Doesn't it seem that the best and most authentic things come with an impossible-to-pronounce name? Here's an example: Dr. Hauschka skincare products versus Dove. And that eyelash curler every model has? Shu Uemera? How do you say that? Okay sorry, we’re here to talk deli. Not beauty. But there is something rather, well, beautiful, about an unassuming, deliciously authentic Jewish deli in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast. Wouldn't you say? That is, if you could say the word Ashkenaz. Took me a few tries.

Ashkenaz can comfortably seat up to about fifteen, and those lucky enough to score a seat will find themselves face to face with a large laminated bagel. Yes, the tabletops have been adorned with bagel photographs. Cute, really, since the tables are round. Your tablemates will be Gold Coast businessmen craving corned beef, construction workers slurping up cabbage soup, and regulars who chat with the deli guys while stocking up on the Jewish goods they’re jonesin’ for.

Whatever delectable deli dish you're after, Ashkenaz can cure your cravings in a New-York-style minute. In the morning, stop in for bagels and lox or a creamy cheese blintz. In the afternoon, grab a Rueben sandwich and three of your friends to share it with—these suckers aren’t for the faint of appetite. Other must-haves include Matzo ball soup, chopped herring, homemade potato pancakes, and rugalah. How do you say "Yum" in Yiddish?

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg