Morty's Delicatessen
Categories: Caterers, Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin280 Golden Gate Ave
(between Dale Pl & Hyde St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 567-3354
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
95 Reviews for Morty's Delicatessen
One of Morty's Delicatessen's Favorite Reviews
When I was working at the US Attorney's office during the year one of the other law clerks had this thing about not venturing a distance greater than 100 feet from the federal building (his Tenderloin "safe zone"), so we more often than not wound up at Morty's Delicatessen for lunch. Just because of that, I'm a little sick of the place. But despite that fact, I have to admit that the food is solid and service is always pretty quick. My recommendations:
- the chicken BLT: a fat slice of chicken, aeoli mayo, thick bacon, and lettuce sandwiched between two toasted slices of bread.
- the huge spinach salad, if you're on a health kick: spinach, cranberries, cheese and a sweet raspberry vinaigrette.
- the chocolate chip cookies (nice and soft and nom-a-licious).
They recently got a liquor license and now have happy hour from 4-7, I think.
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Agreed, for the most part. A welcoming, warm, great-sandwich slinger just steps from the state building. I dig the vibe with a giant shovel.
Just digesting a sandwich of theirs I had for lunch and quite frankly feel pregnant. That's a lot of food for $8.
As Reuben's go it's a little on the greasy side but the sauerkraut is excellent and the other ingredients are good quality. I like that you get the pickle separately so that if you're like me you can throw the foul thing away without having to unpick the sandwich.
I'll have to check out the burger next time, it smelt delicious.
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As Good as it gets in the TL. Good sandwich place for lunch. If there's too many people get a cold sandwich, it'll save you 15 mintues.
They pile these sandwithces high with sandwich goodness. Love it.
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The food at this restaurant is superb! John, Doug and Rinna are the best. The egg fu wrap is to die for and John makes the BEST Chef Salad EVER! You will not regret eating at this place, it helps when the people know your name ... and your order. John could read my mind! He is awesome!
I might have become a nun (lots of time to read)...I might have become an actress...too shy, too fat...I might have become a vegetarian...but then what about those reuben sandwiches from Morty's?...the nun in me feels unworthy of such pleasure...
after jumping over a few homeless folks, pass up a drug deal and sparing change to a panhandler, i finally reached my destination. the TL has its questionable characters as well as its unexpected treasures. Morty's fits into the teasure aspect.
the chicken blt is a must for the bacon/piggy lovers like myself. stuffed with all its fixings and sauce, i could barely open my mouth wide enough.
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I'm really super picky when it comes to sandwiches. There are a lot of veggies and condiments I don't like, or am allergic to, or just don't want on a sandwich, so I have a hard time in sandwich shops, actually finding something where I won't have to remove half the ingredients in order to make it edible.
But most things looked good here to me, and it's a really nice space. This is actually the first place I've eaten in the TL, and I kind of expected to find it a little shabby.
The girl at the counter at Morty's was really nice and didn't bat an eye when I wanted a Little Italy sandwich with a few things taken off. I also ordered an ice tea and was delighted to discover that they had a sort of "make your own" setup in place, with just a big pitcher of tea, a tub of ice, and some bottles of simple syrup and honey on the side.
The sandwich was HUGE. And really yummy. They slice their meat super super thin, too, which is awesome. If I'm in the neighborhood again and want a sandwich, or soup or salad, or even just a big iced tea, I'll be back!
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Morty's is great! it has to be the best NEW deli around. they have boar's head meat and once you have that you can't go back to the regular stuff. they also have good beer selection. one of the best places to eat in the TL.
Quick, yummy, and a great deal. I got their black bean soup which was simple, but good and really filling. My friend loved her sandwich - expressing a particular fondness for the bread.
For the love of God, try the eggplant parmesean sub. It melts in your mouth into a gooey orgasm of marinara sause, cheese, and perfectly cooked eggplant in pillows of lovely soft bread. I am not proud to say that I have ordered, and eaten, two of these in one sitting. No small feat, considering they're pretty big. Also an ingenious invention: the tofu reuben. I appreciate inventive vegetarian options, especially reinventions of traditional sandwiches.
The staff are always pretty friendly too. The area in which this place is situated also isn't *that* ghetto. Think of it as central to everything - it's only like 2 blocks from the Civic Center Muni station...
I think of simple layers when I think of a sandwich. A great deal of sandwich places mash a big mass of food that unless you are Steven Tyler or have no teeth and plan on gumming things down your gullet you just cant eat. Morty's is a classic deli with classic food. I had been looking for a good deli in this hood and I found it!!!!
A few of us had a conversation about this place the other day (we all eat there a lot, as most were students at Hastings nearby). The conclusion: the ingredients (meat, cheese, sauce, veggies) are the best around, but the bread is second to Le Petite accross the street.
That said, on balance, Morty's would always be my choice for a sandwich in this area. Try one of their specialties, as that is where they shine, but if you prefer to build your own, you will not be disappointed.
For those that want a lighter lunch (not that sandos are that heavy) the half sandwich and salad is a great option. Personally, I think you get almost a full sando and salad. If you go salad only, you will not be disappointed. They have a lot in there, and will fill anyone up.
If you are in the ever scenic Civic Center at lunch time, be sure to go here for your lunchtime meal.
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Why do I always have to *describe* things? Why is it never enough to say "they have incredible sandwiches and are very friendly, I recommend the 174 if you like spicy roast beef?" Can't I just let simple pleasures be just that, simple? Couldn't I just admire the classic rock and the paintings by local artists and the little slice of civilization moored in the sea of hobos that smell very badly? I wish I could. I wish things were simple like that.
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Hey, it's Sunday...Morty's kicken back at home...translation:
Morty's is CLOSED on SUNDAY.
Morty's makes me feel as if I walked through Hell's Kitchen to get an amazing Reuben and it was soooo weird to get that NYC vibe in the Tenderloin, but hey, it is worth it.
Max...you are sooo last century...you got dry crusty old bread and mediocre...I am grooving with Morty...till we get with Reuben into a sandwich of a relationship.
Later, dude.....
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Being a student at Hastings law school in the TL, Morty's is literally and figuratively a backyard hangout, and a good one at that.
The salads, sandwiches, and daily specials all are prepared with high quality produce, meats, and coldcuts, and is the kind of food you would make for yourself, and the environment is relaxed and open, if not bustling and busy. The have a great breakfast sandwich menu until 11:30, and the daily special is always something fresh(I had last week the greek salad with lamb kebab and grape leaves).
Another plus is their more recently established happy hour, where you can pick up $6 pitchers of PBR, or Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam and a few others local brews for the more discriminating non-law school beer guzzling types, along with a sparse wine selection of reds and whites.
That said, why the four stars only? I hold Morty's very dear to my heart, it's my favorite default lunch spot. The biggest mitigating factor is the cost, a sandwich there can run up to 8 bucks, which is a bit pricey, but still worth every penny, if you value flavor and quality. That and there are other sandwich shops in other parts of the city that I think make just as good a sandwich, and are more interesting in their creations. Or maybe I'm just spoiled and take Morty's for granted. Probably a combination of all three. Sue me.
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YESSSSSS... a NYC style deli! There is another good deli on Polk, but this one in the 'Loin is much closer to home. I had the Golden Gate... which may have been taken into the back alley and rubbed in crack before it rubbed my tongue.
It was THAT good.
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Katz's Deli in New York Lower East Side! Morty's is like being in the bowery aka Skid Row. I am one with a good liverwurst and freak out over pastrami and well the stuff is really good stuff paper thin sliced meats and no problem with my designing my own actual sandwich. The prices are normal for todays day and age... Hey it's Good!
Enough Said. Now go already! and visit the TL.
I woke up one day craving a liverwurst sandwich. I instantly knew where I could get one.
Apparently, not too many people order liverwurst here because when I went up to order it, the woman behind the counter started fuh-reaking out! Oh.My.God. Someone's ordering the liverwurst!
There was nothing wrong with it. It was actually pretty good. They serve it with russian dressing and onions. Yummy.
They have a pretty good selection of sandwiches and they're all pretty solid.
Definitely worth a gander if you happen to find yourself in the T-Lo.
My favourite deli in SF.
Yepp, it's in Tenderloin, but in the closer-to-Van-Ness-not-too-scary part of Tenderloin, so honestly, it shouldn't stop anyone from visiting this fine establishment.
The sandwiches are simply amazing, haven't tasted anything better in the city. Plus they are inexpensive (being pretty large and yummy, totally worth it), compared to ridiculously overpriced downtown delis.
On top of that the staff is so nice and friendly, they remember your name and are extremely pleasant to talk to, such a heart-warming experience after all the regular forced how's-it-going you hear everywhere.
I only wish I found this lovely place earlier.
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This place is great for lunch for numerous reasons
1) Just damn good sandwiches. Big, meat coming out of the sides and fresh veggies on it. Not the wanker lil faux-wiches that subway sells, nor the over prices quiznos sandwiches here!
2.) Location-Sandwiched (no pun intended) between City Hall and Hastings law school and the ghhhhhheeeeeeeeaaa-toe, most people don't want to venture that far into the TL even if it is for great food, so it is avoided. Generally you can get a seat when you food is ready, so in this case, YaY for crack heads
Beware of the folks doin drugs since they can be a liiiiiiiiittle bit temperamental. I know it sucks for me to not get my starbucks in the morning, so these suckas must be having a real shitty day, especially when you interrupt their drug doing when you walk over them.
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http://www.youtube.com...
What's it all about, Morty?
Is it just for your Reuben I live?
What's it all about when you melt the cheese, Morty?
Am I meant to eat more than I should
Or are you meant to be kind?...
So Morty, I miss our walks on the beach....our pillow fights...our cups of hot cocoa next to the fireplace. But we've become strangers now...ships that passed in the night. I'm just a number to you now...isn't that right, Morty? But that's OK...yes, I've moved on. I've met someone new...Ike. You know him? I've been meaning to tell you...I guess there isn't an easy way to break these things.
But don't worry, I'll come back...for your $6.95 Reuben because you know how to mix the Russian dressing and sauerkraut just the way I like it. And I'll never forget your $6.25 Pop's Classic...hefty amount of roast beef and turkey with a slice of sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato & mayo...all in a toasted French roll. And those bags of fries.
Ah yes, good times. But don't blame yourself. I hope we can still be my friends...I'm friends with all my old sandwich makers. If you need closure, please, please don't hesitate to call...my attorney because...
Without corned beef we just exist, Morty.
Until you find the secret sauce I've missed, you're nothing, Morty.
When you prep, let your pastrami lead the way
And you'll find me back some day, Morty...Morty....Mor-teeee
FOOD - 4 stars...good, deli-style sammies even if Ike's has lured me away lately
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...surprisingly big space in a gamy neighborhood
SERVICE - 3 stars...kinda surly...but I've sensed we've drifted
TOTAL - 4 stars...still four stars...no hard feelings, Morty
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Morty's is a solid spot for sure. Soup is hit or miss, usually hit, the sandwiches are stupidly large, the burger is pretty money, and sometimes they have mac and cheese (ain't yo' momma's mac and cheese tho).
Morty's allows me to not have to walk far to get food, which is convenient, as it sits on the edge of an abyss of human despair and public defecation that I'd rather avoid (honestly, if there was a zombie attack, we wouldn't notice for weeks in this part of town, they'd blend right in).
Morty's, you make me happy. Yes, it sucks walking through crud to get there, but it is well worth it.
I highly recommend the Garden Sandwich. It makes me feel all good inside, like I don't always eat crap. The Soy Reuben was kind of weird, but I was so dang hungry, I ate it without blinking. They're pretty nice there too, so they get point(s) for that. Like, they kind of freak if it takes a while for you to get your order. I like the huge variety and everything is very fresh. Eat here.
Oh right--they have a happy hour now.
Where to begin? Morty's is like a safe haven in the turbulent TL. Not only do they play chill music and remember your name, but they also have great quality food. Morty's is famous for being a sandwich place, but I must confess that I have order their soups, mac and cheese and ONION RINGS just as frequently - they are freakin amazing. Speaking of which, why aren't you open today? Its only presidents day and there are hungry law students to feed!!
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I work all the way by the Embarcadero station, but I will hop on the train and hike through the tenderloin for Morty's. The sandwiches here are top-notch. They use quality, non-greasy meats and cheeses. The Italian and Sicilian sandwiches are huge, requiring you to unhinge your jaw to take a bite, but I love it! Loaded with olives, surrounded by crispy bread, it's making me hungry just thinking about it (and I just ate lunch!). And they don't automatically slather mayonnaise on sandwiches like some west coast "delis" do.
The murals decking the walls at Morty's are a sight to behold as well.
If you're going to go to Morty's during the school year, go early, around 11:30 or so, or else all the tables will be taken up by hungry Hastings law students. Don't mess with the law students, they know how to sue you...
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Holy crap!
It's a deli on the west coast that actually slices your meat directly after you order a sandwich. Ludicrous!
I got the Italian sandwich, and it was piled HIGH with meat. We're talking an inch and a half of salted and cured goodness. There's a serious meat coma awaiting me in the near future.
The quality of the meat was good, but I wasn't especially blown away by it. The place falls just short of the gold standard set by Genova deli in the East Bay. However this is the best I've had in SF.
I'll definitely be going again!
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Sometimes, after a hard day of work, shleping it home after a dirty BART ride, I'll stop by here and find a new enthusiasm for life.
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I'd admit this is probably the best place for a deli sandwich around the Tenderloin/City Hall area. I tried pretty much every place multiple times. Morty's has a really good Rueben sandwich. I don't know if its the best in the city though. The Golden gate club is probably my favorite sandwich they have. I do recommend Morty's.
I've been spending Saturday's trolling sandwich shops in SF. This one had:
THE BEST DAMN REUBEN I've had in california. Incredibly tender corned beef. Perfectly grilled. Perfectly perfect.
There. I said it. It wasn't even MY reuben. I stole bites of it from my SO. But my sandwich -- a club with turkey and proscuitto -- was also good.
But not the best damn sandwich in california. The bread on my sandwich was just OK. I mean, nothing wrong with it but just OK. Still, the reuben was so good (and SO hard to get out here) the nothing can bring this place down from 5 stars. Oh! and I did really enjoy the other sandwich.
Still on the list to try are the meatball sandwich and the pulled pork. But that's only if there's part of a reuben I can share.
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Good god of all that's precious and holy in sandwichland. This is it. This is the gold mine. A 10-12 minute walk through a very unsavory neighborhood from my place of employment lands me at pretty much the best sandwich spot in town. Better than Molinari's in the North Beach. Better than Lucca Deli on Chestnut.
The art of the sandwich dictates that the bread should not be mushy, nor should it fully contain the contents of the sandwich. If you end up with bread at the end of your sandwich experience, that means your sandwich makers skimped on the insides of the sandwich. Morty's makes their sandwiches so thick and full of various goods that you run out of bread halfway through. Hell yes.
I especially recommend hot sandwiches there. The roast beef melts in your mouth. I can't wait to try the meatloaf sandwich.
Chipotle black bean & collard greens soup is also great and totally weather-appropriate right now (December).
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Morty's is great. I lived on the east coast for 10 years and they definitely do a great job with the italian sandwiches. The Little Italy and the Big Easy are so delicious, authentic, and piled high with inches of freshly sliced cold cuts. I mean, they really get it right. They even have Kaiser rolls! I like the french bread (that several yelpers have complained about) but if they imported Amoroso rolls from the east coast, it would be that extra nice touch. But ya can't have everything, right?
The Ruben (with Pastrami) is a heavenly oral-gasm experience you should all indulge in. It's just drippy, yummy, russian dressingy, sour krauty, gooey swissy heaven.
I know Morty's reads their yelper reviews because I've seen them hunched over the laptop and commenting.
So here's my personal message to the owner. PLEASE fix the 174 sandwich! PLEASE!
It has *so* much potential. It looks so good on the menu but what you get is not good, it's just disappointing. After you go cooking all that gorgeously rare roast beef until it's well done, what you have is basically a cheesesteak hoagie. The "roasted peppers" were vinegary, pickled sliced deli peppers. I couldn't taste the chipotle aioli, it was probably overpowered by the peppers. And I couldn't taste the carmelized onions at all. The cheddar was there but it was just lost. Warm that beef. Love that beef. Keep it nice and pink and medium rare like mother nature intended it. But god don't chop it to hell on a grill for 5 minutes with some cheese. And PILE on those onions so you can taste them! Kick that chipotle aioli up a notch. Add a little cayenne, something! And you could probably just loose those pickled peppers, it would be a decent sandwich.
Morty's owners, I love your deli. Love it love it love it. Been coming since you opened. But please, I beg you.
Fix the 174.
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i gotta say driving by the tenderloin isnt a fun experience but there is a beacon of good chicken parma sandwich and it is at Morty's. In this dim lighted, rap music blasting deli there is a good sandwich being made and it was my chicken parma. It was big, chicken was juicy, red sauce flowing over the dutch crunch.
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1st visit: chopped salad to go. eh, it was ok. I was so excited at the variety & sophistication of the salads at Morty's, but couldn't help but notice how very light the bag was as I took my take out away to eat it at work. $7.25 plus tax? Good thing I had brought a sandwich from home already. Jeez! But I am trying to get more vegetables in my daily intake, so a salad I am buying.
I have to say that I just wasn't that impressed. The romaine was chopped in big hunks, I got the reward of a big yellowing spine of it, most of it was slightly old and tanned at the chop edges. The 2 small wedges of avocado was mushy and half brown, and I just realized (hours later) that it wasn't dressed. I have no idea what lemon dressing is still! And it sounded so yummy. The funny part was that for some reason, I kept thinking that it was feta in the salad not bleu cheese, so I thought it was old, like the avocado, and just avoided it...I'm so silly sometimes!
counterperson was very friendly though! I'll give it another time later and try the reuben or the pastrami, can't go wrong with that, right?
The only thing I love more than steaks is a well made Sandwich. Since leaving the east coast, I have complained to my wife the good sandwiches in SF are difficult to come by, I was impressed with the Loin sandwich I ordered today at Morty's. I will have to come back and try the pastrami.
I've had 4 sandwiches here and my impressions are mixed. The Reuben was damn good, piled high with hot meat and cheese and other fixins on the rye bread.
The Shroomin' has decent fillings, although I'd have liked more portabella, and that onion roll is nothing special.
The Garden, served on the same onion roll as the Shroomin', sucked ass. I think that the veggies just weren't very fresh.
And the Little Italy was pretty good, although I think the bread could have been better.
I've also had the mac n cheese, which is pretty tasty.
Basically, this place does a great job with the meats (cold cuts sliced as you order) and the shroomin' is good for vegetarians, but damn they need some better bread.
Sandwiches here are expensive, after tax you pay over $7 for most of them, and it's just not worth it except for that Reuben. I'll update this with other good choices because it's near my work and I'm sure I'll be back, always trying new things.
Oh Morty's, what would I do without you??? There's nothing like stumbling past all the Tenderloin crackheads and making your way into this delicious little oasis. They make their sandwiches better than most NY deli's and on a rainy day, nothing beats a bowl of their delicious homemade soup! Be sure to check out their Chicken Parm or Dirty Bird grilled sandwiches...
Also, don't dare miss out on their amazing cookies. They're better and cheaper than anything you'll find at Mrs. Fields...
Best corned beef Reuben I've had in a while! My taste buds were absolutely convinced that they were in Manhattan for lunch, and the folks that work there are very cool, hardworking people. Great place to grab a sandwich before or after picking up a bestseller at the library down the street! Check this place out!
Great deli selection for sandwiches, soups and salads. Their catering is perfect for our office. We usually get a selection of the sandwiches, pasta and green salads and their organic chocolate chips cookies for dessert are always popular.
Very comfortable atmosphere and friendly service. You can tell this restaurant cares about it's customers. They know most everyone by name and it's a pleasure to visit. I hear they now serve wine and beer and are open in the evenings. Also, the owner enjoys serving up tastely appetizers from quesadillas to mini ruebens - must try those :)
I definitely recommend this place especially if you are working nearby or need catering. They do almost anything you want for catering as well (ie. shrimp cocktail, chicken/beef skewers, mini crab cakes and plenty more) - I also want to mention that they catered our company's holiday party.
Pretty good, casual place for sandwiches. Great customer service.
Man, talk about a meaty sandwich. They do not skimp out on cold cuts. I ordered the 1/2 sandwich (prosciutto and turkey) and soup (black bean). I couldn't even eat my sandwich after the deliciously filling soup. They definately pay attention to detail here. Expect to pay about 6-7 for your meal.
This is a pretty reasonably priced deli for being smack in the middle of downtown. Just get there in time because the close around 6ish.
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