Steve’s Deli

Update-there’s action at Steve’s; appears the communication about new concept and Spring 2013 re-​opening is true! I observed several construction workers working inside, doing work. Cannot wait to see what happens, and hope the old management (who was ok with me) are doing well in their future endeavors. Lots of local speculation on what the new concept will be, name, cuisine, all of that. Cool to have this much neighborly interaction and buzz in River North!
In the meantime will keep everyone posted on developments with the new Steve’s. Off to the gym!

I have a confession and an apology to make to Steve’s Deli. Although I stand behind my previous review that your sandwiches are way too expensive and not the best… i must admit I have been going to Steve’s a couple times per month since then for their bagels with cream cheese and/​or lox. I’ve learned to lower my NY food standards here in Chicago, and the bagel/​lox combo was a pretty tasty breakfast considering all other options in the area. Soooo I walked over to Steve’s today to get my fix, and saw that it was closed. As I was eating my mediocre breakfast sandwich from Starbucks across the street staring Steve’s Deli right in the face, I started to feel really bad that I had not updated my review sooner.
I hope they’re actually reopening their doors in the Spring like the sign says…

I like it.
BUT…I wish they had more healthy options.
Please guys… offer some lower-​calorie desserts and some gluten-​free fare. Dieters want to enjoy some creative options, too…
The one good and healthy thing that I always order is their Ali Salad. It is really awesome that they make it with egg whites! The irony is that Steve’s is a Jewish Deli, but it isn’t Kosher! What’s up with THAT?!
The portion sizes are GREAT, their prices are a bit high for a deli but their service is friendly.
The only thing that sucks is when I have a late night craving, they are closed!
The cleanliness is definitely Kosher. So clean! I really love it.
The retro feel décor makes it a great addition to the ‘hood.

Today was my first visit to Steve’s Deli.
And. I did like Steve’s.
Here are the high points.
A very nice prepared food selection which included
a roasted turkey dinner which was really good.
Fresh green beans and roasted sweet potatoes on the side.
Other tasty selections such as Cranberry Chicken and
Turkey Meatloaf.
Everything looked really fresh and smelled really good
upon entering the deli.:)
A brownie which was humongous and so rich.
tasted more like a piece of fudge.
So good. and I needed this chocolate because
I have had a really crappy week!
Many standard deli options as well, soups, sandwiches,
bagels, etc…
Okay the low points are as follows.
Incredibly high menu prices, granted my turkey dinner
was pretty good but. it came with a price of $ 16.79!
My Brownie was pretty phenominal too but.
was it worth the $ 5.00 menu price?
Now that I think about it the brownie could be worth
the $ 5.00. and yes. it was that good!
Upon entering Steve’s you will find prepared foods and
other deli choices, and towards the back you will find
bakery items like cupcakes and brownies.
Even found a chocolate bar titled” Emergency Chocolate“
I like this. no one knows when they will need their
chocolate fix. especially me!
And. Steve’s is located very near the East Bank Club.
which is a place I love.
So. honestly, I probably wont be returning to Steve’s anytime
soon. just too expensive!
‘Except for my brownie fix.
I’d better start saving my pennies.:)

To all the naysayers out there, make your complaints to the manager who is always walking around the dining room. He always asks me if things are OK and usually brings me something extra like more thousand island for my reuben.
I love the place.

Steve’s Deli is definitely a lot of fun. My company’s main office is at the Chicago Merchandise Mart and Steve’s is just a couple of blocks northwest. I’ve been there before, so this was a repeat visit, and I’m sure I’ll have more.
Steve’s model themselves after the Kosher-​style delis in New York. (It is definitely not Kosher.) They have more of a «glamorous» look, something like an old style diner. They have a large menu, filled with typical kosher-​style like pastrami and corned beef sandwiches (HUGE), kiska, knish’s, matzoh ball soup, and the like. I had a half a hot lean corned beef sandwich on rye with chicken noodle soup. You pay $ 1 extra for lean meat, and it wasn’t as lean as I had hoped, but it was tasty. The soup base was just okay, but the soup was filled with thin egg noodles. The crowning point of the soup was diced carrots which were cooked just enough to have a little crunch to them. It was a nice touch.
The service was not outstanding, and they are a little pricey for deli food, but the price is worth the experience.
And, you have to be hungry to go there. The meals are very large. My sandwich was probably five inches thick with corned beef.

Souper! They’re corned beef sandwich wasn’t worth writing home about, but the next time I’m sick with the flu I’m heading straight for this place. Their liquid lunches really hit the spot. Specifically the chicken with rice has a broth that will cure whatever”s ailing ya.
There’s a huge menu to get through of which I’m only just scratched the surface. It’s a tad expensive, but just on the soup alone I gotta say I think Steve’s is a lot better then it’s reviews have described thus far.

Even know the food is pretty good I can not get over the outrageous prices. I am sick and was craving some cabbage soup. I thought that a bowl of cabbage would be decent sized at $ 4. When I saw the guy packaging my order I was really bummed. I should have made the extra 5 minute walk to Taza. It’s now 1:30 and I am still hungry and feeling just as sick. Unless they drastically change their pricing and offer some sort of lunch specials I can’t see myself coming back.

Lately, I have been on a deli kick and have had my share of pastrami and corned beef. Surprisingly, Steve’s Deli surpasses a lot of them with quality and taste.
America has a long history with delicatessens but I found that tradition also meant some extra fat and grease. A sandwich piled high with fatty pieces of meat isn’t always so appetizing — especially for lunch when you work downtown. That’s not the case here at Steve’s. I had Steve’s Deli again today and ordered the hot corned beef and chicken liver combination. The sandwich came with onions, lettuce, tomato, Russian dressing, and a pickle. The vegetables are very much needed to help cut through all of the meat even though it was lean. To this day, it’s still one of my favorite deli sandwiches specifically for their chicken liver.
Come to Steve’s Deli for the quality and attention to detail but the cost is at a premium. For $ 12, you only get a sandwich and a pickle — no soup, salad, or drink included. At this price range, there is a lot to choose from in downtown Chicago for lunch. Then again, it’s worth paying the price for exceptional chicken liver. Well, I guess maybe not for everyone.

Steve’s Deli has amazing food and is managed by a caring group that take an active role in supporting their community. Last week, we held a professional development day for 50+ adolescent mothers that are members of the nonprofit New Mom’s Inc. Steve’s Deli generously donated delicious trays of pastries and bagels for the participants to enjoy. Your contribution is appreciated!

I have to say, stopped in here on a Monday… wanted to check it out and its close.
Well, they have a TON of choices. It looks like they have lots to take away too.
My impression, we dined in and the service was pretty poor.
The prices were ridiculous for what you got…$ 6.99 for a bowl of matzo ball soup with one matzo, small amount of chicken and carrots!!! HIL-​AIR-​IOUS. Also, $ 11 for a turkey ‘sandwich’ which came out in a wrap… it didnt say wrap on the menu? Oh plus, for the $ 11, there was NO side… RIDICULOUS.
The food was just OK
They do have a lot of ‘healthy’ choices… fat free chicken salad, low fat menu options for those of us that are trying to eat healthy.
I will not go back unless I have a 50% off coupon of some sort and then I will think about it. I have ate at other delis of this type (perry’s, manny’s, etc) and this is by far the most overpriced for what you get.
Bad service, Ok food, ridiculously overpriced… skip it and go somewhere else!!!

I can’t believe how bad some of the reviews are for this deli! I love it here! I’ve been here over 10 times and it is always great!
The corn beef sandwich is HUGE and while it is expensive it is enough for 2 people or 2 meals. The tuna, whitefish and lox is also great. The soup is also outstanding – matzah ball and mushroom barley. The only thing I have ever not loved was the omelets which was not fluffy at all.
**must have whitefish salad appetizer***
This place also has GREAT FOURSQUARE specials!!! Buy one lb from the deli, Get a lb free. Free soup on your first check in.
Service is fair – that is why I sometimes prefer to pick up and eat at home. I had one horrible experience and the rest have been good. For some reason it takes forever to get your check and have them bring it to you.

I just can’t eat sable, lox and whitefish salad more than about once annually, but oh what a great fress it is (yes, followed by plop plop fizz fizz).
Almost a year to the day from my last visit, we popped in for a late breakfast on our way from ORD to the hotel.
Trio platter: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Ok, so it’s expensive, whaddya gonna do about it?
Expect your meal to be large enough to split and there ya go, crisis averted! Split a big sandwich with a friend and get soup or something and you’ll be fine and it will be the same amount as the deli down the street.
Their turkey chili is legit, comes in a huge bowl (and an even bigger canister if you get it to go). Ask for a side of pita and you’re golden. Their «sides» are the size of a regular plate, so keep that in mind if you order the coleslaw. They DO have a «lighter side» part of the menu that is indeed lighter, but not necessarily on the wallet.
They have some amazing desserts-​truly A-​class material. The brownies have a little bit to be desired, but they’re huge enough to feed a small family of 5. They sell dark rye bread there, cookies, WHOLE cakes that make you have dreams about swimming in buttercream frosting, and cheesecake– a duh!
I would suggest carry out here – it’s the best bang for your buck ($) I have yet to try the matzoball soup, but I’m sure come December, I’ll be all over it.

I like Steve’s Deli. Every time I’ve been there I’ve had the same waitress and she is quirky, funny and attentive so I’ve not had any experience with bad service.
The cabbage rolls are great! I had them a couple times and turned a few friends onto them. They’re not as good as mom’s but they are good enough for me to order them over and over!
One day I ordered the Swanky Franky for more of a joke than anything. It was basically exactly what you would expect from a cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped, deep fried hot dog. It was good but I was worried I was going to keel over and die during lunch. I took it off the bun (that makes it health food, right?) and had a side of brussel sprouts rather than the potato.
The brussel sprouts were amazing but I don’t’ think they are regularly on the menu but are more of a daily veggie special. If you’re there and so are they you should for sure get them! Also, all of the other side dishes I’ve tried have been pretty good.
I agree that it’s a bit high priced but so is everything else in the area so it doesn’t shock me as bad as it has for some of the other reviewers. I’m looking forward to trying more things on Steve’s menu.

So 3 is for the dining experience. We were looking for a place to eat breakfast at 11 in the morning in the River North area. Places like Meli Café & Juice Bar-​which i LOVE-​had a 40 minute wait so we walked here instead.
I got the Breakfast Roll up which was scrambled egg with cheddar cheese, hash browns, and bacon rolled up in a tortilla for 8.29. The egg was folded like in a Mcdonald’s breakfast sandwich. The cheese was not melted in and stacked on top of the folded egg and tasted a day old. The hash brown was not tasted because there was only a teaspoon included in there. Plus, their was onions (which was not included on the menu with the item) but that, i didn’t care cause I like onions. The only good was the wheat toast which was the included side and coffee.
The young server was nice but didn’t know to much about the menu. I would rather eat a bagel at Starbucks or egg a breakfast muffin from Dunkin Donuts. This place was not worth it to eat breakfast at.
HOWEVER-​it is cute. They have a section in a the deli full of chocolate delights like cupcakes and chocolate covered rise krispies with sprinkles. I got a sample cookie on my way out the door. That was the best thing I ate there :)

Hi Steve,
Been here twice and enjoyed both of the salads I ordered — they were both very different from each other and interesting. The only problem is that each time I was there I ordered the same one…
I would try aiming for a more consistent product.
Thanks,
Neighbor

Last year I stopped in at the request of one of my clients. It looks like one of those old school deli’s with a nice amount of space. I got the egg salad sandwich and it was not so good.
Last week, that same client wanted to roll back over to Steve’s. I always said I would give it another chance, but never thought too much about it. We walked in with a party of 6 and they told us it would just be a moment. That worked out fine as we all wanted to look at the menu board and the food behind the glass. Everything looked great! The chicken schnitzel caught my eye and it also was on the menu as the day’s special. I went with that along with the grilled mixed vegetables. Really good dish!
Everyone within my party had very good looking plates (sandwiches, brisket and salads). They also have baked goods… I took a look at the cupcakes and they were huge. I will def have to add Steve’s Deli to my downtown lunch rotation

Steveo! Things are looking up for us again! I was walking my pup this evening and she pulled me in the direction of your large fabulously tasting cupcakes. Ok, ok. perhaps I pulled her in the direction of the cupcakes!
The plan was to take home a cupcake for dessert because I know I’d be craving something exciting after a boring frozen meal (sigh). Before getting to the cupcakes I stopped in front of your mushroom chicken and decided to give it a try. Moments later I walked out with one of your $ 13 dinners, which not only included a huge piece of mushroom chicken, but 2 sides (veggies and rice for me) AND a salad! I’ve been one of the «steve’s is too expensive» complainers in the past, but this is quite the deal! And so much yummier than a frozen meal!
It was so much food that I’m stuffed after eating just half of it, but I’m looking forward to eating the rest for lunch tomorrow because it sure was tasty. And I’m sure once the food coma wears off I’ll be going straight for that cupcake.
Even my anti-Steve’s hubby seems to be coming around these days. I think it may have been the Vday cupcake that won him over.

What’s up with the bad reviews of this place? I loved it.
I went here, with my Sexy Semite on Sunday for Sable. Si! Tthe optimum deli experience for a Goy Like Me. Maybe the other Unilocalers did not have such an ultimate deli experience (UDE). What else was I gonna do, go to church?! Not. I’m not Jewish, but I do love the delicious food of the Chosen People.
We got the platter thingie, with Lox and Sable and Whitefish salad — now that I’ve developed a newfound love for Sablefish. Mmmmmm, Sablefish. Not to be confused with peach fish or banana fish. Sable fish, sweetiedarlings. Mmmm! Also present on the platter were cold vegetables, cabbage, pickles and a few bagels to schmear every thing on. Cream cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers. A coupla coffees and we’re outta there for just over $ 20.
I was mesmerized by the salami display. Mesmerized. No, what?! You pig. I just LOVE salami sandwiches, you cheeky monkey! I’ll be back for some of that uh, action.
The store itself is a bit clean and sleek, and on the order of contrived — but it’s the neighborhood. There’s a section for foofy, overpriced specialty food.
They do need to offer more cheap gum and mints, for impulse purchases near the register. ‘Cos after all that fish, I was having that not-​so-​fresh mouth feeling and really needed a mint! None to be found. I like a deli that has a case full of gum, mints and old-​man cigars — stick that in, maybe dirty it up a bit, and Steve’s will be a bit more MKP*.
*My Kinda Place!