It Is Now Possible to Get London’s Best Reuben Sandwich in Spitalfields Market

Hoxton’s beloved purveyors of “Jewish comfort food” — Monty’s Deli — has set up a second London outlet, replacing the Scandinavian-inspired smoked meat brand Rōk whose departure was announced last week, at The Kitchens in Spitalfields market.

Mark Ogus and Owen Barratt opened in the new space on Monday this week and will be serving a truncated version of the NYC deli-style menu available at the Hoxton Street flagship.

The smaller menu being offered at Spitalfields will hero just two sandwiches:

• The Reuben: salt beef or pastrami on toasted rye bread, kraut, cheese, mustard and Russian dressing.
• And what they call the Mensch: Salt beef OR pastrami on rye bread with mustard.
• A selection of sides will include: Chicken soup, potato salad, house pickles, fries, latkes and smoked chicken wings.
• To drink: Harbour pilsner beer, pickle backs, and a selection of Dr. Browns sodas which are imported from the U.S.

Ogus, then as a street food trader on Maltby Street market in Bermondsey, founded the brand in 2012. In 2014, after meeting Barratt, the pair moved the operation into a self contained arch that spanned across to the market from Druid Street on the other side of the railway tracks. In December 2016, Monty’s ceased trading at that location.

It opened a first permanent restaurant and shop on Hoxton Street, Hackney in April last year.

It is understood that tenants at The Kitchens — which launched in October last year — are on rolling contracts with the “option of an agreed period of notice from either side.” Monty’s is expected to be in position for at least six months.

When the Monty’s Deli opened last year, Ogus told The Week that it was “a melange of U.S. influences and British eccentricities, humour and style.” The London food scene had changed over the last 10 – 15 years, he said, “but with this kind of food, there’s still a kind of stiff upper lip — small portions of overly salty dry meat, poor service and a generally dour experience. When I’ve been in the States, the experience has been so different — everything is laid out before you, it’s bustling but relaxing and calm at the same time. And there’s so many elements of that dining experience that were lacking here.”

Ogus and Barratt do not currently have any plans to open further sites in London.