EvanstonMensch’s Deli

She’ll kvell — and so will you. Opened last summer by three New Trier alums who missed the kind of sit-down deli restaurant they grew up with, Mensch’s is a tribute to old-school Jewish diners. Jack DeMar, Kiki Eliopoulos, and Eric Kogan visited iconic New York City ones — Russ & Daughters, Barney Greengrass, Pastrami Queen — before crafting a menu rooted in classic techniques and family recipes. The result? Perfectly brined corned beef and pastrami (smoked in-house), matzo brei, decadent babka French toast, and matzo ball soup with serious healing powers. Bagels are brought in from Lincolnwood’s New York Bagel & Bialy, and the beef salami from Romanian Kosher Sausage in Rogers Park is a nod to local deli lore. A second location opened in Glencoe in June, which means less schlepping for fans farther north. 1608 Chicago Ave. menschs-deli.com