Ruven’s (Delray Beach)
***** Ruven’s, 13800 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33484, (561) 499-9003.
Bingo!— Home Run!
If you are looking for a terrific-New York Kosher Style Deli—your wish has been answered. Say hello, to Ruven’s which opened last Wednesday in Delray Beach. For right now, the joint is open 7 days a week from 8am-3pm—look for “dinner” to be added sometime in late March.
Just some background info… “this” Ruven’s is owned by Steve Ratinetz who in the mid 1990’s-2003 owned/operated Ruven’s in Plainview, New York—which was an absolutely terrific kosher deli. My January 25, 2011 Ruven’s of Long Island writeup- has more “history” if you are a history-buff.
You know and I know, that South Florida has more bagel delis than you can shake a stick at…just for the record, Ruven’s is not and I repeat the word NOT, a bagel deli. For sure, it has the requisite “500” types of bagels, bialys and onion boards—that said, this joint is all about pastrami- corned beef- brisket- turkey- stuffed derma- potato pancakes- blintzes, chopped liver-stuffed cabbage-fried kreplach-matzo ball soup—that rival the best stuff served in NYC, Chicago…or for that matter, anywhere that you formerly called home.
If there is one thing that Jeff Eats knows—it’s good deli.
This afternoon, in no particular order– I did a “taste test” of pastrami, corned beef, brisket, turkey off the bone, matzo ball soup, cabbage soup, stuffed derma, potato pancakes, chopped liver. fried kreplach…absolutely delicious.
Based on Jeff Eats’ “maiden outing”—I’m putting Ruven’s right up there with South Florida’s best New York Kosher Style Delis. Throw-in huge portions at reasonable prices…and I can’t see Ruven’s not quickly developing an enormous following.
You now know about a terrific deli—this one is a keeper!
Ate at Ruven’s and it was GREAT! The service was excellent, the ambiance was relaxing and the food was better than any of the other ‘deli’s’ I’ve been to in South FL. Actually, it was better than the ones we liked up north. Keep up the great work, great food and great service.
Great food very friendly and this place is a keeper
was there on friday.
food was very good.
loved the potato pancakes.
Ate there last week…Matzoh brie…it was awful, mushy and tasteless. I sent it back and had a bagel, cream cheese, and bacon. The bagel was excellent, but I’ve had better quality bacon in nearby “delis”. The service was excellent and when I left I was told I was to receive no check because owners do not like people not to like the food served. Good business, I’d say. I’ll go back and try something els.
Disappointed with Ruven’s. I was expecting something really special with their deli but found National Deli and Hebrew National products instead. You can get these products at virtually any deli or bagel joint in SoFla. There was nothing to distinguish their deli from anyone else. Bring back Pastrami Queen.
If Pastrami Queen wa so great why did they go out of business?
Not to butt into anyone’s private business, but I heard that PQ went out of business because the husband and wife divroced.
Bradley, Pastrami Queen has reopened as Pastrami Princess in Coconut Creek.
I know Ruven’s from LI. It was very good. Tried it this morning. Bagels were okay but nothing great. Loved my western omelette.
If the deli meats and potato pancakes are anything like th LI use to have, they will be amazing.
Ruven’s is going to break the bad luck that the other restaurants suffered from at this location. It’s a winner. The owner and staff bend over backwards to please. The food is fantastic. It’s about time we have the restaurant that we deserve. Stop whining about the start up gripes and give them a chance to get their act together. We finally can get a meal that rivals the best in the NY area. Congratulations to all involved.
tried and really liked it.
did breakfast and it as good if not better than the others around.
You got maybe a dozen places that you can go.
flakowitz, ben’s, 3 g’s, gramercy, bagel works, nestor’s come to mind. you now have ruven’s in the mix.
i have eaten in all of the above including ruven’s.
ruven’s is a deli and the others are bagel places.
the lunch i had of brisket and potato pancake at ruven’s was excellent.
i also tried its derma with brown gravy and it was as good as the derma i use to hav eback in queens some 50 years ago.
ruven’s could be come the big player here.
I too owned a deli on the east side of NY many years ago, so I know what it means to have an exellent Deli like Ruevens here in Delray Beach. Have eaten there since it opened and have not been disappointed with the food and the service. Its about time we have a hamish place to enjoy good food.
We’ve been to Ruven’s and not only was the service
great but so was the food. Good is Good.
We’ll enjoy breakfast and lunch for now, but can’t wait for them to serve dinners.
Wishing Steve the best.
count me and the wife in as a ruven’s fan.
still got some service bugs but the food is on the money.
I and my wife have lived in Delray Beach for over 25 years. We have eaten in most of the bagel and deli restaurants in the area. What we have found, is most of them are pretty much the same. Gramercy, Flakowitz, 3 G’s, Way Beyond Bagels, Bagelworks, Netsor’s, Bagel Twins, Bagels With, the list goes on and on.
We tried Ruven’s the other day for lunch. Steve the owner is all over the place making sure that this totally new operation runs okay.
At his insistence he had us try his potato pancakes. You can do what you want, all I can tell you, they were the best that we’ve had in 25 years and that includes Ben’s in Boca and Pastrami Queen that use to be in Boca. We also had a piece of kishka with brown gravy, same story on that.
We can’t wait to see what Ruven’s can do when it becomes a dinner restaurant.
Jeff correctly said that this isn’t a bagel place, this is a real DELI.
Had a chef salad for lunch today. It was
prepared exactly how I asked for. The honey
dijon mustard was the best I have ever had.
My waitress was very attentive and was very
cheery. Everyone around me seemed to be
enjoying their lunches and saying how good
everything tasted.
Went to Ruven’s Deli today and was glad to see they have Hebrew National corned beef
and pastrami as I don’t like National Deli meats. Everything we ate was fresh and delicious. We even brought home a quart of
mushroom barley soup and a quart of cabbage soup. Both soups were absolutely the best we’ve had. Can’t wait for them to be opened for dinner! I think Stuart meant to say
honey dijon dressing not honey dijon mustard.
Just love this restaurant. The food is excellent, the service is great and the owner Steve is friendly and concerned that his patrons are enjoying the food Can’t wait until Seve opens it for dinner. It will be excellent as is his breakfasts and lunches. Keep up the good work.
Best deli in the area and that goes for Ben’s and 3 G’s.
Something huge is being developed here.
Can’t wait to see what they turn out for dinner as lunch and breakfast are excellent.
Tried Ruven’s for breakfast this morning. Delicious western omlete, bagel, home fries.
Jeff:
I tried Ruven’s for breakfast the other day and thought that it was very good. Hopefully, this isn’t a jinxed location because several others failed in the same spot.
Based on my first time, I will be back and will recommend to my friends.
food was fine. breakfast service on the shaky side.
this one has good food and good service.
i ate in all of the others that were there before and their food was only fair.
i dont see any reason why ruven’s shouldnt make it.
looking for them to open for dinner.
Jeff, You have to try The New York Big Apple Deli in North Miami Beach across from Costco. Mike the owner is great and the Chef Dale and I mean Chef is amazing!!! His soups are the absolute best you will ever have. And the Chicken Francaise OMG!!!
A group of us had lunch and we all agreed that the food was very good. A nice addition to the neighborhood.
Jeff, two of my favorite deli items are derma and potato pancakes. Tried Ruven’s and they are some of the best I’ve eaten. I also had a pastrami sandwich, it was okay but it could have been better. The best pastrami I’ve had in this area was at the Pomperdale. Patrami Queen and Ben’s were close seconds.
Based on my first Ruven’s I think it has a very good shot at making it in a spot where others have failed.
Definitely going to be back again.
a group of us did breakfast yesterday. ruven’s is as good as any of the bagel delis in the area.
we are looking forward to its dinner menu.
Good for breakfast.
Nice looking store.
Help!-Depressing surroundings, watery cabbage soup, decent pastrami sandwich, good fries not great (Bens much better)- mediocre service- I dont believe I caught a bad day, I believe the great reviews are from those out in the sun too long
I had breakfast with my lady friends, found the atmosphere a little cold. Tables are on top of each other like a cafeteria. Food was OK. Their bagels come to them in bags so they are not baked fresh like some of the other restaurants. The waitress had an attitude for some reason. Maybe just a bad day. Not our favorite.
wow if they are trying to compete with bens, they are no where close. this place is going to close soon just like the delis that were here before it. Also that owner steve or whatever his name was should stay in the back where he belongs. I have a server for a reason. i came to eat breakfast (unfortunately) not to talk to him and lie to pretend to like his “wonderful” food. NOT
ate here with my friend for brunch and the food was horrible! THEY BRING THE BAGEL OUT BEFORE THE FOOD! Who wants to eat there bagel/grits/oatmeal before the eggs? Not like it really mattered though cause the spanish omelette i had tasted like microwaved rubber eggbeaters and my husbands chicken salad waldorf salad was disgusting, i would have rather ate breakfast at McDonalds. AND to top it all off, the host was rude as well as the owner. and the service was nonexistent. My server anne also paid no attention to me.
enjoyed both breakfast and lunch. looks to me like some here are just bashing for no reason.
We tried Ruven’s for the first time. Prices are more expensive than 3G’s or Gramercy and definately not worth it. My eggs were way over done and no one seemed interested in fixing them. My bagel was hard or stale. My husband did not receive what he ordered and was really upset. What’s wrong with this location that brings only amateur operators?
Sounds like some competitor(s) are trying to convince others to stay away.
Sorry!
Delicious eggs etc.
Very pleasant service.
Pleasant owner (Steve).
As for bagels, obviously they come from a local distributor. Not bad at all.
average bagel/deli. nothing more or less.
the food is fair.
the decor, old lady home depressing.
I have not eaten here yet but plan on trying it. I believe 1 or 2 of the past owners had no clue in running a restaurant and went out of business.
The problem with deli’s around here is that people come from NY and expect that it’s Fl and things should be MUCH cheaper, LARGER portions and heck their on vacation so they better be catered to even if their nasty, Their doing Fl a favor by being here so the restaurant better cater away or they will blab it all around.
If this place is any where near the quality it was in Plainview they will make out fine. We HATE 3G’s. Food is just ok-wait is crazy long but it’s got a reputation, so people flock there.
To tell you the truth, I ate breakfast there the first week that they were opened. The breakfast was fair, same for the service. Nothing special. Just like the rest of the bagel places around here.
any place to find the menu for delray
ruth, the sun sentinel had a passover holiday menu. hope that helps.
we are going to order from ruven’s this year.
going to give them a try.
we use to eat at plainview store and it was very good.
ate dinner. one of the best deli restaurants in the area, as good as 3 gs, poppies, bens.
Jeff,
With the recent closing of Pastrami Queen in Boca, my wife and I hd been hard pressed to find a real good NY Kosher Style deli food.
The other night we tried Ruven’s and we now don’t have to look any further.
Huge delicious sandwiches, derma and potato pancakes like the ones we remember from our days in Queens.
We highly recommend Ruven’s to anyone looking for top deli food.
I thought it was a good deli also but found that they have a long list of Health Dept. violations which were listed in the newspaper. That was enough to turn me away.
hey linda g, your nuts. the place just opened. no way the health dept was there, you are just making up that bs.
big thick pastrami on rye sandwich with french fries, delicious.
Really enjoyed Ruven’s for dinner.
Terrific matzo ball soup, Rumanian steak.
As good as anything in the area.
have been a watress for 30yrs. have worked in ruvens when it was locks. this ius much better.i would love to work there.
Ruven’s runs circles around all of the other delis that have been in its spot over the past few years.
I have to rate Ruven’s up there with the best in the area.
Recently had Ruven’s chopped liver. It was delicious. Same for its potato pancakes.
Friends had Ruven’s food for Passover seder. Delicious turkey and brisket.
Last night we had Passover seder at our friends house. The food came from Ruven’s and the Boy’s Market. Ruven’s turkey, brisket, potato kugel were delicious. Ruven’s chopped liver was one of th best that my husband and I have ever had. the Boy’s stuffed cabbage was terrific. The baked goods also came from the Boys and they were very good.
Over the years we have made seder in our home and have eaten at others. Last night’s food was some of the best we have had.
This new deli is very good.
Last night had matzo ball soup and brisket which was as good as any other place around the area.
Ruven’s still got a few kinks to workout, but all and all the food and service are as good as most of the delis in the neighborhood.
ruven’s definitely has a shot to make it.