Comments on: Death of a Deli: Rascal House

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:21:30 +0000

Is there a deli we can go to to sit shiva? Its hard to follow with the traditional “we should only see each other at simchas” because it is hard to to find a new great deli where we can celebrate.

By: drbehavior

drbehavior — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:31:17 +0000

It’s really too bad that Wolfies suffered such an ignominious fate at the hands of Tribal Members no less.
However, if there’s anyone in northern California - near Sacramento/San Francisco that would like to get involved in opening a brand new Deli Catering (Wholesale Business) then please let me know. Maybe we here in California can compensate for the loss in Florida. My family’s been in the food business for almost a hundred years in Toronto and now that I’m retired from Brain Research/Behavioral Science I’m going top follow in their footsteps. Let me know if you’re interested. Howard

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:13 +0000

We were at Rascal House for Closing Weekend. We had dinner on Friday and lunch on Sunday. It was, both literally and figuratively, like night and day. Lunch on Sunday was packed (after the article in Saturday’s Miami Herald), but the place was sadly slow on Friday. As we waited in line on Sunday (Parties of 2), I couldn’t help but wonder where all these people had been over the last 2 – 3 years. If the crowds had remained steady and strong (like the old days), maybe the Starkmans wouldn’t have felt the need to close. We have become the society of Shock and Awe, only paying attention to the tragedy and carnage.

There were two things that saved the weekend. First, it was heartening to see that people were talking to each other about their feelings and memories of Rascal House. We talked to numerous people, both locals and visitors, who had great memories of Rascal House. In line and at the table, we shared our stories. And many people brought cameras, and were taking lots of pictures. But, most importantly, the food was great! The Stuffed Cabbage and Beef Stew were still awesome.

Alas, Rascal House is gone, as so many other places that were a part of the traditions that made South Florida so unique. Life goes on, and Jason Starkman has stated that the new Epicure will have many of the old dishes from Rascal house, and will have some sort of dining area there. But it will never be the same.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:28:07 +0000

I was very sad to hear that Rascal House closed down. I’m coming down to the South Florida area next week, from New York. The first place I was going to go was to Rascal House and have my 1/2 whitefish salad sandwich with a bowl of chicken soup. After that, have a piece of cherry crumb pie with coffee. I was really looking forward to it.

Even with the Sunny Isles Beach area physically, economically, and socially changing, the Rascal House sign on Collins @ 172nd Street always gave me comfort in knowing that somethings will stay the same.

Thanks for the memories, Rascal House.

Rascal

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:09:41 +0000

I don’t live very close to Rascal House but I made sure to drag out my brother and his daughter and my mom out for one last bite. theres still some pretty good deli’s in Miami Beach but you have to look for them…down by where I live, coral gables area theres some decent places but they dont have the classic feel of Rascal House.

By: Carol Lopez

Carol Lopez — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:37:49 +0000

I visit Florida once a year and a meal at the Rascal House was a must do. I was shocked and saddened last week to see what has come of this wonderful home away from home. I wish I had known it was going to close, I would have made the trip earlier, to be able to go here one last time. I can honestly say, that was my only reason for coming to the Miami area. The Bayside Marketplace has become such a let down too.