The old ads for Levy’s rye bread (“You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s”) apply to the traditional Friday night dinner as well: You don’t have to be Jewish to love a good Shabbat special. Observant Jews start their day of rest the evening before, and a typical takeout chicken meal has evolved to meet their needs. But others are likely to appreciate these Shabbat specials as a great way to end a hectic week (and a solid value too).
Bloom’s Kosher Delicatessen and Restaurant in Yorktown Heights, open since early 2003, is one of my favorite sources for that soul-warming dinner. For $29.99, Bloom’s provides two roasted kosher chickens, a lovely braided loaf of challah bread and two side dishes, one hot and one cold. Hot side choices include one pound of noodle pudding, potato pudding, kasha varnishkes or mushroom/egg barley. Cold side picks include one pound of health salad (coleslaw with a vinegar dressing), traditional coleslaw, potato salad, cucumber salad or three-bean salad. It’s enough food to feed four to six people.
Shabbat specials are available on Thursdays and Fridays only, but Bloom’s is open daily, featuring the full deli treatment at its sit-down restaurant in addition to the takeout menu. They have lox and bagels, pastrami on rye, matzo ball soup, crusty potato knishes — even diet Dr. Brown’s celery soda (not easy to find at Westchester restaurants) and a nice selection of rugelach pastry. Any of these can, of course, be added to a Shabbat special order.
Bloom’s Kosher Delicatessen and Restaurant, 339 Downing Drive, Yorktown Green Shopping Center, Yorktown Heights; (914) 245-3900 or www.bloomskosherdeli.com. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
