la.foodblogging

3 Responses to “Nate ‘n’ Al’s 60th B-Day! 60 cents for sandwiches 12PM-5PM”

1. 

   Vidalia says:

   May 24th, 2005 at 10:28 pm

   People rant and rave about Nate ‘n’ Al’s, but as someone who used to work down the street from the place I must say that I had to be dragged in there kicking and screaming, usually by my coworkers. What is the appeal? I’d rather spend the $16.00 it costs after tax and tip for 1/2 a roast beef sandwich and a pudding cup full of watery chicken soup on a FAT burrito and a bowl of tortilla soup and a magazine across the street @ Sharkys. I don’t know….maybe people thing it’s charming that when you call and try to place an order for pickup that the staff tells you that it would be quicker if you came in and ordered it because they won’t be making your sandwich for an hour at least. After walking down the street and having to stand in line behind the slowest, pickiest and most indecisive people on earth and staring at pallid grey tongues and other abominations while smelling pickled god-knows-what the hour round trip seems like time better spent elsewhere. …and what is kreplach?
2. 

   SoCalorie says:

   May 24th, 2005 at 11:00 pm

   I’m in no position to defend the nostalgic charms of Nate ‘n Al’s — I haven’t lived here for over 40 years. But if I can get some free pickles and a corned beef on rye with a shmear of mustard from a credible deli for six dimes then sign me up. I’d comp you a couple too, champ. I presume you prefer the wares in the joint that houses the Kibbitz room?
3. 

   David Harrison Levi says:

   May 26th, 2005 at 5:41 am

   Before I start, I have to tell everybody that today is May 17th it is a most important day in my parents life …a milestone some 63 years ago my Mom, Florence and Dad, Simon married……. And became the team that was known for some 40 plus years as the King and Queen of the Beverly Hills Liquor Castle at 212 South Beverly Drive. Forty-three years ago, on this very day, this incredible, hard working, loving and nurturing lady married my father. Today is their 63rd wedding anniversary. And I want to thank them both for their amazing love of family, support, and high moral values they have instilled in us and for their continued show of love, that made us the close family, we have become. The mutual showing of love is reflected by the nature in which my Mother and Father perceive life and live life close to their children, their grandchildren and their great great grandchildren, and the continued support and nurturing they have shown one another for some 63 years. This posting is a THANK YOU to my Mom and Dad - The family and staff of Nate N’ Als Deli on its 60th Anniversary and Chief David Snowden - Beverly Hills Police Department. Growing up in Beverly Hills had 1 HUGE advantage, we had Nate N’ Als! I’ve been going their since 1956. I think I loved the potato salad and pastrami (lean) on a poppyseed kaiser roll with deli mustard as much as I loved my primerib “Jim Brady Cut” at Lawry’s on La Cienega. So much history so many goodtimes. My friends like Dino Martin Jr., James Woods, Desi Arnaz Jr., Billy Hensche, Sajid Khan, Lloyd Greenberg, Steven Kumetz, Paul Fegen, and hundreds more, use to squeeze in Sundays to get our table. I loved the look on our waitness’ face when a new young lady was taken there and her request, ” may i have a ham and cheese with mayo on white bread?” Not all celebrity restaurants are expensive - or glitzy. There’s nothing glamorous here, folks. Nate ‘n Al’s is a small, scrappy little deli which has been around forever - and looks like it.

   In a way, Nate ‘n Al’s is the antithesis of the nearby Spago Beverly Hills. The working class waitresses here are unceremonious, but friendly - almost motherly. The menu is huge (packed with hearty pastrami & corned beef sandwiches almost too big to bite), and the prices are very reasonable.

   But it’s a modest little storefront deli, with inexpensive carpeting and even a small market located inside the restaurant. You’d never guess it was a hangout for Hollywood stars & agents.

   Yet Nate ‘n Al’s has become a local landmark, attracting a sizable celebrity following since it opened back in 1943. Legend has it that megastar Doris Day (who lived nearby on Crescent Drive) used to stop by every day in her bathrobe to grab breakfast.

   Nancy Sinatra calls it “the best deli in the Western world,” and likes the lean corn beef & rye. Singer Barry Manilow was recently spotted there. And stars such as Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and James Garner were regulars.

   CNN host Larry King bought his home in Beverly Hills because it was within walking distance of his favorite deli; it’s his “morning ritual” to go to Nate ‘n’ Al’s every day for breakfast.

   Funnyman Mike Myers (”Austin Powers”) says he goes there all the time.

   Los Angeles magazine reports spotting singer David Crosby, basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and super-agent Lew Wasserman all here at 8 AM on the same day.

   So the morning hours would appear to be your best bet for star-gazing. The deli is also particularly popular with Hollywood’s comic gag writers.

   But it’s not always the A.M. In July of 2003, Variety’s Army Archerd reported this great item: “Outside Nate ‘n’ Al’s Tuesday at 7:15 p.m., a masked Michael Jackson ran into his former press agent, Lee Solters. An elderly woman passing by stopped and asked Jacko if he was really Michael Jackson. When he said yes, she asked if she could hug him. Fortunately he wasn’t holding a baby. So she hugged him, thanked him and went on her way.”

   How did modest, little Nate ‘n Al’s achieve this success in posh Beverly Hills?

   Well, unlike Canter’s, it wasn’t their convenient hours (Nate ‘n Al’s closes early). But it didn’t hurt that it is located within easy walking distance of glittery Rodeo Drive, or that it was probably the only kosher-style deli in town.

   And the food is surprisingly good (try the good chicken noodle soup, lox, bagels, great potato pancakes, or one of their 70 different giant sandwiches - with the best tye bread in town).

   It has been said that Nate ‘n Al’s serves more people per hour than any other deli in the country. Long waits for a table are common. Some deli mavens think that Nate ‘n Al’s is the best deli on the West Coast, and it’s a favorite people-watching spot for both breakfast and lunch.

   Expect low prices to go with the modest decor (especially by Beverly Hills standards): dinner for two can cost under $30.

   In January of 1999, during the height of the Senate impeachment trial, who should drop in for some matzo brie but Chelsea Clinton, the President’s daughter. She showed up with friends after attending the Stanford-UCLA basketball game (after Secret Service men checked out the place first.) Fortunately, she didn’t bump into Monica Lewinsky, who also likes the deli.

   Finally; I want to thank all the law enforcement Peace Officers of The Beverly Hills Police Department from various departments during this Peace Officer’s Police Memorial Week I want you to know that I recognize that your participation in your community is a reflection of your commitment and your pride in being a police officer - and I know that it’s also a reflection of your commitment to community because those societies do good work in the communities where they operate and I want to thank you for joining me in celebration, a reflection of those great Men and Women who gave their live’s in the line of duty from around the United States of America today - and more importantly, - I want to thank you for the commitment to your profession and to your community. Thank you for your unconditional and continued show of loyalty and respect You have shown upon Beverly Hills, its residents and its laws.
   I am extremely grateful to all the law enforcement officers who showed their love and respect and protected my Mother and Father during the duration of their time spent as retailers on Beverly Drive through the years, and upon their retirement, the care You have shown in protecting our community, our homes and our families from harm, while upholding the law, from individuals who may see otherwise. I am so very proud of the Beverly Hills Police Officers that continue to show the world - in essence - that law enforcement is combined, to working together to make good things happen, I am grateful for your hard work, dedication and support of so great a community, Beverly Hills. And of course, Chief Snowden to whom I say “It is reflected by your superiors in the greatness of so magnificent an ensemble, a force of Men and Women from so great and fine department.
   You see decisions are what it’s all about, that’s what’s important, making decisions. I recently listened to a speech by President Bush….and in that speech he said something to the effect of this:

   “President Bush paid tribute to 156 law enforcement officers killed last year while making traffic stops, arresting criminals, investigating crimes and performing other duties…

   …”All of these men and women served the cause of justice,” Bush said at a memorial service on the Capitol lawn. “Our nation stands in admiration and gratitude for their service, and we ask God’s blessings for the families and friends they have left behind. Many years ago, here in the City of Beverly Hills, its people and its Police Department were in dire straights. The city was at the verge of bankruptcy.
   People were suffering from high crime; the department was in trouble.
   The Police department was under funded, undermanned, poorly trained, ill equipped and seriously at odds with the community that they were trying to serve.
   This city was regarded as a high crime area and Police Officers, frustrated by the lack of community support, had to do whatever they could to suppress crime. Despite our lack of resources our Police Officers were ……. well,…… let us say resourceful.
   To some extent they got the job done, they did the best they could in bad times. But along the way they built barriers between themselves and the community that they were trying to serve. It was not easy for them to get their jobs done without the support of the people, that they so desperately needed.
   The department, desperately needed our leaders to make the right kinds of decisions. They were charged with the responsibility of making long-term plans to make this a better department under the lack of financial raises and operating costs. The revitalization of the community city council, its new mayor and I want to mention too that the community council have been revitalized and are doing vital work for this city. They are keeping the Police Department in touch with its residents.
   I love my Police department as many residents do and want to do whatever I can to offer my support and gratitude for their loyalty and commitment to excellance.

   Our community support is very high. Your department is doing a great job all over this city …and it’s reflected by the attitude of our residents. The good people of the Beverly Hills community support our Police and Fire Departments, if it were not so they could not have achieved all that we have. In your daily work as a police officer you have to decide, who are good people? And who are the doers of evil. That is not an easy task. To make that determination you have to rely upon your training. You cannot decide that on the basis of the color of their skin, their economic status, or the neighborhood in which they live. You need to understand the content of their character ……that’s not easy. But if your officers are well trained and rightly motivated, good things will happen to this Police department and will continue to happen to this city. This Police department has gotten better and the city has gotten better.
   Years ago it was a city where bad decisions were made and bad things happened in the city economically, development wise. And in the long run bad things happened to the Police department. Take a look around now at what’s happened in the City.
   Over the last 10 years we’ve seen incredible revitalization. Take a walk around and see what’s going on in our city. The development is fabulous, this city is going places, and we can all be part of it…. and I’m so proud to be a resident of so wonderful a community at a time things are goings so well and life in Beverly Hills, with its plans for the future, its improvements both in street revitalization and economic growth to its merchants, services and over all well being. They are going to happen for this city and they are going to happen as a result of our police officers and our community leaders, working together.
   Our police officers need to know that the destiny of this city and the quality of life is directly tied to their own destiny. If the city prospers then department will prosper. And that is what we need……. to work for making this a better and safer city. 100% of our police officers hit these streets everyday and they risk their lives, they put their lives on the line, daily.
   You have proved yourselves by virtue of your work and your service not only to your department but to your fellow police officers, that we are in true form and great things happen when everything is in sync. The uniform officers on this job deserve your support and your respect. They are out there everyday doing a difficult job and we as a community are the very essence that will have the skills to assist them. Protecting our homes and business’ in crime prevention and community involvement. God bless you …..To our newly appointed Mayor and City Council, you now have to make decisions. You will have to make decisions that will effect the safety of our city, the careers of these subordinates and the reputation of our police department. In making those decisions use your leadership skills, remember our officers are dedicated to each other and dedicated to the task at hand. They don’t need to be pushed, they need to lead and you need to lead them by your example. If you lead by example, they will follow. Know your job do it well. That is all we can ask.
   in closing may I add that I am pleased to tell you that, my Father, Simon is recovering nicely from a devastating and debilitating stroke and I am very proud of my Mother with whom, her special love and nurturing, has brought my Dad a long way to recovery since its adverse effect upon him. To the law enforcement personnel of this great city. I will tell you that we as a community we will cooperate in every way possible to create and protect a better, greater life for all. People that know me, know that I am fond of quoting the great philosophers scientists, and presidents. And so I will leave you with the favorite closing of President George Bush.
   Thank you, God bless You and God bless America. Respectfully I remain; David Harrison Levi -

Leave a Reply