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Benji's

4156 N. Oakland Ave., Milwaukee, WI - (414) 332-7777
Posted By Michael Stern on 7/11/2007 11:13:00 AM
Benji's (formerly Benjamin's) is an old-fashioned deli in a modern shopping area. It is an authentic taste of Milwaukee, by which we mean it offers a reassuring menu of old country ethnic dishes (chicken-in-the-pot, cabbage rolls, fried matzoh) along with plenty of Midwestern Americana, such as a Friday night fish fry, a deluxe hamburger plate, a French Dip sandwich on a poppy seed roll, and that mysteriously-named heartland meal-in-a-skillet, Hoppel Poppel, for which no ethnic group we know has ever taken credit. Hoppel Poppel is a breakfast mélange of sizzled salami chunks, scrambled eggs, browned potato chunks and (optional) onions. Benji's offers it also in a "super" version that adds peppers, mushrooms, and melted cheese to the formula. Either way, it's delicious.

The other specialties of the house are deli food: piled-high corned beef sandwiches on Miller Bakery rye bread, lox-and-bagel platters, sweet-and-sour cabbage borscht, and crisp potato pancakes, served with apple sauce. For dessert, we recommend noodle kugel (a cheesecake-rich block of cooked egg noodles and sweetened cheese), served hot with sour cream. And for a beverage to drink with your meal, Benjamin's offers true melting pot variety: domestic or imported beer, kosher wine, Dr. Brown's in cans, Sprecher's soda in bottles, and chocolate phosphates (seltzer water and chocolate syrup).

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Scorecard

5 - Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Sprecher Root Beer
Cheese Blintzes
Hoppel Poppel
Hear-O Israel Sandwich
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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

This is the regular Hoppel Poppel (not the super) with onions. Note the large chunks of salami and potato.
"This is the regular Hoppel Poppel (not the super) with onions. Note the large chunks of salami and potato."
Cliff Strutz





First rate restaurant blintzes: tender crepes fried in butter, tightly wrapped around faintly sweet pot cheese.
"First rate restaurant blintzes: tender crepes fried in butter, tightly wrapped around faintly sweet pot cheese."
Michael Stern


Sprecher's is a local brewery that makes fabulous root beer as well as alcoholic beer. We like it so much that when it is available, as it is here, we prefer it even to Dr. Brown's soda alongside our deli sandwich.
"Sprecher's is a local brewery that makes fabulous root beer as well as alcoholic beer. We like it so much that when it is available, as it is here, we prefer it even to Dr. Brown's soda alongside our deli sandwich."
Michael Stern


It was late in the breakfast hour when we stopped in. Regular customers, the waitress, and Benji were all having an easy-going colloquy at the counter.
"It was late in the breakfast hour when we stopped in. Regular customers, the waitress, and Benji were all having an easy-going colloquy at the counter."
Michael Stern


The edges of Benji's tables reveal a lot of character. This deli is no Johnny-come-lately to the Milwaukee dining scene.
"The edges of Benji's tables reveal a lot of character. This deli is no Johnny-come-lately to the Milwaukee dining scene."
Michael Stern


You would never know by Benji's mundane outside appearance that great food is served inside.
"You would never know by Benji's mundane outside appearance that great food is served inside."
Cliff Strutz



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