Jim Olexa, Sun News Alvie Markowitz, left, and Gary Lebowitz with, from left, Jack's corned beef sandwich, cheesecake, chicken matzo ball soup, pickles, and blintzes. Jack's gallery (5 photos) 
Go hungry when you visit Jack’s Deli and Restaurant in University Heights because the servings are huge. That’s the way Jack Markowitz wanted it from the day he opened Jack’s 30 years ago with his sons, Alvie and Harry.
Sadly the hard working, dedicated Jack passed away several years ago. Alvie remains, but Harry moved west. In 1995 Alvie partnered with Gary Lebowitz, and the two run the tremendously popular restaurant together.
The signature corned beef ($7.50) weighs in between seven and eight ounces, not counting the bread. If you can bite completely into that load of meat and rye, you have an exceptionally large bite, or mouth. (A tip: On corned beef Tuesday the sandwich is $6.50, served with potato salad or coleslaw.)
Those humongous corned beef sandwiches are still the number one-seller, with the next in line being the brisket dip ($10.95), a fabulous combination freshly cut brisket, melted Swiss, and grilled onion on a grilled, thick challah with au jus dipping sauce. If that’s not enough, you also get a bed of french fries.
Soups are a big issue at Jack’s including the signature chicken soup with choice of noodles, rice, kreplach or matzoh balls. It’s a difficult choice, but I love the matzoh balls.
The steaming cabbage borscht ($3.95, cup) was a little too sweet for my taste, but filled with shredded cabbage and bits of carrots and celery.
You have a choice of almost two dozen grilled hot or cold deli sandwiches, ranging from turkey-breast pastrami to chopped liver to nova boy, which is hand-cut nova lox on a bagel with cream cheese, tomato and onion ($11.50, but it comes in small for $9.95). There are five choices of bread.
In cold weather I prefer grilled or hot sandwiches so, after much mulling I selected the chicken club, Jack’s style ($9.95). It’s served with thick, grilled challah, but choose seeded rye instead. The grilled combo was stacked with thick pieces of grilled chicken breast, grilled pastrami and Swiss cheese. It’s a hearty sandwich and quite good, but I was unable to finish it. Mediocre french fries are served on the side.
I was particularly impressed with the beef and latke sliders special ($8.95). One hot corned beef slider and a pastrami slider are sandwiched between mini potato pancakes and served with a very good coleslaw. That’s a unique and great choice. The pancakes are great, and both the pastrami and corned beef were trimmed and tender.
A plate of fresh dill pickle spears is served to each table at lunch.
Jack’s is also a great place for breakfast; it is served all day. Early risers can benefit from the dollar breakfast menu from 7-11 a.m. It includes two eggs, two slices of bacon or sausage links, homefries, small juice, toasted bagel or roll, a pancake or oatmeal. Coffee and hot tea are $1.95.
Really good made-to-order blintzes (two for $8.75) come with several fruit and cheese fillings, with blueberry or cherry sauce or sour cream. They are light and fresh tasting.
Dinner choices include several comfort foods. Stuffed cabbage ($13.95), roast beef brisket ($13.95), meatloaf with real mashed potatoes, broiled scrod ($13.95) and half of a roasted chicken ($13.95) are customer favorites. Each come with a basket of rolls and choice of two sides. There is a $2 charge for split dinners.
Jack’s is at 14490 Cedar Road. Call (216) 382-5350. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Contact Collier at BabsReviewsFood@aol.com.
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