| Wilensky's Light Lunch | |
|---|---|
 Wilensky's storefront | |
  Location within Montreal | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | (1932-05-15) May 15, 1932 (age 92) |
| Food type | Lunch counter and soda fountain |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 34 Fairmount Avenue West |
| City | Montreal |
| State | Quebec |
| Postal/ZIP Code | H2T 2M1 |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°31′24″N 73°35′42″W / 45.523302°N 73.594932°W / 45.523302; -73.594932 |
| Website | wilenskys |
Wilensky's Light Lunch, also known as Wilensky's, is a kosher-style lunch counter located on Fairmount Avenue West in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Opened in 1932 by Moe Wilensky, the restaurant was immortalized in Mordecai Richler's novel, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. Scenes in the film version of the book were shot in the restaurant.
Products
Wilensky's is most famous for its Special: a grilled salami-from-beef and bologna-from-beef sandwich with mustard on a kaiser roll, pressed flat from the grill — mustard is compulsory, as a sign in the restaurant announces. Though recognized as part of Montreal's Jewish community, the restaurant is not kosher. Their soda pop drinks are still mixed by hand.
History
Originally called Wilensky's Cigar Store, the restaurant was located at the corner of St. Urbain Street and Fairmount Avenue in Montreal's Mile End district. It moved to its current location in 1952 and was run by the founder's widow Ruth Wilensky (until 2012), his son Asher, daughter Sharon and granddaughter Alisa.
Wilensky's Special
The famous Wilensky's special sandwich is a grilled bologna sandwich. It was included in Travel + Leisure magazine's May 2012 edition's article about the 'Best Sandwiches From Around the World', written by Jonathan Gold. It was also featured in the second episode of David Chang and Anthony Bourdain's PBS series The Mind of a Chef, with Bourdain visiting again for another Wilensky's special as part of the Quebec episode of Parts Unknown.
Gallery
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Ruth Wilensky
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Two opened Wilensky's Specials, a dill pickle, and a cherry coke
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Sandwich with beef salami and bologna
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Wilensky's interior with back wall
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Wilensky's interior with side wall
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Wilensky's entryway
See also
- Fairmount Bagel
- Historic Jewish Quarter, Montreal
- List of Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants
- List of delicatessens
References
- ^ Brownstein, Bill (2007-05-13). "Yes, there's something truly special about Wilensky's". Montreal Gazette. Canwest. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- "Famous Montreal eatery Wilensky's marks 75 years". CTV News. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- Kaell, Hillary (2003-03-10). "Nausea? What's A Little Nausea?". McGill Daily. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- "Wilensky's History". Top 2000.
- "Bill Brownstein: Wilensky's puts on its party hat to celebrate 85th birthday". 12 May 2017.
- Sietsema, Robert (November 2010), "The Inspiration for Mile End's Ruth Wilensky Sandwich", The Village Voice
- Travel + Leisure, "Best Sandwiches From Around the World" page 10; The Wilensky’s Special, Montreal. May 2012
- Eater, "Watch Aziz Ansari, David Chang, and the Joe Beef Guys in The Mind of a Chef", 9 November 2012
- "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown". edition.cnn.com. May 5, 2013. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- "Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" episode 4 recap: Quebec is Canada's culinary capital". 6 May 2013.
External links
| Restaurants in Montreal | |
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| Current |
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| Defunct | |
| Related | |
| Note: excludes large chain restaurants | |