rkhen This movie places the food centre-stage. And it's the most incredible food you've ever seen. Even raw, being turned into delectable dishes, it's to die for. I watched this over two nights, while eating dinner. And it still almost killed me. And I'm a great cook. If you possibly swing it, watch this on some mobile device while eating way too much food in a Jewish delicatessen somewhere. As the film itself points out, that's hard to do, since in all of North America there's only 150 left. But otherwise, you're going to be really hungry for several days. One small complaint: they left out Montréal. C'mon, guys! The smoked meat sandwich that's MTL's world-famous signature dish was a gift to that city from Jewish delis! They're the reason the French language now contains the word « le smoked meat ». Great. Now I'm jonesing for _that_. Anyway, see the movie. If I could eat it too, I would.

rnc55 I love deli food and I loved this movie. The historical stuff was fascinating, while Ziggy, the main focus, is delightful and lovable. I really have nothing bad to say EXCEPT-- the deli they featured in San Francisco is the only one in the movie that doesn't stick to traditional deli food, but specializes in chi-chi California Cuisine- style variations on the theme. Okay great. But most restaurants in San Francisco, featuring ANY type of cuisine, do the same thing. It's not noteworthy for any restaurant in SF to feature smoked caramelized arugula drizzle. So the filmmakers should have shown a traditional Jewish deli in San Francisco-- - THAT would be special. And one does exist. I went there after the movie and had a heavenly whitefish salad sandwich.Okay, rant over. Despite that one major flaw, it's still a great movie.

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . so much so that it sometimes detracts from a viewer's ability to give thought to food, the ostensible subject of this documentary. This flick is crammed full of interviewees too numerous to keep straight (without a giant scorecard, at least), but one of them observes in the opening minutes that the Confederacy had more Jewish generals during the American Civil War than the Union Army. In DELI MAN's final minutes, another of the contemporary title characters talks about his annual Seder dinners to commemorate the Jewish People's flight from slavery in Egypt. Between these two passages, I was sensitized to look hard for the presence of African Americans among the deli patrons and workers pictured. Though there was a healthy sprinkling of Hispanic People and Asians mixed among the many Jews and non-Jewish White People, I honestly could not spot a single Black person. DELI MAN leaves me with the impression that because most of the descendants of Jewish slaves in America fought to PRESERVE Black slavery here, most of today's African-Americans won't touch kosher food with a ten-foot pole.

Quietb-1 Here's a fun Documentary on the Deli business and the unusual and interesting men who make the Deli business their life. In addition to the Deli men there are some good cameos that add to the insight.There's a romantic element that ends in a destination wedding. It is interesting that the business is very similar in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Houston. The basic message of good food and a hands on warm welcoming personality seem universal elements of success.The movie like most Documentaries is in very limited release. Watch for it soon on a home platform. Seek it out, it is interesting and entertaining.