by Sarah Steimer
Our neighborhood here in Chicago – Andersonville – has tons and tons of great places to eat in various price ranges, styles and cuisines. But at the end of the day, what’s better than a good old-fashioned deli up the street?
I visited: JB’s Deli, which makes it very clear that it is “One of a few Jewish delis” (according to at least two signs and its website). The deli shares a space with Gordono Pharmacy, which is in the back of the store. I love the interior, it has all these cool, old-school design features such as tin ceiling tiles, exposed brick, retro lights and hexagon floor tiles. There are only a few seats out front, but there’s extra seating in the back. If you hit the deli around lunchtime, you can catch lots of regulars filing in and out for their sandwiches.
It’s like the mullet of stores: Business in the front… pharmacy in the back?
I tried: A pumpernickel bagel with vegetable schmear, a small side of egg salad and a can of ginger ale (I never drink pop, but this felt right).
Why it stood out: Are you kidding me? It’s a Jewish deli — which means you’re likely going to get a pretty fantastic bagel and/or pastrami sandwich. This bagel/schmear combination is my go-to at JB’s. Even at noon the bagels still taste pretty fresh, and the schmear is probably my all-time favorite. The egg salad, I will say, was just eh.
It cost: For the bagel, side and drink, a grand total of $5.98 (right under the bell!).
Find out more:
JB’s Deli, Inc.
I’ve also had a couple of sandwiches at the deli (turkey and pastrami – delish), but next on my list to try is the chili.
*$6 Snacks is a recurring feature that reviews an area eatery’s snack — for $6 or less. Look at a map of the places we’ve tried. Help our map grow by submitting your own review. Find out how!
