A new Jewish deli will open next year in Philadelphia’s Point Breeze neighborhood, bringing classic flavors to the area.
Jeremy Asch, who has worked in Philadelphia’s restaurant industry, will open Schmaltz with his wife at 1300 S. 18th St. The deli’s tagline is “make good choices.”
“I live in the neighborhood, and I really wanted more restaurant options in the area—like a breakfast sandwich place or a place that we could casually go into, not too fancy, just grab and go anytime. I really think the best way to do that is to do it yourself,” Asch told What Now Philadelphia.
He continued, “The building has been there and it was up for sale. What really helped me take the plunge was I met a bunch of people who have opened some restaurants and they’ve been great mentors. It helped me get over my fear of starting my own thing.”
Asch said “Schmaltz” means “poultry fat” in Yiddish, but the name also evokes nostalgia while carrying a cheeky vibe.
“It’ll have a little bit of a classic diner feel. For the color scheme, my wife called it ‘nineties dad fashion’ with patchwork color. Right now, the building is very stark white. We’re going to start adding some pops of color. We’ve also got green and red vinyl chairs for the vibe,” he said.
Schmaltz will serve breakfast sandwich staples, along with latkes on English muffins and pastrami sandwiches. The menu will also feature blintzes—thin, crepe-like pancakes filled with a sweet, creamy mixture.
“We will be more Jewish, but we will probably have a pork roll on there too, harkening to local Philly. We really just wanted something that is approachable, grab and go, sit-down cafe,” Asch said.
Schmaltz will also offer a small coffee program with espresso drinks like lattes and a take-out window. Asch said the window will likely open first with a limited menu, followed by a soft opening.
Asch is finalizing equipment and inspections and plans to open early next year. Visit the Schmaltz website and follow along on Instagram for updates.
