Jewish deli offers traditional recipes and a taste of 'home' with new Westchester location
At a time when kosher delicatessens are closing more than opening, Epsteins, which has been in Hartsdale since 1969, has a second location.
Their Somers spot, which opened June 9, has the same nostalgic vibe and Old School menu as Hartsdale (think pastrami on rye, knishes, matzoh ball soup and latkes), but is smaller, with about 40 seats as opposed to 125.
Dale Stasi, who's owned the Hartsdale Epsteins since 2008, said she's long familiar with the area as her parents, who previously ran the business with her and her husband, Chris, used to live nearby in Heritage Hills.
"This was an ideal location for us," said Stasi. "The community has been near and dear to our family so when we saw the opportunity to open here, we grabbed it." (The space had been a Mexican restaurant.)
Dig in: Westchester restaurant scene heats up with 19 new spots this summer. See the list
The history of Epsteins goes back to the Bronx when Seymour Epstein opened his first deli on Jerome Avenue in 1952. At one point he and his family owned five restaurants, including on Long Island and in Westchester. Along the way he sold them, including — in 2008 — to the Stasis who ran them with Dale's parents Robert DeGroat and Marion Rainone. (The Yonkers location, which closed last May, had, since 2008, not been affiliated with the Hartsdale location.)
"In New York alone there used to be 500 kosher restaurants," said DeGroat. "Now there are less than 500 in the country."
Still, Stasi believes it's a viable business. "The amount of people that have told us how happy they are we opened and how the food feels like their childhood has been overwhelming."
"There's a strong sense of heritage in this cuisine and it's important that we keep it alive."
That means traditional recipes that date back to the Bronx like stuffed cabbage, noodle kugel, potato latkes, kishke (also known as stuffed derma), kreplach, Hungarian goulash and brisket.
More: Summer eats: Our food reporter's picks include Lower Hudson Valley's best lobster and more
And, of course, pastrami, corned beef and brisket, the three of which are top sellers. Instructions on the menu advise diners to tell their server if they want their meat carved traditional (naturally fatty, juicy and full of flavor), trimmed (meaning some fat is removed) or first cut, which is super lean.
For a taste of all three, they also offer a knish made with a mixture of each. Stasi is also particularly proud of their hot dogs which are another top seller.
In a nod to the family that created it all, you'll also find Grandma's Trio (derma, cabbage and a meatball) which references Seymour's mother. Stasi said since Seymour (since deceased) started the company with his wife Gloria (also deceased) and brothers, there have only been three owners: Seymour, his nephew and the Stasis.
And now new generations have found — and enjoyed — their food, with a lot of customers coming from Hartsdale or remembering them from when their bar or bat mitzvah was catered by Epsteins.
"There's a comfort in going back to your roots," said Stasi. "These are traditional recipes that have been passed down for generations and I think people appreciate that.
"It's like a little taste of home."
Address: 325 Route 100 (in Somers Centre), Somers, 914-556-6393, epsteinsdeli.com.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (subject to change).
Good to Know: Outdoor dining to come.
Have you been to Hartsdale? Epsteins' original location is at 387 Central Ave., (Dalewood Shopping Center), 914-428-5320.
Want more info on dining in the lower Hudson Valley? My weekly newsletter is free — and often includes behind-the-scenes deets I don't always share in my stories. Sign up at profile.lohud.com/newsletters/manage.
Also, if you have news on restaurant openings or closings — or just want to say hi —email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Epsteins in Somers NY: Jewish deli opens second Westchester location
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