Why isn’t there a good New York deli in the Bay Area?
Even in New York itself, only a few delis remain from thousands in business from early to mid-20th century. Saul’s is not a New York deli, and its non-New Yorker, 21st century audience has a different palate and different cultures and politics informing their dining desires. Even New Yorkers don’t patronize delis like they used to for many of the same reasons. Recreating the New York deli is not our charge. Food, authenticity, flavor, sustainability, survival, and being true to the values of our culinary roots are our first priority. Saul’s is engaging in a larger story than one generation’s mid-20th century New York experience, which is only one point in the evolution of our cuisine. We reference the New York deli, but we are not just looking backward, attempting to recreate/imitate/replicate that fixed dish, that moment in time. We don’t serve a purely nostalgic menu. We serve a forward looking cuisine with strong roots in the past, all along our culinary timeline, from the Old World
