LAKEVIEW — Modern Jewish deli Steingold’s of Chicago is moving to Lakeview’s Southport Corridor from its original North Center location next month.
Steingold’s new home will be at 3737 N. Southport Ave., just two doors north of the Music Box Theatre. Aaron Steingold, chef and owner of the deli, said he hopes to open by the second week of February.
Steingold said the new location better suits the restaurant’s operations with a larger kitchen, which the deli has needed since opening at 1840 W. Irving Park Road three years ago.
“We’ve been operating a very busy restaurant with a pretty sizable menu out of a coffee shop kitchen,” Steingold said. “So we have desperately needed a bigger space for a long time.”
The new space is about 2,000 square feet and will feature about a dozen counter-style seats and a carryout window, Steingold said.
“We’re renovating this space with more delivery and takeout in mind,” Steingold said. “But if normalcy returns, we plan to take over the middle space [between Steingold’s and the Music Box] as well to build a full dining room.”
Once the coronavirus pandemic is under control and the Music Box Theatre is allowed to reopen, Steingold’s will launch a new dinner menu, featuring items such as a brisket burger, more soups and the deli’s pastrami chili.
Other new items will include deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza bagels, which Steingold’s was about to launch when the pandemic first hit, and handmade pretzels.
“We’re expanding our kitchen by three times, so our menu will grow with that,” Steingold said.
The new space will also improve Steingold’s capacity to take and fulfill catering orders, he said.
The new storefront is about a 20-minute walk from Steingold’s original home, which will hopefully allow Steingold’s to keep its original customer base, Steingold said.
“A big part of our goal was to not lose our neighborhood following, so we’re really excited to be joining Southport,” Steingold said.
Jake Wittich is a Report for America corps member covering Lakeview, Lincoln Park and LGBTQ communities across the city for Block Club Chicago.
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