Sam & Gertie’s

Traditional Jewish delis are synonymous with carnivorous delights, from pastrami and corned beef to lox. Imagine our surprise, then, when a Jewish vegan deli opened in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. What could easily sway into blasphemy is made lovable by husband-and-wife team Andy and Gina Kalish, who painstakingly recreate the classics sans meat. Vegan versions of smoked whitefish, corned beef, pastrami and lox grace the menu, as do iconic add-ons like homemade bagels, latkes and giant black and white cookies.