Frelard’s Long-Planned Jewish Deli Should Open This Summer

Schmaltzy’s Delicatessen, the long-awaited restaurant spin-off of the Napkin Friends food truck, should finally open this summer in the West Woodland neighborhood — in an area most people know as Frelard. The restaurant is in the final stages of construction, says owner Jonathan Silverberg, and should soon be serving classic deli items like housemade pastrami, corned beef, reuben sandwiches, and lox. The deli will also double as a prep space for Napkin Friends’ latke press sandwiches, as well as Silverberg’s catering operations.

Silverberg started construction on the restaurant at 928 NW Leary Way back in October of 2017, with plans to open in December 2018 or January 2019. But, like many such projects in the Seattle area, delays from “permitting and general construction annoyances” set things back. “While it is taking considerably longer that I had hoped the space is shaping up to look amazing and I am chomping at the bit to open and share it with everyone,” Silverberg says.

Schmaltzy’s will join a handful of other Jewish delis that have opened in the area, including Zylberschtein’s in North Seattle, Dingfelder’s on Capitol Hill. Just down the road from Schmaltzy’s is long-running Roxy’s Diner, which also specializes in New York and Jewish deli staples.

• Napkin Friends’ Deli Spin-Off Finds a Home in Frelard [ESEA]
• Napkin Friends [Facebook]
• All Coverage of Schmaltzy’s Delicatessen [ESEA]