Nothing beats a great sandwich for lunch! My brother-in-law wanted to take hubby and I to Ish Delicatessen for lunch while we were visiting NC. We stopped in the day after Christmas, they were pretty busy but we didn't wait long for a table. I ordered the Reuben with pastrami. Hubby ordered the Italian submarine. We shared the burnt ends potato salad. We both enjoyed our sandwiches. My Reuben was meaty and cheesy served up on the delicious rye bread. Hubby's Italian submarine was huge - no shortage of deli meat, crisp veggies with a good amount of tangy Italian dressing. The burnt ends potato salad was very unique, flavorful and had a nice texture. Ish was a great lunch spot and we would definitely be back! read more

Ish Delicatessen - Pastrami Reuben - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

2 hour street parking all around. Deli style inside and a few tables to sit at. Ordered ahead on the website and it was ready when I got there 15 minutes later. There is a small cooler with drinks next to register which is perfect for picking a drink with the to go order. Pasta salad was flavorful and a great light (orzo is always light in my opinion) side for my turkey bacon ranch wrap. The wrap was so so good and the goat cheese and avocado mashed in made it all taste so healthy and flavorful! I will definitely be back to try out more on the menu! read more

Well sadly we never got to try this spot. We came here this morning after confirming on 2 separate websites that it would be open. Drove all the way from Fuquay close to 30 mins to get here to find it closed. No sign on the door, no warning no nothing. The only sign on the door was the one showing their hours and days open- which included Sundays as an open day. First rule of thumb for restaurants is if you are closed unexpectedly you leave a note on your door apologizing and explaining so people don't waste an hour round trip on your spot only to be left hungry. Likely won't come back to try it because that's just piss poor management in my opinion. And honestly it'll likely fail expectations like all the other jokes of a deli in the area. read more

Ish is closing at the end of the month and we had to go. The pastrami bark had a bite and the smoke flavor was amazing. The corned beef was just as good. Staff was super friendly on a very busy afternoon. Not your typical deli since thy share space with a pharmacy. Get there early to grab a seat. Give it a try before they close. You won't be disappointed. read more

Was blown away by this place. You can taste the thoughtfulness in every bight. Each element executed perfectly and with intention. The crispy bits in the burnt end potato salad. The herby ricotta in the Italian sub adding the creaminess I usually miss in an Italian sandwich because of the lack of mayonnaise. What a great choice! And lastly the star of the show the Rueben sandwich. What a perfect sandwich, it will haunt me when I head back to the west coast. I have had a Rueben around the country and this has been my favorite. What a great sandwich. Walking in to the place it's vibe felt like a spot that had the confidence most "trendy" places try to replicate the place felt lived in. In the best way. the hospitality was perfect friendly and subtly reassuring that what we ordered was going to be good. Will definitely find myself back at Ish to try out more of their menu! read more

Ish Delicatessen - Burnt end potato salad. Was amazing - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

I had seen Ish mentioned on several lists as one of the better lunch spots in Raleigh. I tried the Reuben sandwich with the corned beef. My favorite part of it was probably the locally rye bread. It was cut thick enough where I could really bite into it, but it wasn't so thick it overwhelmed the rest of the sandwich. Good quality meat too. I wanted to double the meat, but for $8, that would have been a little bit much. The braised cabbage was a welcome change from the regular sauerkraut, more refreshing, not as strong. My one major complaint is that no pickle came with it. You can't do a corned beef or pastrami without at least a spear! For my side, I spent the $4 for the mustard potato salad. It is served cold, tender thin slices of potato tossed with minced charred onions and spicy brown mustard. A little strong on the mustard, but it was fine. With the Dr. Brown's soda, it cost about $23. Not cheap, but very good. And any deli that serves Zapps potato chips and Dr Browns is A-ok with me. They also have a free ice water dispenser. read more

Ish Delicatessen - Ruben and mustard potato salad - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Excellent burnt end potato salad. Good Reuben, ITALIAN SUBMARINE (looked omg!!). Pickles were excellent. Service was very good. read more

See all

What a cute, authentic sandwich spot! The staff were friendly and open to questions. By far the best pasta salad I've ever had! The Italian was also 10/10. Will definitely return! read more

Ish Delicatessen - Italian sandwich with pasta salad - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The ricotta on the Italian creates such a unique flavor profile that is atypical of an Italian submarine. The ambiance is exactly what you want it to be for where it's located. Service was top-notch despite the fact that they were very busy. It is a shame that they are shutting their doors. read more

Cute little sandwich shop next to a pharmacy. We got the Ruben and Nassau. Both were great! Staff was friendly too. I would definitely come here again read more

Ish Delicatessen - Ruben - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Had an Italian submarine and was truly delicious and filling. Very fresh cold cuts with a creamy dressing. Wife had the chicken salad which she loved. Fast service with a few seats for dining in. read more

There are few things more satisfying in the summer than a proper BLT. Pair it with a soup or a glass of bourbon and perhaps there's no better autumnal luncheon, either. But Ish deli fuses a modern, southern twist on the classic that is absolutely delicious and will leave you full and satisfied until tomorrow... when you crave another one. It's called the BL(FG)T & Blue: Fried green tomatoes, crispy bacon, lettuce, and caraway blue cheese dressing on whole wheat bread. Things you wouldn't expect go together: golden heirloom tomatoes bursting juicy sweet through the delicate lace of their fried crust, drizzled with a thin, caraway-tinged blue cheese dressing, packed between some lettuce and perfectly crispy bacon curls on two whole-wheat slices. It's a beautiful cross-section and a manageable bite. Pair it with a side from their deli case: I chose burnt ends potato salad, a hearty, lemony, mustardy mix of generous smashed fingerlings and chunks of burnt pastrami ends. There's a cooler with some random beers and assorted bottles of wine so I ordered a white and let them choose one to open for me ($9, unlisted in the menu). The leaves were falling so I sat at one of the sidewalk tables (there is indoor seating as well), read poetry until my sandwich was served, and felt more satisfied than I had with a meal out in a long, long time. read more

Ish Delicatessen - BL(FG)T & Blue sandwich with side of (pastrami) burnt ends potato salad. - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

I recently was at (ish) for lunch. They are open for breakfast too. (ish) is located in the Oakwood neighborhood in Raleigh. Parking is on the side streets and it wasn't hard to find a spot. The deli is in front of a drugstore so it is on the small side with a handful of tables. When you walk in, you notice the deli meat in the case. Some specials were taped on the glass. I thought it was the menu at first but I was handed a paper menu to make my decision by Chef Fern. I went with the Babagan(ish) as the roasted eggplant and fried halloumi cheese were calling my name that day. I got the sandwich to go as well as Spiedies Chicken Salad as that was sold by a half pint. I hadn't had chicken spiedies in years so needed to try that too. It has taken me a few days to write the review as although I ate the sandwich right away, I had a refrigerator full of leftovers and hadn't tried the chicken spiedies even though I wanted it sooner. The eggplant sandwich stayed warm/hot the whole trip home, about a 30 minute drive, so that was impressive. The first bite was so delicious that I knew I picked the right sandwich for me. The ingredients were generous and the flavors went together so well. The chicken spiedies were also amazing and took me back to my childhood. I couldn't finish so have some left for tomorrow too! One wall is covered with photos mostly of local folks but I did notice some celebrities. I spent time looking at those while waiting for my order. I didn't time it but was told 10 minutes. I don't think it took that long and when it was ready it was brought out to me. It is a combination of Jewish, Italian and Southern delis. My first visit to (ish) was wonderful so I need to make sure to get here more often now that I found this deli. read more

See all

House made pastrami was excellent as was the corned beef. I didn't have a sandwich, I bought by the pound. But everything looked authentic and the menu has everything you want in a deli. read more

Delicious East Coast deli. The Italian sub was amazing with the Ricotta cheese on it.

Got the Smoked Fish Melt sandwich, Reuben sandwich and banana pudding cannoli. All were excellent! Quality ingredients from bread to veggies and proteins. Lovely atmosphere, great service. All around 5 stars! read more

Ish Delicatessen - Banana pudding cannoli: delicious! - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My first time coming here and I loved it! I always love supporting local places and this one was awesome :) Love the atmosphere and the friendly staff. The Italian Sub was AMAZING - it's packed and I really loved the generous herbed ricotta spread in it!! I'll be back read more

See all

I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to try out Ish! I recently ordered take out for lunch and it was so freaking delicious. I was sharing with my husband and wanted to try all the things. I went for the pastrami Ruben, potato salad with burnt ends, pasta salad, and cucumber salad. The sandwich was really delicious and the sides were great too. My favorite side was the potato salad with burnt ends, super flavorful. I used their online ordering system and my order was ready at 12pm on the dot. They seemed to be a well oiled machine in the kitchen. They were busy back there so no one greeted me when I walked in, which was fine since I had already ordered online. Street parking was easy enough at this time of day. I only wish the sandwich came with a deli pickle, I didn't see the option to buy one either. They did have chips and a few other side items for sale in their market. Overall I look forward to heading back in and trying out some of their other items. read more

Amazing food and service! Love coming here with the fam. My fave item I've tried so far is the breakfast burrito!

I've never had a bad sandwich from Ish! Just thinking of them makes my mouth water. I've never eaten inside or dealt with staff, but I totally recommend the sandwiches. read more

Another visit, this time for lunch. I have to admit that I've been counting on Ish to be the NY Deli that Raleigh lacks. While Ish is DelISH (see what I did there?) it sadly is NOT a NY Deli. On this visit I tried a corned beef reuben. It was piled (not high, but piled) with excellent, lean corned beef. And yes, was served on Rye. With the requisite dressing (but hold the cheese). And, uniquely, shredded braised red cabbage. It's EXCELLENT sandwich. But it's not Katz's. Tried potato salad. Flavorfully dressed. Potatoes a little too al dente for my taste. Again, delicious riff on traditional potato salad. But not Katz's. Also tried sweet potato and butternut squash soup. An EXCELLENT creamy, rich, thick soup with an earthy tone, sprinkled with candied pecans and fried sage. Much more upscale than Katz's matzo ball soup. So... I highly recommend Ish for a selection of eclectic, well-thought-out and delicious choices. As long as you're not expecting Katz's, you'll walk away satisfied. And full. read more

See all

The. Best. Sandwiches. Handsdown. These sandwiches are a flavor explosion. Every bite you taste the fresh cut deli meat. The sauces and slaws pair really well with the perfectly toasted bread. Our order was taken quickly at the counter and the owner was nice and straight to the point. Loved this hometown style deli with the no frills local flair. Will be returning to try something new. IG: @atastytourwithtai read more

See all

Excellent food. Delicious and fresh. Never disappoints. We go every Sunday for brunch The corned beef is the best sandwich in Raleigh. The egg and cheese may sound basic. But, it is the fluffiest eggs on a fresh grilled roll The home fries are delicious as well as all their salads. They have cute little items you can purchase as well This place is a must. read more

I met my husband downtown for lunch here and had a good experience. It was the Italian sandwich special with a cup of sweet potato butternut squash soup and a soda for me and the corned beef reuben with a side of pasta salad and a soda for my husband. All of the food was really good but my favorites were the reuben and soup. read more

This place is just so cute. It reminds me of a small deli in NY. I loved how people just stopped in and talked with the staff behind the counter. The customers were a mix of young college students and young families. It is small but cozy. It was the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon with friends. Now the food. The sandwich selection is not your traditional deli fare, but surprisingly good. I had the Reuben which came with braised cabbage as opposed to sauerkraut. The sandwich was very tasty and the corned beef was so tender and moist. I didn't miss the sauerkraut or pickles. Overall, just a great sandwich in a cozy little deli. read more

This is quite a drive for me (relatively speaking) but it's worth the time, challenging parking and above average prices. This is one of those places you accept the negative for the authentic and appetizing food quality. If it sounds good on the menu you will most likely love it. read more

The jersey breakfast sandwich (the one with ketchup) is worth all the hype. Feels like a place where a bunch of friends hang out and cook easy but incredible food together. A great spot with a great vibe. read more

Today I wanted to experience a place I have yet been to. Omgoodness!! This place is on point! My sando and pasta salad were amazingly perfect and so flavorful! The owner and his staff are so friendly and kind . BL(FG)T & Blue: Fried green tomatoes, crispy bacon, red leaf lettuce, and caraway blue cheese dressing on toasted whole wheat bread. Pasta Salad: Goddess-dressed orecchiette pasta, charred onions, corn and Valbreso cheese. Sssoooooo good, I can't wait to go back for more!!! read more

See all

Amazing neighborhood spot. The Reuben is fantastic. You can get it with pastrami or corned beef. Hot melty goodness. I can't wait to try their other items. But let me tell you about the burnt ends potato salad. It might be the best side I've ever had. Get this and never look back. I ate a side of it and ordered a pint to take home. read more

Ish Delicatessen - Reuben (pastrami) - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So this is a quaint little spot that you must try. First, the owner. Very personable and always willing to explain the meal, or generally talk about interesting topics. Super nice and welcoming. Now the important part. They take routine Deli meals and add a twist that can be unexpected but extremely well prepared and flavorful. I would love to try all the items on the menu. But I doubt I'll be able to, they continue to mix it up and try new things. Definitely one and bring your friends, you won't be disappointed read more

Ish Delicatessen - Chicken salad with a twist - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We stopped in last Saturday after attending a volunteer day for my son's high school at Raleigh City Farm. The location use to be The Pharmacy Cafe and now the space is occupied by Ish Delicatessen. The menu offers a nice variety of sandwiches, sides and breakfast items. The breakfast menu is from 8:00am to 11:00am Tuesday through Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday. They do serve canned beer, wine and the lineup of Doc Brown sodas that you would see in an authentic deli up north. My son went with the Fried Pickle grilled cheese sandwich. It was on sourdough bread and the Swiss chard and pickles were fried nicely as per him. My wife got the Reuben. It was "moderately" piled high with pastrami. You can get a "double" meat for $7 extra with this sandwich if you like. She said the meat was juicy and not overly salty. I went with the Nassau County, which is the Corned beef, with spicy mustard, Havarti cheese bread & butter pickled butternut squash with slaw on toasted wheat bread. It was really good. We added two bags of chips and a cup of pasta and cucumber salad to round it all out. Overall the sandwiches and food here is top notch. Is it an authentic deli that you would see in New York, Jersey or Philadelphia, no. But, the quality is really good and you will definitely be satisfied after eating here. Seating inside is limited and they do offer outside seating outside and take out. read more

See all

I had the pastrami, grilled on rye with Swiss cheese and mustard that was on par with some of the best I've had in New York City, and New Jersey!! Friendly staff proudly explained the pastrami and the corned beef are prepared on premises. I can't resist making this a regular stop! I need to further explore their menu. They have some very creative specials and it's a very comfortable dining room, located in a cool part of Downtown Raleigh. read more

White fish sandwich was good but came for the reuben and it was a little salty. I really liked the mac/slaw thing tho. Pretty standard breakfast fare to compliment outside the sandwiches. Owner was super nice! Ambiance is like a smaller, more yuppie, deli, seinfeld vibe minus booths, only tables. read more

I love little hidden gems like Ish. This reminds me so much of the little bodegas & eateries that I grew up with. It's not fancy but it's a place for some great unique sandwiches. If you like BLTs their BL(R)T & Bleu elevates the BLT to a whole other level with roasted tomatoes & a delicious Bleu cheese dressing. It's like a wedge salad in sandwich form but better! The Burnt Ends Potato Salad is out of this world (maybe because the fingerling potatoes are fried in beef fat then paired with the richness of pastrami burnt ends)!! Their house cured pastrami is very good also & great to see that we can get good cured deli meats here in the triangle! This is definitely a gem! read more

See all

I really wanted to like this place. It's not bad but, it's just -ish. This time I went later in the day and they seemed to not be out of anything on the menu this time. I ordered an egg and olive sandwich; now this sandwich wasn't bad but let's call it what it is...an egg sandwich. I even googled cerignola olive to make sure I wasn't crazy. If it's going to be just egg salad, even a little celery or relish would have been nice but unfortunately this was boiled egg and mayo mixed together on a barely toasted piece of bread. read more

Ish Delicatessen - What I ordered - Delis Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

BLUF: It's good... ish. For now, I'll get my sandwiches at Ideals in Durham. The two (2) sandwiches, Ruben and Italian, they were fine. A real "you-can-judge-it-by-the-cover" type of sandwich. You see what it looks like and you know what it'll taste like. They were... fine. The salads, potato and cucumber, I think they really just forgot the salt in both. The potato salad looked well dressed, but taste-wise was bland. Like bite into a boiled potato bland. I'll give the cucumber salad a slight pass as they did just finish a batch when I ordered. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We were excited for Ish's opening and to try more of their menu, but not so anymore. read more

See all

I had been craving a Reuben for several weeks after seeing something on the food network. When I searched it up, this little spot was at the top of the list and did not disappoint. Made a stop before I got home and my sandwich was still hot and delicious and the bread was still fairly crispy considering the time it spent wrapped up before I could eat it. I also had the burnt ends potato salad and found it to be a uniquely delicious combination of meat and potatoes! read more

So good....traditional deli with a southern influenced inside a...pharmacy? Does the food transcend the odd little atmosphere or is it better because of it? I repeat...so so good. read more

I was expecting a full deli. They had corned beef and pastrami. If you want a Reuben, you're in luck. I wanted a roast beef sandwich. Staff was friendly and attentive. read more

Food tasted good but salty. Service was slow. About an hour after eating I got a horrible bloated feeling in my stomach and had to take gas-x. I looked up the read more