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A GuestLife Houston Great Restaurant
Photography by Jim Caldwell
Ziggy Gruber says it all started with his grandfather Max, who learned the delicatessen business by working in several restaurants throughout New York City. In 1927, Max and his brothers-in-law opened The Rialto, the family’s first delicatessen and the first deli to open its doors on Broadway, where they played to “standing room only” for the next 25 years. Walter Winchell, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, The Marx Brothers, and other celebrities came to enjoy traditional deli food there. The family then opened and operated several of New York’s most renowned delis: Berger’s on 47th, Wally’s Downtown, and the Griddle on 16th.
As an adult, Ziggy attended Le Cordon Bleu culinary institute in London, where he learned from some of Europe’s best chefs and graduated at the top of his class. In London, He cooked for the Queen of England, heads of state, and many celebrities at Le Gavroche, a three-star Michelin restaurant.
The early 1990s took Ziggy to Los Angeles where he opened Ziggy G’s on Sunset Boulevard — a great spot to stargaze. Johnny Depp, Warren Beatty, Leonardo De Caprio, and Dennis Hopper were just a few of the loyal customers.
“In 1999, my good friend and legend in the New York deli world, Freddy Klein, approached me about a partnership with a self-made man from the Bronx, Lenny Friedman, and his son, Kenny Friedman,” he says. “Kenny had experience in the restaurant business, and Lenny had an unfulfilled dream. Lenny wanted to bring a favorite of his childhood –– New York deli –– to Houston, Texas.”
Thus, Kenny & Ziggy’s hit H-Town like a tropical storm of pastrami, corned beef, and softball-sized matzo balls!
Kenny & Ziggy’s now makes it a priority to give Houstonians the ultimate dining experience by combining traditional New York deli food with contemporary cuisine. They don’t cut corners, but take time to make sure everything is “just what the customer ordered!” Everything is done the old-fashioned way, baking breads and cakes in-house, pickling and curing their own meats.
The signature cut-to-order pastrami and corned beef sandwiches are unparalleled, and the desserts — especially the cheesecake — are divine. A menu of more than 200 items includes traditional Hungarian goulash, romanian chicken fricassee, blintzes, stuffed cabbage, and latkes, as well as Apricot Glazed Salmon, Grilled Mediterranean Tuna, Chicken Astoria, Black Walnut Chicken Salad, and Sweet Potato Pancakes!
“If I knew anyone would go hungry after eating at Kenny & Ziggy’s, it would break my heart,” Ziggy says.
Menu Highlights
The Zellagabetsky
8-decker sandwich on special-cut rye, corned beef, pastrami, turkey, roast beef, salami, tongue, Swiss cheese, cole slaw, Russian dressing, and sweet red pepper
Triple-Smoked Fish Platter
Nova, sable, and whitefish
Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage
Three Homemade Cheese Blintzes
Served with strawberry or blueberry preserves
Matzoh Ball Soup
Kasha Varniskas
Cheese Cake
Kenny & Ziggy's
2327 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, Texas 77056
(713) 871-8883
More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions
