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Yitz's Deli & Catering
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Delis Caterers, Delis
346 Eglinton Avenue WestToronto, ON M5N 1A2
Neighbourhood: Yonge and Eglinton
(416) 487-4506
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
About This Business:
Caplansky's Deli Catering offers an easy way to turn an ordinary event into something extraordinary. From our famous Smoked Meat sliced to order or our… read more »
14 reviews for Yitz's Deli & Catering
14 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
1/6/2012
Nothing cements your single status as a semi-young Catholic woman like sitting in a Jewish deli alone over fried latkes and listening to Dido's "Thank you."
If you want atmosphere, it's definitely here from the frankfurter-shaped menu to the comics on the walls (they have to be from the 50s or 60s). This was my first visit and I didn't have much so I can't fully judge this place.
Latkes were comforting on a cold night. But be warned: if you're sitting down, you have to pay a $4 minimum. This would have been nice of the lady at the counter to say something before I sat down instead of deciding to take home my latkes.Listed in: Yonge & Eg
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Review from Jonas B.
3/18/2012
I really wanted to love Yitz's. Lots of good memories about this place from my childhood, warm, welcoming owner who chatted us up, classic deli service (highly competent, slightly rude). It has a lot going for it.
But, my corned beef on rye (waiter's recommendation - "it's the best in the city") was just ordinary, and the kishke was poor as well. That said, this was a first visit in 20 years - I'm not willing to give up on it that quickly. I'll be back and will refine this review later. -
Review from Elvis A.
This review is just for the cigar section of the deli. yes believe it or not they do sell cigars. Its more of a humidified cabinet behind the counter. They did have some accessories on display nothing out of ordinary. Prices are OK not the best but better than other for sure.
Decent selection of Cuban stuff with all the major brands being represented. The cashier was very knowledgeable and helped me in what to pick. They do accept Credit Cards so that is a plus.
The breads and other baked goods looked good though I didn't try any.
Can be a reason to visit I guess when making a cigar purchase :) -
Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
2/23/2011
Opening a delicatessen in Toronto can be a mug's game. Caught between two of North America's greatest smoked, cured meat centers in Montreal and New York, just about every Toronto deli pales in comparison.
Both Montreal and New York boast their own deli styles and cultures. You may go for the pastrami/corned beef concoctions named after Woody Allen or featured in Rob Reiner movies, or you may prefer the luscious fatty smoked meat of Mordecai Richler's youth. Either way you're biting into something much bigger than a sandwich. Toronto may have recently discovered all manner of charcuterie, but we're a new food town, especially when it comes to the heavy, meat-laden meals that our grandparents preferred while we opted for cookstown greens and artisan goats cheese.
There are some delis that have withstood the test of time. Our family frequented Yitz's on Avenue and Eglinton. The happy yellow sign and vintage comics/songbooks posted along the wall promised the kind of salty meat-goodness that growing palates love. Lightly charred hot dogs, sweet crisp cole slaw, and best of all, their own fries. Today, I'd compare them to loonies in size and color, but I'm old enough to remember when paper money actually mattered.
Yitz's has recently fallen on hard culinary times. Several years ago Mr. Yitz hung up his red socks (I now have several pair myself, as an homage), and sold to a new owner. The food took a dive in consistency and quality, leaving me to wonder about the glowing reviews here and the state of deli in our fine city. A negative review in the Toronto Star confirmed my opinion; the corned beef was dry and texturally unpleasant.
Still, it's close, and as a family favorite deserves a visit, at least once every few years. On this occasion, it was an unexpected pleasure.
We start with soups; the special is yellow pea. It's rich, thickened with noodles and legumes. The peas are nicely melted, not chalky, and complimented by generous chunks of carrot. We forgo the usual matzo balls, which we find mushy, and order the new kreplach soup. The broth is made by a secret process that involves waving a chicken over the pot while dropping chicken base into the water itself, but the kreplach are light and well-seasoned. My inner five year old approves.
My favorite part of the evening is the beef knish which arrives next. Long before a certain Mr. Caplansky began stuffing smoked meat ends into every item on his menu, Yitz blended his product into his beef knish filling. The result is addictive, super-savory meat inside a crispy crust. You can have it with gravy, which appalls the New York and Montreal contingent at the table. Maybe it's a Toronto thing. In any case, it's unnecessary. Better to slather the pastry with some of Yitz's house-made extra hot mustard. The kind made with horseradish, which allegedly grows hair on one's chest.
Food arrives at a fast clip, presented by a disinterested server who spends half the evening getting chewed out by the owner at the next table.
A plate of french fries is inhaled by the table. They're round and ridged like they were when I was a kid, but they lack that consistent crispness that I remember. The last place I had fries like that was Katz's in New York. they were deliriously crunchy and puffy inside.
Sandwiches come warm, on rye bread that holds up to juicy meat. Corned beef is soft, salty, and tangy. Pastrami is more robust, but lacks the subtle sweet/smokiness and unctuousness that comes with really stellar product. Add more extra hot mustard, and you'll weep with joy anyway.
At one point, Yitz's was kosher enough that you couldn't get cream for your coffee. Thankfully, they've amended this policy. You'll need it for the grey, lukewarm brew that's grudgingly slopped into our cups. As it sits, I'm reminded of Johnny Cash singing "ain't no grave". I don't know why.
Baked goods are fair; a trio of chocolate ruggelach meets the traditional requirement that you take coffee or tea "with a little something". The best dessert on the menu, a towering tart lemon meringue pie is not available. It's a shame, but I'm full, and for one evening anyway, reminded of why we came here so often. -
Review from Heather M.
12/20/2010
I find it difficult to locate a good kosher meal in Toronto, which is odd given the large Jewish community. Montreal, in comparison, is a kosher bonanza!
My favourite part of Yitz's are the doors - when you walk in you're greeted by a sausage door handle. I mean come on! Can you get more awesome than that?!
I have only ever come here for gefilte fish and matzoh ball soup. The gefilte fish seems pretty standard issue and they give you a GYNORMOUS chunk of it. The matzoh ball soup is perfect for a winter day, and the chunk of matzoh is huge - but my complaint is about the soup, which tasted like they just used some Knorr soup mix. Prices were not exorbitant, but they were probably 15-20% higher than they needed to be.
We came here on a Saturday evening around 8PM, there were a ton of seats. The staff were attentive, but where we were sitting (at the back of the restaurant) was super cold.
I suspect that Yitz's is now just coasting on their reputation as the go-to kosher place in North Toronto despite not having great quality food - it looks like there is some room for a tastier challenger. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
4/1/2011 8 photos
I am being a little unfair! I hardly have any smoked meat sandwiches in Toronto.. and my last Deli sandwich experience was in NYC.. and in comparison eating at Yitz's was such a disappointment!!
Luckily I was here at Yitz's when they have weekday lunch specials!! For $9.99, choice of soup and a sandwiches/salad/burger...
Matzo Ball in Chicken Soup and Pastrami Sandwich
- The Matzo ball itself was ok.. (not like I am an expert on that, but I ate the whole thing!) The soup based itself tasted like something from campbell..Canned soup... I don't expect them to make everything from scratch.. but tasted like canned soup..which I am an expert in!
- Pastrami was dry... the bread was dry... the smoked meat like what I get from supermarket too..........
I feel like I was eating my own cooking at home instead of eating in a restaurant... Can you say that Yitz's has a homey feel in a bad way?
Waitress here were really nice and friendly.....wish the food would be better!
They accepts all credit cards! -
Review from Mariko M.
10/23/2010
Taking a class all-day on Saturdays, to put it bluntly, sucks. As a result, I enjoy treating myself lunch every week. My classmates and I decided to go to Yitz's today as I HAD many fond memories of coming here with my grandfather and listening to his same stories a trillion times.
We had forty-five minutes to eat lunch, which SHOULD have been ample amount of time.
Well... all of us mostly ordered matzah ball soup and/or smoked meat sandwiches. Both these things do not take long to make and are perfect selections for people in a hurry... so we thought. The service was extremely slow in spite of us informing the staff ahead of time that we only had 45-minutes.
Prices are quite high considering the amount and quality of food you get. I ordered the matzah ball soup and cabbage roll .... the matzah ball soup was mediocre and pretty small considering it's almost five bucks. The cabbage roll was almost seven dollars and the cabbage was burnt.
I'm sure there's a chapter covering this in the textbook for hospitality school, but... we had to move seats and then had to sit in an awkward area with about 10 little kids running around. The lunch was not relaxing to say the least.
There are so many amazing delis in places like New York and Montreal; it's a shame that the "authentic one" in Toronto is Yitz's. -
Review from Ayesha A.
11/18/2010
A fun, different experience than any I've had. It allowed me a small peek into 'Jewish' dining..
I had matza ball soup and knishs...very very greasy. Good, but greasy.
Definitely not a health food place. And it wasn't cheap, but it was good deli, diner type of food. Sandwiches, fried stuff...meat...dessert. A nice, simple, and casual place to grab a bite!
What's great is that you see the deli and know it's all made there and then. -
Review from Matthew A.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2009 1 photo
Life quest: to find the perfect matzo ball soup. IMHO, there are two criteria: the soup, and, the matzo ball(s).
At Yitz's, the soup is excellent. It must be made in house. Its hot, fresh and refreshingly real. Not a hint of canned content.
The matzo ball, (singular) is firm, but not too firm, and displaces the "right" amount of soup when lifted out of the bowl. The weight is spot on. My one concern is that perhaps, for some people, it may be just a bit too salty.
I've included a photo of the daily lunch time specials. Today, a Tuesday, I had the soup with wiener and beans.
I asked the waitress about the wiener and beans and she said that if I like "cook out" food, I'd love it.
Being an avid camper type ... I loved it.Listed in: Best matzo ball soup
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Review from kelvin t.
2/24/2009
Been coming here since when i was a greenie when La Salle was an all boy's school, which speaks loads on the longevity and how enduring this place is. In the vein of Kosher delis like Scwhartz, Katz, Carnegie, Queen/Kings Deli this is a true Torontonian perspective. What i mean is the distinctive combination of the upper crust forest hill (old ultra conservative) attitude combined with wholesome immigrant food/culture - the melting pot which is canadian culture. Don't bother with Pickle Barrell just come straight here -My Favs:
Knishes 3.50
Chopped Liver 5.75
Cabbage Roll 5.75 - delish
Chicken Matzo Ball or Noodle 3.95
Cabbage Borscht 3.95 - must have
Tongue 7.50
Baby Beef 750
Large Knuckwurst 4.25
Potato Latkes with Applesauce 3.95 - must have
Lox & Cream Cheese 9.95
Rogelach 2.95 - best anywhere
Chocolate Chip Cookies - true foodie reminded me thanks Hailey E.
Upside you can buy your stogies for after the meal.
Downside too old for the JAP private school girls (Bishops, Havergal) who frequent this place for lunch and after school in daddy's Bemmer. -
Review from Terry P.
10/10/2010
I treated myself to brunch alone today, and my visit to Yitz's was quite nice. The bakery is at the front when you walk in, with what seems like millions of pies, cookies, and pastries on display. You can also order take-out sandwiches and salads at the front, or you can proceed to the back, where the surprisingly large dining room is. No waiting for a table here, even on a Sunday just after noon.
On Saturdays and Sundays, they have a brunch menu, which I ordered from. I had pastrami and eggs, served with rye toast and home fries. Piping hot, tasty, and a very reasonable sized portion.
Service was good - my bottomless coffee was refilled when necessary. I declined the server's offer of lemon pie for dessert (as tempting as it was) and tried two of Yitz's popular chocolate chip cookies. A great accompaniment to the rest of my coffee!
At $15 (plus tip) for brunch, coffee, and cookies, the prices are reasonable although not rock-bottom. -
Review from Sheila B.
Toronto, ON
7/9/2010
I think Yitz's has seen better days, I took 5 kids with me there today for lunch. The interior although kitsch is tired and no longer fun. The tables are wobbly and the place could use a good cleaning.
They have a lunch special for $9.95, it consists of Soup, and then your choice of Ceasar/Greek Salad (as a meal) or a Deli Sandwich or Cabbage Rolls or a Chicken Dinner and last but certainly least Hamburger & Fries.
Our order:
3 Minestrone Soups
2 Matzo Ball Soups
1 Chicken Noodle
2 Corn Beef on Rye (the rye has caraway in it, I do like that but not everyone does)
1 Ceasar Salad
1 Greek Salad
1 Hamburger & Fries
Potato Latkes
4 Cokes and an Ice Tea
The minestrone was very thick have had a lot better. I did like the chicken broth in the Matzo Ball Soup but the dumpling was a bit heavy.
The sandwiches are smaller versions then you usually get at a deli but really how much meat do you need. They were also a bit dry. The hamburger was not good at all the bun was stale and the frozen crinkle dollar fries well were food court material.
The potato latkes are too thick over deep fried and not homemade. Two on the plate with apple sauce $6.75.
The Greek/Ceasar salad as the lunch meal is served on a bread plate. The Ceasar is just romaine with sparse dressing and about 5 croutons. The greek salad was good with ample feta and tomatoes but it just lacked in a lunch size portion for $9.95.
Be forwarned the pop is $1.95 each plus tax, the one ice tea for a 7 year old is $3.25 plus tax ouch....my fault didn`t read the menu.
Bill was $81.70 plus tip.....i guess not bad for 6 people i just wish the food was more fresh & better portions.
1 star for the chicken broth and 1 star for service that was good. -
Review from Hailey E.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2009
This is a classic Toronto deli which remains consistently delicious for breakfast and lunch!
NOTE:
... Yitz's Deli sells the best chocolate chip cookies in the city! They are not cheap, but are worth every single penny. They are soft and chewy and filled with huge, gooey chocolate chips. They are totally addictive ... be warned! -
Review from Yael L.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2008
The best place for some good smoked meat sandwiches and delicious hearty soups, Yitz's is a great place to eat and to stock up on their famous soups, baked goods and other foods all available pre packaged. My favorite tidbit about Yitz's is the amazing menus they have which are in the shape of a sandwich on rye. Classic!
