A few years ago when Junior’s announced they were closing, they seemed like the latest casualty in a long list of deli closures (Stage, Solley’s, Jerry’s). Luckily, Lenny’s Deli, which had previously been in Pacific Palisades, took over their location. Keeping a deli alive in West Los Angeles, Lenny’s also managed to rehire most of the Junior’s staff and kept the  bakery and even the same matzo ball soup recipe (which is our cure for when we have a cold).

Lenny’s is a your typical neighborhood Jewish deli, offering the usual spread of breakfast items, sandwiches and entrees that you would expect. In a nod to the times, healthier menu items like wraps, veggie burgers and turkey loads are also on the menu. On weekends during brunch, the place is buzzing. You’ll most likely have to wait, but there’s a wait area with comfy seats so at least you’ll be comfortable.

Once seated, you’ll be greeted with a plate of pickles and mild sauerkraut, which we downed in no time.

Lenny’s is very kid-friendly and even has a magician named Harrison on Monday nights from 6 to 8pm and Saturdays from 12-2pm to entertain you, table-side with his tricks. The  kid’s menu comes with a milk or juice (or soda if it’s lunch/dinner). On this trip, my daughter chose the macaroni and cheese, rich with cheese.

Their sizable breakfasts come with your choice of toast or bagel, hash browns or cottage cheese or tomatoes or fruit. My husband got the eggs, lox and onions scramble, which was generous with the salmon.

I usually waver between the breakfast burrito or the eggs and corned beef hash. This time I splurged and got the corned beef hash, which came in a patty, flecked with green peppers, onions and spices, along with eggs and hash browns. If you get a bagel, the breakfasts are so huge that you’ll be stuffed for the rest of the day.

In the documentary City of Gold, Jonathan Gold mentions that you could tell a lot about a person by what deli they frequented. His family went to Junior’s, which meant “you were doing all right.”  At Lenny’s, you’ll be doing all right as well.

Location: 2379 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles 90064.
Website – http://www.lensdeli.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – Yes
Pesco-Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes