Famous 4th Street Delicatessen

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phlfrdm

Joined 6 years ago

deli gem in Philly. When I used to live in NYC, the 2nd Ave Deli was my fave. Since those days, it's been tough to find an NYC-style Jewish deli in Philadelphia. Well, my search has ended! With matzoh ball soup to die for/just like my grandmother's (with matzoh ball the size of softballs, btw), heavenly, heaping pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, flaky (not greasy!) latkes,, AND the best kashe varnishke I've had, 2nd Ave Deli is a surefire treat. Service is fast and friendly. Be prepared to take home leftovers...and eat them for several days....portions are humongous. If you even save room for dessert, be sure to try the monstrous raspberry and chocolate rugulach - the BEST ever. They even give you two, hot, melty chocolate chip cookies AFTER your huge meal!

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kasha5

Joined 6 years ago

THE OWNER IS BACK. For your information....Russ cowan has taken over. He is back at Famous. Six and half months of a different management team did not work out. Some new additions to the menu and the food is still good.

Hours 8am to 9pm Monday thru Sunday.....

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mccartb2

Joined 8 years ago

Chocolate Chip Cookies!. Famous 4th has the best chocolate chips cookies I have ever had!!! If you have a sweet tooth this is your place!!

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mcteacher

Joined 6 years ago

In response to the previous post on 6/14:. I Just wanted to post a friendly note to all that ownership of this restaurant changed several months prior to this last revierwers experience. Under past owner Russ Cowan, I experienced excellent service and fantastic food. I have not patronizerd the restaurant since it changed hands, but I just wanted to clarify that the blame should not be on Mr. Cowan. To experience his high quality service and food, try his new location- Mr. Bills, which is on the way to the shore!

Doesn't Recommend

maskman22

Joined 6 years ago

FAMOUS FOR RUDENESS. My wife and I had occasion to visit Famous today 6/14/07 to get something to take home. We had been customers for many years, but no longer. The deli clerk who later identified himself as one of the owners waited on us. My wife asked for a 'heavy half pound' of corned beef. The clerk apparently did not understand her and she repeated the order. She then explained that she wanted about .60 of a pound and that she knew that .50 was a half pound on the scale. At that point he stated 'I don't feel like waiting on you, good bye.' My wife said nothing that a deliman would normally hear in the course of a day, he was apparently hard of hearing. I know that the amount of money that he lost won't hurt him, but, I hope this blurb takes away some of his bluster. The food WAS usually good, but there are MANY more places to get a corned beef sandwich without the rude owners.

The previous paragraph was, in retrospect, much too kind. I have found out that the owners name is Russ Cowan...the rest of the staff of the deli were, in the past, entertaining and interesting. The food, while much too much (amount & price) was usually tasty. But, no customer should be 'dismissed' with an 'I don't want to serve you", ever. What happened to the adage, the customer is always right? Mr. Cowan, take your obnoxious attitude back to New York, if I want obnoxious I can go to Hymies. If I want quality food and treatment I will go to Murray(s) or Pumpernicks. I am still being kind, if I was able to do so in this forum, this and the previous review would be liberally peppered with words beginning with F and S...funny...F-amou-S...begins and ends with those letters...prophetic. STAY AWAY FROM FAMOUS PS: The clerk who claimed to be the owner, was not...I later found a picture of him and they weren't the same...possibly a son, manager, or whatever? No matter...Don't go.

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lyndalee

Joined 7 years ago

Awesome corned beef sandwiches. My fiance and I had stopped there after a long day of chaotic flights on a Friday night. We told the waiter we were tired and in a hurry to get home. He promptly took our order and within in minutes our hot corned beef sandwiches arrived. The pickles are my favorite treat with my overwhelming sandwich. Absolutely awesome sandwich that for the price cannot be beat anywhere.

Course, if you can actually eat your way through one of their sandwiches than you have go to try one of their desserts. Incredible! and reasonably priced!

This place certainly fits a family budget.

If you have a large appetite and want satisfaction without going broke this is the place to go.

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nezhy

Joined 7 years ago

Great Deli. Hard to find a real deli in the city...here is one of the few good ones.

Great sandwiches, authentic Jewish/eastern european hearty food. Hungarian Goulash, all sorts of Deli meats, sandwich combinations make this place.

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bunkerman

Joined 7 years ago

Good Chow with Seriously Cranky Waitresses. Famous for huge portions, decent deli food, and surly staff. Take the corned

beef over the pastrami, and be prepared to take half home. The potato pancakes

are a bit overfried, but the bagels and pastry are fine. It's an experience to

eat there - the waitresses are incredibly rude and uncaring. A recent breakfast

there ended in a huge fight with a very cranky waitress named Joyce. We might

come back for take-out, but for not the abuse dished out by her.

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dave1945

Joined 7 years ago

Famous Jewish Deli. This is a unique place to enjoy Jewish food ...I live in Kansas City,Missouri but whenever I visit Pa.I always make sure I visit my favorite deli...See you soon,Dave

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phillycmc

Joined 9 years ago

Much Improved. The new owners have done a good job of revitalizing this fading gem. They've CLEANED, which the place really needed. They also freshened up the menu and added new dishes.

Be warned the portions are now Huge! Every dish the four of us had could have easily been shared by at least two people without either feeling hungry afterwards.

The cookies at the end are smaller, yet still good. But, who has room for them anyway after all that food?