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Morty's Delicatessen - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Delis Delis [Edit]
4620 Wisconsin Ave NW(between N Brandywine St & N 41st St)
Washington, DC 20016
Neighborhood: Tenleytown
(202) 686-1989
- Nearest Transit:
-
Tenleytown Metro Station (Red)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
47 reviews for Morty's Delicatessen
Review Highlights
"This matzoh ball soup is piping hot and can cure anything..."
(in 5 reviews)
"replenishable dish of awesome pickles."
(in 18 reviews)
"You can get corned beef on rye, or chili dogs, and..."
(in 9 reviews)
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47 reviews in English
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Review from C P.
Washington, DC
9/22/2010
Morty's hits the spot.
In honor of the recent Jewish holidays, I decided to go to Morty's in Tenleytown. Full confession-its not my first rodeo at Morty's. I have been going there since it was Krupins, and still call it that.
The place was hoping as I went before Yom Kippur services. I like that when you go you get a small bowl of pickles brought to your table. I am not talking slices of pickles, but real, huge pickles. And they are crisp and delicious. The matzo ball soup and salads come in generous portions. My favorite is the hot roast beef sandwich served open face with plenty of gravy and french fries. It a meal that wams you up and fills you up.
Very small gripes would be as a long time customer, I have noticed the fries have changed again. Not sure I like the current ones so much. The men's bathroom needs some love and care. The urinal was out of service and I went into a stall that had an old bolt lock that did not line up exactly right with the lock. I had to force it in, and then I could not unbolt it. I almost was locked in the stall (that would have been an intriguing phone call to make-"'Hello, I am locked in a stall. Help")
On your way out, try the walnut chocolate chip cookies. Get some to go. -
Review from Jang C.
7/20/2010
I like this place. It looks like a tiny deli when you see it from the streets of Tenleytown. But when you walk in, you notice the large dining area. It can definitely handle large groups.
They had a lot of sandwiches there. They all sounded pretty good. They had so many choices, I found myself changing my mind constantly until the waiter came.
Not only they provided a lot of different sandwiches, they also had a good selection of breads. You can choose from rye, wheat, challa, and others that I can't remember.
I ordered the corned beef with challa. They gave me nice sized sandwich, and it tasted good. The challa came toasted, and the corned beef didn't taste too salty. I felt I had a satisfying lunch.
They also provide you with free pickles when you sit down. They don't give you small, sliced pickles, they give you plenty of monster sized pickles.
I would give this place a solid 4 stars. The food tastes good, they had good service, and I had a nice experience. -
Review from Karen L.
Washington, DC
Updated - 11/7/2010
Closed?? Since when? I was just in there 3 weeks ago to pick up some B&Ws!
I recall reading about the place being sold and Morty being shut out, so I wouldn't be surprised if the new ownership was responsible for the recent really bad reviews here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/14/2010
What hasn't been said? How about "fresh black-and-whites," which should be a magnet for expat New… Read more »
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Review from Livio T.
10/4/2010
Everything went wrong & nothing tasted right!
First, a busboy tossed some waters on the table. No ice and very much warm. I had to ask for some ice to cool it down. Pickles also made an early appearance, as is the tradition. These were not so good. Every single one was soggy and the off-white crunchy interior often expected for a decent fresh pickle had long since faded away into a grayish gelatinous goo reminiscent of nasty Pidan (see http://en.wikipedia.or...).
We ordered a mixed pastrami and corned beef sandwich (the reason we came to the place), a matzo ball soup and an order of fries -- my wife also ordered a cream soda.
I was even a little more worried after we ordered, and having just washed my hands for lunch and exiting the restroom, I heard a customer complaining that his knish was still frozen solid on the inside.
My wife still had not received the soda (nothing special just from a can), and told me she was worried as she noticed that the waitress had not even dropped out ticket off at the kitchen as she was engrossed in something else (we think some issue with another table -- not the frozen knish guy).
I then joked with her about giving it a chance and asked if she wanted some tabasco sauce -- we had two bottles on our 4 top, but both had barely a drop in them -- funny, at the time, but oh so further indicative of the quality of food and service!
Admittedly, the wait wasn't terribly long. Soon after my wife got her drink the food came out.
1) Mazo ball soup...Mazo ball soup... Mazo ball soup? No soup! She didn't hear us order one! When we asked about it, she thought we were ordering it then and there. WTF? We both said we'd like to split one. We decided with the other food out, "nevermind".
2) Sandwich - was literally half pastrami and half corned beef. Not really a big deal I suppose, but we've been to many delis that served the combined two on one sandwich. Needless to say we had to assemble it ourselves. However, one sure complaint here: the meat was greasy! Sure there's supposed to be a little fat for flavor, but its meant to be pretty lean.
3) Fries - greasy (not a good kind of greasy). I don't usually use ketchup with fries, but had to in this case -- and oh I usually like a little tabasco with my ketchup, but you already know the problem there, and at this point I didn't want to ask for anything else other than the check.
4) Cole slaw - I don't like it generally, but my wife loves it. In this case, it was the cheap lousy kind taking a swim milky fluid. Well, she left more than half of the behind.
NOTHING WAS GOOD HERE! Not the service and not the food! Perhaps this was once a great place, but I'm not even willing to give it a second try. Going to seek our pastrami/corned beef fix elsewhere in DC or just make the drive to NY on occasion to have the real deal.
I was going to give this place two stars, but after we paid our bill and made our exit, we passed ~8 employees whom barely twitched at our passing. -
Review from Scott G.
Washington, DC
8/24/2006
If you're looking for authentic matzo ball soup or latkes, then this is the place. Krupin's (now K's NY Style Deli) is a large Jewish deli with generous portions and a no-frills dining experience. The desserts are also excellent -- particularly the coconut cake (when available).
For added fun, bring a framed photo of yourself and stick it up on the wall (when nobody is looking) amongst the countless pix of local pols and minor celebs! -
Review from John A.
Falls Church, VA
8/22/2006
Best New York deli outside of new york.
Large deli sandwiches and a bowl of complimentary home made pickles on the table.
Really delicious.
Try the Ruben (not the low fat turkey Ruben - Yeach!), and get a cream soda..
Its not like you would eat there every day.. but you might be tempted to. -
Review from Sarah M.
1/2/2009
My roommate used to drag me here when she was hungover and wanted eggs. Why anyone would want eggs while they are hungover, I'm not sure. But because we lived a block away, we ended up here on a regular basis.
So being a Catholic Korean-American, it might seem odd that I spent all of my time in a Jewish deli. But maybe I'm secretly jewish inside because I LOVED the matzoh ball soup and potato pancakes. They were definitely my favorites.
I'd get an omelet every once in a while, sometimes a sandwich. All just mediocre. Nothing that you couldn't get anywhere else.
There isn't anything remarkable about the interior...looks like a typical deli. Servers aren't very polite...but they're quick and efficient.
I don't think there are many places like this in the DC area, so if you're looking for this type of place, it's worth checking out at least once. -
Review from reuben j.
Burlington, VT
Updated - 8/8/2008
Still don't like this place.
Host stares at my white gal pal.
AND the food is blah.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2007
Like the NFL franchise supposedly representing this city, I find the food at Morty's to be just… Read more »
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Review from Jed S.
Bethesda, MD
9/4/2006
K's or Krupin's or Morty's or whatever the heck it is called now, it is making a comeback. There was a recent change in ownership, they brought back one of the Krupin Brothers, they changed up their menu a bit, and the quality of food has improved dramatically. I've definitely started eating here again now that they have fixed its problems. If you are looking for Jew food, this is the place to go.
Also, they deliver via Takeout Taxi-definitely nice if you need Matzah Ball soup because you are sick. (spoken as a guy who had bronchitis two weeks ago!) -
Review from Leila C.
Nashua, NH
12/10/2007
I recall reading something positive about this place on http://gridskipper.com which is why I decided to go after touring the National Cathedral.
First of all, the service was SLOW and BLAH.
The bagels were pretty good although they don't really offer much variety (the options given to me were plain, sesame, or everything).
My friend ordered a turkey sandwich which had about a pound of meat shoved between 2 un-toasted bagel halves, with a side dish of mayonnaise and cole slaw.
Probably not the best place to go if you are a vegetarian like me. The Challah French Toast looks tasty, so maybe I'll check it out again for breakfast. -
Review from David G.
Washington, DC
8/5/2009
Most of the food here is forgettable, but I'm writing this review based on the two things worth getting here- the matzoh ball soup and the hot corned beef sandwich.
The matzoh balls are huge and just the right density. The broth has tasty chunks of vegetables and chicken that adds variety without taking away from the main celebrity (the ball). This matzoh ball soup is piping hot and can cure anything that ails you- sickness, hungover, low spirits, you name it.
There are lots of places to get sandwiches in DC, but few places that can serve a real corned beef. Morty's does a great one. Get it on lightly toasted rye with mustard. Stay away from the less fatty meat and the turkey pastrami. -
Review from Aja A.
Arlington, VA
1/23/2010
This is my favorite hangover breakfast spot. It's also not a bad place to visit sober, like say, with my parents.
When I went to AU, I visited Morty's almost every weekend. I like the variety of customers and that this place is anything but pretentious. You can have a quick meal, or take your time and enjoy. There is no rush, ever. Which is not to say the service is bad. There are two older gentlemen waiters I prefer; some of the newer staff aren't as attentive. I also love how Morty and Mel patrol the dining room on weekend mornings, and will sometimes come and sit with you.
My go to meal is the reuben. I'm not a purist, I like turkey more than corned beef. I also get it on challah instead of rye. The original, by the book version is excellent, I just prefer turkey. The sandwich is huge, you can barely fit it in your mouth. And their fries are so flipping good! They also serve coleslaw with the sandwiches, and it is tasty!
My favorite thing is the free pickle dish you get when you sit down. I actually took my family here tonight after a basketball game, and they gave us two dishes. I guess the waiter could see the look in my father's eye--he was clearly contemplating eating his menu.
A few of my other favorite things: the blintzes, the lox/bagel platter, and the eclairs. Oooo and also Brown's cream soda! -
Review from Josh F.
3/15/2010
Ahh, Morty's. You touch my Jewish heart all the way to my cockles. Or subcockular region. Whatever is deepest.
Morty's is EXACTLY right. I've been here 4 times now, and loved every bite of everything I've had for both breakfast and lunch. Loaded Reubens made with the best cuts of meat, towering chicken salad sandwiches that are enough for too and not saturated with mayo, and real kosher short pickles that are straight out of the textbook for a great deli.
Breakfast features large portions at reasonable prices; fare includes standards ( eggs and fruit stuffed pancakes/waffles) to the more special. (Challah bread French toast here had me making low guttural happy sounds that couldn't have been appreciated by other patrons)
Matzo ball soup? On freaking point. Belly Lox/salmon? Fresh, succulent, and a high source of omega-3's. Eat up, kids.
I've sone breakfast or lunch here in some fashion every time I go to DC, and look forward to hitting it again soon. -
Review from Martin B.
College Park, MD
11/30/2008
Disclaimer: I am not a deli guru.
That said, Morty's is a pretty good place to grab a bite. I can't say I've seen many Jewish delis around DC, so I guess something is better than nothing. The atmosphere isn't very striking, just tables and chairs and walls covered with photos of patrons. There's an HDTV for watching the game. You don't come here for glory, you come here for food.
I like the matzoh ball soup and the potato pancakes for starters. My staple meals here tend to be the tuna melt and the chili dogs (you might wanna skip the appetizers if you get the chili dogs). The fries are good. Last time I went here, my father ordered the Spanish omelette and said it was pretty good.
Service is so-so, I've seen better and I've seen worse. The place can get really packed at times for some reason, so don't be surprised if there's a long line stretching from the entrance to the sort of host's desk. -
Review from Katherine K.
Washington, DC
2/24/2008
My girlfriend recommended Morty's for a late Sunday brunch. Pretty good breakfast fare. My omelet was quite tasty and the challah toast was a pleasant change from the norm. It has the comfortable, laid-back atmosphere that an old diner should have, and it's nice to not have two inches between tables.
My only regret was that I did not try the cheesecake... -
Review from C J.
Arlington, VA
5/6/2008
If someone had brought it to me maybe I would have gone with three stars... but being that I went inside, sorry Morty's you only get two. Usually I'm not big on atmosphere, if the food is good and can make up for it (like steak n egg, mm mm!), then its forgivable. But the whole place just felt awkward and like you needed to be at least 50 to sit down and eat. The rows and rows of pictures of white hairs (how my father refers to old people...) the message is reinforced.
Now, the food. I had the beef brisket sandwich on wheat with muenster cheese and onions. Quite tasty and about 4 inches thick with meat... the sandwich alone was probably 3 1/2 stars. But it comes with cole slaw... who even eats cole slaw?? The pickles that come with everything are so-so.
I would eat there again, like I said if someone brought it to me, and well if they paid for it ($9 for a sandwich and who told you, you could charge $2 for a canned soda??). Good, but not $11 good.
Plus my friend wouldn't stop saying Morty's in an annoying northern accent (she's from Texas I'm from Tennessee) the whole time we were eating it. At least we got it to go... -
Review from Twisty H.
Arlington, VA
8/16/2010
Oyyyyyy!
I'm a New York-er by birth. I love good deli. Though I'd go back in a pinch, I'm still searching for great deli food in DC. This ain't it.
Cousin and I (both NY-ers) shared one each of the brisket and pastrami sandwiches. Both were ample portions but the meat was nowhere near my faves - Katz's or Junior's. The brisket was bland and fatty. The bread was too soft. In the plus column - we LOVED the half-sour pickles and devoured then. Disappointed that they no longer serve Cel-Ray. Rugalach was a greasy mess. -
Review from Verona R.
New York, NY
2/26/2008
Was called Toojays and Krupins years ago. A gem in deli wasteland.
If you have come to DC from up I-95.....this will do the trick until you get home. -
Review from Jess L.
12/12/2009 1 Check-in Here
The decor of this deli hasn't changed in years, but the menu, I noticed, has shrunk - which is a good thing for me because so many things on the menu look great.
Most recently, I got the white fish salad on a bagel, a great helping for $9.95. Morty's omelets and sable fish are also very good.
Service is usually prompt, and customers can have real control on how quickly or slowly you want your meal experience to be.
The crowd here is very mixed: families, older individuals, college students... So pick your seat wisely! -
Review from Liam D.
Washington, DC
1/24/2007
I've only been here once, and I went to school in that neck of the woods, so the fact that i didn't go back more frequently indicates to me that is was nothing all that special. The reuben sandwich I had was definitely a good sandwich, but i'm no reuben afficionado by any means, so I couldn't really tell you what is. The one thing that I think IS pretty cool is that they put pickles on the table as an appetizer--it might seem a bit bizarre when they place pickled cucumbers in front of you, but it's a healthy alternative to bread, and let's be honest...pickles make more sense with deli sandwiches than bread rolls.
I'd recommend it for a good sandwich, but don't put too much weight on this because I haven't tried much else and i'm sure their soups are pretty tasty as well. Price was decent, though not "cheap" per se. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there, or bother finding a parking spot to do so, but if you're walking by it and have a hankering for a tasty hot sandwich, give ol' Krupin's a try. -
Review from Jessica R.
Arlington, VA
1/13/2008
Great for hungover brunches with friends. I would recommend the omelettes, matzoh ball soup, and any of their fancy desserts. They've got a TV if youre concerned about watching the game. The complimentary pickles are also really yummy.
There is free garage parking behind and under the restaurant. You can access it from the alley - not many people know about this but it is legit -
Review from Molly B.
Washington, DC
8/4/2009
Never been here for anything but brunch, so I can't give it 5 stars, but the food and service here has never failed me. Whenever a friend or family member is in town I always make sure to take them out to Morty's. The challah french toast is to die for, the eggs "ala Morty" is the best variation on an eggs benedict I've ever had, and omlettes are awesome.
On the down side, the interior is a bit greasy looking and the exterior most certainly isn't anything that stands out. But the quality of food more than makes up for it.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kim V.
Washington, DC
1/21/2010
This is the kind of diner I've been looking for! I like the old school vibe of the place. (They have knishes!) When you sit down, they give you a bowl of whole pickles. I thought that was cool.
I got the Nova on a toasted plain bagel. Morty's doesn't skimp on their food. The "Nova" which is another name for smoked salmon (little did I know) came in long, thin strips; along with red onion, lettuce, and many slices of tomato. My friend ordered a Western Omelet - this came with fries AND a toasted bagel and cream cheese. A bit much, but who's complaining? -
Review from Leigh L.
Washington, DC
12/19/2007
There was a giant black hair in my latke! It ruined my appetite.
Morty himself also asked us to move after we were served water. I guess we were sitting at a table that was too big for 2 people.
I had high hopes, but they were destroyed by a hairy potato pancake. Sorry Morty, but thanks for the free pickles. -
Review from Nelson A.
San Francisco, CA
7/15/2006
Two-Jays, or shall I call you Krupins? Or shall I call you delicious? Or perhaps, why-do-I-have-to-wait-so-god-damned-long-for-my-ta ble? It doesn't matter, a rose by any other name, right? I love you for so many things. Some might be:
-replenishable dish of awesome pickles
-potatoe latkahs
-post-hebrew-school brunch
-vegan cream cheese, although I know it's accidental
-San Francisco-crazy street parking
Whatever your name, or the reasons I love you, I keep coming back for more. -
Review from Brian S.
Silver Spring, MD
2/27/2008
I recently went to Morty's and will not be returning anytime soon. The pastrami sandwich was straight up disgusting. Way too fatty and lacking in any sort of flavor. I have gotten decent pastrami in the MD/DC area (Parkway Deli and KosherMart) so I can't blame it on a supply issue. I honestly think I could make a better sandwich by buying deli meat and some rye bread at Giant and making it at home.
The only reason I am giving 2 stars is because their matzo ball soup wasn't awful. -
Review from mondo g.
Washington D.C., DC
10/21/2010
Oh no, what a disappointment. I've been eating at Morty's or one of its incarnations for many years yet tonight I found it mostly inedible.
Now, I like good food, but it's also rare that I won't eat something. I had a yen for a pastrami sandwich with chopped liver. And I decided to add some white fish salad and rugala (separate) for take-away. I found the pastrami rubbery, fatty, and not flavorful. I actually threw it away. Same with the pickles which tasted like a zoo smells. The white fish salad was ok, but I won't buy it again--also overly chewy and at bites, a bit too rubbery. Rugala were fine, if a bit dry.
I think Morty's is fine for eggs and bacon, eggs benedict, and even French toast + coffee, but the meat does not seem to be high in quality and I don't think I'll be trying it again. -
Review from Robert M.
Washington, DC
5/11/2010
Morty's Jewish Deli? Morty is gone. They put pulled pork on special. So there is no Morty and its not Jewish.
What next shrimp in my Matzo Ball soup?
Why go here? There are better places for the pork. They are better place for the corned beef -- Wagshals. -
Review from angela n.
11/18/2006
Awesome NY-style deli sandwiches (with free pickles!). I'm vegetarian so they make me a delicious muenster sandwich with the works. They also have an impressive bakery department with nice sweet rugelach (sp?). Totally worth the trip on the Red Line (it's a block or two north of Best Buy, near the Tenleytown stop). Hey it's more convenient than getting on the bus to NYC!
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Review from Jimmy S.
Washington, DC
Updated - 7/31/2008
Ok I misjudged this place. As soon as I ventured outside of the matzo ball soup, this place betrays me.
I ordered a cheese sandwich and they guy ringing me up told me it would be $11.50, because it was a make-your-own sandwich. I laughed, and then proceeded to walk out of the restaurant cheese-less, never to return again. -
Review from S S.
Washington, DC
9/3/2010
Monday morning 9 am and the only sign of life in the whole place is 1 table with 3 people. Should've been a tipoff. After standing around then shouting for an employee to show up, a woman finally came to the counter for my order. Then she disappeared for a long time to bring me 2 untoasted bagels.
PS: Since when do bagel and cream cheese cost $3?!
PPS: The pastries in the case: at least a day old.
PPSS: Puddle of water dripping from the deli case. -
Review from Steve G.
Washington, DC
1/25/2007
This is a good place to get a knish (not to be confused with "The Commish", a rather unfortunate show with Craig T. Nelson). Dine-in service is brusque but efficient, and the menu is great deli food at reasonable prices. You can get corned beef on rye, or chili dogs, and everything in between. Breakfast is also served and is good. This is a great neighborhood spot on it's way back up!
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Review from Chris E.
Gardendale, AL
6/6/2007
This place had the nicest selection of desserts and pastries in a viewing case I have seen in DC. I chose a chocolate covered brownie with nuts that I would make another trip back for just to get again. Oh did I mention that their sandwichs were pretty good too. The last time I ate their I had a sandwich on rye that wasn't very good. The bread itself was not a good rye bread. I am not a regular rye eater but I do know I wouldn't order a sandwich there on rye again. I don't go for the sandwich's anyway I go for the pastries.
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Review from plug n.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2006
initial impression (from Jan. 2001): this place is fantastic!!! great sandwiches, slaw, and especially potato pancakes!!! worth seeking out, if you are in D.C. and needing a taste of an east coast deli.
update (Feb. 2006): just went back, and it's not as good as it was, but still ok. The potato pancakes ain't what they used to be. it's called "K's NY Style Deli" now too, so i'm guessing there was a change of ownership.
update (Aug. 2007): just noticed the name has changed again. i have no idea if it's still the same. -
Review from molly f.
Cambridge, MA
6/7/2008
Morty's is one of the very few Jewish deli's in the DC area and while some of the food is good, if you put it in New York, or even Brookline Boston it wouldn't hold it's own. That being said, when you can get knish, it's decent, and their breakfast dishes are always good. They have homemade ruggelah that are delicious and I never leave without a linzer tarte. Its hard to get good, kosher half sour pickles (the crispy cucumber ba tampte kind!) and one of the first things that arrives on your table is a bowl of them. If you're looking to fill a craving, this is prob the best your'e going to do in DC area...
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Review from Josie A.
Cold Spring, NY
6/26/2008
We stopped here hoping to get a decent lunch and were not disappointed. The salad I ordered was large and fresh and the dressing was delicious. My friends were very happy with their sandwiches, and the complimentary pickles were scrumptious. It has a nice dineresque atmosphere, and everything is very reasonably priced and there are plenty of delicious sounding sandwich/food options to choose from.
After enjoying our meals we deemed Morty's the place to come back to when in DC. -
Review from J R.
Washington, DC
3/8/2010
I had breakfast there yesterday. Morty is a nice guy and so is the server but the service was atrocious. The food came extremely late and was cold.
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Review from Steven W.
3/28/2009
I'm not going to waste much time writing about what my party ate as Morty's doesn't deserve the time. All I can say is I long for the place his brother Mel ran 15-20 years ago. Morty's is a huge disappointment.
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Review from Meghan G.
Washington, DC
2/23/2008
I am always on the prowl for a good diner, something that DC sadly has very few of. Morty's is camouflaged in the ground floor of a office/retail strip just north of the development in Tenleytown. I have walked by it a handful of times before even noticing it. A diner with a jewish deli counter and ample seating has busting breakfast crowd cycling in and out all morning and afternoon. I can't speak for the lunches and dinners, but starting the day here with a yummy breakfast is definitely a good thing. This place has this 'been around forever' feel, in that the patrons here all seem to be on a first name basis with Morty, the owner, who is almost always on the prowl around the place, greeting customers and helping out where needed. The walls here are covered with framed photos of patrons, friends, local celebrities, and staff. They have a decent variety of house made desserts and breads. Worth a visit, especially if you go to Steak N Egg and there is a long wait (you also won't leave smelling like a dirty griddle) ;)
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Review from Robert W.
Washington D.C., DC
11/19/2010
Was just there, and, to my amazement--it was closed. I couldn't believe it. The best Jewish Deli in the area. From what I could find out, yes, they were recently sold, and weren't in the best financial situation, but the major problem was the owner of the property--American Univ., and the rent increases.
