Miami's Rascal House RIP
By David Hershkovits
By Snowbird
2006 was a bad year for the old-school deli. It began with the closing of the 2nd Avenue Deli in New York and has ended with an announcement that Miami's famed Rascal House will be closed to make way for a 15 story condo development. When Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House opened in 1954 it quickly became a north Miami Beach dining destination attracting everybody from Meyer Lansky to Judy Garland. It's demise follows the recently shuttered delis Corky's in Pembroke Pines and Wolfie's in South Beach and will make it harder to find a good corned beef sandwich in New York's sixth borough. At least the "chicken noodle soup" was the year's biggest dance craze. Let it rain.
Your Comment
Posted at 11:52 on Dec 28, 2006
Im sad to hear about the South Beach Wolfies....I spent many a morning there after dancing at Groove Jet (also The church on sundays .)
Posted at 5:07 on Jan 15, 2007
Extremely saddened to see The Rascal House closing its doors. I am grateful that I had the chance to eat there last August while staying at the Trump Sonesta a few blocks up. I ordered ahead for take-out and when I showed up, the atmosphere was straight out of Manhattan....crowded, noisy, lots of yelling amongst the staff, awesome visuals and aromas...the feel of a legendary establishment for sure. The corned beef sandwiches we ordered were absolutely superb and enough for 2-3 meals. The pickles were to die for, as was the matzo soup. I returned a few days later and had pastrami and eggs and a potato knish with applesauce for brunch....again delicious. I am sad now because we visit Miami Beach every year and always make the trip to the Rascal House no matter where we are staying....I guess Jerry's Famous will have to do this year, although the reviews I have read have been lukewarm.
Posted at 6:06 on Jan 31, 2007
Extremely saddened to see The Rascal House closing its doors. I am grateful that I had the chance to eat there last August while staying at the Trump Sonesta a few blocks up. I ordered ahead for take-out and when I showed up, the atmosphere was straight out of Manhattan....crowded, noisy, lots of yelling amongst the staff, awesome visuals and aromas...the feel of a legendary establishment for sure. The corned beef sandwiches we ordered were absolutely superb and enough for 2-3 meals. The pickles were to die for, as was the matzo soup. I returned a few days later and had pastrami and eggs and a potato knish with applesauce for brunch....again delicious. I am sad now because we visit Miami Beach every year and always make the trip to the Rascal House no matter where we are staying....I guess Jerry's Famous will have to do this year, although the reviews I have read have been lukewarm.
Posted at 5:03 on Dec 31, 2010
Whoever is reasonable for closeting Rascal House, should Rot in Hell they are Culture Killers.