Panzers Deli In St John’s Wood Gives Jerry’s Deli Los Angeles and Morts Deli Pacific Palisades Vibes

Don’t you just love places where the walls talk. Places so loved they’ve been around for decades, 8 decades in the case of Panzers Deli.

I love the neighbourhood of St John’s Wood which offers everything locally anyone could need from great restaurants, shops, florists, grocery stores, delicious bread, a wonderful European style beauty supply haven and chemist in Courtney’s chemist and my amazing hairstylist at Studio 66 on the High St someone I’d be lost without. The only thing we don’t have now is a cashpoint since Barclays and the old post office closed down but hey no one takes cash anyway. The one downside of the neighbourhood for me. I find it somehow lacking in community spirit and queerly divisive.

But one of my absolute favourite places to sit down for lunch or an early dinner, or meet friends for coffee is on the covered patio of Panzers Deli. It’s probably the most international feeling place in the neighbourhood and attracts a really cosmopolitan crowd of stylish people, the same loyal customers who I recognise from frequent visits but don’t know so I like quiet nods of acknowledgment of being a regular and the people watching too.

When I was a kid my father loved to visit a less fancy version of Panzers called Continental where smoked salmon was called lox and latkes, challah bread, kugel and bagels were delicacies readily available Shiksas like me weren’t ordinarily exposed to. My best high school friend was Jewish too, not something she broadcast particularly but a food culture I was exposed to by proximity and frequent visits to her home.

Whenever I have visited the US the delis are an immediate draw, I was very partial to salt beef on rye and I was sad to read the world famous Jerry’s Deli closed it’s doors in it’s original location in Studio City California in 2021 a casualty of the pandemic, somewhere I have eaten a few times too over the years remembered for it’s over 700 item menu.

I lived in the Pacific Palisades for a couple of years when I was married and remember fondly spending a lot of time in Morts Deli too. Sadly that deli didn’t survive either.

For Seinfeld fans the world over Panzers is London’s equivalent of the Jewish Deli. If I was blind folded and led in I would immediately recognise the place. It’s like the library across the street, it offers the comfort of a familiar aroma, unique to the food on offer.

Whenever I visit it takes me back to my visits to Continental with my father, outings unlike those every day outings with my mother, when you could choose anything so certainly the appeal is partly nostalgic. I remember the lady behind the counter with her thick accent and thicker painted eyebrows offering me things to try, her sales tactic I am sure feed the kids something they love and the sale would follow. Panzers is not dissimilar with food being handed over in taster sized morsels before decision are made. The old ways are often the best. You don’t get to try before you buy in many places these days.

I love the speed and the spread at Panzers, the menu is extensive and there are loads of things I like. My favourite dish is the Panzers Royale, poached crackle bean eggs, smoked salmon, hollandaise on a bagel. Which I order 50% of the time.

The service is efficient. They don’t tolerate indecision though and for guests that are slow you might find the staff ordering for you or certainly suggesting something to get the order in and move the table. I think the regulars find this very amusing. The brusk service is definitely part of the charm at Panzers.

Opening hours Monday through Sunday 7.00am - 8.00pm