BNO at Ettinger's Deli

Apparently the formatting is screwed up on a Mac on Safari. I don't know if it's Safari or the Mac. If you have a Mac, go buy a PC. Ha Ha!!


A few guys get together several times a year for dinner. This week it was Ettinger's Deli in Lasalle. We've been doing this for a few years now and aside from the good eating, we get together for the laughs, revelations on getting older, we try to keep up-to-date on Dave and Norman's curling exploits and what's going on at Trinity United Church. On this occasion we were missing one regular. Sorry Dave, you missed a good one. The goal is to visit new restaurants (like Ettingers) and old favourites (those that are still around from our youth). There are dietary restrictions and/or preferences to take into consideration, so a deli is never a bad idea. We plan the dates around our schedules (which is a problem during curling season) and meet every 4-6 weeks.

Ettingers Deli is a new restaurant, 2nd generation family in the Montreal restaurant scene. The previous generation (Saul Ettinger) owned Briskets, Il Etait Un Fois and Linguini. With that heritage we had to check it out. 

The decor is subdued, almost dark. It was a quiet night in January, but it was busy enough. One of the co-owners stopped by and he mentioned that Thursday and Friday are much busier, but this is the quiet time of the year.

They have been open for a few months and are concentrating on preparing small quantities of high quality smoked meat. Their deli counter is not yet open and large quantities must be ordered in advance. On one occasion, a customer ordered 10 platters (5 lb. of smoked meat) and wiped them out.

Gary T., Tony, Gary K. and Norman hoisting a few at Ettingers.

Tony's choice, The Classic Luxenburger. Reminds us of Il Etait Un Foi 

I think Tony was impressed. As the web-site says:  In a standalone building in heart of Old Montreal at a time when it was a relative ghost town, Saul pioneered a new phenomenon. When McDonald's was selling burgers for as little as $0.60, Saul decided it was time to introduce Montreal to a gourmet half-pound burger at $5. In those days, the thought of a burger for $5 was ludicrous. Yet, within a short few weeks, Il Etait Un Fois attracted huge line-ups and rave reviews.  


Gary K remembers this as a good date restaurant. I just remember it as one of the best burgers I had ever eaten. We weren't sold on the idea of a basket and paper, but it is a deli and even Gordon Ramsey does that at Laurier BBQ.

Gary K's choice, the platter. Looks like Gary's wall of condiments protects his smoked meat from Tony's burger.  He also had a starter of Gravlox. 

 To which one of the guys asked, "What's a gravlox?" (Swedish style, cured salmon) Gary ordered a platter with no fries. This is 1/2 pound of the "fat" cut. The smoked meat is made by Ettingers following the Brisket's recipe. Again from the web-site: Brisket's smoked meat was not only homemade, but it was NEVER pumped. What does this mean you ask? Most smoked meat in Montreal and elsewhere was and still is prepared with briskets that are pumped with phosphates and a preponderance of nitrates and sodium. ... Briskets' smoked meat was made with UNpumped briskets using a tightly-held secret recipe. They were dry-cured the truly old-fashioned way over a period of 2 to 3 weeks producing superior smoked meat. This tradition continues at Ettingers and results in mouth watering smoked meat.

Norman and I both had the Reuben.

Norman had a starter of light battered, calamari with a spicy sauce for dipping. Thanks for sharing! I had a side of onion rings, I had to taste the Guinness beer batter. Both the calamari and rings were fantastic, worth going back for. I've had Reuben sandwiches in almost every deli in Montreal and this is the best. In some places they add another slice of bread between the meat and the sauerkraut, who needs the extra slice of rye. Norman and I both thought this sandwich was great. 

Here's a picture from Gary's side of the table.

I didn't get a picture of Gary T's smoked meat sandwich (Saul's Original Home Made Smoked Meat Sandwich), but it looked every bit as good. I'll let Gary post a picture and comment, maybe he's already done that in Facebook. 

This is one place we will return to:

• Better than Lesters (we all agreed on this one)
• Closer (geographically) than Smoked Meat Pete's, better decor. I wouldn't be shy to take a date here.
• Better than Jarry Smoked Meat (comment from Gary T needed here)
• Better than Dunn's
• Better than Chenoy's (but they've really been terrible for a while)
• Service was better than all of the above places and so was the decor. A slightly upscale deli is the way I'd describe it.

I'd ask Tony to comment on his burger, but I'm not sure he w/could.

I forgot to mention that there were plenty of TVs around so that you can watch your favourite sporting event or Food Channel show. Whatever Food Channel show was on had Paris as a backdrop, so that held my attention. Of course the sports stations had continuous Cammalleri video clips as he had just been traded back to Calgary. I liked him and hope he has a better end of the season than his beginning.

Guys, it's your turn to wade in and let me know how you feel.

Web site:  http://www.ettingers.ca/en/index.php 

Next BNO is scheduled for Leap Day, the venue is Restaurant Jane in Little Burgundy.