover.
(3)
Tyler Jahmal Z.
The service is always amazing and the specials are always good. How can you beat a great cup of deli coffee and some fresh bagels!
(5)
H M.
This place had a fun vibe. Whoever made the egg cream when I ordered before was on point. I don't think that the sandwiches are great, but they do when you are in the mood. They have Dr. Brown's and lox bagels so you know I'm there.
(4)
Iakovsko ..
I've been dying to try this place for months. Finally made it in for lunch, and had an interesting time. The waitress, an adorable though flustered girl, was prompt and super polite. She forgot a few things, like drinks amd pickles (DELICIOUS) but overall was a sweetheart. She even admitted it was her first morning shift, and admittedly we did come in during a rush. Food wise, we shared a knish (amazing. Even better with the deli mustard), and I can't speak for my comrades, but I ordered the hot pastrami and a cup of matzo ball soup. Pros: amazing flavor on the pastrami, tasty matzo ball. Cons: wasn't hot, and the broth was kinda bland. At one point, after my friend had cut his food, a blonde woman snatched the plate away without so much as an excuse me (his knife was literally still in process of cutting). Just "that's not yours". When I brought it up to the original waitress (I'm sorry I forgot your name, but I'm a fan!)she got a look of "oh. Yeah. That's her". Overall, it was a bit pricey (50 for 3), and that blonde lady rubbed me the wrong way, but we all have off days. I will definitely be back.
(3)
T C.
We went to Kornblatt's for Mother's Day. with a friend. My mother said my grandparents had owned a deli in the 1930s, and it reminded her of home. The environment is authentic, and cozy. We had delicious food. Since we do not often eat red meat for health reasons, we always try to get the top quality and that is what we had! The corned beef sandwich was fantastic. The pastrami was so so good! The brisket sandwich special was the best in my opinion. We had latkes and they were wonderful though I would prefer them without the flour on the outside which make them a little stiffer than I would like. It is not traditional to put flour on the outside that way and for them to be so stiff. The egg cream my friend had was delicious. The chocolate seltzer water was wonderful. My mother said it was like what they used to have 80 years ago! The coffee I had was perfect. The sandwiches were too large for one person so we each took half home. My mother and I enjoyed a second meal that was as good as the first at home the next day. The big container of pickles was fantastic. I ate lots, and enjoyed it. They did not have bread for my wheat intolerant friend, which could easily be remedied by having a loaf or two in the freezer for such people. My mother LOVED going, and we plan to return in the near future to share a sandwich. The prices were about what I expected to pay, and not too bad considering the quality. The service was friendly and efficient.
(4)
Anjelah S.
Busy, busy, busy with no place to sit. We had to order "To Go" since it was so packed. Deli style atmosphere. I ordered a BYOB= Build your own Bagel for $6.50 Lettuce, tomato, turkey and onion. Bagel was a bit tough for my liking, but overall was ok. Nothing special. Moving on.....
(3)
Paul K.
I was hesitant to try this place because the reviews are quite polarized. I'm happy I did take the plunge. Service was friendly and responsive despite a packed house. The whitefish/nova combo was solid, tasting fresh. The bagels were also good. The matzo ball soup tasted authentic, with the right texture that proves elusive at many establishments. And the pickles were delicious. No, it's not Katzes or Russ and Daughters. But I wasn't in the LES so I'm not complaining. Wouldn't hesitate to go back to get my Jewish deli fix when I find myself in Portland.
(4)
Erin D.
I just ate here with my husband and 2 close friends, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. To start our server was an authentic genuine nice person, who was eager to help us and excited about the wonderful food, that's always awesome. Everything was correct, swift and delicious, definitely one of my favorite experiences.
(5)
Kayla D.
Place isn't too shabby. They don't sell pork products (obvi) and there are like 6 tables so expect a wait. The service was alright but the omelette was fantastic. Had the lox & cream cheese one. Highly recommended.
(4)
Asher B.
I totally get the New York thing having lived there - and I see the New York thing as actually not rude, but more to the point, not fluffing things up with niceties. That said, this doesn't work for everyone. I saw 2 people leave over counter rudeness - though the man that is usually at the counter is warm and delightful. I have been in in the past to grab a coffee and little items to go. However, when I went in recently I had 45 minutes to eat my breakfast before I had to leave. As time ticked on - 25 minutes after I arrived I placed my order, and told the waitress I had to get my order to go at that point. Through trying to pay, waiting for my meal, I never received my breakfast- showed up left for my appointment and failed to get my $4 tip back. Still would stop by for a coffee to go.
(1)
PL A.
The only thing, in my opinion, that resembles an actual jewish deli in this place is the sign that says it and the interior. After that, the food was horrible. I have been to enough incredible delis in NYC, LA and Chicago to be able to say that this doesn't remotely compare. Ordered the matzo ball soup...very oily tasting and the matzos themselves tasted old and flavorless. As a matter of fact, once the soup sat for a few minutes, the oil started to separate so that you could see it at the top of the bowl. Pastrami sandwich on rye...I can tell you that I'm surprised that anyone would even serve a sandwich like that. Very little pastrami at all (which probably was a good thing because it didn't look or taste like any pastrami I've ever eaten before. Hard swiss cheese. Even the jewish rye was as bland as I've ever had...almost like old white bread with a few rye seeds. The rye at the supermarket is much better. This place is tasteless and expensive and trying to pass itself off as a jewish deli...and trust me, we were hoping for it to be good. Wouldn't consider going back.
(1)
Shauna M.
An old favorite, which has been around a long time, and always tasty sandwiches! Great selection of sandwiches, drinks and desserts. Great to sit outside in good weather and excellent service!!!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Cat C.
I think people want to be treated as if they are at a super welcoming sit down breakfast place, but this is not what this is. However, this place treats you exactly the way I would expect to be treated at a New York style bagel deli...which is what they are. Great food, fast service, decent prices and a chocolate eclair the size of my forearm. Don't come here if you're looking for a place for a large group, or if you want to hang around for an hour. Excellent matza ball soup, great bagels, the eggs are awesome. Bagel and lox is perfect. I will keep going here as often as possible.
(5)Matt B.
Kornblatt's is a Portland institution. If you like reuben sandwiches, this place is a can't-miss. I personally recommend the combination reuben (pastrami and corned beef), but you really can't go wrong!
(4)Joy E.
Pains me to write this, but our experience for an early dinner was truly awful. What happened to the Kornblatt's of years ago? Came in at 5:00 pm on Sunday; few tables were occupied. We ordered a bagel sandwich "combo" with one half whitefish salad and one half lox. The whitefish was good but the tiny amount of it was laughable! What?? The lox was of good quality. The bagel itself was WAY over toasted; we should have sent it back but it took so long to receive our order and we had time constraints. One of us ordered a bagel with sundried tomato spread; we both agreed that it tasted sour and we chose not to eat it. Really, I wish Kornblatt's well but their doors may be shuttered if everyone's experience is like ours was. A final insult: the floor was beyond dirty. Really not very appetizing.
(1)Jenn T.
I was told there was some amazing pastrami here so I had to check it out. It's located in the cool alphabet district, which has a lot of yummy looking restaurants and places to hang out. This is a deli for to-go orders and some tables for restaurant service. Not sure about the to-go service, but the restaurant service here is VERY VERY SLOW. There is only one person working the entire place, but still our waitress was on the side talking story. Another kinda awkwardly weird thing is that the waitress let some kids help serve our food, which was nice of her to let them help out, but quite unsanitary. I got the hot pastrami sandwich, which came on rye bread and stuffed with pastrami. It came with a good potato salad as well. The pastrami was yummy, but not the best I've ever had. I thought it needed a lot of mustard or horseradish sauce. Overall not the greatest experience here, but was a decent meal. Don't come here if you're in a rush.
(3)Monica N.
Cute New York style deli. We shared the combo that had the pastrami and a corn beef sandwich on Challah bread as well as the the hearty chicken soup. The toasted challah made the pastrami and corn beef sandwiches taste great. Its a small place but it has a lot of character.
(4)Myra F.
Yuck! Dry bagel and thick icky plain cream cheese. How can you screw up a bagel that much?
(1)Jerry M.
I ordered a corned beef, turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich from the list of "Empire State Sandwiches" at Kornblatt's. It was good, but not great, and was a bit expensive for what it was at $9.75. It was a triple decker which came on three slices of rye bread. (I never understood the necessity of making a sandwich with three slices of bread. . .you really only need two slices.) First of all, it throws off the "ratio" of bread to ingredients, then it doesn't really add anything to the sandwich to make it taste any better, and it also misleads people since it makes it LOOK big, but a lot of it is actually just bread. In fact, I just pulled the middle slice of bread outta there and tossed it (don't need those extra carbs anyway). To be fair, the meat was very tasty, but my opinion is that there are other places where I could get a similar sandwich just as good which costs less (and that third slice of bread in the middle wouldn't be wasted).
(3)Joel V.
Been here for breakfast 3 times now. Super consistent. Good service. Good omelets. Great bagels. They also give you a giant jar of pickles as you shove your face with food. Unlimited pickles = I am always coming back.
(4)Lauren B.
One star only because the server we had this last time we have gone here was super sweet. However, the older blonde lady that works there is the rudest server I have ever come across. Shocked that she still has a job.
(1)Rosalynda S.
At one pm on a Sunday, with every table full, kids and everything, I got my (foodgasmic as always) pastrami on wheat, got my check, and got outta there in TWENTY MINUTES. A definite NW 23rd standout.
(5)Erin T.
Went here a week ago for a late lunch with my BF. We had previously come to Kornblatt's over the summer and had an OK visit, but this time I was extremely disappointed. First level of disappointment: Walked in and stood there waiting to be seated for about 5 minutes before even being acknowledged by the waitstaff. I ordered an everything bagel, toasted, w/plain cream cheese. Not only did it take 15 minutes to get the bagel (I mean come on, how long does it take to make?), it came out cold and seemingly un-toasted (because it was mushy and soft). I took a couple bites, realized I didn't want to eat it like that, and asked my waitress for replacement. She was very nice about it, apologized and went to get a replacement from the counter. I watched her go over to the counter, speak with the cook, and I saw the cook ROLL HER EYES when the waitress returned the bagel. REALLY? I CAN SEE YOU!!! I got the replacement bagel after waiting another 10 minutes, and honestly, it really wasn't much better. It was lukewarm and there was a hair on the plate. Come on! The BF's sandwich was meh--soggy and over-salted, plus the potato salad was just horribly bland. I wanted to like Kornblatt's, esp. because it seems to be something special to a lot of people in Portland, but I will not be returning.
(1)Jenni L.
I stopped in here for lunch one afternoon with my sister and her husband after lusting after this place for months. My sister and I decided to split a hot pastrami sandwich with kraut and a side of pasta salad, and her husband ordered a pastrami sandwich and a side of chicken noodle soup. Kornblatts does pastrami right. The meat was hot and flavorful and stacked with an ample amount of kraut on fresh crunchy bread, which I slathered in grain mustard and horseradish. The pasta salad was delicious also. This is definitely one of those meals that just 'hits the spot' completely. The bro-in-law also enjoyed his sandwich and said that the chicken noodle soup was some of the best he's had at a restaurant. I really need to visit again soon, Kornblatts is completely fantastic.
(4)Fred O.
This has to be, by far, the worst breakfast experience I have had anywhere! The service was terrible. But, in all fairness, perhaps because the cook was the only one there to take orders AND cook said orders. It didn't help that the cook was still sleeping. I'm being generous and speaking euphemistically so as not to offend. Then, finally, another employee came and he was either new or also asleep. It took forever for the food to come such that when I had reached my limit of waiting, I asked if the order was started since I would have left had it not been. Unfortunately, it had been and I emphasize "unfortunately" because it was so greasy as to make me feel like I just got an oil change! I live in Berkeley, CA and visit my daughter who lives here in Portlandia but next year, I will definitely NOT repeat.
(1)Craig S.
1st time and I ordered for delivery through a 3rd party service. I really expected more considering how they bill themselves online. I am from NY but have not lived there in decades, but go back on occasion. At no time should this deli have NY in the title. I got Pastrami on Rye, 2 Knish's (they were out). Noodle Koogle and Chopped Liver. None of it was NY Style. Pastrami was cold, dry and about 1/2 the size expected for $14. The amount of cole slaw was a small bathroom dixie cup worth. Bland. Sandwich came w/o any condiments, no mustard, no pickle nothing. Chopped Liver was awful. I think it's spoiled or they put something in it that causes it to stink to high hell. One sniff and it's not safe to eat. Tossed it out, afraid even the raccoons would get sick. Koogle is not like any of the many dozen I have tried. Does anyone here know a Jew or ever been to NY? The canned Jam they put in there was the best part, fruit and sugar. $45 delivered.. better off with a happy meal. Totally wasted the money. Will not order again or recommend. Please I urge you to look elsewhere.
(1)Denni P.
Very good and cheap food in a GREAT hood. They service all day breakfast and the bagels are better than the other guy down the street. Service was friendly, ordered my sandwich on a pumpernickel bagel. Very good bagel.
(3)Charles H.
I just started going there one month ago I believe they have some great food everything great on the menu . The staff is very pleasant. They have great breakfast so if you haven't tried Kornblatts come on down.
(5)Rhs D.
This is a tough one for me. I hate to give a restaurant 1 star based on one thing. However, I just cannot get over how bad my sandwich was. Let me start by saying that I love Pastrami and was so excited to try a NEW YORK style Pastrami/Swiss. What a huge disappointment. Can I also mention that it was over $11 for two slices of warm somewhat soggy bread and some Pastrami. Nothing else. They slapped some awful bread on some Pastrami and threw it on a plate. The Pastrami was just average. The restaurant appearance, location and service were all fine. However, too much to overcome when the food is just this bad. I would take SUBWAY any day over this place and that's saying a lot. Buyer beware. Lot's of better options out there for a good sandwich. I will certainly not be back.
(1)Jeff C.
I had their famous reuben sandwich. It was fresh and pretty good. They also serve jars of half sour pickles on the table. Not the best reuben in Portland but very good.
(3)Valerie S.
I'm kind of surprised that Kornblatt's only has three and a half stars, because by my standards, it's definitely worth the visit. 1. The ambiance, proper New York style diner/deli, is so well done. From the tables and chairs to the open kitchen, small space, and decorations, it's all so New Yawk that you'll feel transported. 2. The meals are all homey, harkening to family meals, but creative in the Portland style. 3. Bagels. Have the bagels. Dense, flavorful, made perfectly for butter, jam, or lox, but tasty enough to have with no toppings. I personally had breakfast, with crispy hashbrowns and a spinach ommlette. It was good, and came quickly. I'd definitely do it again!
(4)Cola V.
We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon...maybe this was our first mistake (guessing it's not AS busy during the week), ordered a sandwich + hoagie to go & waited...30 minutes for our order. While waiting we watched the madness. Management could use a crash course in Starbucks deployment to make things seamless & increase productivity...yes I just said that. The sandwich gal was SO slow, easily distracted & was also the one in charge of breaking large dollar- dollar bills yo - which is whack because it took slow to a WHOLE other level. The register gal, bless her lil heart was trying to help out as much as possible but this resulted in 2 customers walking out because she didn't realize they were at the counter and had her back turned to them while she was trying to help sandwich girl who was clearly flustered. The vibe overall made me want to jump in and help, you could cut the tension with a slice of toast. Sandwich was tasty, but my boyfriend's hoagie was cold because the cook had finished it way before the other gal put it all together. We won't be back, I know it's a PDX staple...sorry not sorry.
(2)J S.
Terrible, terrible, terrible. We waited in line for a table for 20 minutes prior to ordering takeout b/c they were full. There were three parties of 3-4 in front of us, and they kept seating the LAST two to arrive in line. Granted, I understand that it happens when just a small table opens up, but to occur four times in a row tested everyone's patience. So we went to order at the counter, and the girl took a very long time to get the order (10 mins) for part of our group who ordered four pastrami sandwiches, and lo an behold, almost ONE HOUR later, they got three pastrami and a Reuben. Now, that part of the family used to run a restaurant themselves; so they KNOW ineptitude and idiocy when they see it. They watched in amazement at the disorganization there. We could have put the sandwiches together better ourselves. As for my sandwich, I was sorely disappointed when there was very little meat and it was on rye (I know, that's the classic way, but I made it clear to the person that took the order that I needed to substitute bread, and she wrote up the order correctly). It seems as though, after several attempts to remind them about our orders, they slapped a few slices of pastrami between two slices of bread and threw them at us, or they gave us whatever sandwiches were made up at that point for someone else. Horrible experience for us. We've had wonderful service and better quality and taste of food/sandwiches at other places.
(1)Dan H.
I am going to go out on a limb and say these are the best NY style bagels in Portland. Sadly Kornblatts doesn't make their own. They claim to be a bakery, but I guess they bake some of their other goods in house. Not the bagels. I couldn't get out of the guy behind the counter who actually makes these bagels, but he kept telling me they were Kettleman's style which is a good style to be in my book.
(4)Calily B.
Good, simple and affordable breakfast. I had the bagel with lox spread and boy were they generous with the spread! There was a good amount of salmon in each and every bite! My boyfriend got the sauteed mushrooms/onions omelette. The dish wasn't overcooked and was satisfying. It's a small place so you'll have to wait if it's a busy morning, but you can always get it to-go as well!
(4)Cori W.
Kornblatt's is your standard breakfast n deli fare establishment with NYC influences. Living in NW I have come by for breakfast about 4-5 times, sometimes they are super busy with a line, other times you can walk right in. Their vegetarian menu is a bit limited but you can enjoy a couple meat-free omelettes, a veggie hash and there's a veggie rueben that is simply grilled veggies. My go-to item is the early riser, simply 2 eggs, home fries and a bagel. The dish is very filling as they give you a large portion of home fries. Their bagels are good but not quite NYC good. I'm a fan of the pumpernickel with chive cream cheese. Their omelettes are quite large and very filling. The pickles that come with their lunch items are really good, I imagine possibly from Boarshead. The only gripe is that their food tends to be rather greasy as their diner appearance would imply. Service has been friendly, coffee so-so, but overall the dishes here are satisfying and well priced.
(3)Valerie W.
Neither super great nor horrible. Left a bit unsatisfied especially for the price. I think the only way I would stop back in would be to grab a quick bagel or something. The server we had was super friendly, but a touch slow. It took about 5 min. for us to be recognized and seated. The place was nearly empty on a Saturday night. Not the best sign. The menu is vast and there are plenty of options....I just think we may have ordered the wrong ones. ORDER: Turkey Reuben with side salad ($1 extra) Pastrami/Chicken liver pate Latke The Reuben was so-so. I understand people enjoy the fact Kornblats piles the meat on super high...but it makes for a huge mess and me trying to pick apart my sandwich just in order to eat it. The russian sauce they have on their sandwiches has an off twang to it. My side green salad was overly boring and certainly not worth the extra money. The ranch I ordered for it was definitely Kraft. The sandwich with the chicken liver pate had WAY too much of it and overpowered the tall-standing sandwich. Nothing to write home about. Food was plain and simple. The Latke was overly chewy and a bit under-seasoned. Free pickles before meal is nice but they were just your average dill pickles. All in all for around $33 it was a bit of an expensive meal for what we got. Plus, about half way through our meal our server was training someone and it was hard to get her attention. Drinks were never refilled. Had to go up to ask for check.
(2)Heather F.
I am very disappointed to update this review. I was previously excited about a decent bagel location in my neighborhood, but my recent experience requires a complete 180 of a review. I went in for an omelette, and I was shocked to find THREE separate hairs in my dish. I discretely notified the waitress, and was compensated only with a few apologies. I did not receive a new dish or a refund. I didn't attempt to make a scene or request my money back, but decided that this warrants a loss of my business (and this negative yelp review).
(1)Bob M.
Yes a5 old style new York style Jewish deli the pastrami here is one of the best I get the half and half both pastrami and corned beef. They make their own pickles, if your a pickle fan yuoll be in pickle heaven. The older waitress comes off all east coast attitude, But it'd you watch she has the act down and you see she's just messing with you. ...I think.
(5)M S.
Having experienced many delis in my time, especially in NYC, I have to say that utter disappointment would be the highest rating i would give this place. I don't even know where to start. Was it the fact that we waited for 15 minutes to be seated in a fairly empty restaurant or the fact that it takes the utmost skill to continually burn things as simple as a cup of coffee? Or could it be, that despite the fact that we were 2 of maybe 20 people in a fully staffed deli that it took almost an hour to even get our order in to the line cook wearing Seattle swag. (Who does that in Portland? - Really..Seattle?) I digress from shear embarrassment to complete incompetence. Once we decided that waiting an hour for what we hoped would be an incredible sampling of eggs Benedict, we decided to cancel our breakfast as the waitress ( our silent distributor of over roasted, burnt coffee flavored juice) informed us that our complicated order of 2 menu items had been lost and the "Seattle Culinary Genius" had to "whip something up real quick". Ridiculous. So we left..hungry..yet again. Dine at your own risk. Beware of the loyalty. Bring your own chicken and incubator so you will have your eggs prepared on time.
(1)Lime A.
This place was awesome! The food was delicious, the service was amazing, and I would come back here in a second!
(5)Nina H.
We came in during a lunch rush but was still served fairly promptly. The servers were efficient and friendly. It took about fifteen minutes for the food to come out, and I didn't mind the wait especially when I received a huge double decker pastrami/corned beef/salami Empire sandwich. It was delicious, had good quantities of meat and veggies. I finished mine and was still hungry so we ordered the jumbo eclair. So good. I definitely plan on going back and trying something different. I was very pleased with my first visit. I'm already craving a Reuben sandwich!
(5)T L.
A 20 minute wait for 2 bagels to go, which turned out to be stale. If I was a NY style deli, my number one priority would be a great bagel or at least a pretty good one; stale is unacceptable and the wait time was ridic. Clearly they are in need of a major management makeover Gordan Ramsay style.
(2)Allyson L.
You CAN go home again. I grew up with these foods in New York and have tried to find them again in a lot of other cities. A bit pricey but worth every penny. Food is delicious. Staff is friendly and efficient. And the pickle bucket is heaven! Allyson L.
(5)Zofia T.
Delicious! My favorite lunch place. Everything from delicious deli sandwiches to fresh bagels and matza ball soup. It's a great casual place to grab a tuna melt or a Reuben. Very good service too!
(5)Jeff K.
As a previous long time diner here, I went in today to order their famous Brooklyn Bomber sandwich off the specials menu after not having eaten here in a long time. Not only had the sandwich gone up nearly 4 bucks, but it has decreased by HALF in size. Maybe due to a new chef? Was still tasty.....but NOWHERE tasty enough to be a $13 sandwich...sorry...don't get crowned up because you're a genuine New York deli, there's a lot of places to dine in Portland for that kind of money on a sandwich that would warrant that dollar value. Get it together, get your game back...you're better than that.
(2)Allie W.
The eye-opener special, at $5.95 for eggs, potatoes O'brien, and a bagel, is the best breakfast deal in NW. Service is always great and every time I've been there in the morning, it is never too busy.
(5)Aaron E.
Amazing food and service! The sandwiches taste delicious and are very authentic. The coleslaw is everything you could want in coleslaw! I was helped and welcomed into the restaurant quickly and kindly. The waitress was funny and brought a very homey vibe. They have a great take on sloppy joes and they aren't shy with the meat. I had an eclair for desert and it nearly brought me to tears, so good! I am definitely going to come back here in the future!
(5)Marc T.
I've tried their hot pastrami and hot corned beef. The pastrami is incomparably more flavorful. No question. As for a side, don't bother with the macaroni salad. I've tried it twice and wondered why I ever bothered trying it again. It doesn't really taste like anything other than cooked macaroni noodles. I've also tried their classic NY-style cheesecake a couple of times, and it was also very lackluster in flavor. So just stick with a hot pastrami, and if you're lucky, they'll give you extra pickles.
(3)Anni H.
Waited at the front for over ten minutes as the hostess was nowhere in sight. When she did arrive she told us to sit anywhere and threw menus at us, yes threw them at us as if we had disturbed her nap. She had a very bad attitude and in retrospect that should have been my warning to get up and leave. This was starting to feel like a different Kornblatt's than I remembered. The lone overworked waitress was super nice in spite of not getting any help from the lazy unwelcoming hostess. My friend and I both ordered Rueben's with potato salad but the corned beef was chewy and it was not as I remembered the great Reuben from Kornblatt's. The potato salad was bland and not much of it. The waitress confirmed what I feared, that Kornblatt's had been sold and there were new owners in fact it had sold twice in the past few years and was now in the hands of a new Asian owner. What a disappointment. Kenny and Zuke's will have to be my "go to" spot when I am craving Jewish Deli because Kornblatt's is no more. Rest in Peace Kornblatt's. Amen.
(1)E J C.
Sad to say this place was just not as good as the other times I was there. Oh well.
(3)Miles S.
The most classic Jewish deli in Portland and the best classic breakfast in the city. Not a hipster joint though, which makes it even more hip. Quality meats and smoked fish. Great coffee. The Ruben is the best I've found in Portland.
(4)Hilla H.
The food was good. There was an older gentleman that was sitting a table down from us and the waitress was SO RUDE. I was told by a lady sitting next to me that this blond server is always this way. The couple sitting next to my boyfriend and I were appalled. Fix your service or lose customers.
(1)Spud W.
This might have been ok if this were my first time ever tasting food. But since I have so much food-tasting experience, I can confidently say this was awful. My hot turkey pastrami sandwich was not hot. It was plain white bread with plain turkey and nothing else. Just bread and turkey. My wife's Swiss omelet and bagel came without Swiss and with a cold bagel. She asked for Swiss and a warm toasted bagel, and the waiter put a piece of Swiss on top of her omelet and gave her another cold, barely-toasted bagel. In a city with so many great food options, there is no conceivable reason to go Kornblatt's.
(1)Beno P.
My stars are based on one thing here, the only thing I've ever had here: the Rueben. Fantastic and authentic. The corned beef is excellent, and they use Russian dressing instead of thousand island (which is fine, but not the way the sandwich was originally 'designed'). Highly recommend the Reuben. Beyond that, their other foods looked yummy, and it's got an authentic New York deli feel all in all.
(5)Jarred H.
Food was delicious and was served quickly. The two waitresses were fast and friendly and checked up on me multiple times. I will be back again to try other menu items. I had the omelette with potatoes and Bagle with lox. Amazing
(5)Ana B.
Really, who has 11.95$ to spend on bagels and lox? Not me, but I did it just the same. I'd heard it was the best, not only in the city but in the entire west coast. I mean the salmon is flown in from NY weekly and cut to order..How could I pass that up? Even if paying 12$ for a bagel is slightly nauseating. Was is the best bagels and lox ever ... yes..Yes! The salmon was out of this world. That being said I doubt I'll ever go back and pay that much for a bagel again. It's one of those novelty things that I just had to try.
(4)Joshua W.
I finally found the deli I have been looking for in Portland. So many traditional dishes, such as latkes, kugel, and matzo brie! They even have pickles on the table! The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Arun R.
Simple unassuming place. Warm friendly service. I had the veggie hash with scrambled eggs and some coffee.Both were good. They had a good selection of bagels. Will come back for them next time. They serve breakfast all day.
(4)Ben B.
Let's start by saying the entire staff could use a course in hygiene. I saw all types of staff handling food without washing hands!!!!!
(1)John E.
I have been to Kornblatt's several times now and have deliberately not Yelped the place. I wanted to run a gamut of items before I wrote up what is one of the few true deli's in Portland. We have great sandwich places and a few good deli's but this would be the ultimate Portland deli experience in my book. This last visit I had visitors from the culinary wasteland of Idaho. These poor people live in a land a chain restaurants and truck stops. Not that truck stops are bad, but there is little variety. So I took my fellow Jewish Spudland refugees to Kornblatt's for a taste of the promised land. When we walked in I saw my brother's eyes glaze over for just a moment, his nose sending signals to his brain that this was the real deal and there was corned beef and pastrami to be had. After perusing the menu for a while we all decided to was sandwich time. The Brother and The Niece ordered Reuben's while I just went with the regular pastrami. Our server was so nice, and quick on the drink refills too which always an added bonus. As we waited we kept talking about different things on the big menu over the deli counter. Suddenly, stacks of pastrami and corned beef made their way to the table, majestically perched on a throne of rye bread. The vat of pickles on our table practically jumped on their own onto our plates to be next to our sandwiches. The aroma was amazing. The taste was as good as I remember from any deli ever in my life. It was all topped off with a rugula dessert, decedent and warmed slightly it was heaven. My Idaho family had to be forcefully removed from the premises, they wanted to move in and have the owner adopt them. It was an ugly scene.....
(5)James O.
Originally gave this 4 or 5 stars but recently it has been only unpleasant experiences. I've had to wait far too long when there were hardly customers in there. The cherry on top was a few weeks ago when my girlfriend's omelet had 3 hairs in it...yeah...not one, not two, but 3. She even tried to tough it out and ignore the first one, but a few mins later a couple more appeared. And no they weren't her hairs. She has long red hair and these were medium length black hairs. When I kindly told the waitress (away from other customers) she said she was "going to yell at the cooks." Didn't do much for us, though, because we ended up having to pay full price and feeling ripped off and grossed out. I used to come here a lot, but now I avoid it at all costs.
(1)Alyssa C.
Sorry, Kornblatts. Kenny and Zuke's have you beat. Ordered a turkey pastrami reuben - it was soggy and lacked in flavor. The pickles are a 4, whereas at Kenny and Zuke's, they're a 10. Side of very dry potato salad. I don't get it. Will I go back? No thanks. ESPECIALLY for the price - $12 for this sandwich? PASS.
(1)John N.
As a former New Yorker, this one of the most authentic New York deli's I have found here in Portland! Ingredients are shipped in from New York, adding to the authenticity. When I first moved to Portland, I tried this restaurant out first and it was great! Very friendly waitstaff and nice down-to-earth feel (felt like back home in NY). Thank you for helping me ease my new life here in the Northwest!
(5)Micah H.
the egg + cheese bagel was awesome (delicious bagel, and fluffy, cheesy eggs), as were the house potatoes. lots of awesome breakfast choices. went for a friends birthday and got *way* tasty mimosas and bloody mary's. the coffee wasn't that good, but the staff was very amiable and polite, and the food was out pretty quickly.
(4)Geordie R.
The veggie reuben is one of my all time favorite foods in the entire world. I cannot visit Portland without a trip to Kornblatts. There may be other items on the menu, I might have even tried some of the hashes, but the reuben is my go-to meal.
(5)Carry A.
$12 for a VERY basic and flavorless Reuben. I had the traditional, each bit was like wringing out a greasy sponge. The potato salad was okay tho. :/ it was my first time. I may try again but some other items. The desserts looked great, and the stagf was very friendly and quick.
(2)Phil M.
I'm not familiar with the classic New York delicatessen, but I can imagine that Kornblatt's is exactly like a place you'd find all over the Big Apple. From the sassy waitress to the sandwiches piled high with meat, this place is the real deal. My favorite thing to get is one of their Sloppy Joe sandwiches. You may hear "sloppy joe" and think "loosemeat on a bun". That's not the case here at all. The Sloppy Joe at Kornblatt's is tons of meat and cole slaw. I highly suggest the one with chopped liver, corned beef, and swiss. If their lunch/dinner menu wasn't awesome enough, try stopping in for some fresh bagels and lox spread in the morning. I don't think there's anything this place doesn't do well. Oh, when you eat in, you get a large container of pickles. Bonus! I don't think I can recommend this place more, if you like good sandwiches.
(5)Cindy T.
This deli has awesome sammies! But what's better is the staff - they are all so nice and and welcome new visitors with open arms. My bf and I tried the hot pastrami and bbq brisket. Ahhh man, the sandwiches just melt in your mouth. Everything is so hot, fresh and made to order. Plus, there's all-you-can eat whole pickles!
(4)Michelle S.
Nothing like hearing a loud DING noise from a microwave beeper to let you know your food order is ready! Been by here many times during afternoon walks on 23rd. It is always crowed for lunch, but dinner is another story. Went in at 7pm on a Wednesday and it was empty (literally one table of two other people). I ordered a cup of the matzo ball soup. I guess they don't keep the dinner soup in the large hot container as they do for lunch, so it was re-heated. Tasted fine, but knowing where it just came from was a tad off putting.
(3)Michael M.
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(1)Rick S.
Bottom Line - I was not impressed. I would give this place another try, but it wouldn't be my #1 choice. Next time I may just order a corned beef or pastrami sandwich that the other reviewers rave about. My friend and I came for lunch on Sunday, 24 April 2010. We shared matzo ball soup and latkes, and each had our own main dish: Matzo Ball Soup - We ordered this soup because it was a bit chilly out and we were both in the mood for a light broth. The soup itself wasn't salted enough (I'm pretty sensitive to sodium and you'll never see me reaching for the salt shaker, but this time I had to). The broth was only luke-warm when we got it. The matzo balls weren't as big as I'm used to, and the center of the matzo balls were cold. They should have heated this dish up more. I would not order this dish again. Latkes - The latkes were thicker than I've had them anywhere else. They actually provided a steak knife to cut them, and it was needed. I enjoyed the crisp edges, but the centers seemed too batter-y. I probably would not order this dish again. Knockwurst Plato (two knocks, beans and kraut) - My friend ordered this and she said it was enjoyable. I tried a bite of the knock with some kraut and mustard, and it was good. Not sure if I'd order it, though. Chicken Ala King (chicken salad, mushrooms, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese served on a toasted open-face bagel sandwich) - This was tasty and I liked the flavor. Bagels are pretty dense, so I was full after having just half of the sandwich... in addition to the matzo ball soup and latkes (= The service was pretty awesome. The wait staff were all very friendly and attentive!
(2)Amber F.
Love the Empire State Sandwiches! Simply amazing! I get the roast beef, corned beef, and salami! If I lived in Portland I'd be a regular here.. Pickles on the tables are a cool touch!
(5)Kendall M.
Service is generally nice and they mean well I'm sure, but... They have yet to get my order right once. I understand as I work in customer service as well that mistakes happen, but seriously.. No bueno. Count me out from now on.
(1)Al T.
During the 80s and 90s, this was one of the top Jewish delis in town, or even The top. Not sure if there are any others in Portland quite like this one. It's definitely a staple of the city (or, at least, a staple of 23rd.) It's more authentic-feeling, or has a better menu than any other Jewish deli I've been to, other than Nate n Al's in Beverly Hills. The sandwiches are fantastic - pricey, and for that reason I don't go there much, but delicious!
(4)Ana R.
New York City Deli in Portland. If you have had the real deal and craving it in the West Coast, this is the place to go. The service is great, the servers are sassy, but in a good way. I love this place.
(4)Sherry S.
In a previous life, I was a jew from back east. That saying, I miss my ethnic food terribly, so when I come across anything that even resembles this I am there. Had not been on NW 23rd in ages. There are so many places to eat but I immediately stopped here and tried to catch up on the food I have not had in so long. We ended up ordering the lox and bagels (very generous portions of lox!), blintzes, vegetarian reuben (yes I know, that item is oxymoronic), and finally the latkes. The blintzes came with 2 types of jam and sour cream. They also brought us a bunch of kosher pickles. And so we noshed. In a nutshell, all the food was decent but replicating the food between my grandmother's cooking and the jewish delis back east? No contest for Kornblatts. They do try though. I would suggest that portions should go with pricing. That should be a given. I guess there's a new owner that was inviting us to dine and he did seem to have an accent - east coast? Maybe there's hope. There are so very few jewish delis/restaurants in Portland and I'm sure a big reason for this is that we have such a small jewish population here. So what? We have all kinds of ethnic food restaurant choices with small populations roaming all over Portland. This restaurant should truly work on the fact that they are one of the few and I know just what ingredient they are missing! Chutzpah! Then, they truly would be the chosen ones.
(3)Mark A.
I'm a huge deli fan, and while this is not Katz' or Carnegie, Portland sure heck isn't New York, either! Yes, it's trendy, but it's still Portland. home of the moss lawn :-) Pastrami and corned beef flown in from NY, and the lox was truly heavenly! Who knew?
(5)Jessica G.
Great hot pastrami, but they forgot a pickle which is quite important to the whole "NY Deli" theme in my world. Also had a matzo ball soup which was disappointing, tasted like French Onion and the matzo ball was way too dense for my taste and tasted too whole grain. The counter girl was very friendly and the food was quick, but overall just middle of the road.
(3)Matt R.
Ordered to-go from the LivingSocial app. Food was prepared early and was still hot even though it took me FOREVER to find parking over in the area. I went with the Pastrami Reuben and a side of macaroni salad for 11.95. Pretty steep for a sandwich and small side. However, for the most part I enjoyed the meal. The pastrami was piled HIGH on the bread. I felt that due to so much meat, the kraut was an afterthought (and I love kraut). Not sure if this is a NY way of making these, but I would have preferred less meat to make room for an even tasting experience. I felt that too many times I was just getting mouthfuls of meat and bread (which was still good) and each bite was uneven on some ways. The bites that I did eat that had perfectly combined amounts of meat, kraut, and mustard were really delicious. The macaroni salad was different then I was expecting. It is definitely not the typical flavor that one associates with macaroni salad. I welcome new flavors/styles, but unfortunately I found it to be nothing spectacular. It was just OK. The amount was also small. Not sure if I would have received more if I dined in. Overall, I think I would like to try again, possibly something with a bagel as that appears to get some solid review. However, with the food options in the area, we will see.
(3)Misty S.
Kornblatts is a small New York style deli. There is indoor seating as well as outdoor (weather permitting). If you go around 11:30am you can grab a table pretty easily but you may have to wait a few minutes if you get there around noonish to 1ish... because that's lunch time... and Kornblatts is yummy... so it gets busy at lunch time... Anyways, if there are tables available you can usually just make eye contact with the waitress and seat yourself, even though the sign says "wait to be seated" she usually will just tell you to grab a table. The line that starts to form infront of the cases are for take out orders. The service is pretty good, with the exception of one of the young girls there. She's a little rude or just in her own world. I don't have anything poor to say about the rest of those hard workers there. They really hustle and are always moving. I've been here a few times for late breakfasts or lunch and I think it's a great place. I've had the Locks and Bagel w/cream cheese & capers, as well as the Reuben. One of these days I am going to have to try one of their specials. Next time.
(4)Heather S.
I love you, Kornblatts! In dire need of comfort in a bowl (chicken soup), Kornblatt's was the only place I could find that offered it (and was open for dinner). They have the best matzoh ball soup! And, delicious sandwiches, and good coleslaw (not too sweet, not too meh), and, after all of that, they have the best egg creams. Just in case you don't know what those are, they're chocolate syrup, soda water, a little milk, and boy, are they heaven! Every time I go in there, I want to go on Carb overload with their homemade bagels, noodle Kuegel (sweet or savory "pudding" which is really like a casserole), rice pudding, bread pudding, and huge pieces of cake. They also have NY cheesecake. They just got written up in the NY Times, and I hear they're changing their egg creams to have more of a malted milk taste. I hope they don't change it too much. Everything I've had at Kornblatt's is delicious. Not to sound like a Jewish mother, but "Go! Eat! And, enjoy a good meal at Kornblatt's!).
(5)Kate G.
I visited Kornblatt's recently with all of my parents in tow for a late breakfast/early lunch on a Sunday. They were packed, and luckily two of our group of four arrived early and waited for a table (I think about an hour). The table service was slow but very friendly. As soon as I saw the bagel dog ($4.75) on the menu, I knew I had to try it. I used to love bagel dogs when I was little! It did not disappoint. It was huge and I took most home as leftovers, but ate as much as I could with their tangy yellow mustard. The bagel itself had the perfect soft chew. I also had a cup of barley mushroom soup ($3.25) that was amazingly thick, hearty and soothing on a cool, damp, gray Portland day. I sampled a bite of the latkes as well as a sip of a bloody mary and those were tasty. Some of us took home some sliced pastrami and a fresh challah loaf for later. This is a bustling, small deli with really comforting, delicious food in large portions and it gets really busy on weekend mornings and afternoons.
(4)Andrew H.
Terroir, it's a French word. It comes from the olden days when commodity X was always better in community Y. It became a way of saying things like "your wine will never be as good as mine because they aren't grown on my plot of land which happens to be the best in the world". People still hold on to this concept to this day (and governments even make LAWS based around this irrelevant idea) Today, the world is flat again, and terroir has little practical relevance other than as a way for people to be snobby (or market their product), usually about a place they grew up/used to live. Examples: This sourdough isn't as good as the sourdough in San Francisco Guinness tastes better in Dublin Bourbon has to come from Kentucky We have cultured and tamed yeast strains (be they wine, bread, or beer), "US Guinness draught" is, in fact, brewed in the same brewery at St James Gate as the pints you'd get in Dublin, water profiles can be replicated perfectly, and Bourbon doesn't even have to come from Kentucky (it does have to come from the US and contain at least 51% corn, that's not to say someone in Canada could make a product that is technically the EXACT SAME THING as Bourbon, the US government would just shake its finger and not allow it to be labeled as such). We live in a commoditized world, if the Jones's have land better suited for growing grapes, you can just buy them and make wine just as good. Why this huge seemingly irrelevant side-bar? Because it seems like you can't even say the word "bagel" on the Left Coast without someone telling you you're an idiot and you need to go to NYC and eat one there, and until you do your opinions on all things bagels are irrelevant. Now that I've lost everyone: the bagels here are awesome. What I love most though is that they are LOADED with cream cheese....probably more cream cheese than anyone needs to eat in a week. What I love even more is that you can get a bagel as a side with pretty much any breakfast item. This reminds me of my days as a youngster in Florida, preferring the subtle tastes of 'Village Inn' to 'Denny's'. Why? BECAUSE YOU CAN GET PANCAKES AS A SIDE WITH ANYTHING. I've grown up now, but I still love when a breakfast place has an amazing side that I don't have to pay extra for. It's a good break from the toast/potatoes/*$1.50 extra fruit cup* monopoly you feel at most breakfast joints. Oh, and the women that waits tables most of the time here is EXTREMELY nice. Seriously, TRY not to smile, I dare you. I'm glad we have a place like this.
(5)Elaine f.
The service was poor, ( one waitress), the food was even worst. Either everything was cold, overcooked, or just poorly prepared. I would have loved to write a good review, but not happening. It is a shame that a city this size can't have a deli that is first notch.
(2)Alison P.
Ordered hot pastrami sandwiches to-go. Took much longer than necessary even though there were more people working than patrons. And the girl who took my order looked like she was just learning how to use a pen for the first time. Sandwiches came with nothing on them, no mustard, no pickle, no way jose it's not a pastrami sandwich!
(3)Robert D.
I went to Kornblatt;s today for the first time in about a year, and I quickly remembered why I stopped going there. Yes, the food is great. The problem is the service. It's usually very slow, sometimes even non-existent. Today I went in just to get a pastrami sandwich to go. The place wasn't even that busy. I went to the counter and stood there for at least 5 minutes. No one ever acknowledged my presence. There was another woman there that had already ordered her to go order. The woman making some sandwiches behind the counter turned and asked her if she'd been helped yet. She had been. Then she glanced at me and went back to what she was doing. If you're busy, that's fine, but at least say, "I'll be right with you" or something. Just acknowledge the customer. SOMETHING!. So I walked out and went next door to Escape From New York Pizza. They were busier than Kornblatt's, and they still helped me immediately and I had my slices 3 minutes later. Kornblatt's could learn something from them. I'm guessing they won't though, since they seem to think they're so awesome.
(2)Harry E.
This is yet another aging Portland restaurant pretending to be something it's not, with raving local patrons too ignorant to know its shortcomings. First, it's not a true deli, it's a restaurant feigning as such, and the prices will reflect that. Second, you could honestly get a better flavored, textured, and fresher reuben or lox bagel at Arby's or Einstein Bros. Soggy bread and no extra touches that make going to a deli worth it. You'll have better luck at the food carts or some of Portland's newer places for this type of food, don't go out of your way for this place.
(1)Fatima D.
AMAZING!!!! This is where I have breakfast every time I visit Portland. They serve awesome turkey bacon now and on the "Eggs Benedict" it tastes great!!! Will always come back, amazing service and food! Thank you! Highly recommend it.
(5)doc N.
With Roses closing, you now have Kornblatts as the NW 23rd option, but that's OK because this place is Portland's top delicatessen eatery. I love the atmosphere (a bit cramped) and fantastic menu. I recommend an Empire State sandwich with three meats like Roast Beef, Corned Beef and Chopped Liver... your doctor the heart specialist need not apply..! Yum! Ask for a bucket of pickles and Matzo Ball Soup as sides... Go! Enjoy! Don't count calories!
(4)Terry S.
Todays' blunch' large fresh bagel with pastrami! For breakfast get it with scrambled eggs. Coffee not so great, but hot and good enough. 23rd is alive with beautiful food and people.
(5)Jack D.
No dukedom nessisary here. Bland, tasteless sliced beef (French Dip) and Mac salad. Potato salad blander than bland. Best thing going about this lunch was the table pickles. Lots of older folks up in here at this time... FWIW
(2)Gary M.
Pastrami sandwich is to die for!
(4)Alan D.
This place is the real deal. The best kosher corned beef overstuffed sandwich on rye that I have this side of New York. The rye bread could have been a little bit better but nothing is as good as the Jewish deli's in NYC. I live in Seattle and wish they had a place like this here. It amazes me that city the size of Seattle that has so many great restaurants does not have one good Jewish deli. Kornblatts needs to open place in Seattle.
(4)Rebecca R.
I've had better. Service was so so. It was 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed with a wait. It seems like it took forever to order. The challah bread was dry and the mac salad wasn't as creamy as I would prefer. It wouldn't be my first choice to return but I will try it again.
(3)Danny O.
Hmmm I paid about 10 dollars for overly salted turkey,sauerkraut, and 2 pieces of toasted bread with a scoop of potato salad. Not to mention they pack people in here like sardines so I had to sit and awkwardly try to bite into my 10.00 dollars sandwich without disturbing my neighbors meal. Not pleasant at all. Do you think in a city like Portland charging this much for something so simple is really that smart? If this is NYC style then keep it back east. Luckily we can go elsewhere...meat cheese bread, bunk sandwiches, even Kenny and Zukes and get something more worth the dough with room to breathe and possibly take a bite to eat. -Won't diss the service though. They were efficient and attentive considering they work in a panic attack. -
(2)Lisa B.
This was my first visit to Kornblatts Deli on 23rd Ave and I had high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations dropped to an all time low once I actually took my first bite of the Pastrami Sandwich I ordered. Where to start.....The bread was awful. The rye was so thin it crumbled and fell apart as I was trying to eat it. The sandwich was dry and unappealing. I asked for a pickle with my over priced Pastrami Sandwich and was told that the complimentary pickles were for 'dine in' customers. (my order was 'to go') . The sides were somewhat tasteless, however, there was a good quantity of Pastrami on the sandwich, but the bread was so lousy it was not enjoyable... The server I had contact with was not friendly- no greeting and no farewell was given . The establishment was not clean, tables were dirty with customers refuse.. Overall I would not recommend this Deli.
(1)T C.
The service was prompt, the garlic bagel was tasty, and the price was reasonable. Now, I'd been walking around all day so I was starving, so maybe that was why I was super impressed. Either way I'd totally recommend this place for food and ambience that is simple and comforting, and not pretentious.
(4)Lemonleen C.
Four-star average for this place? Seriously? It must be coasting on its old reputation, because it sucks now. This is the third time I've been there since moving back to Portland, but the first time I've actually gotten food. On my first visit, I was ignored for so long at the "wait here" line that I left. On the second visit, the place was super crowded and there was nowhere to wait but outside so I left. This time, the place was only half-full (Super Bowl Sunday), and I still got ignored at the "wait here" sign, but not as long as the first time. Anyway ... this isn't even close to an authentic deli and it's way too expensive for what amounts to a Safeway deli sandwich. My corned beef had the same squishy-slimy texture as packaged lunchmeat, and they forgot to add the Russian dressing, which I didn't notice until I got it home. The potato salad was OK, but not great. To add to the unpleasantness, the service is awful. I ordered a cold sandwich to go because I was in a hurry. There were two servers in front and four people behind the counter. After standing there for 20 minutes watching the counter folks wander around aimlessly (I didn't want to take up a seat and the servers didn't offer one) I peeked over at the prep station and saw my sandwich all wrapped up. They had forgotten to give it to me. That's how much they ignore you there. I agree with the others -- for authentic, delicious deli food, go to Kenny and Zuke's. Also, Elephant's Delicatessen serves one of the best reubens I've ever eaten. I should have gone there.
(2)David P.
I have always wanted to try this place, it is in a really cool neighborhood, lots of shops and other restaurants to choose from. I was in the area and needed me some breakfast. We had a really great server, no waiting for coffee or food. The place was hopping and everyone in the place was a little Portland chic, talking and laughing. A real cool place. The food we had was cooked perfectly, hot and tasty. the folks at the next table had many special requests and special considerations and the server was very kind and the kitchen made everything just they way they wanted it. Great Corned Beef Hash, I will be back for lunch, The menu had so many choices.
(4)Madeline H.
Oy vey! worst potato pancake ever. Made from a mix, too thick, then dipped in shredded potato and over fried. My companion ordered chicken soup which was delicious. I sent the pancake back & waitress took it off the bill, so that was kind. I ordered a green salad topped with a scoop of tuna salad, which was unremarkable, but it would have been better presentation to offer bagel chips or saltines at least with the soup and salad. My clothes and hair still smell like fried food.
(1)C M.
Although more of a diner with deli type selections, it's close enough to the Brooklyn and Manhattan-like experience to keep me coming back. Good value for the money. Love the attitude of the servers. Oi-Vey!
(3)Damien P.
Bagel pizza yummy food is very good. Stop by & try
(5)Emilie C.
Hefty American style sandwiches, Russian influence soups such as Borscht, and bustling atmosphere, great place for a filling and inexpensive meal. I asked for the Three Cheese sandwich, grilled, with the tomatoes inside and a side of coleslaw. Apparently the waiter hadn't had anyone order it that way since 1997, woot! The pickes are already in a container at your table, beside the caddy filled with hot sauces, ketchup, and hot horseradish, so fret not. Also order a big cold beer with your food, whether you're on holiday or not. Sure it was a heavy duty sandwich, but I felt prepared for its epicness in my ravenously hungry state. Grab a table here if you need some serious soup-and-sandwich style fuel while cruising the wonderful boutique shopping of NE 23rd Ave!
(4)Erich S.
Amazing borscht, bagels, and some of the sweetest waiters I've ever had. 10/10 would eat again.
(5)Mark J.
Other reviews here prepared me for indifferent service, so I allowed ample time for my lunch. It was mid-afternoon on a Friday, and the place was maybe half full. The sign inside the door says wait to be seated, and you should be prepared to wait until someone notices you. During my meal I saw several potential customers enter, wait around a couple minutes unwelcomed, and wander out. Be patient! I ordered a pastrami and a corned beef sandwich. I've had better, but not within a thousand miles of Portland. The waitress was friendly, once she got around to waiting on us. The serving sizes were ample, the bread was wonderful, and the crock of pickles for the table was great. It took a while for the order to arrive, so again, be patient. The best part of the experience was desert. TRY THE CHEESECAKE! Then, after you regain consciousness, TRY THE KUGEL! Die happy.
(4)Andy N.
Great sandwiches in the Alphabet District. I eat here as often as I can even though I don't live in Portland.
(5)J J.
I love this spot!! Their food & service is consistently great. I love the window seat, gets busy for lunch :)
(5)Rufus R.
Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, OK food. I had the "Eye opener" breakfast. 2 eggs, fried potato cubes, and a bagel of choice. Eggs & bagel were fine. I thought the potatoes were a bit tasteless, the only flavor I got was some green herb like basil or something similar.
(3)Jimmy K.
Kornblatts in one word: Underwhelming. After hearing much praise about this deli, my first visit there was a big disappointment. Went there with my wife for a to-go order. Two sandwiches, two cans of soda-$27. I know good deli is a little more expensive, but this was pre packaged pastrami I can buy at the grocery store. Granted it was Thuman's, a classic east coast brand, but for 12 bucks a sandwich, we expected a little more. The potato salad was good and the coleslaw was bland, the tiny side servings we did recieve. And the biggest bummer, no pickles. We expected to get pickles with our order, but there were none. You would think they would ask if we wanted some or include them in such a pricey order. All thinigs considered, we will not be going back. For those thinking this is a Carnegie Deli-like place with towering sandwiches, this is not the place.
(2)Wendy S.
If what you seek is real NY Deli-style sandwiches and cuisine (I think it's cuisine) then this is the place. Even so far as having pickles in a barrell on the table. GREAT pastrami, corned beef and a slew of other wonderful Jewish delicacies. IF you seek the traditional bagels and fish they even get real smoked salmon from NY. Makes me miss those Sunday morning of bagels and fish....
(5)M S.
THESE are the best bagels in Portland and Vancouver! Real bagel tradition with that boiled chewy texture...and they have pumpernickel bagels! Other food is fantastic too, especially the pickles.
(5)JW R.
I hadn't had a bagel in years. In fact, I can't remember the last time I ate a bagel. It may have been in high school. And I didn't miss much. This is not a breakfast place. it's a sandwich place that bought eggs. These are not the same. For about eight bucks I got the mixed deli omelette, which is salami, corned beef and pastrami served "pancake style". If you don't know, it means overcooked. For an extra buck twenty-five you can have the top coated with about $1.25 worth of cheese, which is too much. If there were a few more breakfast places on 23rd, this place would open at 11am. As it is, I wish they would.
(2)Mark B.
This is the closest thing to an old fashioned deli you can find locally. Definitely reminds me of family gatherings at Juniors deli in Los Angeles. The aroma takes me back to a simpler time, when family was the centerpiece and food secondary. Not to say the food isn't good, it is. I consistently order the chicken salad sandwich. It's huge, and allows for a second meal at home. There is a gentleman server that could easily be anybody's grandfather. He is warm, talkative, and makes you feel like your part of his family.
(4)Connie C.
Stepping in here is like stepping into a real deli. It's definitely not something you'd expect to find off of 23rd. There are refrigerated cases of blintzes, mayo based salads, pickles, latkes, and more. They posted menus from other delis to decorate the walls. It's no frills and it's all authentic. The place was packed so it's clearly no secret. We came here to grab some hangover food for ourselves and my friend who was visiting and couldn't make it out of bed. he requested hash and we thought of here. The bf and I both got turkey reubens and we got a corned beef hash for my friend. They were used to seeing our stumbling kind, laughed, and filled our order quickly. The hash was average. I've had a lot better. But, the reubens were messy and finger-licking delicious. The hot turkey pastrami made the russian dressing melt into the sauerkraut and dripped onto my fingers. The bread was griddled in butter for a nice crisp exterior. I'll be the first to tell you that it no where near as gourmet and smoky as Kenny and Zuke's, but it has the warm neighborhood deli feel that big K and Z's doesn't seem to achieve. Besides it definitely beats K and Z's on the hangover scale because there's nothing like a greasy messy homey reuben to calm your massive headache.
(4)Neill P.
For the food, I'd give this place 4 stars. However, I think the prices are too high for the quality, so I'm knocking it down to 3 stars. I was not really impressed by the corned beef hash, and would not order that again. I do enjoy their reubens, and I LOVE their blintzes. Definitely order the blintzes when you go.
(3)Sean G.
Breakfast was great. The sandwiches are very New York style LARGE! Great food. We sat outside it was great just didn't get as much attention for more water than I would like.
(4)Leah H.
The pastrami is okay. The corned beef is okay. The bread is okay. The bucket of pickles is AWESOME! The actual pickles are okay. The service is a bit pretentious. Kornblatts hasn't blown me away although I haven't entirely dismissed the possibility that they could please me. Let me put a spin on what another Yelper said; there are two camps of people who like pastrami, the ones that like it lean and the ones that like it to taste good. I belong in that second camp and Kornblatts seems to reside more in the first. To each their own.
(3)Elizabeth H.
This place is great. Delicious chewy boiled bagels and wonderful service. Sandwiches are a little pricey, but definitely worth it.
(5)Anthony B.
"What would you like sir?" "A pastrami Sandwich" "Anything Else?" "Yeah...a loaf of bread and some other people" It's like a cow with a cracker on each side - Mitch Hedberg
(4)Robert V.
A nice breakfast joint, located on 23rd, so fun to people watch as well. My favorite breakfast is the green onions, tomato, and cream cheese omelet. You get an omelet.. (duh), some homefries, plus a bagel of your choice. You will be asked if you want butter or cream cheese on your bagel. WARNING! If you decide on cream cheese, you must know the ramifications of your decision. TONS OF CREAM CHEESE!!! They do not skimp here at all. The latkes are great, and you cannot go wrong with eggs bageldict. One bummer is that I could go for larger portions of the homefries. Be prepared for a crowded house on the weekend, potential waiting line.
(4)Tiffany C.
The three stars is for the variable food quality. I've been in a few times, my food has always been pretty good. The salmon hash is great and the bagels are delicious. The last time I was in the waitress misheard my order, but what I got instead (turkey rueben) was delicious! The only thing is, someone in our party ordered a Philly cheese steak and it came out with cheese made by science. We're in Oregon for god's sake, put some Tillamook on that! It's kind of weird. It's good and bad all at the same time, so it gets an A-Ok.
(3)steve h.
Pumpernickel Bagel, Grilled Pastrami, Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Russian Dressing, and Dijon Mustard. Toasted. Impeccable service with an Unbeatable price.
(5)Makenna C.
Kornblatt's is a good old faithful standby. It's pretty damn good food and has more reasonably priced items than some other Jewish delis, i.e. Kenny & Zukes. It's comfortable and unpretentious too (the staff are silly, super friendly and kind of amazing), which is a plus for this kind of place in my book. And free pickles! The eye-opener breakfast is a great deal, if I remember correctly: $5 for eggs, potatoes and a bagel of your choice. Perfect for a cheap hangover cure.
(4)Mel O.
This place is great. Yesterday I went twice (once for lunch, once for dinner) & both times I was glad I did. The first time I got a "build your own bagel" sandwich. I got a vegi & it was delicious. Not to mention the guy behind the counter was crazy nice... The second time, I got a soy vanilla latte, (which was good but the steam wand could have used a wipe down) & another BYOB which was also delicious. I LOVE bagel sandwiches & between Kornblatts, Kettlemans, Noahs, & Portland Bagel Co., I'd say Kornblatts is at the top of my "I'd rather go to.." list. P.S. I'm going there for dinner tonight
(5)Kevin M.
food was awesome....patio-sidewalk are is not so. I recommend them for their food alone its that good. It made up for the service, and crowded spaces for no reason.
(4)Ryan B.
Great food, good prices. Pickle bucket at the table! The french toast is awesome, and so is the hash. Every meal we've had has been very tasty. Bagels,bagel sandwiches, knish, tuna salad, potato salad, soups, etc, all fantastic. My only critique would be the service times can be a little slow. The staff has always been very friendly, I think they may have been understaffed the last couple of times I've been in, as it was quite busy. All in all, I do highly recommend.
(4)Amber C.
You will want to go here for a few things: 1. Corned beef 2. Ruben 3. Toasted bagels and Lox When I first moved to Portland from Denver, I set out to find a number of good bagel places. I found two: Kettleman's and Kornblatt's. Kornblatt's, while better than Kettleman's has slghtly higher prices, making it a place I frequent less. However, it's got an amazing selection of other items that you won't find at other Portland establishments. I've never eaten inside of Kornblatt's. I find it a little dark: I usually get a toasted pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, nova lox, lettuce, tomato, onions and capers and take it to the park nearby. Else, I just eat it on a curb or table outside. I don't think I've been to Kornblatt's in the wintertime. Kettleman's is better for that, and closer to where I live.
(4)M R.
Probably the one place you can get a reasonably-sized breakfast/brunch for a total of $20 for two people! I highly recommend the reduced portion of the hot pastrami sandwich - mmmmm! Pickles tasted a tad funny, but a good place to go if you're starving and want quick service and good food for the price!
(3)Jenna P.
I was a little reluctant to enter this New York deli. I am usually a default Japanese restaurant kind of girl. I would pass by this place almost everyday when I lived in this area and was always curious about it. Today my curiosity got the best of me and I'm glad! We were immediately greeted by the friendly staff and told we could sit wherever we'd like. What struck me first was all the sandwich options available. Meat here, Meat everywhere! The menu is huge. I wanted to order at least 5 things but stomach told me to be realistic. I ordered the corned beef hash. I am a huge fan of breakfast served all day long. While we waited, our waiter dropped off a whole tub of pickles. The pickles were delicious and the size of brats! My dinner/breakfast came after a quick 10 minutes. My beef hash topped with perfect over-medium eggs was the best I ever had(sorry Mom). It also came with a bagel, which was very good as well, but I was so stuffed I could only eat a couple bites. I can't wait to come back and try the matzo ball soup, the LEO scramble, and just about everything else. I recommend going here if you're really hungry or for a chill date night.
(5)Mike A.
I've been hanging around the Alphabet District a lot lately, enjoying walking down 23rd people watching and window shopping. I was immediately drawn to Kornblatt's when I found it, and would easily recommend it, but your mileage may vary when it comes to service. The food is great. A friend and I were in for my first visit, and had a nice talk with the server about any items she'd recommend. I asked about the tongue sandwich and she mentioned there are staunch supporters of the sandwich served both hot and cold. Ultimately I decided on a Reuben, with two latkes to start. I love latkes, and was really delighted with Kornblatt's. Served with sour cream and applesauce, they were crunchy, flavorful, and delicious, and really brought back memories of homemade latkes. I enjoyed explaining what a latke is to my friend, and was happy to share with him. The Reuben was really tasty, and Kornblatt's offers several variations including the "traditional," which I had, as well as Pastrami, vegetarian, and other options. Kornblatt's rye bread is great, and since they sell loaves I'll be back for some. A few days later I was back on 23rd and stopped by Kornblatt's for an almost entirely different experience. The sandwich I ordered, the number five, was three pieces of rye bread with roast beef, turkey, and chopped liver, and the sandwich was great. I had latkes again, too. My only issue with this visit was the really atrocious service. I waited ages for the server, was then given a frozen can of soda, my latkes were brought when I didn't have silverware and I had to go inside to ask (seating outside is a nice option, and was definitely preferred that evening). The wait for a box and then for the check was eternal, and I was tempted to write, "Stay in school," on the tip line on the check. The service on my second visit (within a week!) was the only reason I am giving Kornblatt's four stars instead of five, and the next time I pop by I will be staying or moving on depending on who is waitressing.
(4)Suzy K.
I was in Portland this past weekend and made my regular stop at Kornblatts for breakfast and a loaf of their delicious rye. How disappointed was I when I returned home in Seattle, opened the bag, and discovered they changed the rye? What happened to the most delicious rye bread ever? This loaf was stamped by another bakery - don't recall the past loaves marked by another but they may have been. So, so, so disappointed!
(3)Alien T.
Liver - healthy but disgusting. That's what "they" say. I am sure I like eating liver. And when I want to eat, I go to this place. Good place to try good kosher, bagels, sandwiches and deli. This is my fav place for lunch in NW Portland.
(3)Amanda J.
Tried Kenny & Zuke's? Now have the real thing. Ever eaten at Wolfie's on South Beach? Ever ordered a slice of pizza in New York? Then you won't be insulted by someone "yelling" at you for your order. Hey - at least they acknowledge your presence, unlike a lot of other restaurants in Portland. I ate at K&Z's yesterday and it was crap. The pastrami was cut too thick, leaving slabs of fat on the edges and the bread was damn near burnt. I had to dip each bite in a big puddle of mustard. (Which: yum!) The serving of potato salad was nice & generous but who cares when there's so much dill in there that it's inedible? The only thing they got right were the pickles - spicy with loads of garlic. I'm thinking they order 'em wholesale from Kornblatt's... Which, on the other hand, serves sandwiches with twice as much meat that is three times the quality for $2 cheaper. I use a knife & fork because you'd have to be able to unhinge your jaw like a snake in order to actually take a bite out of the whole thing. You only get a little paper ramekin of potato salad but who needs it when you have an entire bucket of crunchy garlic pickles on your table?
(5)Laura N.
I few years ago had a short fling with the Eggel Bagel at Kornblatts. It was hot and heavy, (both the meal and our relationship) and then dropped off without explanation. Initially put off by the coarse and downright cranky wait-staff, I quickly realized that it was merely foreplay... a little game if you will. And I did. I began to truly enjoy being treated rudely - and to not be a selfish lover, I threw back as much attitude as I could muster up. However, other than the Eggel Bagel, nothing seemed to appeal - and regardless of the nobel effort to bring an "authentic New York deli" to Portland, I still want good food for a fair price! Alas, this Romeo and Juliet relationship wasn't destined. But I'm sure there is still lots of Kornblatts' lovin for the right patron!
(3)Logan M.
This is my kind of Deli: good walk-up counter selection, with a little restaurant area for food made from items behind said counter. It's a good fit for its location on 23rd, a high foot traffic area, because it fits a lot into a small space (which helps a lot with its goal of bringing a NY deli to Portland). Some people might feel crowded, but I personally like the atmosphere little places that pack you in. Then there's the food. I had the Corn Beef Hash, while my girlfriend had the Veggie Hash. Both were excellent with good portions. We also got a Latke between us (on the house, as we actually ordered a Latte and were misunderstood), which was delicious but made it absolutely necessary to walk around to all the shops in the area to kickstart the digestion. So pretty much it was perfect.
(5)Erin M.
Boyfriend loves bagels, and we've been big on Kettlemans for the past few years. Today Kettlemans had a long line & we decided it was time to venture out into the world of bagels. What a great decision that was! Kornblatts is like Kettleman's bagels on NYC-style steroids. There are three times as many menu options, everything is bigger (and better), and the price is twice as much. My boyfriend was raving over his lox bagel that was actually toasted, which means it stayed crunchy. My egg salad sandwich was really good as well. We got out at $18, which is a bit high. The things I loved: -options other than just bagels (they have a full deli set up here, as well as breakfast plates), but the bagels are still freshly made -the have a Seinfeld theme! You can order a big salad! -the guy who takes your order has a NYC accent. How authentic! Things I could do without: -way too expensive -waiting to be seated, they should really just have a counter to order & fend for yourself as far as seating goes In summary: Kornblatts beats Kettlemans
(5)Carey T.
This place is always good! I go everytime Im in town. Richard is a great server! Friendly, Fast and has great suggestions! They dont have a bad sandwich!
(4)Big S.
I had the club with hot pastrami on rye. It was delicious. Pastrami was excellent. Next visit I'm going for 100% pastrami on rye. The potato salad was average...disappointing for a good deli. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)Esteban C.
Huge fan of the Super Veggie. It took two tries, but I eventually ate the whole thing. Great place to get a sandwich to go or dine in. Friendly staff too.
(5)Blake M.
Random bagels stopped. 4/5
(4)Nancy G.
Worst customer service ever. The website clearly indicates delivery. I went through and entire order for 12 people, get to the end and the person taking the order doesn't take the address. Then the next person goes through the entire order again and tells me they don't deliver. If you don't deliver take the advertisement off the website. And find someone that can answer the questions not say "We're really busy and I just work here". Really ? You wouldn't be working there for me thats for sure.
(1)Sherry Y.
A decent breakfast deli. I've been several times (mostly Sundays). The food is always decent. The Eggs Bageldict (Eggs Benedict on a bagel with pastrami) used to be great, but their Hollandaise sauce started looking weird so I stopped ordering it. I had a bagel with lox, it was still tasty, but it looked as though they might have switched to a lesser brand of lox, nothing that they would sell at Zabar's. They still provide a generous portion though. They get four stars for the decline in quality over time and because the service today was not what it usually is. The waitress spilled my coffee all over the middle of the table and didn't care to clean it up (this was after she had to take our drink order twice) and didn't seem to provide much in the way of service. Maybe she thinks that having a NY attitude adds authenticity to this Jewish Deli.
(4)Alex S.
The old owner retired and sold and the place is now complete crap. Horrible service, prices have gone through the roof and the food itself has dropped in quality. I ordered my usual pastrami and the cheese wasn't even melted and I had to have some angry 20-something give me shit while I asked them to fix it. This never, never, never would have happened 6 months ago. The legacy is dead, I'm moving on.
(1)Michelle H.
It was recently a toss-up between Kornblatt's and Kenny and Zuke's for lunch, and I chose Kornblatt's. I have been eating here for quite some time now, being that I worked in the Nob Hill area for several years. The reason I often choose Kornblatt's over other delis is that I cannot seem to find latkes, knishes or matzo ball soup on the menus as readily as I can at Kornblatt's. Also, the reuben sandwiches here are very good. Due to my Polish/German heritage (among a variety of ethnicities, I am indeed part German and Polish), I grew up eating potato pancakes, and now that my German/Polish Grandma has passed on, I have to either make them myself, wait for my annual trip home for Mom to cook them up, or....eat them at Kornblatt's. Due to my busy schedule and the fact that Kornblatt's makes some pretty darn good latkes, more often than not, I choose the later of the three. When Mom comes to Portland for a visit, we always stop in at Kornblatt's at least once, for some latkes and matzo ball soup. As far as sandwiches go, I used to always order the reuben here, and I have always enjoyed Kornblatt's version...great Russian dressing and very good, fresh rye bread. I recently became adventurous and tried some of their other sandwich offerings...chicken salad with salami and swiss on rye, and it was very good. The meatloaf hoagie is also yummy, and the chopped liver, egg salad and green pepper sandwich is also good, so long as you don't mind chopped liver. I grew up eating this stuff, so I like it. The pickle barrels on each table are a nice touch, and their pickles really are good. In spite of some of the so-so reviews, I still like Kornblatt's. I like the authentic sandwich offerings, and of course the latkes!
(4)Taco C.
I grew up here, even though I worked there on and off since 1997 I still love the food. However it wont be the same with the passing of Jim Caputo. He was the big brash guy behind the counter who was just as likely to tell you to go to hell as he was to hand out some of the best food on 23rd. He will be missed so much. The other staff is super amazing too, I am not just saying that because both my brothers still work there. I will always be proud to have been a part of that crazy and often fucked up crew. So do yourself a favour and order a hot pastrami to go, or a lox platter. If you really want the full treatment throw a little shit the staffs way. I promise they will be more then happy to give it back. Love you Jimmy baby.......
(5)Gavin K.
Some of my favorite deli lunches have been had here. Must eats include the East Coast Nova style lox (amazing), Pavoratti's Pick (sloppy good), the traditional reuben and pastrami reuben, and the combo lox. Yum.
(4)Ninihada C.
I've had breakfast here before and its "OK"- although pricey. I went in for lunch the other day and was very disappointed. The chicken soup was flavorless, the roast beef was chewy in the spongey sort of way (yuck), the cheesecake was not sweet - at all- and the texture couldve been a lot creamier. I'm used to NY cheesecake being dense and creamy. Because of the quality and price, I wont be back.
(1)Michelle H.
Is there ever a wrong time for a bagel? I really don't think so. Bagel for breakfast. Bagel for lunch. Bagel for dinner. Bagel for a midnight snack. Bagel for a good day. Bagel for a bad day. Bagel for a sad day. Bagel for a rad day. The list is absolutely endless. Not only can I get bagels, fresh, heavenly fluffy bagels from Kornblatts, but I can get them with my breakfast food? That's brilliant. Not that I don't love toast, don't get me wrong. Toast has it's place in the breakfast world. I just really have a soft spot for bagels in my heart...and stomach. The only bummer was when I wandered in after a "lets think its a great idea to drink a martini, a bottle of wine, and two beers" night, the selection was pretty slim. We're talking maybe three varieties, maybe. I guess everyone loves bagels just as much as I do. And frankly, what do I expect wandering in that late in the day anyway? It's my own fault for that one. However, my liver just wasn't havin' any of that early rising nonsense. Lucky for me, I happen to love blueberry bagels, so I had just that. I got a little bit of a weird look when I wanted it plain. I almost didn't even want it toasted. I love to enjoy the plush doughy interior of a bagel without the vicious crispity-crunch of a toasting to wreck my gums. I'm not about that at all. It was a good toasting job, though. I was proud. Surprisingly enough, the highlight wasn't even the bagel, even though the bagel was damn good. One of the breakfast specials on the board was an insane chili and cheese omelette. Green chilies and cheese. Do you realize the awesomeness that is that combination? I was sold immediately. It was a slight hint of spice coupled with ooey gooey cheese wrapped in an eggy blanket. Does it get much better? No, not really, especially when coupled with that phenomenal bagel. I'm really glad it wasn't served with some sort of crazy side of potatoes, otherwise my stomach would have imploded. It was breakfast perfection. Service was quick and to the point. There were no excessive niceties, but it was dang efficient, you know? I can love on some of that. Just feed me and keep my drink filled, and I'm golden. The place is pretty small though, so peak times are definitely going to yield a wait. Have fun with that, but I can tell you it is worth it. Now I just need to come back for that pastrami sandwich I saw... ...and a bagel.
(4)Jason W.
I've never had a bad meal here. We've been coming off and on for a couple of years, and haven't been disappointed. Sometimes we have to wait in line (for newbies, the line ENDS at the door and goes back inside), but that's because other people know it's good also. I've had a couple different reubens, corn-beef hash, and more recently the Pavarotti's Pick. Delish! Eat it up and get out so the rest of us can eat!
(5)Mike L.
Dear Kornblatts, I love you... The end.
(4)Anna L.
best bagels in portland by far. As a former east coaster, I've seek out every bagel joint in this place and this is the only place that has gotten the correct chewy to crusty proportion correctly.
(5)Andrea V.
Sometimes, the stars align in just the right way, it stops raining for a brief moment, and you can actually find a parking place on 23rd. If this happens to you, you should go to Kornblatt's. And then you should have a reuben, the potato salad, a Dr. Brown's cream soda, and an eclair. Each one of these items will singularly excite your tastebuds. The 5 of them together may send you into orbit. One of those times when everything is as good as it should be. Warning: food coma may occur.
(5)Ben M.
Alright, was tempted to mark this as a 3 or a 4 star experience, but for what it is (a bagel and sandwich joint) its a 5. Located in a great part of Portland, Kornblatts offers a cozy environment and exceptional meals at a decent price. Furthermore, I get a kick out of their complementary pickle bucket on each table. So check this place out, nom on a free pickle and I would recommend their french dip if you are in the mood. Eat up!
(5)Eliot J.
When I go to this restaurant I feel like I'm going to eat dinner with my big Jewish family. The warm atmosphere, tasty food, and cheapest mimosas in town make for a great meal. I'd recommend the matzo ball soup and latkes. if you're going for breakfast, eat a bagel!
(5)Al D.
Pickles tasted store bought (vlasic?). Knish was downright gross. Matzoh brie was ok...hard to mess that one up. Bagel and cream cheese mediocre. Kenny and zukes is better.
(3)Chris M.
Stop! put that shitty bagel down and back away slowly...now get over to Kornblatt's and get the BEST bagel in town (sorry, Kettleman's). Great prices and even better staff. Can get a little crowded on the weekends but never a long wait, sit outside on nice days and people watch.
(5)Brigitte S.
I called my dad today and told him that I didn't feel well, and that I was the first in Oregon to get the Swine Flu. He told me to stop watching the news, drink some OJ, and go to Kornblatts for some Matza Ball soup.
(4)Alexandra A.
3.5 rating. I think the food is good and the portions are generous. Their bagels are good & they have a lot of variety. They are fresh. I had a bagel, eggs & bacon for breakfast and I couldn't finish the entire thing - and I usually can. It was cooked well. I've had their sandwiches for lunch and they are good and big in portion size. I've also had their motzah ball soup and it is the ultimate in comfort food.
(3)Meredith O.
This is a favorite of mine when visiting Portland. I always go for the matzo ball soup and half a pastrami.
(4)Phil F.
This place has been here a while. They're set in their ways and you have to adjust how they do things. Yeah, service can be spotty sometimes and, yeah it could be crowded, but it maintained their quality for years and years. When we went there at 3 PM Saturday, it was half empty, then within 10 minutes crowds of people appeared out of nowhere and all the tables were full and a long line of waiting people. The waitress got totally overwhelm, but much to their credit the cooks came out and helped take orders and seat guests - nicely done!! Despite only one waitress, they pumped out food from the kitchen and maintained great quality. I had the traditional reuben and my wife had the beef tongue sandwich - she said it was the best beef tongue sandwich she had ever had. My reuben was good - I LIKE the leanness of their meat. Cheesecake is large and a nice finish to the meal. Kudos to the staff at Kornblatts!
(4)Randy S.
Outstanding! We had the Pastrami sandwich and it was lean, unlike most deli's we have been to and it was ummm, ummm, good! I will be going back to try the breakfast. Highly recommended at this point for lunch.
(4)Cory S.
Great service and great sandwiches!! Probably some of the best sandwiches in Portland!
(5)Enrique B.
I'm not positive that Kornblatts is still operated/supervised by a Jewish mother. The food seemed akin to that of a Denny's. While some Yelpers have found the staff blunt, I thought my waiter was very polite and attentive. The bagel case only had 3 selections available at 5pm, and the eclairs had sold out hours before. The benefit, in my eyes, is that Kornblatts offers an alternative to Rose's Deli in case they are too busy. However, I think the food is pretty similar between the two. A few things I noticed - the prices on the huge menu board above the bagels are mostly gone. Some items have prices, and others do not. I guess I would prefer that they either pull down all the prices or replace the missing ones. None of this in-between business. Also, the hash plates run between $9.25 and $11. I felt this was sorta expensive for the amount (moderate) of food.
(4)Andrew Y.
A good old school deli in Portland! Been here 3 times. The Reuben's done right (both corned beef and pastrami versions), fresh chopped liver (makes a great appetizer side order), a mean lox-bagel-cream-cheese. OK, the egg cream isn't made with the snob-factor Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup, and I sure wish they had Brooklyn-style kishka here--but if you need a dose of real deli, Kornblatt's hits the spot. [see pics]
(4)Brooke S.
I am from the Portland area originally and Kornblatts has always been one of my favorite places. I moved to LA 5 years ago and, to my utter disappointment, have never found a place that is quite as good. Every time my husband and I are home for a visit we make a point to stop by for lunch. One thing to look out for is that they are popular and it's a small place, so you may have a short wait for a table.
(5)Adam M.
Finally a great pastrami and corned beef place here in the northwest. I was beginning to think that Oregonians idea of a good sandwich was subway. 1. We were seated after a short wait even though the place was packed. 2. Waiter was attentive and polite and we received a big jar of real kosher pickles to munch on. 3. The sandwiches were excellent and served piled high with ubber delicious, juicy and flavorful meat on fresh rye bread. 4. Got a dozen bagels to go and sampled them the next day. Awesome bagels, best in Portland hands down. 5. Very reasonable prices, friendly staff, and OMG the chopped liver was even better than dear old mom makes. Put all these together and you have a fantastic eatery. BTW, we have tried Roses down the street and only gave them 3 stars, good but not great.
(5)Erin D.
We stayed right around the corner from Kornblatts so we decided to stop in for breakfast one day. We each got a corned beef and hash - this ended up being a bit of a mistake, as one serving could have amply fed both of us, but boy was it tasty. I also really enjoyed their Mexican hot chocolate. The waitstaff was super friendly, and they had outdoor seating that was perfect for people watching.
(4)Liz C.
I love Kornblatts. period. I don't know if its the crappy coffee, the blunt waitstaff, or their kickass bagels, but I love this place. Their breakfast is THE best and its reasonably priced. Eggs, potatoes and a bagel with butter or cream cheese. sooooo good. There's not much else to say, its just plain good.
(4)Chris B.
Not as good as Kenny and zukes
(2)Ron u.
We went and had the pastrami sandwiches. Good portions, a lot of meat, good flavor service was good but we were there later in the afternoon. We will go back for lunch. Overall a good experience and good food. Have not had a better pastrami sandwich in a long time.
(4)Sharon W.
Super fun experience, very much like a NYC deli. Awesome reubens with a great deal on Tuesdays. Great bagels and other classic deli options, and all the pickles you can eat (seriously). Has a fun, laid-back atmosphere bringing in a great mix of people, young and cool, cool and lame, families and dates. Gets crowded quick and the service can be slow, but that just gives you more time to savor your food. Portions are huge, messy, and delicious. Enjoy!
(4)Michele S.
Super bummed over my experience here. I have been craving a real deli style sandwich and was told this was the place to go. The person behind the counter was unfamiliar with the menu and prices which was ok but if you are going to work in a resteraunt you should know the menu. I ordered a hot corn beef to go and after 5 minutes the cook finally decided to mak an apperance and work the tickets. I got my sandwich and left . The corned beef was great but to my dismay no mustard and no pickle I mean who serves corned beef without mustard and what New York deli does not put a picle in the bag. The potatoe salad was ok but not the greatest. It is sort of sad as I heard this place used to be one of the best deli's in town for authentic style food and service now it seems sad and the staff uncaring.
(1)Jim T.
I was hoping for true NY style Pastrami sandwich piled high but was a bit disappointed, even though it is probably one of the best around PDX. The flavor was good but not the clean straightforward meat and fat flavor I expect for this sandwich. My wife's meatloaf sandwich was a disappointment but the Matzoh (sp?) Ball Soup was terrific. Parking is always a pain around NW 23rd. If you are in the neighborhood and can only try one place, *definitely* try the pizza next door. It is spectacular. Once you had that, if you are still craving a NY-style deli experience, definitely give this a try. Their bagels looked great and other diners were raving about their food. Maybe we just got the wrong items?
(3)Z Z.
Kornblatts is quite good, I wish it was open later. Why on earth would it close so early? There have been several times when we have wanted to head over there but then realized....oh yeah it closes at like 8pm! Crazy! We finally made it over there the other day and we enjoyed our meal. I got a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich and one potato latke. The grilled cheese was cooked perfectly and there was a perfect cheese and tomato to bread ratio. Perfectly enjoyable! The pickles that they bring out when you first sit down were awesome, I loved them. The potato salad side was just OK it was a bit too sweet for me. The potato latke was good but it was a bit overcooked around the edges. My husband got the turkey pastrami Reuben and seemed to enjoy it. I kept asking him if he liked it and he kept saying yes, its OK. He ate the whole thing so I am assuming he enjoyed it. I noticed that it was a bit smaller than the deli sandwiches that he normally gets but that is OK with me! Normally those sandwiches are insanely large! Overall, 3.5 stars and we would go back there! Our food came out fairly quickly and the folks that work there were super nice! But, again....why close so early????? Oh, btw if I remember correctly it states on the menu that the deli imports its meat from NY every day, how funny is that?
(4)Andy W.
I am seriously a big fan of Kornblatt's. I love the sarcastic service, the fact that I've never had to wait for a table (take that, every other breakfast place in Portland!), the close proximity to other patrons (forcing friendly interaction with strangers, which is good if I'm in the mood for that kind of thing) ... ... and the corned beef. Mmm hmm. Corned beef hash. Check it out. I don't need much more than that to be happy.
(4)Amanda M.
The best corned beef sandwich I've had in over 15 years!! Was in Portland for the day and stopped here on my parent's recommendation. Any time I am in Portland I will absolutely eat here!! Only 2 downsides, no real kid's menu that I could see. Luckily my son will eat a Kosher Dog :) Other thing is parking is a real pain in the ass. Not really their fault but just an FYI to anyone visiting. Drove around for about 10 mins before finding a spot. Still TOTALLY worth it!!!
(4)Kathryn R.
I'm a big fan of Kornblatt's. I've been coming here for a few years, and their breakfast has never disappointed. Don't expect anything too fancy (or ambiance), but you can get a great omelet, bagel sandwich, hash, or matzo brie here. I recommend the omelet plates: you get a huge omelet, hashbrowns, and a bagel and cream cheese all at a reasonable price. The fresh-squeezed OJ isn't all that bad, either!
(4)Samantha M.
This place has the best bagel on 23rd now that Kettlemans is gone (*sniff*sniff*), but NO quality of food can make up for REALLY RUDE, MEAN, INCOMPETENT STAFF. I went in for the simplest thing on the menu today- a bagel toasted with butter. I took my wrapped up bagel to the tea shop down the way, order my tea and sat down to enjoy my snack only to find a COMPLETELY BURNT BLACK BAGEL inside the wrapper. The kind you need a knife to scrape off all the burnt crud to get to BAGEL. I couldn't believe a server would burn it, and then still wrap it up and give it to me! So, I told the tea girl I'd be right back, and walked BACK down to Kornblatts and politely explained I had received a burnt bagel, showing her the mess she'd just served me, she SIGHS, grabs another bagel and turns around to toast it. While she's standing there at the toaster and I wait at the counter I can SEE HER OBVIOUSLY talking poorly about me to a cook, who looks up at me, and then back at her. It was SO AWKWARD. She then comes over and just HANDS ME THE BAGEL. What an attitude. NO APOLOGY, NO SMILE, NO CUSTOMER SERVICE, NO NOTHING. What a B*#)TCH! This is when I really started to regret tipping! At least she didn't burn the 2nd one. I would have really enjoyed it had the horrible girl not put such a damper on my sunny afternoon out on 23rd! She has a short crop blonde hair cut, STAY AWAY FROM HER and you should be alright in this place. It just makes me so uncomfortable to come back. *sigh*
(1)Doyle O.
Went for lunch. I got there about 11:15. By 11:45 it was full up. I don't know deli food but I had a traditional reuben and chips with coffee. I would have to say the portion was more than generous. It was huge. Regular sized bread but the meat was at least 11/4 inch thick. Seriously. Taste was good. No complaints on the food. Service was a little slow but at 11:30 another waitress came in so there were two so it was a little better. However when I got there it was a little too busy for the one waitress. Three stars, what can I say. The food was good but didn't knock my socks off. I would eat there again, the decor and layout are kinda cool. I wouldn't go out of my way but if I am in the alphabet district at lunch I will probably go again.
(3)Chris E.
Kornblatt's is great. everything is large and delicious. I'm not quite sure why no one on the west coast can seem to get the right texture on corned beef, but they come close here. The pickles are stellar! Yum! It's no Katz's Deli, but whaddaya want from NW23?
(4)Mags S.
The green chile omelet from the specials board was outstanding. Full plate of eggs and chiles and sour cream and potatoes; also came with a bagel which I brought home.
(4)John S.
I stopped in last weekend for the first time. In a hurry and ordering to go, I asked what was good. I'd been eyeing the salamon hash (not know what to order at a New York style deli) and was imedietly directed to the less expensive corn beef hash. The man behind the counter told me it was the best, and they usually run out of it quickly. So I took him up on it. Turned out to be one of the best breakfasts i've had in a while. So good in fact, that I had to drive back in from Estacada to have it again today. An I'm happy to report, it was just as good the second time. This place is my new favorite breakfast spot, and for the price, you can feast and not go broke.
(5)Rebecca L.
Their reuben is my guilty delivery pleasure, when I put up one hand and say, "$20 for some meat and bread driven across town", and I put up the other hand, and say, "I can lie on my bed watching 'Little Britain' and have a Reuben in half an hour", and the evil, lazy, fat hand wins. Hits the spot every time. French toast was good as I recall. I got my beloved lox sandwich tonight. They didn't skimp on the fish which was nice, the tomato was suitably plump and the lettuce suitably crisp. Capers were lovely, and on the side. The bagel was underwhelming, to say the least. They do a fine egg cream. Can I get a woot? P.S. I am disturbed by other reviewers' promises of complimentary pickles. I received no free pickles. I foresee pickle restitution.
(3)Lori B.
Landed upon this one day when driving through before going home. I saw 'Bagel Sandwiches' and was in heaven. THE BEST BAGEL SANDWICHES EVAR! It was so New York style- busy, black & white, Italian atmosphere. Definately a hit for lunch. I can't wait to go here again just for this!
(5)Jason M.
There aren't many delis in Portland so the bar isn't too high, but none the less I was pretty impressed by Kornblatts. I'm originally from Detroit and have been craving deli corned beef sandwiches ever since I moved to the NW. This place fulfills that craving and I've had good experiences with the wait staff. I liked it better than Kenny and Zukes, which seemed more like a caricature deli...
(5)Jenni D.
I use to work at a bagel shop, so I have pretty high standards when it comes to fresh bagels and cream cheese. This place has great service, nice staff, and good food. The prices were very reasonable, and the food came within a few minutes after ordering. I will definitely be coming back here for breakfast again when I visit!
(4)Emily W.
I both live and work in the neighborhood, and Kornblatts has been a godsend. I don't really get anything there other than breakfast - the green chili omelet "special" is amazing, the eye-opener special always a hit, and a bagel-with-cream-cheese-to-go generally accounts for my lunch on work days. My favorite part, though, has to be the staff. They are entitled to be exactly as nice (often very!) or curt as they want to be. I hate going places and feeling that overwhelming wave of saccharine customer service - I don't care how chatty they are, I care about getting what I came for. And I always do.
(5)Amy P.
This is the closest thing to a NY Deli that you can get in P-Town. Not that I'm complaining, but give a girl a decent bagel already! The staff is super slow and way surly, which I don't mind. Makes me feel a little like I'm in NY. But the food, oy, leaves something to be desired. I do enjoy their noodle kugel, but the pastrami isn't so hot. It will do in a pinch, but seriously...someone open up a kosher deli already that is good!
(3)Eric L.
I love pastami! Pastrami is my favorite sandwich meat and I'll never pass on a pastrami sandwich. Supposedly, Kornblatt's is a NY style deli. It looks like something you'd find in the middle of Manhattan, right in PDX. From the decor and dark wood furnishings to the atmosphere, it feels like NY...sort of. My order was very simple so I can only review my sandwich, the pastrami on white. It's simple. Get white bread, spread mayo and slap on the pastrami (that's what she said) and you're done. It doesn't get any more simple than that. The sandwich comes with chips, a pickle, and that's it. Bread, mayo, pastrami, and chips. You're set. Thank you come again. The sandwich was good. A bit overpriced in my opinion, but this was the best sandwich I've had since moving here. Geez, now I'm missing the deli's in the Big Apple =(
(4)William B.
My fiancee is a recent transplant from Long Island, NY and claimed that if suitable pizza and deli could not be found, she would have to leave me. Desperate to prove that a worthy bagel did in fact exist in PDX, I turned to my fellow yelpers. My future nuptials have been saved! As soon as we opened the door, I knew Kornblatt's was the real deal. The decor and seating announced Old School Deli before reading the menu. We kept it simple this visit to verify authenticity; everything bagel with a schmear of veggie spread and a side of scrambled eggs for her, Nova lox over cream cheese on an everything for me. When our orders arrived, my bride-to-be said "we can come back here." High praise indeed! The bagels were cooked as they should be, boiled then baked. Chewy inside, a little crunch on the crust, and a fair amount of topping. Not as much garlic as I'd expect, but tasty nonetheless. These guys know what a schmear looks like and provide it. Considering what I paid for the lox, I certainly got my money's worth - I was trying to save room for a food cart visit later and failed! I am *very* much looking forward to trying a corned beef or brisket sandwich here at a future date.
(4)Holly D.
There are so many excellent eateries in Portland and no, Kornblatts is not one of them. There were maybe three other parties at the time, and yet our waiter acted like he just couldn't bother to help us. Not entirely rude, but highly inattentive. I love scrambled eggs, but I despise omelets. It's a texture thing. So I am not happy when I order scramble eggs and get cooked eggs, chopped up. NOT the same. And this was even worse, because beneath the broken up hunk of egg was a puddle of undercooked eggs. Does anyone like their eggs served that way? Make me a good mocha, and you have my heart. I was a bit disappointed when my mocha arrived in your average smallish-sized mug. The flavor was so-so, not bad enough that I didn't drink it, but not much better than regular drip. After my second sip, however, I discovered an unidentifiable white powdery substance on the outside of the mug, right up to the lip. Could have been salt but more likely residual detergent. Needless to say I scrubbed the rim of the mug, and then some, with my wet napkin. Mess up my eggs and mocha, and I ain't coming back.
(2)Jeni B.
I went to Kornblatts for the first time and their chicken salad is awesome! The guy at the counter was very helpful and the rest of the staff seemed pretty courteous. The sandwish was a little on the spendy side for what I got, but it was delicious none-the-less.
(4)M S.
Longtime Portlander AND longtime deli fan - I love Kornblatt's and have been going there as long as they have been open. I also really enjoy Kettleman's bagels, so it's saying something that I give Kornblatt's my highest rating, but they have all-around quality and friendly service to boot. Plus they have great hours that really make them a fixture in the neighborhood. A few highlights: The lox at Kornblatt's are AMAZING - highest quality I have ever had in a deli outside NY. The only other place in PDX to get lox is Newman's. Comparison to the other bagel place, 'blatt's (as everyone i know calls it) wins hand-down for quality and presentation. Corned beef hash is also amazing and great value for the portion. Other breakfast all day items include the Eye Opener which, in a city full of breakfast joints, is again good value and high quality. Best eggs consistently. The blintzes, oh! the blintzes. Incredible and served the "right" way with preserves and sour cream. I was horrified at the blintzes at another supposed-deli place, but won't go on. If you haven't had blintzes, go to Kornblatt's and order them. Sandwiches and the good variety of traditional deli fare make this place a reliable destination if I am introducing friends to Portland's best accessible offerings. I note that other yelpers cite surly service and high prices - neither of which have ever stood out to me. Expensive sandwiches compared to...Subway? I suppose. I always get a smile and attentive greeting when I walk in, regardless of how busy they are. Often there is a line but they clear it as quickly as possible from what I have seen. The servers are definitely to-the-point but I have never once had an issue in all the years I have been going there. This is a great place rain or shine, winter or summer, native or visitor. You like comfort food? Deli? Go.
(5)BoaBzOr B.
This is totally the only place in town to get a proper bagel with cream cheese and lox. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it. The lox is transcendental: not too smokey or salty, just fabulous. They pile on a good amount as well. Another bonus is the big crock of pickles that they leave on every table. The pickles are also just first fabulous: crunchy and tangy and perfect. I can't much comment on the rest of their menu, as that is the only thing I ever order. But whenever I end up their with company, everyone else seems to come out pretty satisfied as well.
(5)Liz M.
This has been one of my all-time favorite Portland places since it first opened many years ago. My dad, a native New Yorker, loves the place. My mom totally digs the corn beef hash--and it is wonderful: salty and meaty....hmmm. I personally love the Eye Opener Special, because you get a whole plate of food and a large bagel for $5.50. I bet that is the least expensive breakfast place on NW 23rd Avenue. Service is fast and the coffee is flowing. Check it out soon!
(4)Mark T.
Very good, even if they're a little stingy with the meat and heavy with the accoutrements like tomato and lettuce. Still, it's a good nosh, nu?
(4)Lisa M.
Always enjoy the classic, real, deli food here.
(4)Bill F.
Exceptional deli and restaurant in Portland. As a gentile, I found myself at their door for breakfast and I have returned many times to have some of the best breakfast I can find anywhere. The lox scramble is tremendous, and I was recently there and had a gigantic egg salad sandwich for lunch. For what you get, I think it's a value.
(5)Janet L.
Stopped in to get a latte to go. It reminded me of being in a NY Deli. The people working were really nice and the whole vibe in there is a good one. I will definitely return for a bite.
(5)Devan D.
I've lived in most major metropolitan cities and this is the best authentic deli in PDX. Shut up and eat, 'nuff said.
(4)Erin O.
As one of those people who orders the same thing every time, I can recommend the veggie bagel sandwich with a side of potato salad and the veggie bagel sandwich with a side of potato salad only. But I recommend it heartily. (please disregard that little trickle of drool running down my chin.) The hours are great for late noshers, 8 or 9ish every night but Sunday. update: the menu has been changed. Veggie bagel? gone! however, they'll still make one, it just doesn't officially exist. Also, all cheese bagels are gone. A moment of silence for the asiago cheese bagel.
(4)J M.
I love a good delicatessen. This one is tops for me. Its simple inside...no nonsense decor, no nonsense servers (don't flip them any crap). The food is classic, filling, and delicious. Order the "Brooklyn Bomb"...hot brisket, latke, Swiss and grilled onions. Yum.
(5)Noah K.
Wifey used to live in NW and when I would visit I always had to enjoy my turkey rueben from Kornblatts. wish I could get one in the SF Bay area...
(4)Mysti J.
I love this place! I go every time I'm in Portland and am never dissapointed. I won't even complain about the wait (and there's always a wait) because the Kornblatt's experience is WORTH the wait. The specials are always interesting and new, the regular menu items never fail me ( I love the Salmon Hash), and the wait staff kicks booty. They always seem to keep their cool even and remain friendly and helpful even though the place is hoppin'. The food is always fast and hot. This is as good as it gets for deli grub and breakfast in Portland.
(5)John E.
Got the pastrami reuben. It was good. But 14$ for a sandwich and a soda? Too much.
(2)Wes M.
Delicatessen isn't usually a very friendly word to us vegetarians. It inspires images of huge slabs of meat piled behind a counter, waiting to be sliced and applied liberally to whatever dish you may order. This can make going to a delicatessen seem like a poor choice for someone like me. However, I have a deep love and appreciation for good sandwiches, and I'd never had one from an East Coast style deli, and I felt that it was time to finally give that a try. When we were seated at Kornblatt's, we were greeted quickly by a server with a heavy New York accent. We were given menus and the server quickly moved to check on other tables while we were decided what to eat. I had seen the menu online, and knew already that I wanted one of their Empire State Sandwiches, and for me there was only really one option: The Super-Vegi. I ordered the Super-Vegi with a side of potato salad, while my girlfriend ordered their vegetarian Reuben. I have to admit that when we received our order I was intimidated. The Empire State Sandwiches are essentially two sandwiches stacked, held together with a toothpick. And we're not talking two small sandwiches, oh no. We're talking big, stuffed with low-fat chive cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. I wasn't sure how I was going to fit the thing in my mouth, and after a bit of pressing, I managed to fit the corner in and take a bite. It was absolutely delicious. This monster of a sandwich was easily one of the better sandwiches I'd ever eaten. The rye was a good flavor, the toppings were fresh, and the sandwich was filling. Then, there was the potato salad that I had to manage to put back, and that did not disappoint either. The only complaint I've got about this place is that it was too delicious. I ate all of my food, and I could feel it still stretching my stomach a good hour later. Didn't make me sick or anything, I just, you know, ate to much. While I had a bite of the Reuben, I didn't get to try enough of it to really review it, so I'm saving that 5th star until I go back for the Reuben. **Edit** Something I forgot to mention, and will actually be preventing that fifth star no matter how delicious their Reuben is when I try it, is that my girlfriend found a piece of bacon in her vegetarian Reuben. While I understand that everything is probably cooked on the same surface actually finding meat in your sandwich as a vegetarian is never a positive thing.
(4)MAtt K.
A Frank with Kraut to go. Yummm. Friendly service, a nice environment if you decide to dine in. Like a family-friendly dinner with better food!
(4)Maia Q.
Expect to be unbelievably full after you leave Kornblatts. The sandwhiches are huge and stacked high with delicious meat. For most of the dishes you pick a side, and I am sad to say that the potato salad is not the way to go. It lacks in flavor and the portion is on the small side. The pickles however are delicious! If you go expecting the greatest service, you will be disappointed. While the staff is friendly enough, they aren't exactly the most personable people, which is fine because the food is great!
(4)Tami A.
I always get a bagel sandwich with lettuce, tomato and cream cheese when I go in here and I've never been disappointed. Although I guess it would be pretty hard to screw that order up, but still. It's good!
(4)Dan V.
Didn't know what to expect from this place. Sat down in a plush red 50s leather diner couch and ordered the best Pastrami Reuben sandwich I've ever had. It was grilled to perfection, had just the right amount of spread, a healthy serving of pastrami, and a perfect melted slice of Swiss cheese. A little pricey for a sandwich, but well worth the price.
(5)Matt K.
When a place has a "East Coast Nova Style Lox" that is "So good you'll plotz" you know they're not messing around! A recommendation from a concierge as a Jewish Deli, I knew this was a good place to go to satisfy my craving for a Lox and Bagel. I can say this is one of the best, if not THE BEST I have ever had, and I have had my fair share. Lots of fresh Lox, cream cheese, red onions, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, (i asked for no capers), on a garlic toasted bagel...it doesn't get much better than this. I also added an order of cheeze blintzs, also very good. This seems like a mom and pop shop and is a real comfortable place to dine. MUST STOP in Portland!
(5)Sasha S.
I like spicy foods, and they deliver the best jalapeno cheese bagel I've had. For cheap breakfast eats Kornblatts makes my soul real happy. I usually get eggs with a jalapeno cheese bagel and potatoes. Lunch is also a good decent Jewish meal. I broke my vegetarian vows to have the matzo ball soup- which was devine. They had a big jar of pickles at our table for unlimited crunch. Later in the day the service gets a little lacking- but that's understood given the busy morning rush. Yum.
(4)Donte P.
I may not be a corned beef expert, but this place serves up a damn fine corned beef sandwich. I don't even like rye bread most of the time, but in this case it was perfect. Sometimes you don't want art, you just want a sandwich. That's what this place does very well.
(4)Amanda B.
I definitely liked the food here better than Kenny & Zukes. It was more... real? Maybe that's a good word for it, I don't know. But I had the traditional reuben and ohhh man! It was pretty dang good. And I'm a fan of any place that gives me complimentary pickles, so it's a win-win. They loose one star for playing awkward punk covers and totally ruining the moment. :)
(4)Catherine C.
Bummer. I wish this place is good but it's not. The matzo ball soup is ok, but really, don't expect much here.
(2)Krista T.
I like kosher hot dogs. I like bagels. The combo is not that difficult to find in town, but Kornblatts briliiantly combines the two and hands it to me in a tin foil wrap so I can eat it while stollin down the street. Perfection.
(3)jodes l.
Best traditional reuben, ever. Russian dressing, saurkraut, toasted rye, and corned beef. DEE-licious. Couple this with the jug-o-pickles and I'm one happy camper The omelet is just "eh". Not many fresh vegetables in this place--go for what is on their menu (mean deali sando's) and don't get all worked up over your dietary needs. The waiters will probably roll their eyes and spit in your food if you ask for anything low-fat, on-the-side, low-carb, etc.
(4)Mike K.
I know, Portland is not New York, and I'm not expecting a New York deli. The thing is, Kornblatt's gets surprisingly close. They have great corned beef, wonderful pastrami, chopped liver that's like buttah, delicious dill pickles on the table. There aren't many tables and there's usually a line, and service is often rushed, albeit pretty attentive, in that New York deli kind of way. Hubby and I have been at least three times. If Papa Haydn's delectable desserts weren't across the street calling our name, we'd probably be at Kornblatt's more.
(4)Scott P.
Absolutely the best Pastrami you will find in Oregon. Try to stop for a Ruben every time I'm in Portland
(4)E W.
I loved the sando. Good pastrami! Wacky waitress. They give you a jar of pickles to much on. Awesome!
(4)Per H.
You line up and without wait you are seated and the the staff threat you like royalty. Nope, that is not it. You line up, wait, the staff gets your seated somewhat quickly, and then treats you with "New York under-handed love". Yeah, that is more like it. We actually do go here for the Reubens and the staff! Great place, lots of deli style foods to choose from. per
(4)Tiffany R.
Excellent Pastrami Rueban & Matzoh ball soup! Pastrami isn't too thick, and the cheese holds it all together pretty well--and boy, is it tasty! Ooh, and the saurkraut! I love saurkraut, and would never turn the stuff down. Theirs is so delicious! I wouldn't be surprised if it's made in house. The soup was delicious as well, and the Matzoh ball was huge! I will return, and will save room for an eclair.
(4)Arvonn T.
Kornblatt's seems to be the best that the West Coast has to offer when it comes to a deli. It isn't bad, it is a nice deli. I like it. I've been back several times. ... but.. it isn't a jewish deli, don't go their expecting a real jewish deli experience. I saw another yelp that said it was. Sorry, but it isn't. It is close. It is an approximation. It is like a ride at an amusement park.. pretty good.. lots of fun.. It is safe, and somewhat stilted. I've never seen the 90 year old guy sitting in the back complaining about his matzah there. They mix meat and dairy. Not a jewish deli. but.... Why the russian dressing? I've been to plenty of deli's on the East Coast, and there is not this obsession with Russian Dressing. I'm chalking that up to some strange PNW thing, kinda like all the mayo.. A pastrami sandwhich is my favorite. Pastrami on rye, with a little mustard. The rye is good, the mustard is good. The pastrami... well.. To be fair, there are two pastrami camps, low fat, and the good stuff. I like the good stuff, it has just the right amount of fat, to soak up and spread out all the flavor. See, no fat means no flavor. To get the full rich garlic-lious flavor of pastrami, you need to have fat. The pastrami at Kornblatts is the lean kind. it is good for the lean kind, but still.. it is lean pastrami. For those in the know, Carnegie Deli Pastrami this is not. Overall, it's the best deli I've found in the PNW so far, (and that is saying something, I go out of my way to find deli's in PNW, and most are crap). Two thumbs up... but only three stars..
(3)brian c.
Im sorry, but the food was ok. You may like it but i did not. NOW the service was garbage. I asked the waiter, what types of bread he had. He told me and i asked for wheat bread. So our meals came out and it was on rye. No big deal, mistakes happen. I told him about the mix up. He said to me.... cant you deal with it. Well that sent me threw the roof. Come on really... who says that. I am the type of guy that tips 25 plus % if the service is good. Nobody should have their meal ruined by a rude waiter. Us paying costumers do not deserve that.
(1)Glaciala A.
The potato knish was just okay, a little too buttery for my personal taste. The latkes were really oilly (I realize they are fried in oil, but these were crazy oilly). The latkes were also a little burnt and hard to chew. I was disappointed.
(2)Angie H.
Kornblatt's is the very best! We love their reubens! Another favorite of ours is the pastrami, egg, swiss cheese bagel sandwich for breakfast. This absolutely makes you shut and eat. Pickles on the table are outta this world too. And, we like Jim, but don't tell him that.
(5)Chelsea A.
Is this deli of the same cut as the famjous and popular eateries in NY and LA? No probably not. But I love it regardless. And while their actual meals may not be the most amazing things you've ever had in your whole life; however I'm there all the time, and love it regardless. LOVE!
(5)Via H.
I frequent this place fairly often on the weekends when I'm in need of a good, cheap breakfast. The service could be better. But you get what you pay for. It's all about the Eye-Opener. Eggs, potatoes, and bagel for $5. What a score. It leaves you feeling uncomfortably full...and ready for that afternoon nap to sleep off your hangover.
(3)Rick E.
Perhaps the only good reasons to brave the hassles of NW 23rd are (1) the chopped tongue sandwich and (2) the chocolate eclairs. Those two delights rate as 5-star-worthy. Deduct one star for the location and other things on the menu which were merely "pretty good."
(4)Penny P.
I was craving pickles. The big and juicy kind to go with a greasy pastrami sandwich. I was pleased. Not only did they give me pickles. But I got four large ones to go with my sandwich. You have to be specific. They have a lovely dining area outside to accommodate moms with strollers and out of town friends and the location is perfect for some afternoon shopping.
(4)Matthew K.
The Best Pastrami in PDX!!!! I have been coming to this deli since 2001 and I still love the food here, especially the Rueben. The waitstaff is really cool and down to earth. They will cater your order to your needs. The best thing was that I was in a really bad mood before I came into the restaurant. After talking to Bob for a few minutes and making my belly happy with an amazing meal. I feel like a million bucks! Since I am in sales, it's best to be in great mood when you are out working. With Kornblatts food in your stomach and Bob as a waiter, you'll never leave the restaurant without a smile on your face. Matt "The Clear Guy" Kurowski
(5)Gourmet G.
A noble effort to bring authentic deli delights to Portland - the corned beef and pastrami allegedly are flown in from the motherland, i.e., Manhattan - succeeds on some levels but fails on others. The meat was flavorful enough to suggest it did indeed earn frequent flier miles, but knishes were a pale imitation of the originals, potato latkes were oozing grease, and blintzes were tough, their filling bland, their fruit topping cloyingly sweet. Avoiding the specialties and sticking to a hearty sandwich on rye will spare you disappointment. Sadly, the service is friendly - food like this needs cranky waiters with gruff attitudes to add to the flavor. Native New Yorkers will understand what I mean.
(3)Maggie S.
This place is like walking into NYC. Great food, great staff, interesting people eat there. What more can I say.
(5)Melissa W.
forgot my list of Portland restaurants to visit (only remembered Voodoo Donuts and Blue Plate special - and that was not open).. My husband suggested Kornblatts as we walked around and our friends Gloria and George thought it was a fine idea...I loved the 'vintage' look of the place and I was sold when I spied a bottle of Birch Beer Soda on display...I'm always on the lookout for 'different' (even beverages ! ) and this fit the bill ! Jim, and friends opted for the pastrami w/ Jim choosing a Reuben...I was enticed by the mushroom barley soup and a cheese sandwich----LOVED my sandwich---the BEST EVER ! usually the first bite into a cheese deli sandwich is good then it's usually too much (taste, size etc.) this was light and melt in your mouth good....The soup was just as good as the very first deli mushroom barley I've ever had (I was 8 years old---and the 'taste memory is still there !) The pickles were also fabulous....The staff was charming and friendly....what a great experience ! Totally fortified us for the Dragonfly Shopping expedition that followed (found so many 'MUST haves').. .Yet another installment in the Jim and Melissa's Excellent Pacific Northwest Adventure ! Will return in a heart beat..... If you don't like this place, you have no heart OR taste buds......
(5)Randy D.
sandwiches piled skyscraper-high with pastrami, corned beef, or both. but i'm a total sucker for the liver and onion omelette with a pumpernickel bagel. heaven.....
(3)Jacob G.
Let me say this: they claim they get their corned beef from New York, but it's really strange. Kind of rubbery. Thumbs up for having Dr. Brown's though.
(2)LA to PDX ..
Sorry guys, I really wanted to love this place but frequenting cities with REAL Deli's (ie: NY and L.A., home of Jerry's and Nate N' Al's) this place is a very sad attempt to replicate those great dining experiences. I even gave Kornblatt's two visits on different days in the hopes that they were having an "off day". First trip, I ordered the egg salad sandwich with potato salad side. My buddy ordered potato pancakes, salmon w/ cream cheese on a bagle, and we each got an egg cream, a vanilla and a chocolate. I mention his food only because we shared everything to get a wider sampling of the goods. The Egg Salad was very bland and the rye (the HEART of any deli) tasted like it came from Safeway in a plastic bag. The potato pancakes were decent actually, but it's hard to ruin those unless you really try. Egg creams were warm... ewwww! You guys behind the counter do realize there's milk in there right? The flavors tasted like cheap syrups, and were generally not pleasant in any way. Potato salad was uneventful. I did enjoy the salmon bagle however, but this is probably more due to the simplicity of the dish than the skill of the kitchen. Second try, I got the tuna salad sandwich, mexican hot chocolate, and macaroni salad. My same buddy got potato pancakes again and cheese blintzes with hot tea. The tea provided was a bag so no point to review it, the blintzes were off in some way, they had a strange grainy texture I've never experienced in a blintz and there was an odd burnt flavor from deep within. Not good at all. Tuna salad was the worst I've had in a restaurant. No flavor except for an unidentified overwhelming taste that should not have been in tuna, it tasted like the fish was left out overnight. It sickened me enough that I couldn't finish it and made me think of the scene from the movie "Road Trip" where Horatio Sanz puts the french toast down his underwear. I actually liked the macaroni salad as it was flush with a good variety of veggies chopped within and tasted fresh and light. The Mexican hot cocoa was decent, but nothing to write home about. Again, for all the locals who love this place, sorry, as I said I really wanted it to be my Deli in Portland, but I fear that I need to keep looking. Any suggestions? The interior is very small, but I don't necessarily count this as a negative, just unexpected. It didn't bother me at all since we were able to sit down right away each time. Maybe that should have been an indicator of quality however, because you should always eat at the places with a line out front. They do have outdoor seating as well, in case you want to watch the homeless kids drinking from the left-behind glasses during your meal. (Sorry Portland, I really don't understand the fascination with pampering the homeless. While it is all of our civic duty to care for those who cannot care for themselves, this is a city that would benefit greatly if only it were to toughen up and stop doing everything but advertising it as the most homeless-friendly city in the known universe. If you want to continue your economic rise, correct this problem, it's the only negative thing I hear from visitors who otherwise love this beautiful city... rain and all.) The staff here is wonderful. A fun group of cute girls who are playful and a bit cranky at times, just as it should be. If you can stomach the food, or perhaps have nothing to compare it to, I'm sure it's a nice place, but having had the real thing for most of my life, I can't settle for a poor replica. So much promise, so little payoff. Maybe changing the name to Korn-Holes would be more appropriate considering what most of the food tasted like.
(1)CJ B.
I haven't eaten anything but breakfasts at Kornblatt's but the breakfast is pretty good. I usually get a beagle and sometimes I get an egg beagle sandwich. My wife likes it more than I do so we get it more than other places. Chicken sausage is good.
(3)Noy R.
My wife and I were out shopping and decided to stop in this quirky little place and what an excellent choice we made! I have been looking for outstanding pastrami for years, but never found anyplace that had any that was even decent. THIS PLACE DOES!!!! I was happily pleased with my hot pastrami on sourdough sandwich.......FANTASTIC!!!! Even the potato salad was delicious........I ate it ALL (and never in my life have I eaten all of any restaurant/deli potato salad until now). My wife ordered the meatloaf sandwich and was quite happily surprised with her choice too............needless to say, we WILL be coming back to this little gem in the Alphabet District MANY times over.........we have an entire menu to explore!
(4)Maura P.
pastrami on rye was okay. pastrami pretty chewy. bf ordered the half pastrami half corned beef and couldn't tell the diff between the two meats. questioned if there were two meats! rugalach was good ...and the pickle comes seperately? you have to specifically ask for it!
(3)Gveve C.
so good. gave us a free egg creme to try, food was great, great bagels, and the waiter chased away the homeless man trying to pedel money from us. new york style!
(5)Matthew S.
Very tradtional, good service and the sandwiches are huge...Though the sides could be a bit bigger. I LOVE THE PICKLES!
(4)Ryan W.
I have eaten here many times. I usually have a pastrami sandwich, and I don't really have any complaints about the sandwich. So, this last Sunday I had a mid-afternoon meal here, and I was (unfortunately) seated in a place that I could easily see then entire kitchen area. It was busy, so I had plenty of time to watch. To be clear, I have cleanliness issues.. so.. I am watching and apparently one of the waiters needed change or something, so the "cook" walks over to the cash register, pulls out a handful of ones and counts back a bunch of change to the waiter. I am watching and I think, ok, now he handled cash with bare hands, I am sure he will wash his hands (or at least use hand sanitizer) at the sink right behind him. Nope, he walks back over to the grill area, and picks up ingredients with his bare hands and continues cooking. Now, maybe this does not bother you, but it is gross to me. Anyway, so now I am paying even more attention.. there are two "cook" type people back there, a man (cash register hands) and a woman. It appears the woman is mostly making cold sandwiches and the man is mostly making hot sandwiches/hot food. So, as I said (and as you know if you have eaten here) is it Sunday afternoon and it is busy, so the woman comes out and helps clean off a large table. I watch and see her (bare handed) clear dirty plates, cups, etc from the table, and I watch her walk directly back behind the counter. She talks to the other cook for a minute, then starts making sandwiches. At no time did she wash her hands, use hand sanitizer or anything. I had a clear view 100% of the time and there is no chance that I missed a hand washing. So, I guess my point is, my sandwich was good, but if you like your food prepared the way I do, I would either go somewhere else or at least watch and see if some basic cleanliness is occurring.
(2)Miz M.
Breakfast all day!!!! The service is a little slow but the food definatly makes up for it. My go to is the veggie hash but I've tried a few of their daily specials as well and have never been let down.
(4)Sally S.
Was in PDX for 3 days and ate bfast here all 3 days. Hubby said best bagels + lox he's ever had.
(4)Leia C.
Only one star for not letting us sit down and order an hour AND a half before closing. At that point they only accept take out orders. No, thanks, not taking a soup to go. We got there at 7:30 PM tonight and closing is at 9:00 PM. Last weekend we went there for soup and they wouldn't let us sit down until everyone from our party was there. Rude and inconsiderate. Then another waitress came she was nice to let us sit down and start ordering. Only going there for the soup and pickles. But it's time to look for that somewhere else, tonight was a huge disappointment.
(1)Mike P.
I waited 15 minutes for a breakfast sandwich that was made incorrectly and was cold when I received it. The kitchen seemed understaffed and overwhelmed.
(1)Maryjane R.
You would only believe these were New York City bagels if you've never had a NYC bagel in your life. Make no mistake about it, these are not NYC style bagels. They are yeasty, doughy, chewy chewy chewy rolls with holes in them.
(1)Rebecca Z.
Dirty, expensive and extremely rude. sorry I did not stay long enough to eat.
(1)Eric B.
It was already a long morning after the clock "fell back" with the end of Daylight Savings Time. My Son was hungry and ready for Breakfast, and I wanted to try out Tin Shed or Pine State Biscuits (both on Alberta) at 7 AM (or soon after) to beat the crowds. Then the Kid turned on the History Channel and we spent the next 2 hours watching American Pickers. I couldn't say no as these folks are from Iowa, and I was subsequently relieved to know that my collecting habits are minor league compared to some of the junk-filled building that were featured. By the time we rolled over to the restaurants, it was too late as lines of hungry patrons waited patiently on the street for their turn. Homey Don't Play That! So we drove around for awhile and ended up in the Alphabet District. How's that with going from A to B in Portland? After passing by Kornblatt's, my inner Yid sprung to the surface, and I immediately knew that there would be no "God Was in This Place and I, I Did Not Know" moment on this pleasant Sunday morning. Better yet, there was an available table. My guess is that Portlandia is so immersed in finding the most hip breakfast place, that they forget the "just as good" old fashioned places right under their noses. I had a Works Bagel Breakfast Sandwich (with scrambled eggs, cheese, and pastrami), while my Son had the French Toast. Service was fast and friendly, the neighbor discussions were fun to eavesdrop, the atmosphere was hamish, and of course the food was plentiful and delicious. "Shut Up and Eat" indeed!
(4)Casey R.
We came here for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 8:30. We got a seat by the window which was lovely, and didn't have to wait at that time. They don't have bacon for breakfast sandwiches, which is because it is technically a jewish deli. Though the place has been sold several times, and I'm not sure if the current owners are jewish or just trying to uphold the authenticity. Anyway, the bagel sandwiches are pretty good. I would put them one step below Henry Higgins over in SE, though the bagels are technically from Henry Higgins. I think it has to do with the bagels being more fresh. The potatoes that came with my husband's breakfast were pretty tasty, and the bagels were definitely yummy. We also took a piece of cheesecake (I mean, we had to. Come on.) to go and it was not very good. It was extremely sweet, didn't have any tang to it, and didn't taste much like New York cheesecake. The crust was super thick and really hard. I imagine this place was much better when it was owned by Kornblatt, who was actually from New York, but it's still worth a visit for breakfast. I haven't tried any lunch items. My original review was 3 stars for being lackluster, but my husband thinks it's more of a 4 star place so I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and have another go.
(4)Joyce L.
A group of us decided to dine at Kornblatt's recently on a Friday afternoon. We walked in and stood in line for a few minutes for a waitress to seat us. The waitress was super busy and it looked like she was working solo. A table near the entrance was available so we took it but probably not the best seat in the house. There's also tables outside as well. Kornblatt's is known for their Ruben sandwiches. Since I've never tried it, I opted for a safe route of a bagel sandwich (mistake). A jar of 6 dillpickles (free) were brought out for the 4 of us. Pickles, pickles, who wants pickles? I couldn't resist and had one before my food came out. Moments later the food came out. My bagel sandwich consisted of tuna, cheese and tomato (similar to a tuna melt). The tuna reminded me of something I could make at home and I must admit there was way too much tuna packed on the bagel. The bagels are made in house. I originally wanted the jalapeño but they were out. My second option was garlic and they were out too so I got a onion one. The rest of my family got a Ruben sandwich which I did try a bite of one and it was quite tasty. I should of ordered a Ruben but there is always next time. Our waitress was super attentive and friendly. The service was great. If you are in the area and want a little taste of NY, come on by for a Ruben sandwich along side of pickles.
(4)J.C. L.
Legit as heck NY deli. Massive - and tasty - sammies... and they gave us a jar of housemade pickles that we almost completely housed. Great, great sandwich joint.
(4)Dana M.
YUM. I was here last week for lunch and had an open faced bagel broiled with a bunch of toppings. Now in eating an egg and cheese bagel sandwich and it is life. So much better than Bagel Works down the street. It was $4.50 which seems expensive but it's a pretty big sandwich and worth it.
(5)Erin H.
Not recommended. Cucumber salad was not a salad, just sliced cucumbers and onions no sauce or pickling or anything! Quite terrible really, they didn't even seem chilled or fresh. New waitress so I feel a little bad but she had no clue, my order was missing my drink so she had to refund us that. I had an onion bagel with garlic spread I believe it was. Oddly j could've used more spread while my table mates (cinnamon bagel with plain cream cheese) had almost a 1/2 cup of spread on theirs, they had to scrape quite q bit off onto the plate. The place was old and dingy and didn't seem very clean, they bathroom was kinda gross. They didn't seem to have much business. Maybe they get more business at night rather than at weekday lunch time? I wouldn't go back.
(2)Andrew H.
I'm from the east coast and I've been to many a Jewish deli growing up. Chopped liver, sour pickles, salamis hanging from the rafters, fresh made cream cheese schmears in varying flavors, cole slaw, macaroni salad, pastrami, bagels, corned beef, knishes, gribenes, assorted cookies, smoked white fish, belly lox, turkey and the list can go on and on. The white aprons all stained and the guys speaking Yiddish with Eastern block country accents. It's what I grew up with. Katz's deli, the Carnegie, Jack Cooper's. All part of my childhood. These are all places that don't exist on the west coast. Kosher style, yes, Kosher, no. That heritage? No. But that doesn't mean they can't have some tasty food. Kornblatt's has a good name to start with. The food I got was pretty good, the #1 Corned Beef, Turkey, Swiss. ($9.25) with slaw. It was a big sandwich, just like it should be. A little trick, they have Sloppy Joe sandwiches on the menu for over $10, get one of the others and throw your own side slaw on it and you get the same thing. So worth it and you save a little for dessert, if you have the room. I will admit my service on that day was a little slow to arrive, but once I was eating she made regular stops to check on me outside. Nice place, and it brings back memories of youth.
(3)Ryan M.
By far my favorite food on 23rd. Can't go wrong with anything. My fav is the latke. Can't beat them!
(5)Jenny B.
I've been coming here since the early 90' s. I love the corned beef. My go to items are the Eggel Bagel and the Reuben. One of the best Reuben's in Portland. Decent coffee and eye openers
(5)Brooke F.
It was good! Plus they just give you a whole jar of pickles.
(4)Ruben S.
This place serves up a spate of very solid deli favorites. The sandwiches are all quite good and the portions just about right for those of us with a "healthy" appetite. Of particular note is the pastrami, which is excellent. They also serve breakfast food all day, though the bagel selection tends to thin out past 6pm or so. Service is usually above average, though expect a reasonable wait if it's busy. Devore and atmosphere is very New York as seen on Seinfeld. Comfortable seating and clean appearance are definitely a plus.
(4)Faye W.
It was Friday night and the place was empty. Normally, that would not be a good sign since most of the restaurants in the area were busy. However, we ordered Chef Salad and a hot corned beef/tongue sandwich on rye. The woman who served us was personable and informative. The potato salad was homemade and delicious as was the Russian dressing. The deli meat melted in my mouth like butter - I found out that the meat source was the East Coast. That explains a lot since deli from the East Coast is the best. They sell bagels made the old fashioned way so we bought a few. Would love to try the lox some day.
(4)Cassandra C.
I really liked this place! I work over here and came in for a bagel and a coffee. I had an Americano and an everything bagel toasted with cream cheese. It was really good! Kinda slow but I wasn't in a hurry. Cards accepted. They also have to go menus so I assume they deliver or you can do take out.
(4)Christine S.
I love Kornblatt's. No, I'm not from New York and can't promise you you're going to have the same experience here as you will at a NY deli, but I can tell you you'll get a great meal. I have been here for breakfast and dinner, and I have yet to be disappointed. Now that I've visited several times, my go-to order is a bagel sandwich, usually with hummus and turkey and tomato. The omelettes are also worth trying. On weekend mornings, the waitress who is always there is sweet and knows what she's doing as the only waitress often working. Kornblatt's remains one of favorite places on 23rd. It's more casual than most places in the neighborhood, but not low-quality at all. Go here!
(5)Brent S.
Warning to Portlandians! Pre-packaged pastrami, no-caraway having "rye" bread, Smart n Final quality vinegar "kraut" & "pickles", shitty "deli" mustard flavorless potato salad & sugary slaw ahoy! This place has no business masquerading as a legit NY style deli! I've been to Katz's, Carnegie, and Langers.. The pastrami at Kornblatts isn't good enough to feed to the hobos in the alley! A culinary embarrassment and facade!
(2)Sara P.
I love the option of a New York style deli available in Portland. My family is of Eastern European descent, and I am thrilled to find a place where I can indulge in my people's specialities, like Lox or sauerkraut. Even as a pescetarian, I don't have to miss out. Vegetarian Reuben and free pickles? I'm sold.
(5)Steve G.
Had Corned Beef on Rye and matzo ball soup.The corned beef what little they gave you was like rubber and the soup was way to salty.I'm not going to try anything else there because of my first experience it may be ok but for me no second try.
(2)Noah U.
Kornblatts offers the special draw of being a consistently fun deli located at a special location at the height of trendy NW 23rd Avenue. With so much to see, do and shop for in the neighborhood, chances are you'll be in close proximity. You can sit down and be taken into New York City, wheather you notice the food, the themes inside or the ackward accents that some of the servers have. I walked in and I was seated quickly. After carefully reviewing their long menu of sandwiches and other deli specialties, I opted for the good old-fashioned rueben sandwich. I had potato knish on the side. Each item I had came to my table rather speedily. I then ate my Rueben, which I thought was good, but about average. The cheese and the pastrami made me fairly happy, but there's a lot better out there. The pastrami could have been a little bit more tender, but it fit in tune with the other parts of the sanwich. I had the knish and it was just okay. The knish could have been more flavorful. I hate to break it to them, but they're not the only reuben in town. The bill for two people was $31. I'd expect better at that price, especially in regard to common things like reuben sandwiches but the $11 a sandwich cost was mostly substantiated by the taste. The server was friendly and provided my ordering and order quickly, but forgot to omit ice from my drink as I asked. Kornblatt's is somewhat good with their food and okay in value. Their service was good. Nothing was distinguishable, even when somewhat impressive. One could do the same experience in many other places. I just wish that the whole experience was just a little more more memorable considering the cost. I still like Elephants and Kenny & Zukes much better, but this can do sometimes. Kornblatt's is not a place that can be summed up as something that can be encouraged, nor as a place that is discouraged.
(3)Matthew S.
I really enjoy the sandwiches. It reminds me of where I grew up in New England. Check it out.
(5)Bao P.
Here right now on a Roadtrip, what a great breakfast. The bagels, cheese and deli meats are so fresh and good. My table got a build your own bagel, french toast, eggs and corn beef hash and the bbq brisket sandwich. Zero complaints, excellent place to eat.
(5)Randi W.
I've found my Portland Reuben. Maybe my food was tastier because I arrived after the lunch rush. The door was open, the staff seemed happy, and my meal arrived quickly. I ordered it to go, and practically ran home to open it up. Yes, the serving of coleslaw was small. And yes, the serving of meat was huge! But oh. my. god. I haven't lived in NY, but I have visited. Of course we visited a few delis. I'd say that Kornblatt's wasn't better than the best I had in NYC, but I sure thought from a Northwesterner's perspective that it could compete! The pastrami was hot and beautifully crusted with seasonings. The meat was piled high. The sauerkraut was a great mix of sour and sweet, and the sauce brought it all together. The top of the rye bread was still nice and toasted when I unwrapped the sandwich from the aluminum foil, but the bottom was already a bit moist from all of the meat juices, which is to be expected. And the coleslaw was almost more of a palette cleanser than anything else, which was fine because I came for the reuben, not the coleslaw. I can only imagine it would be even more perfect if I'd had it in the restaurant. Sure it was a little pricey, but pastrami and corned beef are expensive! It's an involved meat to prepare well, so I've accepted the fact that I'll pay a little more for a good reuben. This Reuben was far superior to the one that I had at Kenny & Zuke's, Portland's name-brand deli, and was on point price-wise. Service was friendly and fast, as I've usually found it is when I order takeout. Decor was homey and cozy. So maybe my order was the exception. But I sure hope not, because I'll definitely be back for more.
(5)Wizardbunz Z.
Everyone that works here is a dick. The food is terrible and way overpriced. I can't believe this place exists. So many better places to eat in this neighborhood. Worst Reuben sandwich I have ever had in my life. Why does everything take so long and then taste terrible? Does it take extra long to make it taste extra bad? Seems so. Hope they go out of business and they all can't find work anywhere else and end up on the streets eating trash that ironically tastes better than what they serve at this establishment.
(1)Lance Y.
It's a good thing that there's a Levi's store across the street because this place blew the pants off of this pastrami lover. Imagine a world where cows are born as seasoned pastrami-calves. We have arrived. I was literally singing the praises of this joint out loud, bravado style. Other patrons were looking at me like "shut up, your singing voice is the opposite of this pastrami sandy, not seasoned correctly." Then there's the pickle jar that sits on each table. All you can pickle!?! I think so! I even threw a nice firm dill in my pocket for later before I left. Sure I smelled like vinegar for the rest of the day but when I was a baker's dozen of PBRs deep at the bar that night, I was a king.
(5)Scott H.
If this is New York, then sign me up. I found it very interesting to read the reviews that are posted about this place. People either love it or absolutely hate it. It sounds like there are some problems with consistency of product and service. I must have gone on a good day. My brother in law and I are on the hunt for the best Rueben. His favorite is this place in Goose Hollow, but Kornblatts is my new favorite. When I see my sandwich , the first question I should be asking myself is "How the heck and I going to put this in my mouth." The sandwich is giant with gorgeous tasty meat stacked so high there is no way you will look attractive eating it. When I order I ask for dressing on the side. I forgot this time and the dressing was the perfect amount and not overwhelming. I also love that they offer the Rachel. Sauerkraut has it's place, but if I can avoid it I do. I love the bucket o pickles at the table while you wait for your food to come. Based on the negative reviews, it doesn't seem like any of them got their pickles. Again, sounds like a consistency problem.
(5)Hannah G.
My mom has been taking me here since we first moved to Portland in the mid 90's and I LOVE it here. It's very authentic, no nonsense east coast style eating. If you are looking to be babied and pandered to by your waitress/waiter, go somewhere else. They have a huge variety of options and I've never been disappointed with the food. They also do catering. I think this is a great Portland landmark and love how it hasn't changed with how fancy NW 23rd has become. Also, the buckets of pickles on the tables make it a truly awesome experience.
(4)Megan M.
Great bagels, not so great coffee. Stopped in to see if the bagels were boiled then baked, and was happy to see and taste delicious bagels. However, coffee was pretty shady/truck stop worthy.
(4)Erika W.
I am in mourning...truly, I am! Kornblatt's was my go-to sandwich place for so long and then - ?? I don't know what happened. It's like the owner died AND there was another Great Depression AND there was some kind of Mad Cow/Chicken with Club Feet/Pork Phlegm scare sweeping the nation... perhaps even a sad, debilitating Produce Becoming PlayDoh Phenomenon taking hold of our country. I just don't know? How long have I been away? Kornblatt's used to stand for fresh, mile-high abundance of real New York Jewish deli style sandwiches...not the shivering, limping, slinking-off-into-the-night-ashamed, sorry excuse for a sandwich that they are currently serving the good people of Portland in their place. For $13 ?!? I ask you, Kornblatt's, really? Are times that tough that you can embarrass your hard working wait staff and the trusting, loyal, long-standing customer base to put up with the rinds and remnants and thin, pathetic, barely edible scraps you now try to pass off as food...all to save a nickel here or a dime there? Shame on you, Kornblatt's. A Portland institution and true New York Jewish deli no longer. Hang your head for the fifty cents you've saved. L'chaim. ....mazel tov.
(1)Thomas H.
I only really eat club sandwiches and they do a club with pastrami. I've probably eaten in excess of 800 club sandwiches in the past 22 years and this is a naughty little club. Triple layered. Filling how it should be. Urgh
(5)Tara L.
I really wanted to love this place (since I'm from NY and all). I got the pavorotti sandwich (roast beef provolone veggies and coleslaw). Now when u go to a true NY kosher deli the sandwiches are piled high with meat and cheese def not the case here. My sandwich had more veggies then roast beef and when I pointed out to the waitress ( she said that's the way it's suppose to be). Omg to make things worse they serve u pickles in a jar that are amazing but come to find out when u don't eat them all they just put more in and serve them to another table.....omg that's gross and I would think that's not a good practice according to the health department. So this place gets three starts because the konish was bad ass and the Bloody Mary cured my hangover.
(3)Tyler Jahmal Z.
The service is always amazing and the specials are always good. How can you beat a great cup of deli coffee and some fresh bagels!
(5)H M.
This place had a fun vibe. Whoever made the egg cream when I ordered before was on point. I don't think that the sandwiches are great, but they do when you are in the mood. They have Dr. Brown's and lox bagels so you know I'm there.
(4)Iakovsko ..
I've been dying to try this place for months. Finally made it in for lunch, and had an interesting time. The waitress, an adorable though flustered girl, was prompt and super polite. She forgot a few things, like drinks amd pickles (DELICIOUS) but overall was a sweetheart. She even admitted it was her first morning shift, and admittedly we did come in during a rush. Food wise, we shared a knish (amazing. Even better with the deli mustard), and I can't speak for my comrades, but I ordered the hot pastrami and a cup of matzo ball soup. Pros: amazing flavor on the pastrami, tasty matzo ball. Cons: wasn't hot, and the broth was kinda bland. At one point, after my friend had cut his food, a blonde woman snatched the plate away without so much as an excuse me (his knife was literally still in process of cutting). Just "that's not yours". When I brought it up to the original waitress (I'm sorry I forgot your name, but I'm a fan!)she got a look of "oh. Yeah. That's her". Overall, it was a bit pricey (50 for 3), and that blonde lady rubbed me the wrong way, but we all have off days. I will definitely be back.
(3)T C.
We went to Kornblatt's for Mother's Day. with a friend. My mother said my grandparents had owned a deli in the 1930s, and it reminded her of home. The environment is authentic, and cozy. We had delicious food. Since we do not often eat red meat for health reasons, we always try to get the top quality and that is what we had! The corned beef sandwich was fantastic. The pastrami was so so good! The brisket sandwich special was the best in my opinion. We had latkes and they were wonderful though I would prefer them without the flour on the outside which make them a little stiffer than I would like. It is not traditional to put flour on the outside that way and for them to be so stiff. The egg cream my friend had was delicious. The chocolate seltzer water was wonderful. My mother said it was like what they used to have 80 years ago! The coffee I had was perfect. The sandwiches were too large for one person so we each took half home. My mother and I enjoyed a second meal that was as good as the first at home the next day. The big container of pickles was fantastic. I ate lots, and enjoyed it. They did not have bread for my wheat intolerant friend, which could easily be remedied by having a loaf or two in the freezer for such people. My mother LOVED going, and we plan to return in the near future to share a sandwich. The prices were about what I expected to pay, and not too bad considering the quality. The service was friendly and efficient.
(4)Anjelah S.
Busy, busy, busy with no place to sit. We had to order "To Go" since it was so packed. Deli style atmosphere. I ordered a BYOB= Build your own Bagel for $6.50 Lettuce, tomato, turkey and onion. Bagel was a bit tough for my liking, but overall was ok. Nothing special. Moving on.....
(3)Paul K.
I was hesitant to try this place because the reviews are quite polarized. I'm happy I did take the plunge. Service was friendly and responsive despite a packed house. The whitefish/nova combo was solid, tasting fresh. The bagels were also good. The matzo ball soup tasted authentic, with the right texture that proves elusive at many establishments. And the pickles were delicious. No, it's not Katzes or Russ and Daughters. But I wasn't in the LES so I'm not complaining. Wouldn't hesitate to go back to get my Jewish deli fix when I find myself in Portland.
(4)Erin D.
I just ate here with my husband and 2 close friends, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. To start our server was an authentic genuine nice person, who was eager to help us and excited about the wonderful food, that's always awesome. Everything was correct, swift and delicious, definitely one of my favorite experiences.
(5)Kayla D.
Place isn't too shabby. They don't sell pork products (obvi) and there are like 6 tables so expect a wait. The service was alright but the omelette was fantastic. Had the lox & cream cheese one. Highly recommended.
(4)Asher B.
I totally get the New York thing having lived there - and I see the New York thing as actually not rude, but more to the point, not fluffing things up with niceties. That said, this doesn't work for everyone. I saw 2 people leave over counter rudeness - though the man that is usually at the counter is warm and delightful. I have been in in the past to grab a coffee and little items to go. However, when I went in recently I had 45 minutes to eat my breakfast before I had to leave. As time ticked on - 25 minutes after I arrived I placed my order, and told the waitress I had to get my order to go at that point. Through trying to pay, waiting for my meal, I never received my breakfast- showed up left for my appointment and failed to get my $4 tip back. Still would stop by for a coffee to go.
(1)PL A.
The only thing, in my opinion, that resembles an actual jewish deli in this place is the sign that says it and the interior. After that, the food was horrible. I have been to enough incredible delis in NYC, LA and Chicago to be able to say that this doesn't remotely compare. Ordered the matzo ball soup...very oily tasting and the matzos themselves tasted old and flavorless. As a matter of fact, once the soup sat for a few minutes, the oil started to separate so that you could see it at the top of the bowl. Pastrami sandwich on rye...I can tell you that I'm surprised that anyone would even serve a sandwich like that. Very little pastrami at all (which probably was a good thing because it didn't look or taste like any pastrami I've ever eaten before. Hard swiss cheese. Even the jewish rye was as bland as I've ever had...almost like old white bread with a few rye seeds. The rye at the supermarket is much better. This place is tasteless and expensive and trying to pass itself off as a jewish deli...and trust me, we were hoping for it to be good. Wouldn't consider going back.
(1)Shauna M.
An old favorite, which has been around a long time, and always tasty sandwiches! Great selection of sandwiches, drinks and desserts. Great to sit outside in good weather and excellent service!!!
(5)Jane G.
I've been to Kornblatt's several times in the past, not because it was anything to write home about but it was an adequate facsimile for my beloved delis back home in NYC. However, this past week, my fiancé and I drove across town to have a rare lunch together and walked in just as two guys were vacating a table. The female server told us we would be seated there as soon as she was done cleaning the table which she was in the process of doing. We smiled, thanked her and chatted happily while we waited. Suddenly, right under our noses, she sat a couple of people who had just walked in at the table she promised us! When we asked what was going on, she responded with a shrug, a "sorry, sucks to be you... But I'm not that sorry" attitude and we were told we would need to wait for another table once one opened up. Her completely unapologetic attitude floored me! We walked out and both said our goodbyes to Kornblatt's and their mediocre food/experience. "New York Style" should not be code for rudeness and crummy customer service. Its offensive to this native Brooklynite.
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