Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant

Business Details

50+ Years

experience

Authentic Jewish Deli & Restaurant in Livingston, NJ

Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant has been serving authentic New York-style Jewish cuisine since 1956. Originally established in Newark, New Jersey, we relocated to Orange in 1960 before settling in our current Livingston location. Our decades of experience in deli and restaurant operations have allowed us to perfect traditional recipes while maintaining a commitment to quality service and a welcoming dining environment. We specialize in home-style cooking that honors Jewish culinary traditions, offering patrons a menu featuring iconic dishes like our award-winning pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Our dedication to excellence has earned recognition from NJ.com as one of the best Jewish delis in New Jersey.

We take pride in serving both regular customers and first-time visitors with the same level of care and attention to detail that has defined our business for over 65 years. Our staff ensures every guest experiences the warmth of our family-owned establishment through friendly service and consistently delicious food.

Services

Pastrami Sandwiches Corned Beef Platters Matzo Ball Soup Passover Catering Deli Meats by the Pound Breakfast Omelets Salad Entrees Shiva Catering Game Day Specials Kosher Takeout

Details

Year established: 1956

Highlights and features

Awarded Best Jewish Deli in NJ by NJ.com
Authentic recipes perfected over 65 years of operation
Family-owned since 1956 with generational culinary expertise
Consistently praised for generous portions and flavor
Maintains strict kosher standards with modern cleanliness

What people say

Best pastrami I've ever tasted Authentic New York-style deli experience Generous portions with every meal Outstanding customer service Food just like homemade

Website

Update Listing

Services

Pastrami Sandwiches

Hand-crafted pastrami sandwiches feature slow-cured meat with our signature spice blend. Served on fresh rye bread with optional house-made Russian dressing or coleslaw. Perfect for traditionalists and first-time diners seeking authentic Jewish deli experience.

Catering Service

Full-service catering for holidays, shivas, and special events. Includes Passover platters, meat trays, and breakfast options. Available for delivery with advance ordering. Serves portions for both small gatherings and large celebrations with traditional Jewish cuisine.

Matzo Ball Soup

House-made matzo ball soup features our family recipe with hand-rolled balls in rich chicken broth. Available as dine-in, takeout, or catering option. Regularly praised for its comforting quality and authentic preparation that customers describe as 'just like homemade.'

Deli Meats

Premium deli meats available by the pound including corned beef, pastrami, and turkey. Perfect for home entertaining or sandwiches. Prepared using traditional curing methods. Customers consistently praise the quality and generous portions.

Breakfast Menu

Daily breakfast service featuring Jewish specialties like the Eppes Omelet and Salute (salami and eggs). Includes traditional sides like kasha and French fries. Available for dine-in or takeout with consistent morning hours seven days a week.

Questions

What makes Eppes Essen's pastrami special?

Our pastrami uses a traditional curing process with a proprietary spice blend, slow-cooked for maximum tenderness. Customers describe it as 'the best on rye' with flavor that 'dances on your tongue.'

Do you offer catering services for special events?

Yes, we provide full catering for holidays, shivas, and celebrations. Options start at $25 per person with advance ordering required. Includes traditional Jewish dishes and deli favorites.

Is Eppes Essen strictly kosher?

We maintain strict kosher standards in our food preparation while accommodating modern dietary preferences. Our certification ensures proper separation of meat and dairy with dedicated equipment for each.

What are your most popular menu items?

Top sellers include the New King David pastrami sandwich, triple-decker sloppy joes, matzo ball soup, and our Passover catering platters. Many customers return specifically for our house-made kasha and salami omelet.

How long has Eppes Essen been in business?

We've served Jewish cuisine since 1956, starting in Newark before moving to Orange in 1960 and establishing our current Livingston location. Generations of customers have enjoyed our traditional recipes for over six decades.

Reviews (7)

Write a Review

Jeff L.

Jan 20, 2022 Report

We eat there all the time food is great place is clean and very safe with All STAFF Vaccinated and Boosted table are spread far enough from each other very friendly staff what else we need it looks pricey but not Pound per Pound cheaper then supermarket

Dolores Maria De Lorenzo

Jan 07, 2022 Report

Great food!!! a gift certificate was gifted to me by my two "Bagel Sistas" while I remain hospitalized here at Saint Barnabas Medical Center... the meal was a blessing to me!!! IT WAS DEE-LICIOUS.... Can't wait to have more of it today!!!! Thank you Marti n Debby

Philip H.

Dec 06, 2021 Report

I have been dining here for decades. Not regularly. But averaging once every year or two for nearly 40 years. The restaurant hasn't changed all that much. The quality of the food has held up for the most part. Corned beef, pastrami and tongue are all still on point. The portion sizes have gotten a bit smaller. Ok, considerably smaller is more accurate. Which brings me to my only real knock. The prices. This isn't mid town NYC. Averaging $22 to $26 for a smallish sandwich seems a bit excessive for this neck of the woods. With that said. Epps's remains a solid Jewish deli that I will

Bill F.

Nov 29, 2021 Report

Today the start of a holiday & I'm sure a large volume day. Ordered to take out a pastrami & a corn beef on rye. The pastrami was tender & flavorful. The corn beef at 19.99 was totally unacceptable. It was tough & tasteless. Nice to serve sub par meat at that price for the holiday. They are so expensive & inconsistent. I don't believe they didn't know. They must test a small piece before slicing. They could use the poor stuff for corn beef & eggs instead of pawning it off at a high price. If I ate it in I would have thrown it back. Been dissatisfied before

Karen L.

Nov 27, 2021 Report

Ok..our family has a long history with Eppes. It was my mom's favorite place and we went there often. About 15 years ago we started a family tradition of going every year the day after Thanksgiving. Loved it. This year, not much. Prices have gone up a lot. I know that supplies etc have but this was really a lot. The light side which was about $15 is now $25. That might be ok if quantity and quality were ok but they're not. All portions are much smaller. The cole slaw ( which was always free) now is a separate price and is tasteless and dry. Tasteless and dry describes my pastrami and

Emily D.

Oct 31, 2021 Report

October 2021 Update: Josh, the owner, sent nasty reply to my review. If I can figure out a way to post it here, I will. He did not post it for all to see. In essence, Josh dismissed and insulted me before telling me to get off Yelp.

Josh is THE reason I will not be back at Eppes Essen. He's so busy insulting a customer and not addressing the concerns. I hope people stop going there until he begins to respect his customers with fair prices, and presenting and plating dishes not on the cheap (see sandwich photos below). Eppes has a loyal customer base but Josh is doing everything possible

Lynn W.

Oct 11, 2021 Report

Best part? Staff was excellent. We came in for a snack around 2:30 PM.
Prices were so obscene that we almost left. The only thing that kept us there was the fact that we had already opened the complementary pickles & tomatoes.
Mushroom barley soup-exellent, could use a pinch of salt, not on tables, covid mandate I guess, but not offered.
Matzoh ball soup-bland, matzoh ball a flavorless clump of flour and water. Potato pancake-fair, looked like mashed potato inside. Potato knish-i've never seen one that big, but quantity over quality does not impress.