View source for Canter's

{{Short description|Delicatessen in Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
{{Infobox Restaurant
| name              = Canter's Deli
| image             = Canter's Deli at night (exterior).jpg
| image_width       = 300px
| image_caption     = Canter's Deli at night
| established       = 1931
| current-owner     =
| head-chef         =
| food-type         = [[Delicatessen]]
| dress-code        =
| rating            =
| street-address    = 419 North Fairfax Avenue
| city              = [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
| state             = [[California]]
| zip               = 90036
| country           = United States
| seating-capacity  =
| reservations      =
| other-locations   =
| other-information =
| website           = [http://www.cantersdeli.com/ Official website]
}}
[[File:Canter's Deli on Fairfax.jpg|thumb|Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles]]
'''Canter's Deli''' is a Jewish-style [[delicatessen]], opened in 1931 in Boyle Heights, and later moved to the [[Fairfax District, Los Angeles, California|Fairfax District]] of [[Los Angeles, California]], near the border of [[West Hollywood]]. It has been frequented by many movie stars and celebrities.
The restaurant serves traditional food items, including: [[lox]] and [[bagel]]s, [[corned beef]], [[matzoh ball]] soup, and [[challah]] bread. However, it is not certified [[kosher]], being open on Saturdays and offering many non-kosher menu items like ham sandwiches.
Canter's has remained open 24 hours most days, except on the Jewish holidays of [[Rosh Hashanah]] and [[Yom Kippur]].  However, its dining room is only open until 11:30 PM.
In 2021, the ''Financial Times'' ranked it as one of the "50 greatest food stores in the world."<ref name="Financial">{{cite news |last1=Auld |first1=Tim |title=The 50 greatest food stores in the world |url=https://www.ft.com/content/684252ce-7b37-4a2a-a0f7-15fe19e071d9?fbclid=IwAR0drTyUtDBsffkS5evj3l_yLX6zdQD622ewe6q9vaVyqotxvHymrmx2AYg |access-date=27 May 2021 |publisher=The Financial Times |date=May 18, 2021 |archive-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527045546/https://www.ft.com/content/684252ce-7b37-4a2a-a0f7-15fe19e071d9?fbclid=IwAR0drTyUtDBsffkS5evj3l_yLX6zdQD622ewe6q9vaVyqotxvHymrmx2AYg |url-status=live }}</ref>
== History ==
The Canter family originally opened a delicatessen in [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]], [[New Jersey]], in 1924.  They came west along with many [[Jew]]s from the northeastern United States,
and in 1931 they opened a delicatessen on [[Cesar Chavez Avenue|Brooklyn Avenue]] in the [[Boyle Heights]] neighborhood, which at that time had a substantial Jewish population. After [[World War II]], the Jewish population of Boyle Heights left en masse for the Fairfax District, West Hollywood, and other West Side neighborhoods (as well as the [[San Fernando Valley]]) and Canter's followed the influx of Jewish businesses west.  A location at 439 North [[Fairfax Avenue]] opened in 1948; in 1953, the restaurant moved up the block into the former Esquire Theater (which had previously shown [[Yiddish]]-language films), resulting in a delicatessen much larger than its previous spaces.  The restaurant was further expanded in 1959, and the Kibitz Room cocktail lounge opened in 1961.  The Boyle Heights location remained in business until the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |first=Leilah |last=Bernstein |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-24-fo-20383-story.html |title=The Soul of Fairfax Avenue: Canter's moved west from East L.A.'s Brooklyn Avenue in 1948 and has been keeping up with evolving traditions ever since. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 24, 1999 |access-date=March 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514050704/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/24/food/fo-20383 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Canter's quickly became a hang-out for show business personalities, given its location a block north of [[Television City]] and its 24/7 hours. It has remained such ever since. In the 1960s, Canter's became a late night hang-out for [[hippies]],
rock musicians, and other [[Counterculture|countercultural]] types, partially for the same reasons. Also, many [[rock music]]ians had grown up in Fairfax and West Hollywood, and the [[Sunset Strip]] was only a half-mile (0.8&nbsp;km) away. Canter's has remained a favorite of rock musicians to the present day, and its bakery and deli counter are still open 24 hours.  Canter's is open every day except for the Jewish holidays of [[Rosh Hashanah]] and [[Yom Kippur]].
Canter's is known for its traditional deli favorites, such as [[pastrami]], [[corned beef]], [[matzah ball]] soup, [[challah]], lox and bagels, and brisket.  It also has a large menu of other breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and has been awarded for its food many times over the years.  For example, Los Angeles Magazine named Canter's waffles the Best Waffle in Los Angeles.<ref name=lam-2005apr>{{cite news |url=http://www.lamag.com/bola/article.aspx?id=3778 |title=Best of LA - Eat: Dishes To Die For And Our Favorite Foods: Best Waffle |magazine=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] |date=April 2005 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114040206/http://lamag.com/bola/article.aspx?id=3778 |archive-date=2010-01-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Esquire magazine called their [[Monte Cristo sandwich]] one of the best sandwiches in America.<ref name=em-2008feb16>{{cite news |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/food-drink/sandwiches |title=The Best Sandwiches in America |magazine=[[Esquire Magazine]] |date=February 16, 2008 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=March 29, 2009 |archive-date=August 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814031016/http://www.esquire.com/features/food-drink/sandwiches |url-status=live }}</ref>
The bar in Canter's, called the Kibitz Room, has its own history and has been a favorite of music personalities. [[Chuck E. Weiss]].<ref>{{Allmusic |class=artist|id= chuck-e-weiss-mn0000118554 | label= Chuck E. Weiss}}</ref> a regular at Canter's who has his name on a plaque at the booth where he would sit, wrote a song about the Kibitz Room called, "Rocking in the Kibitz Room."<ref name="Kibitz">{{Allmusic |song |id= rocking-in-the-kibbitz-room-mt0001548502 | "Rocking in the Kibitz Room"}}</ref>
Although the restaurant is open 24 hours, the Kibitz Room closes at 2 am. They have live music every night, and were the launch pad for several bands, most notably [[the Wallflowers]], [[Fiona Apple]], and [[Rick Rubin]]'s new project, the Vacation. The Big Jam has had plenty of "A List" musicians sit in, including [[Phil Everly]], [[Jackson Browne]], [[Melissa Etheridge]], and Marc Canter's high school friend [[Slash (musician)|Slash]].<ref name=lw-2008mar07>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-pastrami-2152404 |title=Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Pastrami |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=March 7, 2008 |first=Siran |last=Babayan |access-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109142236/http://www.laweekly.com/music/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-pastrami-2152404 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Marc Canter, currently the restaurant's co-owner, published a book in 2007 about the early days of [[Guns N' Roses]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Canter |first=Marc |title=Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses and The Making of Appetite for Destruction |publisher=Shoot Hip Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9793418-7-8 |oclc=192027685}}</ref> In 2019, Gina Canter and Alex Canter released a book titled ''Stories on Rye'', cataloging a collection of memories shared at Canter's.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Stories on rye : a collection of memories shared at canters deli since 1931.|last=Canter, Gina|date=2019|publisher=Pomelo & Co|others=Canter, Alex.|isbn=978-1-7338431-0-2|location=Los Angeles, CA|oclc=1099999785}}</ref>
The [[restaurant]] has been featured in several [[Film|movies]] and [[television]] shows, including [[HBO]]'s ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'' in the episode "The Blind Date" (2004) and [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]'s ''[[Mad Men]]'' in the episode "Time Zones" (2014). In 2007, [[Adam Stein]], finalist on the FOX TV show ''[[On the Lot]]'', filmed "Dough: The Musical" at Canter's. Canter's is also mentioned in the song, "Oh Daddy," by [[The Turtles]].
In 1993, the restaurant was featured in ''Visiting... with [[Huell Howser]]'' Episode 125.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canter's – Visiting (125) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=24 October 1993 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1993/10/24/canters-visiting-125/ |access-date=2021-05-03 |archive-date=2021-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503064951/https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1993/10/24/canters-visiting-125/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2003, Canter's opened an additional location inside [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Austin |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131280514.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125815/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131280514.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=On rye, no mayo: Jordan Mozer's update of Canter's deli, a Tinseltown landmark, is a hidden gem at Treasure Island |magazine=[[Interior Design (magazine)|Interior Design]] |date=March 1, 2005 |url-access=}}</ref> It closed in December 2012.<ref name=lvw-2012dec03>{{cite news |url=http://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/2012/dec/03/canters-deli-out/ |title=Canter's Deli out, Little Richie's Chicago dogs in at TI |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Weekly]] |date=December 3, 2012 |first=Brock |last=Radke |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109142236/http://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/2012/dec/03/canters-deli-out/ |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- In case someone wants this ref name=lat-2016apr06>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-las-vegas-linq-promenade-in-n-out-canters-20160405-story.html |title=Las Vegas: In-N-Out Burger and Canter's Deli to go all in at Linq Promenade |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 6, 2016 |first=Jay |last=Jones}}</ref-->
[[File:Canter's Menu Front.jpg|alt=Front of Canter's menu.|thumb|Early Canter's Menu]]
On 14 October 2008, Canter's celebrated their 60th anniversary on Fairfax. To mark the occasion, the deli reduced the price of their [[corned beef sandwich]] to its 1948 price of 60 cents, limited to one per customer, for a period of 12 hours.<ref name=et-2008oct14>{{cite news |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/canters-celebrates-legendary-sixty-years-on-fairfax-with-corned-beef-sandwiches,573348.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728233442/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/canters-celebrates-legendary-sixty-years-on-fairfax-with-corned-beef-sandwiches,573348.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |title=Canter's Celebrates Legendary Sixty Years on Fairfax With Corned Beef Sandwiches |website=Earth Times |date=October 14, 2008 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>
In 2008, Canter's had opened another deli outlet at [[Dodger Stadium]].<ref name=lat-2008apr09>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-09-fo-journal9-story.html |title=Catcher and the deli rye |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 9, 2008 |first=Amy |last=Scattergood |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509202629/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/09/food/fo-journal9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The operation at the baseball park closed in 2011 and was replaced by Dodgertown Deli.<ref name=lw-2011mar31>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/la-dodgers-unveil-doyer-dog-also-more-salads-2379597 |title=LA Dodgers Unveil Doyer Dog; Also, More Salads |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=March 31, 2011 |first=Elina |last=Shatkin |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712103422/http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/la-dodgers-unveil-doyer-dog-also-more-salads-2379597 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 24, 2014, [[President Barack Obama]] surprised the lunchtime diners and staff when he visited Canter's.<ref name=cbs-2014jul24>{{cite news |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/07/24/president-obama-makes-surprise-stop-at-canters-deli/ |title=President Obama Makes Surprise Stop At Canter's Deli |website=[[KCBS-TV]] |date=July 24, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726104336/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/07/24/president-obama-makes-surprise-stop-at-canters-deli/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!-- in case someone wants this ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vegas.eater.com/2017/10/30/16569138/canters-deli-linq-promenade-now-open|title=Canter's Deli Returns to the Strip|work=Eater Vegas|access-date=2017-11-01}}</ref -->
On August 7, 2017, Canter's Restaurant was ordered closed for three days by the Los Angeles County Health Department for eleven health code violations, including a vermin infestation. Among other things, inspectors observed more than 10 cockroaches and 20 rodent droppings in the restaurant storage area, and 20 flies in the food preparation area. The additional health code violations cited that food contact surfaces were not clean and sanitized and the food was not in a safe, healthy condition.<ref>{{cite web | title = 'We won't let it happen again': Canter's restaurant vows to clean up its act after health violations | url = https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-canters-deli-inspection-closure-20170824-story.html | website = Los Angeles Times | date = 24 August 2017 | last1 = Rocha | first1 = Veronica | last2 = Shyong | first2 = Frank | access-date = 28 June 2022 | archive-date = 28 June 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220628041352/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-canters-deli-inspection-closure-20170824-story.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
After returning to the Las Vegas market in September 2017,<ref name="EV-Stapleton-20170928">{{cite web |last1=Stapleton |first1=Susan |title=The Long Wait for Canter's Deli Is Over |url=https://vegas.eater.com/2017/9/28/16376764/canters-deli-tivoli-village-now-open |website=[[Eater Vegas]] |access-date=April 8, 2023 |language=en |date=September 28, 2017 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408214606/https://vegas.eater.com/2017/9/28/16376764/canters-deli-tivoli-village-now-open |url-status=live }}</ref> the Canter's [[Tivoli Village]] location closed in July 2018.<ref name="EV-Stapleton-20180723">{{cite web |last1=Stapleton |first1=Susan |title=Canter's Deli Closes One of Its Locations |url=https://vegas.eater.com/2018/7/23/17601786/canters-deli-closes-tivoli-village |website=Eater Vegas |access-date=April 8, 2023 |language=en |date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408214607/https://vegas.eater.com/2018/7/23/17601786/canters-deli-closes-tivoli-village |url-status=live }}</ref> Opening in October 2017,<ref name="EV-Stapleton-20171030">{{cite web |last1=Stapleton |first1=Susan |title=Canter's Deli Returns to the Strip |url=https://vegas.eater.com/2017/10/30/16569138/canters-deli-linq-promenade-now-open |website=[[Eater Vegas]] |language=en |date=October 30, 2017 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528032342/https://vegas.eater.com/2017/10/30/16569138/canters-deli-linq-promenade-now-open |url-status=live }}</ref> the second Las Vegas location at the [[Linq Promenade]] closed in March, 2019.<ref name="VC-20190320">{{cite web |author1=admin |title=Canter's Deli CLOSED, replaced by Maxie's Deli at Linq Promenade |url=https://vegaschanges.com/2019/03/20/canters-deli-closed-replaced-by-maxies-deli-at-linq-promenade/ |website=VegasChanges.com |access-date=April 8, 2023 |date=March 20, 2019 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408213105/https://vegaschanges.com/2019/03/20/canters-deli-closed-replaced-by-maxies-deli-at-linq-promenade/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On May 30, 2020, at the start of the [[George Floyd Protests]], Canter's neighborhood was the site of one of the first intense confrontations between protestors and police in Los Angeles. Canter's posted messages in support of [[Black Lives Matter]] and stayed open during the protests, giving out food and water to demonstrators.<ref>{{Cite news|author-first1=Garrett|author-last1=Snyder|url=https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-05-31/canters-stays-open-george-floyd-protests|title=Caught in the Crossfire, Canter's Deli Stays Open|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2020-06-06|archive-date=2020-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606045029/https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-05-31/canters-stays-open-george-floyd-protests|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 1, 2023, antisemitic graffiti was painted in the Canter's parking lot below a mural of photographs that document the history of the Jewish community in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |author-first1=Salvador|author-last1=Hernandez|author-first2=Summer|author-last2=Lin|title=Antisemitic graffiti at Canter's Deli investigated as possible hate crime |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-01/canters-deli-antisemitic-graffiti-los-angeles-jewish-business-israel-hamas |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | vauthors=((Greg Gilman)) | date=November 2, 2023 | title=Antisemitic Graffiti at Canter's Deli Under Hate Crime Investigation | url=https://lamag.com/crimeinla/lapd-investigating-antisemitic-graffiti-canters-deli-hate-crime | access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>
==Mural==
The [[mural]] outside Canter's deli, next to the parking lot, was unveiled in 1985 and commemorates the [[History of the Jews in Los Angeles|history of the Jewish community in Los Angeles]]. It starts at the left end with historical images and progresses to the right in seven panels and includes scenes of Jewish participation in community life, institutions, businesses, significant cultural and historical events, as well as scenes from people's personal lives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fairfax Community Mural |url=https://www.themcla.org/murals/fairfax-community-mural |website=Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles}}</ref>
=== First Panel: the Beginnings, 1860s ===
* [[Wilshire Boulevard Temple]], formerly known as '''Congregation B'nai B'rith''', the first [[synagogue]] in Los Angeles.
* [[Abram Wolf Edelman]], the first [[rabbi]] in Los Angeles.
* An early Jewish business in Los Angeles.
* The Newmarks, a prominent early L.A.-based Jewish family.
=== Second Panel: late 19th Century ===
* A Los Angeles street scene showing a Jewish business.
* [[Isaias W. Hellman]], a prominent Los Angeles banker of the era.
* A Jewish family's barrel-making business.
* A home for tuberculosis patients that later evolved into what is now [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]].
* [[Emil Harris]], the first Jewish sheriff of Los Angeles.
=== Third Panel: early 20th Century ===
* Actors in a truck traveling to location for the filming of ''[[The Squaw Man (1918 film)|The Squaw Man]]'', the first full-length movie made in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] and by the [[Jesse L. Lasky|Jesse Lasky Feature Play Company]]. The director, [[Cecil B. DeMille]], is seated on the fender at left.
* Children receiving instruction in one of the first Hebrew schools in Los Angeles.
* The home of one of the first Jewish families to live in Boyle Heights.
* [[Al Jolson]] as a rabbi in ''[[The Jazz Singer]]''.
=== Fourth Panel: 1930s ===
[[File:Mural - Canter's Deli, Los Angeles.jpg|thumb]]
* Canter's original location in [[Boyle Heights]].
* [[Albert Einstein]] and a local rabbi with their bicycles in Los Angeles.
* An elaborate [[Jewish wedding]] of the period.
* Garment worker's protest in downtown Los Angeles during the [[Los Angeles Garment Workers strike of 1933|Garment workers' strike in 1933]].
* A ''[[Los Angeles Examiner]]'' newspaper article describing a meeting of Jews to protest [[Adolf Hitler]]’s activities in Europe.
* [[Lillian Copeland]], gold medalist at the [[1932 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Los Angeles]].
=== Fifth Panel: 1940s ===
[[File:Mural - Canter's Deli, Los Angeles - 13721028214.jpg|thumb]]
* A school bus and students at a Jewish school in Los Angeles.
* A Los Angeles women's group's Clothing Campaign to assist war sufferers in Europe.
* A cutout billboard by the United Jewish Welfare Fund on [[Wilshire Boulevard]], proclaiming that Jews must live in freedom.
* The father of one of the organizers of the mural project, who served in the U.S. Navy during [[California during World War II|World War II]].
* A group of [[Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America|Hadassah women]] boarding a train in L.A. to take them to a Hadassah conference in [[Sacramento, California]].
=== Sixth Panel: 1960s ===
[[File:Mural - Canter's Deli, Los Angeles - 13721028554.jpg|thumb]]
* A Jewish Youth group parading in front of nearby [[Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)|Fairfax High School]] affirming their support for the peace movement.
* A program in the [[Hollywood Bowl]] to raise money to help [[Israel]] during the [[Six Day War]].
* The first female Jewish religious leader in Los Angeles.
* The [[Pacific Jewish Center]] (PJC), a synagogue on the beachfront in [[Venice, Los Angeles]], at that time home to a large Jewish community.
* [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] pitcher for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].
=== Seventh Panel: Fairfax 1985 ===
* A view of [[Fairfax Avenue]] near the mural, looking north toward the [[Hollywood Hills]].
* A view of the mural in progress, showing scaffolding and workers painting the mural.
* Two orthodox Jewish men shaking hands while shopping on Fairfax.
* Women selecting produce at a market on Fairfax.
* Local residents at a bus stop on Fairfax Avenue.
==See also==
{{portal|Los Angeles|Judaism|Food}}
* [[List of Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants]]
* [[List of delicatessens]]
* [[Diamond Bakery]]
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Canter's Deli}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cantersdeli.com/}}
{{coord|34.0788|-118.3616|display=title}}
{{Restaurants of Los Angeles County, California}}
[[Category:1924 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants]]
[[Category:Fairfax, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Jewish delicatessens in the United States]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1924]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Los Angeles]]