Bendely's on Jefferson

I joined my husband for lunch yesterday near his office on Fulton. We were looking for places in the neighborhood, but didn't want to spend the $$$ on Blackbird. I noticed a Deli with a big sign for Lox in the window.

Bendely's....hmmm. Why don't we check it out. We found a naturally lit - lofty space filled with patio furniture (umbrellas and all) and a few formica booths. The ambiance is a little odd. (Big ceramic parrots in metal milk crate cages)

The place only had a few patrons. The menu was extensive. Make your own sandwich, a variety of concoctions they have come up with - many including coleslaw as a condiment, and a large variety of wraps.

They also had signs proclaiming homemade soups, seafood gumbo and jambalaya.

We ordered a small jambablaya with rice and shrimp (optional, but not extra) this came with a small side salad (iceber, tomatoes and cucumbers - homemade dressing of choice). The jambalaya had lots of shredded ham, Big shrimp, it was rich and dark, and a little spicy. it was truly wonderful

DH had the New Yorker - warm pastrami, swiss and coleslaw on dark rye. Delicious! Their coleslaw has a hint of horseradish that made the whole sammich pop.

I had the Gobbler - Turkey, swiss and coleslaw on an onion roll. Here the coleslaw was a little overpowering...I would not order it again.

I am usually wary of wraps - but I saw them make one....they were HUGE. and they toast them in the toaster oven.

I'm used to the impersonal downtown sammich shop - potbelly's/jimmy john's/subway...these people were so warm and nice...I'd trek back up there even if my husband didn't work a block away.


So if you're in the fulton river district and don't want to drop $40 on lunch at blackbird - visit bendely's.

Oh and they have a HUGE breakfast menu too. The baked goods all looked homemade - the corn muffin with our jambalay was crisp and sweet.

http://www.bendelysdelicatessen.com/

135 N. Jefferson Street
Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: 312-441-0001
Fax: 312-441-0148

Bendely's was a usual stop of mine when I was working in that area. Rather than cramming into the train station's food court with the rest of the masses, I'd usually grab something from there. Breakfast was my usual meal, and it was okay. But their menu (and their portions) are huge, and the people who own/run it are super nice folks.