Not the first time I've been in, but it has been a while though.
Ordered a Reuben.
Now, I have a particular LOVE for a good REUBEN sandwich and I can't explain it. It's really NOT that complicated of a sandwich: Corned Beef on Rye with Sauerkraut, Swiss and either Thousand island or Russian Dressing. The issue is; ALL the ingredients have to be GREAT, pilled HIGH and griddled properly.
This is an OK Reuben.
On the PLUS: Good bread and the Corned Beef is very tender, good flavor, fairly lean and freshly sliced. Could be piled a bit HIGHER and a bit more generously for the price.
Swiss Cheese is fine.
Kraut can use more ZING (as well as more of) and the 1K dressing isn't all that inspiring nor seemingly homemade. Honestly, a GOOD Reuben should have RUSSIAN (pretty much the same as 1K, but add: horseradish, grated onion, Worcestershire sauce and paprika).
Cole slaw is overly sweet and I don't think it's entirely homemade either.
GOOD coffee though. Overall, very nice people.
Why not five stars? Because it is not the ideal of a Jewish deli (trust this Brooklyn-bred Jewish princess), and certainly not a kosher one.  Chicago could sure use a kosher deli like those of my youth (and which still abound in NYC), but I realize that with the city's mostly African-American, Latino, and Catholic-ethnic demographic it ain't gonna  happen (except perhaps in West Rogers/West Ridge). For something a bit more authentic, it's worth the drive up to Max's in the Crossroads strip mall on Skokie & Lake-Cook.  (There also used to be a glatt kosher deli next door to it--they catered my son's bris back when dinosaurs roamed the earth).*
But for those who want to keep it local, you can't do better than JB's unless you go to a Jewel with a kosher deli counter (like the one in the Howard-Kedzie strip mall). It is what it is, and it's a pretty good one of what it is. Having recently gone back on low-carb, I appreciate its meats & smoked fish even more. For those of you who can have starch, its breads & bagels are pretty authentic. To the reviewer who mentioned the potato knish having morphed into a meat knish that didn't taste like meat: are you sure it wasn't kasha (buckwheat)? I've never eaten there, just take the food home. Prices are on par with Jewish delis in Chicagoland. Â For those not hung up on tradition and don't mind a melting-pot vibe, their gelato is killer.
Re the naming confusion: the place was "Gordon Pharmacy;" when we first lived in A'ville when Osco was the only other game in town it was our neighborhood drugstore. Â Then it was sold and became "Ok Pharmacy" (with additional lettering in Korean, suggesting to me that was the name of the owner who was likely Korean); when the deli was added up front it acquired both the JB's name for the deli and "Gordono" for the drugstore.
* I understand the venerable Belden Deli has reopened in the basement of the building occupying its old Lincoln Park location. Worth checking out.
Yelpers weren't too far off on this one, and having experienced deli's from the Northeast and Florida, Chicago is not particularly the best with this stuff. Â Though they still have a decent amount of good food and deli, it's just not good enough for a city in any capacity. Â They do have a great location and could become a staple for many but start pricing better as well as providing Northeastern flavor.
Review Source:I have gotten food from here a few times and have always been very happy. Â Yes, it is a bit on the expensive side, but I do think you get a lot of food. Â I have read a few reviews saying you don't get much, but that has never been a problem for me. Â Now on to the food. Â You can't go wrong with the Matzo Ball soup. Â It looks and tastes like homemade broth, and the kinadle is just the right size and tender. Â The broth always comes with some veggies and pieces of chicken. Â This really gives it that homemade taste. Â Not as good as my ma's but it is tasty. Â Sandwich wise they have what you are looking for in the Jewish deli fare. Pastrami, corned beef, brisket, chicken/tuna salad are all great. Â A lot of it tastes house made. Â The chicken and tuna salad are made daily I believe. They give you a choice of bread with your sandwich too, and their challah is especially good. Â The potato pancakes are good too but it is better to order those if you are eating there rather than delivered. Â And finally, their lox and bagel are legit. Â Good bagels good lox, a bit expensive but well worth it. Â Anytime I have been in there they have been very nice and chatty. Â A good place and an excellent Jewish deli. Â We need more of these types of places.
Review Source:I'm really very disappointed in my experience with JB's because I was hoping for a good deli that would deliver to me. Â The fact that it offered deli meats and salads by the pound and bagels by the dozen was great. Fortunately I decided to try a few individual dishes before I went nuts and ordered deli in for the week.
The extra lean corned beef was extra lean, I can't fault them for that even given that I paid extra for it. Â I'm willing to; I can't tolerate fat on corned beef. Â I thought the portion was a bit skimpy even so, but the real fudge factors here were that it arrived ice cold, and it seemed like it had been so oddly sliced I couldn't figure out how to put the sandwich together properly. Â Turns out that while I ordered it on an onion roll, I got it on a hot dog bun! I'm sorry, that's not acceptable. Â If you don't have what the customer asks for, you find out what they want as a substitute. Â Hot dog bun wouldn't have been at the top of my list by any stretch. Â The CB itself was fine, though no great shakes in the flavor department. Â It came with a small tub of potato salad which wasn't bad, though there was something odd in the dressing, some herb or spice that I wasn't nuts about. Â That's not an issue; everyone's taste in potato salad is different. Â It also came with two very nice pickles which were actually the best thing about the sandwich.
I ordered kishke with gravy because I dearly love it. Â This stuff was nothing to write home about and the gravy was not only gelatinous but so salty it proved inedible. Â Clearly it had been made with some kind of flavoring and the chef used too much of it because the gravy was so dark it was nearly black and had a commercial flavor under all that salt. Â Total wash.
The potato knish dough was crumbly dry, the filling meager and pretty flavorless. Â not a total wash but nothing to get excited about. Â The matzoh soup which I got for supper and to make up the $20 minimum for delivery, is okay, but the matzoh ball is one of those light, fluffy, flavorless ones. Â Me, I like the cannonball type. Â While I'm not thrilled with the soup, it's decent and will make a decent dinner along with the rest of the knish.
The delivery cost me $6 and was more than half an hour late. Â I did get a call saying they'd be late, so I appreciated that.
Basically what you've got here is fair to poor food at a rather high price point. Â I won't be ordering from them again and that makes me sad because I wanted to like this place, I really did. Â My best friend gave it four stars! Â I love deli! Â But I can't afford to spend this much to have so-so food delivered.
ETA: I ate the rest of the knish today and discovered that it was a meat knish. I'd ordered a potato one.  Now normally I figure mistakes happen, but this is really significant for a couple of reasons.  First, given that I got a hot dog bun instead of an onion roll, the mistake may actually have been a substitution. This is problematic for anyone who doesn't eat meat.  However that's difficult to know so let me move on to the really icky part: I COULDN'T TELL IT WAS MEAT.  Not at first, not with the bite I took when it arrived.  When it was ice cold it was a kind of greyish brown and had no flavor at all.  I assumed it was potato with some kind of  (ineffective) flavoring mixed in.  Now I realize that it was meat, it still didn't have much flavor, and had been gray because of congealed fat.
I'm sorry, that's too much. Â One star is all this place deserves.
On one of the recent blistering hot days in Chicago, we ordered lunch from JB's via Grubhub. The food arrived promptly and we really enjoyed what we got. The lox plate was good, and certainly enough for the two of us. The corned beef was tasty, The matzo ball soup was a hit with Mom. I also got a scoop of chopped liver. That was my only disappointment. It needed a bit more flavor and I thought the scoop was kind of skimpy for the price.
We will order from here again. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but for us it was worth it. I'm glad they deliver because to me, going to Andersonville these days is a big hassle. Too many people and too much congestion. This is like having your lox and eating it too.
OK, if you are going in thinking it is Katz's Deli in NYC, it isnt. They probably should take the Jewish deli signage down. Dont get me wrong, they do have some great Jewish things in there, but the moniker of "Jewish Deli" gets the purists in an uproar.
Once you get off your high horse, and actually look at what they have, its a great deli. Big, wonderful pastrami sandwiches that are stuffed with Vienna Beef pastrami. Also, the tuna salad and egg salad are fantastic as well. The people behind the counter are very friendly, and give good value for money. Sure, it isnt a $5 footlong, but quality ingredients cost money, and you get what you pay for.
I really appreciate having this small neighborhood business here. A few people mentioned that there is quite a lot of things in there. Its true. I think it started out as just a pharmacy, but they added other things to make up for the dwindling profits that private pharmacies are making. Now with Walgreens across the street, if it wasnt for the ice cream and deli, they would probably be out of business. I say bravo for making a great decision. Â Their great food and their other goodies will keep me coming back.
I just need to say it - this is NOT a deli. Sure, they have some items that would remind you of a deli, otherwise known as delicatessen, which by the way means fine, tasty food. I assure you, this is not it. A good deli sandwich is sensational. What you get here is tiny, dry, and rather awful tasting. Who said that pastrami should have the texture of beef jerky with extra salt added? People behind the counter were perfectly nice and the pickles were passable, but I would not recommend eating here even if you have a major craving for deli food. You'll feel disappointed if you have had better and will forever be turned off, if this is your first try.
Review Source:The lox plate is awesome....and the matzo ball soup is excellent. Â The sandwiches are huge and well worth the price. Â You won't be able to eat the entire thing. Â They have a box you can take the remainder home with you.
AND on the weekends they have salt bagels........yum.
The staff is friendly too. Â
One reviewer berated one of the employees because she didn't know a certain type of jewish cookie.......
are you kidding me? Â You are just sad bordering on pathetic.
Anyway -- Â check out the deli....... it's unique and such a nice change from
everything else on the strip.
Rock on JB's !!
Way, way, way too expensive for way too small of portions.
I love kosher food. Its delcious, clean, and everything that good food should be. These sandwiches are no exception to deliciousness. However, they are just too small and too little meat content.
Customer service was great and the deli stocked with interesting things. Its worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood but there are many other options in this city that have better portions and better prices.
I was so very very surprised to see bacon on the menu! Â I love bacon! Â I ordered a bacon/cheese/egg on an everything bagel. Â It was the best bagel breakfast I've ever had in the city. Â My partner had egg and cheddar on a plain bagel and we both had a coffee. Â The food was just absolutely excellent. Â The bagels had that wonderful crisp crust that just yields and reveals the wonderfully chewy interior that just melts in your mouth.
It was fun to nose around the place and look at all the interesting things in the deli case and at the pharmacy. Â The tilework on the floors is beautiful.
I do, however, wish they'd get rid of the giant flatscreen TVs in the dining room. Â I do not understand having giant TVs anywhere but sports bars. Â In my opinion, they destroy the atmosphere.
I was elated to find this place -- "one of a few Jewish delis". Â But if that's what Jewish delis have been reduced in this neck of the woods, I'm running screaming back to the East Coast.
Expensive gelato (Oh! So Jewish!). No kosher meats. And then the kicker: I walked in right before Purim and asked with wide eyes if they had any hamantashen.
""Hummus?" Â the girl said dully. I laughed and looked at the glass cases to see if they had the tri-cornered dough cookies for the holiday featured somewhere. "No: Hamantashen," I said. There was no recognition in her eyes. "You know, for Purim? The Jewish holiday? The triangle cookies?"
I tried to help her out because I could see she wasn't Jewish, but she really didn't have a freakin' clue what I was talking about - the holiday, the cookies, the pronounciation being a hint at a Hebrew word, the fact that she was working in a supposedly "Jewish" deli... NOTHING.
"Well, what is it? Tell me what it is and maybe I can make it for you," she offered.
Yeah, you just approximate that centuries-old tradition.
The corned beef sandwich I had here was great, a lot of meat comes on their sandwiches, served traditionally and delicious. But at about $8, it's totally overpriced in my mind (for 2 slices rye bread, corned beef, yellow mustard), so I probably won't be coming back, which is too bad!
It's worth stopping in here though, I like the vibe and the weird pharmacy-deli mix. But for sandwiches, I'll be staying up the street at Piatto Pronto where subs are bigger and cheaper.
My son and I were out running errands and were supposed to bring dessert home with us. We were at Edgewater Produce getting some fruits and veggies and we decided to try JB's as it boasted gelato and ice cream. My son went in and came out with a small and not so well packed pint of mint chip ice cream. Price $9! The ice cream is locally made, but that is way too much to be spending on take out ice cream. I'd rather drive up to Homer's.
Review Source:Jb's is a pretty pricey if you're looking for lunch. The people who work here don't exactly love their jobs. Whatever you do, don't buy the candy out of the little bins in front of the ice cream. It's always stale. All of it.
"Meh. I've experienced better" is an accurate description. I'm sure I'll return at some point, but I don't expect greatness and Jb's doesn't disappoint.
I stopped in to grab a pastrami sandwich to go this evening, and while the quality of the pastrami was very good, it was kinda small and for a deli counter I found the price to be quite high. Also no spicy mustard?? What is a pastrami on rye without spicy brown mustard? I cringed when he asked if I wanted yellow or Dijon, and declined both, good thing I have a bottle in my fridge at all times. I was disappointed that all of the side choices were packaged and fairly institutional. What kind of "Jew Deli" serves crappy grocery store style coleslaw? Â Apparently the kind that is also an ice cream shoppe and pharmacy (chopped liver with a side of deodorant anyone?) I do have to say the staff was very friendly, and a big part of the reason that they got 3 instead of 2 stars but if I return it will probably to buy meat by the pound. For 8 dollars I can get way more meat and take it home and make my own sandwich, especially since I have to use my own mustard anyway. It's a shame too because I have a weakness for Jew Delis, and well this one is just weak.
Review Source:Their menu doesn't match what they charge you.
they over charged me and the cashier's excuse was that they haven't updated the menu yet. I paid about $12 for a Ruben and a can of soda.
the food wasn't really great either and small portioned, the potato salad they gave me less then one scoop. won't be going back ever again.
I've been in the neighbourhood for nearly 15 years now, and have known this place through all its permutations. Â It came out, Â as it were, as a Jewish deli only a few years ago, and before that it was a small pharmacy and general drug store. Â They shifted gears suddenly one summer, and the place now looks like a showroom for light fixtures. Â I think the set up is weird, with all the angled shelving units and the wood. Â I tried a bagel the first time they offered them, and it was lousy - clearly old. Â I tried the ice cream recently, and it was the usual ghastly flavour-only-found-in-the-chemistry-lab sort. Â I'm a fiend for ice cream, and even I couldn't stand the cone for too long. I eventually chucked it into the trash can across the street.
I haven't tried any of the deli specialties others rave about here, since I'm too strapped for cash to plunk that much money down on food in a place that's already disappointed me on two counts. Â I know the pancakes are from Manny's but I wonder if that's a good thing - they look sad and almost freeze-dried. Â
At some point, when I have $10 to spare on a culinary experiment, I'll try a sandwich or the brisket and report back. Â Until then, I'll stay away from this place. Â I suspect the tides of faux-nostalgia have overwhelmed some of the reviewers to the point where they just *want* this place to be good because it tries so hard to be a throwback to a time way back when. Â If I'm wrong about the food, well, hey, I'll just have to eat...the brisket.
Okay, this place needs to get over their schizophrenia and just mix it all together. Is it some sort of co-op that it has three names? JB's? Pudgies? Gordono's? "One of a FEW JEWISH DELIS"?
But what's in a name, anyway? Every time I go here, I'm more happy it's a skip from my apartment. The food is fresh and great, and the owner could not be more friendly. And I can pick up toothpaste and floss.
And my bad that I didn't order something with a more Jewish flava last time. This trip it was a Lox sandwich that was large, fresh and delicious. Open faced, lightly toasted bialy, super fresh lox, tomato, cucumber and cream cheese. Perfect.
AND there is sable fish here. Not on the day I was there, but every Wednesday is when the Sable bus pulls up, so call ahead for that! Another feature is potato pancakes made at Manny's Deli - right here in the 'hood.
Now, as Mae West says "Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before." The things I'd never had before, that I tried on this day, were sour tomatoes and Gefilte fish (with  lots of horseradish). Who knew that these delights, which sometimes get made fun of by we Goys, are so delicious. And I did NOT put mayonnaise on it (joke: this Goy hates mayonnaise). Peace, to my Passover peeps, thanks for the great food.
A real neighborhood deli, NOT a chain. I may move all my prescriptions here just so I can get a Lox sandwich with my antihistamines and Tom's of Maine toothpaste. One stop, baby!
I'm not sure if I love this place because it's the closest place to my apartment or because it's really good. Perhaps a bit of both. As has been mentioned, this place is a strange combination of many things-- deli, pharmacy, ice cream parlor, bodega, et. al.-but it all tends to work. The food is good, not great. They buy good product and they make the sandwiches right there in front of you. The matza ball soup is hearty and nourishing. They even import potato pancakes from Manny's, which is pretty damn cool. The best thing by far, however, about JB's is the old-fashioned candy they have. They have stuff I haven't seen for years. Even candy cigarettes!
Review Source:I haven't had a decent bagel since Dr. Atkins became a celebrity. Lived in this neighborhood for years and didn't realize that J.B.'s was here until a couple of days ago. It's not a huge deli, but the bagels and corned beef are really good. I'll definitely come back to try one of their sandwiches.
Review Source:OK, first off, this place is WAY too small to be such a clusterfuck. It's like "well, what are we? Deli? Ice cream parlour? Pharmacy? Oh hell, just ram it all in there - it'll fit!" And judging by the schizophrenic signage out front, I'd say that's a pretty good guess of how it all went down.
The BLT I ordered came on hamburger buns that are the same as the ones you can buy at the Jewel across the street, one slice of tomato, a heaping helping of shredded iceberg lettuce, and 3 microwaved slices of bacon (yep, saw them microwaving it!) - all this and a 1/4 cup of coleslaw for $6. Oh and a pickle. But really - where are these other reviewers getting the idea that these sandwiches are huge? Pre-packaged buns and too much lettuce do not a large sandwich make, my friend.
I guess I was just irritated by the whole set up and how there was too, too much stuff in that joint. Oh, that, and the guy that kept interrupting my purchase of the sandwich by continually asking the girl for "potato pan-cockys. Could I get a pancocky? Come on, just one pancocky." Was he flirting in a bizarrely childlike fashion, or just having trouble enunciating? We shall never know.
Part Deli, part drugstore, part ice cream shop? Â I'd walked past several times with wonder and decided, what the heck, I'll try a sandwich. Â They proclaim they are one of the few remaining Jewish Deli's. Â Now I know why so many have gone out of business.
I ordered a reuben. Â I watched the person behind the counter get out the fresh corned beef while toasting rye bread and thought that I was in luck. Â Wrong! Â The bread was burnt then soggy because, while they give you loads of meat, they microwave it!!!! Â What Jewish deli would be proud of a microwaved mess of corned beef, kraut and swiss piled on burnt rye? Â Ugh. Â The side of coleslaw was small and so-so. Â The pickle was good though. Â But not good enough to compensate for a lousy $10 reuben. Â
Maybe this is a better ice cream parlor or pharmacy, but as a Jewish deli, no thanks. Â You'd be better served going to the Jewel across the street.
I am here for lunch carry out several times per week. Â This place reminds me of something out of NYC here in Chicago. Â It is a mix of deli, drug store, pharmacy, and ice cream shop all in a small corner storefront. Â The bagels, sandwiches, spinach pie, knish, kreplach, and matzo ball soup are all great. Â I highly recommend if you are a fan of traditional jewish deli fare.
Review Source:This is a deli/drug store. Â Nothing special here. Â I went in and got a roast beef sandwich on an onion roll. Â Other reviewers claimed that it was the biggest sandwich in the Windy City. Â I found the sammy small and just ok. Â It came with a choice of chips or potato salad and a pickle. Â I opted for the minuscule side portion of potato salad. Â It was good but not great.
I ate my lunch and was still starving because of the small portions. Â I will not be going back any time soon.
Walked by million times, never entered the building. A Pharmacy, Deli, and Ice Cream place all in one. I can only imagine the fun combinations one could make with this place. Add some Viagra, Ambien, Ice Cream and Rolls. :-)
Had the Brisket sandwich warmed up, was very tasty. The female that worked there took pride in her work, and was extremely personable. Will be back again.
I've known the owner for a while (years) but it doesn't change the fact that they make a great sandwich. Meat is plentiful, breads, bagels are fresh daily, veggies are fresh and cut real thin. Potato salad is homemade and should not be missed.
The whole place has a real "neighborhood" feel. I keep goin' back
Being a chosen person myself, I was super excited to live just around the corner from "one of a few jewish delis, " so they say. I've always enjoyd the quality and portion size of this place, but I had to knock off some stars for two reasons: they have never had bialys when I've gone in, and the counter girls had no clue what marble rye was. I didn't know that you had to be jewish to be familiar with marble rye, but apparently that's a prerequisite. Oh well...if you want a good honest corned beef on rye, this is the place to go.
Review Source:Wow, there are deli's in Chicago? Yeah? You mean I have to go up to northern stretches of Andersonville to find one? Exactly.
If only they had more of these in Chicago, I could stop eating my bologna and cheese toaster oven sandwich and eat something that actually tastes decent.
Make sure you get the potato salad as your side. Amazing.
Gordono's (also JB's) is an odd mix of deli, ice cream parlor and drugstore. Â The drugstore itself is quaint and vaguely reminiscent of a country pharmacy. Â The deli, although self-proclaimed as "one of a few Jewish delis" doesn't serve kosher meat. Â That said, the bagels and sandwiches are good, albeit not up to NYC standards.
The best treat here is the ice cream. Â It's rich, creamy, just slightly soft and packed with flavor. Â My personal favorite is the "Bear Claw" which is chocolate fudge / caramel extravaganza.
Seating inside is minimal but take-out is a good option.
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