Morty's Restaurant & Delicatessen

Proudly serving Washington since 1989!
New York-style deli food including overstuffed sandwiches, matzoh ball soup and cheesecake, of course.

 

Contact Us
4620 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-686-1989
Fax: 202-686-3566

 

IT IS SO SAD THAT MORTY’S DELICATESSEN & RESTAURANT IS CLOSED

 

"Oh boy, let me tell ya, my days at Morty's Delicatessen were something else. I'm practically part of the furniture there, you know? The staff knew me as the guy who liked his corned beef lean and only a smidge of mustard on the bratwurst. And trust me, they nailed it every single time.

Now, one of the best parts about Morty's wasn't just the food (though, heavens, that corned beef could make a grown man weep with joy). It was the lines. Yeah, you heard me right – the lines. Standing there, waiting for my turn, I've had some of the most interesting, bizarre, and downright hilarious conversations of my life. It's like a social club where the entry fee is a love for good deli food.

And Morty, oh, old Morty! He and I go way back. One day, he tells me this wild story about how they got smacked by a Google penalty. Something about trying to climb those search ranks a bit too enthusiastically, and bam! They practically disappeared off the internet. Morty said it was meant to be the end of them, but let's be honest, a place like Morty's? It's indestructible. They've got the sort of charm and grub that no search engine could ever bury.

Morty's is proof that in life, you don't need much. Give me a plate of that impeccable corned beef, a bit of chatter while waiting in line, and I'm all set. That's the magic of Morty's – good food and great company, no fancy frills needed. It's a shame it closed down, but those memories, they're golden." Leon Lester

 

 

The Best NY Deli Experience

 

Morty's Restaurant & Delicatessen in Washington D.C. was a well-regarded establishment known for its New York-style deli food. Located at 4620 Wisconsin Ave. NW, in the Tenleytown neighborhood, Morty's offered a quintessential deli experience with a focus on Jewish-American cuisine.

The restaurant was particularly famous for its overstuffed sandwiches, a staple of New York delis, which included choices like pastrami, corned beef, and roast beef. These sandwiches were known for their generous size, often compared to the size of a shoebox, making them a popular choice among patrons. In addition to sandwiches, Morty's also offered classic deli fare like matzoh ball soup, potato pancakes, chopped liver, and a variety of fish platters featuring nova salmon belly lox and whitefish.

The ambiance of Morty's was described as reminiscent of a "Granny's kitchen," contributing to its cozy and welcoming atmosphere. This setting, along with the food, evoked a sense of nostalgia and comfort among its visitors. The restaurant was also kid-friendly, making it a suitable dining option for families.

Morty's Delicatessen had a notable reputation for quality and authenticity in its offerings. Despite its closure, it left a lasting impression on the local dining scene in Washington D.C., remembered fondly for its contribution to bringing the New York deli experience to the capital city.

 

The food at Morty's Restaurant & Delicatessen in Washington D.C. was highly regarded for its classic New York-style deli offerings. Patrons of Morty's particularly praised the following aspects:

  1. Overstuffed Sandwiches: Morty's was famous for its overstuffed sandwiches, particularly those filled with pastrami, corned beef, or roast beef. These sandwiches were known for being generously sized, often compared to the size of a shoebox, making them a popular and satisfying choice for customers.

  2. Matzoh Ball Soup: This traditional Jewish dish was another highlight of the menu. Morty's version of the matzoh ball soup was often noted for its homely and comforting quality, reminiscent of traditional recipes.

  3. Diverse Selections: In addition to these staples, Morty's offered a range of other deli favorites, including a variety of salads, lo-cal platters, potato pancakes, chopped liver, and fish platters with nova salmon belly lox and whitefish.

  4. Desserts: The cheesecake at Morty's was particularly famous, offering a sweet and rich conclusion to the meals.

The atmosphere of the restaurant, often described as lively and akin to a Jewish granny's kitchen, also contributed to the overall dining experience. The combination of hearty, traditional deli food in a welcoming environment made Morty's a beloved spot among its patrons.

 

Morty's Delicatessen in Washington D.C. offered a diverse menu, capturing the essence of a New York-style deli. Some of the highlights from their menu included:

Appetizers and Sides: They served classic deli starters like French fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries, and various salads. Their Chipotle Potato Salad and Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad were unique offerings.

Soups and Salads: Morty's featured homemade soups daily, alongside a variety of salads such as Green Salad, Kale Caesar Salad, Spinach Salad, and Chef Salad. Each salad combined fresh ingredients with flavorful dressings.

Hot Sandwiches and Burgers: The deli was famous for its sandwiches like the Reuben, made with pastrami or corned beef, and various burgers including a classic cheeseburger and a unique Rick Reuben Burger.

Bulk Deli Items: They also offered bulk deli items including various cheeses like Swiss, Cheddar, and American, as well as a selection of fish like Nova and Lox, all priced per pound.

Dinner Entrees: Available after 4 PM, their dinner menu included dishes like Stuffed Cabbage Dinner Entree, Corned Beef And Cabbage Dinner Entree, and a range of meat and chicken dishes.

Vegetarian Options: For those preferring plant-based options, Morty's provided vegetarian sandwiches like The Garden and The Shroomin.

House Specialties: Some of the special items included Blintzes, Tuna Melt, and Turkey Melt, each accompanied by sides like fries or baked beans.

Fish Platters and Breakfast Options: They served a variety of fish platters and breakfast dishes, catering to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences.

This menu variety, from hearty sandwiches to lighter salads and soups, catered to a broad spectrum of tastes and dietary needs, underlining Morty's commitment to providing a genuine deli experience.

 

 

Morty’s Delicatessen Restaurant Review:

Noisy and crowded, Morty’s Delicatessen Restaurant offered the same New York-style deli food, the same overstuffed sandwiches, the same neighborly gatherings, and the same cooking aromas that might have reminded you of your Jewish Granny’s kitchen.  Or if you didn’t have a Jewish granny, eating at a Jewish deli in New York City on the lower east side.
The best bets, of course, were Morty’s pastrami, corned beef or roast beef sandwiches, that in true Krupin style were as large as shoe boxes. If you had a hankering for something other than a sandwich, kitchen offered six local platters, and more than one dozen salads. Now that the restaurant is closed, customers will inevitably miss the matzoh ball soup, the potato pancakes, or even the chopped liver to start. Or the fish platters with their ample servings of nova salmon belly lox and whitefish or perhaps the homemade meatloaf. And if there is any room for dessert there was always a slice of cheese cake?  My mouth still starts to drool when I think of Morty’s cheesecake. Arghhh, why did you have to close?????

I have a friend who was the book keeper at Morty's for about 5 years. When Saleforce, the new cloud-based CRM softwarefirst was releaesed it was used to manage the back of the house business component. He said after a year using the basic Saleforce configuration, the owners recognized that they probably needed to hire an expert at customizing Salesforce's functionality to Morty's unique requirements. My friend went on to say that when the Saleforce specialist team first arrived they started by looking at what Morty's business objectives were. He was the laison to the team and helped the Saleforce experts become acquainted with Morty's buisness model and what were considered its challenges.The "experts" created some custom applications with attributes that helped increase productivity, improve data quality, and automated some manual processes. It certainly looked as if the new implmentation was successful and that Morty's was in great shape.

 

Nearby Destinations

Morty's Restaurant & Delicatessen, located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington D.C., was in proximity to several significant landmarks and attractions of the city. While the specific distance from each landmark to Morty's Deli isn't provided in the sources, the following notable places could be considered for a visit if you were in the area of Morty's:

  1. Washington Monument: This iconic obelisk is a tribute to the first American President, George Washington, and was once the tallest building in the world. It offers an observation deck for panoramic views of the city.

  2. Library of Congress: The largest library in the world, it is known for its stunning architecture, extensive collections, and historical significance, including the United States Copyright Office.

  3. Arlington National Cemetery: A solemn and historical site, this cemetery honors those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It includes notable burials like those of John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

  4. Washington National Cathedral: This Neo-Gothic structure has been the venue for significant national events, including state funerals and presidential prayer services.

  5. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: Located near the National Mall, this memorial features a large statue of Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorates his legacy.

  6. Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Situated in West Potomac Park, this memorial is surrounded by cherry blossom trees and is especially picturesque during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

  7. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Known as "America's Catholic Church," this basilica features stunning interior mosaics and is one of the largest churches in the world.

  8. Ford’s Theatre: Famous as the site of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, this theater also operates as a museum and continues to host performances.

These landmarks, each with its unique historical and cultural significance, are part of what makes Washington D.C. a rich and diverse city to explore.

 

History

Morty's Delicatessen in Tenleytown, Washington D.C., was owned by Morty Krupin. He was a significant figure in the local dining scene, particularly known for his New York deli style food offerings. Morty Krupin decided to retire at the age of 71, but even after his retirement, the deli continued to serve its signature dishes like white fish salad, bagels with lox, matzo ball soup, and the famous hot pastrami sandwiches. These dishes were particularly popular among the Jewish community and others in D.C., reminiscent of traditional holiday foods. After his retirement, Krupin planned to move to Florida. Despite his absence, Morty's Delicatessen continued to operate, maintaining its status as a beloved spot for New York-style deli cuisine in Washington D.C.

The history of Morty’s Delicatessen begins with two brothers from east Brooklyn, where there’s a deli on every corner. Mel and Morty Krupin grew up in a tough neighborhood infamous for organized crime, but when it came to rackets, these “Brownsville Boys” preferred running corned beef. While still in their teens, the brothers got their first taste of the deli business when they ran a makeshift catering service, delivering platters to the outer boroughs and Long Island.

In 1989, DC real estate tycoon and philanthropist Cyrus Katzen, a dentist with a penchant for pastrami, decided Washington was in need of a good sandwich. He brought Mel and Morty to 4620 Wisconsin Ave where they set up their own delicatessen. They called it Krupin’s.

Mel was a perfectionist, and believed running a restaurant was not about making friends but about making food that could soothe and satisfy. But friends he made, and people came in hordes. Mel’s regulars ranged from journalists and members of congress, to pro athletes and local Tenleytown residents. Some came to schmooze, some came for Mel’s signature taunts and banter, but everyone came for the food.
In  1998 Mel retired, leaving Morty in charge. Mel insisted that Morty, who had been behind the scenes for so many years, be given some of the credit. So Morty became the new face of the restaurant as well as its namesake.

Even though Mel and Morty have retired, their legacy remains, and what started as a dream in Brooklyn has become a Washington institution. We hold their standards of excellence as dear to our hearts as their recipe for matzo ball soup, which we still use today, until we closed. Alas!

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