MenuPages

Just had a Spinach Knish - absolutely unreal. It's such a seemingly simple confection but they pack a hell of a lot of flavor into it. You can really taste the experience in what they do. Amazing!

This lower east side knishery has been here forever, which in itself is a testament to its quality and consistency. The food, while being limited, is superb. While other food establishments "expanded" their menus to include everything from sushi to fried chicken, Yonah Schimmel's does what they have been doing best for decades...making awesome knishes and latkes. The atmosphere is also wonderful, a throw back to simplicity and the NY lower east side of long ago (when Ratner's and Schmulka Bernstein's were around.)

Everything thats been said about the food (which on the date of this review was 100% favorable) is true. You may disagree w/ me on the atmosphere . . . unless, you want to experience NYC of the 40s or further. You'll sit at a long bench, the stools (yes, stools!) layered, slathered in about as many layers of paint as you'll get noodle layers in the keugel. I felt like there might be a Depression going on when I stepped back on the street (oops, guess that IS a possibility again, but I mean the 30s. You eat like family here, you converse, you share (if you like), you LIVE.

If you want old New York, this is it. The Knish is a New York icon, and there are very few places left that know how to do it. Yonah Schimmels do it to perfection, with pride. All their flavors..I just ate a cabbage one recently that was delicious. I have eaten also there Noodle Kugel(pudding) I like theirs even better than my moms..! I also recommend the latkes, the mushroom knish and plain old potato.

I grew up with these and Mrs. Stahl's, and rediscovered them when I moved back. So insanely good. Cheap, friendly service, nostalgic dining area, and amazing egg creams.

Throughout my life I was accustomed to the street vendor-version of knishes, which now appear completely subpar compared to the fluffy delight of these potato pillows. A friend introduced me to this unassuming little place almost two years ago, and only recently have I discovered that it indeed had a name (good, that way I can constantly return!). Anyway, we shared a mushroom knish and a blueberry cheese dessert knish, both of which were filling and fabulous. I hope to try the other flavors, and to continue to enrobe myself in thick, potatoey bliss.

Don't even bother getting a knish anywhere else...it won't compare to these gems! The jalapeno and cheddar is delish, even if it's pretty spicy (I took out a lot of the peppers). The potato and spinach is great too and if you want cheese, just ask and they will put a slice on top and warm it for you.