Feldman’s Deli

I was working as art director for Salt Lake magazine when I first got wind of Feldman’s Deli. My editor, Mary Malouf, told me “we gotta get this deli in the magazine.” I was skeptical. Since I’d moved from Los Angeles in 1999, I had yet to find a good deli sandwich of any kind in Utah or Idaho for that matter.

Mary brought a few sandwiches back to the office and, with my first bite, I was hooked.

Fast forward a few years, and I was sitting at Alchemy coffee shop during the regular Tuesday night open mic. Low and behold, who should jump up to the microphone but Michael Feldman. I hadn’t seen the Deli Man since the photo shoot I had organized for Salt Lake magazine’s annual dining awards issue.

We had a chance to catch up and he told me he had started hosting live music Friday and Saturday nights. I’ve been a big fan ever since.

The Music

Feldman’s isn’t a large place, but Michael has done a great job setting up a small stage area with professional sound and LED stage lighting. The music is often acoustic, and usually consists of individual or small combo artists performing a range of music.

Some noteworthy local performers to grace the Feldman’s stage include JT Draper, Sycamore Slim, Doug Winch and the Wandering Stars, Otter Creek, Red Desert Ramblers and many others.

The music is not too loud—you can enjoy a conversation if you wish—but the performing artists can easily be heard from any set in the house. You might even get a chance to see Feldman sit in and play a song or two with one of his impressive collection of acoustic guitars.

Feldman’s Deli is not your typical music venue. For insight on why Feldman hosts local music check out his story, which he recently sent in to Salt Lake Bard. Check out the Feldman’s Deli website for a list of upcoming shows.

The Food

The sandwiches at Feldman’s Deli are, bar none, the best Jewish Deli Sandwiches I have ever tasted. I’ve eaten at Carnegie’s in Manhattan and many Los Angeles delis, so I know a bit.

Michael’s wife Janet Feldman runs the ktchen, while Michael runs the front end. When the deli was in the planning stage, they realized they could not buy the meats they required locally, so they decided to have their meat shipped in from the east coast. The sandwich bread is baked per spec, becasue nothing already produced locally was up to Janet’s high standards.

My favorite sandwich is the classic Reuben, but Michael will likely recommend the Sloppy Joe, which is not your momma’s sloppy joe. Sandwiches are on the pricey end—expect to pay about $14-15—but they are large and very filling. I usually take half of it home and eat it for breakfast…I’m not joking.

Order a Bonneville Brewery Redline Irish Style Red Ale (read a review here) with your sandwich and you’ll be good to go.

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Bottom line: Michael Feldman is a huge local music supporter and his Feldman’s Deli makes the best sandwich you’ll likely taste is a 500 mile radius. If you like food and music, you gotta go to Feldman’s Deli.