New York-style Jewish deli near downtown Sarasota expects to open at 'end of October'
One of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings in Sarasota this year should happen just in time for tourist and snowbird season.
Yes, it has been a long wait, but it should be worth it — especially for those of us who adore fabulously authentic Jewish foods like corned beef sandwiches and matzo ball soup found in classic New York delicatessens.
More than a year ago, we reported that The Overton restaurant, located at 1420 Boulevard of the Arts in the Rosemary District found just north of downtown Sarasota, had been sold. That was soon followed by the news that a deli overseen by local chef Sol Shenker, known for his own beloved brand of "Jewish soul food," would take over the space.
Now, it appears the wait is nearly over.
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The Original Wolfie’s & Rascal House in Sarasota should open 'probably towards the end of October'
The Original Wolfie’s & Rascal House will be opening soon. Wolfie's Box Office — a grab-and-go located at 1454 Boulevard of the Arts, just a few doors east of the delicatessen — should debut just before the main restaurant. Shenker, who is now officially the executive chef at Wolfie's, expects the restaurant to begin welcoming guests next month.
"I would have to say, probably towards the end of October," Shenker said by phone Wednesday, Sept. 20, when asked when Wolfie's would open. "Our grab-and-go more than likely will open in the next couple of weeks."
Wolfie’s menu reflects its long, rich history
In February, I reported that public records showed Jonathan Mitchell was the owner of the then-unnamed Original Wolfie’s Delicatessen. His long résumé includes chief executive officer of New York-based EDM Realty Partners, LP. He was also an owner of the Jerry's Famous Deli chain in California and Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House in South Florida, according to a Los Angeles Times story from 2000.
"Founded in 1954, Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House returns as a late-night hot spot with a New York vibe located in Sarasota’s trendy Rosemary District," reads the restaurant's website. "At the Rascal House, you’ll find a moody ambience, live entertainment, tasty hors d’oeuvres, snacks, sweet treats and an expansive cocktail menu listing beers, spirits and wines."
The new Wolfie's "is dedicated to preserving the rich traditions of a deli while adding innovative elements to create a dining experience that is unique to Sarasota," reads an email from Meredith Dropkin of Sarasota-based Grapevine Communications, which is handling publicity for Wolfie's. "Everything is made from scratch, using the finest and freshest ingredients and Wolfie’s iconic recipes. Hand-carved pastrami sandwiches, corned beef, matzo ball soup, chopped liver, salads, latkes. We also have baked goods, including bagels, breads, black and white cookies, babka, rugelach and, of course, New York cheesecake."
Shenker will be serving his renowned New York-style cheesecake in about a half-dozen rotating flavors per day, but said he's most excited about Wolfie's meats.
"They are just the best that you could ever imagine," he said. "The corned beef, the pastrami, they're over the top better than at any other place I ever ran, absolutely incredible. Then of course all of our pastries. Our New York-style Jewish pastries are going to be bar-none the best ever ... We have a kosher bakery in New York that’s making them for us."
Shenker declined to name the New York City business but said they are also responsible for their bagels and breads and that all of their meats are "New York-made." "I thought my stuff was good at my restaurants and hotels, but this is so over the top that I’m even blown away," Shenker said.
Wolfie's to make guests 'Broadway stars'
In addition to the full food menu, which Wolfie's recently premiered on Instagram, there will be the Rascal House's full-bar with cocktails and wine by the glass, as well as live entertainment including local musicians "and a popular attraction coming that most New Yorkers will know," Shenker said.
Wolfie's is billed as "where New York Broadway and South Florida tradition meet." The restaurant's website notes that "as you approach our Broadway Theater façade, you’ll think you’re about to enjoy a Broadway show but, as you enter, you’ll realize YOU are the star!"
"It’s just incredible, when you walk in, you’re on stage," Shenker said. "You see the blocks where guys are cutting meat behind plexiglass and feel like you're on Broadway, the customers are going to be stars of the show. It’s a great concept. I haven't been this excited since I opened my first store."
Wolfie's will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a full breakfast menu available until 3 p.m., Shenker said. There will also be a late night food menu as well as deli cases filled with New York-style salads and pastries.
Wolfie's will be third New York-style Jewish deli to open this year in Sarasota, where Sol Shenker previously opened delis
When Wolfie's opens, Sarasotans will have three destinations for New York-style Jewish deli foods.
Meshugana Deli, which began last year by offering carryout and catering in Gulf Gate, debuted its dine-in restaurant location on Clark Road in February. This summer, Palm Avenue Deli in downtown Sarasota began serving breakfast and then lunch before beginning to serve dinner in mid-September. The owners, who also operate nearby Kojo and Bar Hana, eventually plan to keep Palm Avenue Deli open 24 hours.
However, before Meshugana and Palm Avenue Deli, there were Shenker's Jewish delis in downtown Sarasota. He opened Sol’s NYC Delicatessen in the former Applebee’s space of Main Plaza, next door to the Regal Hollywood movie theater, in early 2016 following a falling-out the previous year with his former business partners — who happened to be his sister and brother-in-law — at the Sol Meyer NY Delicatessen, also on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. By the end of 2016, Sol's NYC Deli announced it would be relocating again, to make room for Main Plaza redevelopment.
Shenker would go on to serve his popular sandwiches, soups and New York-style cheesecakes and such at various Sarasota restaurants and hotels, with a more recent stop in Fort Collins, Colorado, before being hired by Mitchell as the executive chef at Wolfie's. However, Shenker is keenly aware that people often only remember your failures as a restaurateur, and is confident those mistakes won't be repeated at Wolfie's due to several key factors.
"Because the Rascal House in Miami was around for years and years, and Jerry’s in Los Angeles was around for years and years," Shenker said. "Times change, they were sold, but my partner is a sharp businessman who has owned thousands and thousands of square feet of restaurants, and it’s a good business plan that I didn't have before. It's so well-organized and managed and financed, and that’s why we’ll flourish. And not to mention great food!"
The Original Wolfie’s & Rascal House is at 1420 Boulevard of the Arts, and Wolfie's Box Office is at 1454 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. For more information, visit originalwolfies.com.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New York Jewish deli Wolfie’s opening soon near downtown Sarasota
