Barry's Village Deli
6 Windsor Road, Waban, MA 02468
(617) 527-8244
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It is a sad fact that the Boston area pales in comparison to New York City when it comes to authentic Jewish delis. Sure, Michael's, Rubin's, and Zaftigs are good Brookline delis, and both Joan and Ed's in Natick and Maxie's in Stoughton are worth checking out if you live in the suburbs, but other than these places, you are mostly out of luck. That is, except for one little gem in Waban called Barry's Village Deli that may be the best of them all.
Barry's Village Deli is easy to miss, as it is on a side street in the sleepy center of Waban, a wealthy little village of Newton that is a couple of minutes from Route 128, but in a rather out-of-the-way spot. Indeed, Barry's has been around since 1970, but it mostly remains a secret among the townsfolk of Waban. Stepping into this bustling, often hectic deli is like taking a step back in time, as the folks behind the counter seem to know many, if not most of the patrons here, and the place itself feels like it could be located in the Lower East Side of New York back in the early 20th century.
A good number of people do takeout at Barry's Village Deli, though there are a couple of small dining sections behind the counter area. But takeout does seem to be the norm here, as folks can be seen leaving with bags filled with all kinds of deli food. And oh what food they have at Barry's; the chicken noodle soup may just be the best in all of Greater Boston, while the matzo ball soup is similarly outstanding. The fantastic potato latkas are at least as good as those from the long-gone Harold's in the Mall at Chestnut Hill (which is saying a lot), and the knishes are flaky, greasy, and delicious. The corned beef rivals that of the best in Manhattan, and even the lowly egg salad sandwich is special. And then there is the noodle pudding, which is dense, hearty, and full of flavor.
If you live in the Boston area and need a deli fix, you definitely need to take a trip to Waban to try Barry's Deli. There is no place like it in Eastern Massachusetts, and while there are better delis in New York, it would definitely hold its own in the Big Apple.
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