Let’s give full credit to Benji Greenberg! After spending seven years working at the celebrated Joe Beef Restaurant, he decided to roll the dice and strike out on his own. Last summer, he opened Yans Deli, taking the childhood nickname of his wife, Jessica Byer and all of the expertise he had gained in the kitchen. The end result is a masterpiece.
After hearing from so many readers and Instagram followers that I just had to try the place, I dropped by for lunch, where Benji and servers Oscar and Matthew made sure I got a good and solid tasting experience.
This is a modern delicatessen, celebrating the rich traditions of deli culture with a refined twist. Greenberg has built a menu around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from trusted local and international suppliers. From beautifully prepared classics to elevated comfort food, every dish is crafted with care and served with warmth. Whether you’re stopping in for breakfast, lunch, or something to take home, Yans offers an inviting experience rooted in quality, flavor, and everyday pleasure.
Conveniently located on Ferrier Street, just off Decarie, there is free parking next door.
The big, bright dining room can seat 45 people. A nice display window is the first thing you will see, with all kinds of appetizing takeout items. There is also a section to buy Yans Deli swag.
Greenberg has grouped the Yans menu under four sections: foršpays (snacks), nosh (small plates), freshers (larger dishes), and platter. There is also a rotating steak of the day, some sandwich selections and of course, desserts. Some cocktails are part of the package as well. Greenberg said that he loved being part of the Joe Beef team, but the challenge of reinventing himself with a new-style restaurant was too strong to resist. And this man did his research. He actually traveled to Romania and Germany with his family to explore the culinary roots of this tradition. Memories of his grandmother’s recipes started to dance in his head. Once inside, you will discover LEGO sculptures, comfortable benches and wall-mounted TVs for the big games. “I want people to feel at home—but with a little twist,” Greenberg says.
Greenberg curated the menu with his longtime friend, Zachary Brown, featuring breakfast classics and deli specialties. As for the decision to open up a new place, he told me, “It was time for a little change in my life to move away from the dinner scene. I became a dad, so it’s good to be at home in the evenings. I also thought there was a lack of a modern deli in the city.”
So what did I try? Well, I started with their party sandwiches filled with fresh bluefin tuna, trout roe, deviled egg salad and some caviar on top. There is enough here for two people easily, perhaps even three. Next came the piping hot homemade chicken soup for the Neshoma, containing kreplach, kneidlach, vegetables and a whole lot more. The term Neshoma in Hebrew translates to soul. Greenberg says the soup is a labor of love, made with double chicken stock.
For the main course, Greenberg recommended the mixed deli plate. This was a real treat. It contains: the nice and tender house-smoked pastrami; the Yans version of completely in-house made stuffed chicken, a German laberkase; the plescoi sausage, essentially an undried karnatzel; Helfkesse German rye bread; a few mustards; and celery pickled by Greenberg’s mother-in-law.
Needless to say, this was delicious and too much for one person. So, I packed up the leftovers and enjoyed them for lunch over the following two days.
The pleasant surprise came for dessert. Matthew suggested the black and white cookie. Let me just say that you need a knife and fork for this destination towards decadence. The icing on top makes it taste like one of those mouthwatering birthday cakes we all love. Regardless of how full I was, I could not resist eating every morsel. I will be back for these gems alone! What a great treat to bring for someone hosting a meal!
Well, there is a whole lot more on the menu that I did not explore, from yummy breakfast items to crispy latkes, chopped liver, eggplant salad and veal schnitzel. Keep in mind that everything here is homemade, with high-quality local ingredients.
Yans Deli is located at 5345 Ferrier. It is open Wednesday to Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. You can call 438-375-1765 or log on to https://yansdeli.com/