Pomperdale’s Deli Serves an Authentic New York Deli Experience in Fort Lauderdale
From towering pastrami sandwiches and flaky potato knishes to bagels, smoked fish and matzah ball soup, this longtime favorite delivers generous portions with old-school charm.
By Mrs. Kossenfloffer
As we ogled the huge pastrami sandwich that we were about to share, a server appeared and said, “Why didn’t you tell us you were sharing it when you ordered? We would have given you two coleslaws and two pickles and two baskets.”
With that, she disappeared and reappeared with an additional basket so my husband Richard and I didn’t have to share. That’s exactly the sort of old-school, mom-and-pop charm you can expect at Pomperdale’s.
If you are in search of a real New York deli experience in South Florida, this is your spot.
But back to that sandwich. The rye bread—and for the record, since this is a true New York-style deli, they don’t ask what sort of bread you want because anything aside from rye would be sacrilegious—was soft but chewy enough to support the filling. The pastrami was warm, perfectly spiced, sliced thin and incredibly tender.
Click here to watch our Pomperdale deli adventure video. All this sandwich needs is a tiny bit of deli mustard to bring it home. I prefer to put a little mustard on the side and spread it on each bite. This way I can also enjoy some mustard-free bites, and the juxtaposition makes devouring this sandwich a little more interesting.
The Pastrami Sandwich
We also ordered a potato knish. A lot of places serve a potato knish, and you can even procure the frozen variety at Publix. To me, those are fine and tasty, but they’re not really knishes.
The knish at Pomperdale’s was wrapped in tender, flaky pastry and filled with real, peppery smashed potatoes – with visible chunks of potato. Too many knishes are filled with something closer to creamy mashed potatoes. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just not my jam.Potato Knish
Of course, the menu features many breakfast items, including matzah brei, as well as grilled sandwiches, salads, blintzes, stuffed cabbage, latkes and matzah ball soup. The matzah ball soup is not as good as my mom’s, but that is an impossible bar to reach.
The Menu
I discovered Pomperdale’s back in 1993, when I moved to Florida. One of my new Florida gal pals took me there once she learned I was from New York. She said it was a must. I’ve been going ever since.
A Longtime Favorite
And if bagels and smoked salmon are your scene, a trip to Pomperdale’s is mandatory. If you’ve never tried some of the lesser-known smoked fish, they also have smoked whitefish, terrific whitefish salad, baked salmon and sable. Try them all with a schmear.
Bagels and Smoked Fish
Basically, if you’re a New Yorker, or just someone who appreciates a good deli, Pomperdale’s is worth a visit. It’s the kind of place where the food is familiar, the portions are generous, and someone might just bring you an extra basket because they noticed you were sharing.
Pomperdale’s Famous New York Deli
Pomperdale’s Famous New York Deli is located at 3055 E. Commercial Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Click here to learn more.