Downtown Minneapolis has a secret that lives one floor above the sidewalk. Office workers cross glass bridges every weekday to reach a counter where the sandwiches come stacked and the sides come with a refill policy.
There is one magic phrase worth learning before you go, and it doubles the meat on your order. The place keeps short hours, closes on weekends, and has a long list of regulars who plan their week around it.
Keep reading to learn where it is, what to order, how the famous side bar works, and how to time your visit so you skip the lunch crowd. By the end, you will know exactly why so many people call it the closest thing to a New York deli in the Twin Cities.
A Deli Hiding in the Skyway
Some of the best lunches in Minneapolis never touch street level. The Brothers Deli sits at 50 South 6th St #220, Minneapolis, MN 55402, in the United States, tucked into the city’s famous skyway system.
That second-floor perch is a big part of its appeal. Downtown workers and hotel guests can reach the counter without ever stepping outside into a Minnesota winter.
Guests staying at a nearby Marriott have taken the sky bridge straight over to stay out of the cold. That kind of easy access turns a quick lunch into a small winter victory.
The spot is a deli in the classic sense. Sandwiches lead the menu, soups rotate through, and a side bar sits ready for every sandwich order.
It holds a 4.2-star average from 176 Google ratings, which is a solid number for a busy weekday lunch counter. The shop has also been around long enough to collect loyal fans who have eaten there for years.
Across the hall, a national burrito chain competes for the same lunch crowd. Plenty of locals make the case for supporting the independent counter instead.
So the address is settled. Now comes the fun part, which is figuring out why people keep coming back.
The Longtime Crew Behind the Counter
Staying power says a lot about a restaurant. At this deli, many of the employees have worked there for a very long time, and longtime regulars take that as a good sign.
Friendly staff comes up again and again among the things people mention most. The team is often described as nice but serious about the job, which fits a counter that needs to move fast at noon.
The owner is a visible presence too. He has been known to respond directly to feedback, and in one case he said he increased sandwich portions across the menu after hearing a complaint about thin servings.
That kind of hands-on approach has two sides. Some guests find the owner a bit gruff, while the support staff earns steady praise for being helpful.
Either way, the place feels personal rather than corporate. Problems with orders have been met with offers to make things right, including a free lunch for an unhappy guest.
A counter run by familiar faces tends to remember its regulars. That continuity is part of what turns a skyway sandwich shop into a weekday habit.
The people set the tone, but the menu is what fills the dining room.
The Magic Words: NY Style
Here is the insider move that gives this article its title. Order your pastrami sandwich and ask for it NY Style, and the kitchen doubles the pastrami.
Regulars point first to the Sid Hartman pastrami, named for the late Minneapolis sports columnist, as the sandwich worth upgrading. Springing for the double portion is the step fans recommend most.
Pastrami ranks among the most talked-about items here. Many guests say they always go for it, no matter how long the menu gets.
Another pastrami option is The Pepe, which gets suggested to first-timers. It pairs well with a scoop of the creamy potato salad from the side bar.
Fans describe the result as NY deli style piles of meat. That is exactly the look a homesick East Coast transplant hopes for in the middle of the Midwest.
Not every sandwich wins everyone over, of course. A few guests have found the pastrami on the dry side on certain days.
Still, the double-meat option is the one detail most likely to make a first visit memorable. Go big, grab extra napkins, and plan on taking leftovers back to the office.
Sandwich Names With Personality
A menu can tell you a lot about a kitchen’s sense of humor. Here, many sandwiches carry names that sound like neighbors you might bump into at the counter.
The Messy Bessy lives up to its title. One lunch with it can wipe out a small stack of napkins, so grab more than you think you need.
Mama Dora is a simpler build with turkey, avocado, tomato, and mayo. It is the pick for anyone who wants something lighter than a mountain of cured meat.
Kenny’s California Reuben comes on pumpernickel and has its own fan club. The classic Reuben gets made fast and hot, and the kitchen will leave off the sauerkraut on request.
Corned beef and brisket round out the deli staples. A turkey sandwich here has been called the best ever by a traveler who saved half for dinner back at the hotel.
With so many choices, some regulars try a different sandwich every single visit. They report that the streak of good lunches keeps going.
There is truly a sandwich for every mood. Deciding is the hardest part of the trip.
The Side Bar That Changes the Math
Every sandwich comes with a ticket to one of the best deals downtown. Each order includes access to the deli’s self-serve salad bar of sides.
Fans say you can make as many trips as you want, or pack as much as fits into your to-go container. That changes the value of a sandwich lunch quite a bit.
The spread covers pickles, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, beets, and herring. Bread pudding even shows up as a built-in dessert option.
Longtime fans argue that anyone who complains about the price simply missed the salad bar. It is the secret ingredient in the whole budget equation.
Pickles get plenty of attention on their own. A spear alongside a hot sandwich is about as classic as deli lunches get.
The bar also makes this a solid choice for groups with different appetites. Someone can load up on sides while someone else focuses on the main event.
One item from that bar earned more mentions than anything else on the menu. It deserves a section all to itself.
Potato Salad Worth Planning Around
Pastrami may be in the headline, but potato salad is the quiet superstar. It is the single most talked-about item at this deli by a wide margin.
The style leans creamy rather than chunky. Fans who dislike big hunks of potato coated in mayo say this version hits the mark.
Regulars have called it out of this world and one of the best potato salads anywhere. That is serious praise for a side dish.
It pairs naturally with the pastrami sandwiches. Many guests choose it as their main side and then return to the bar for more.
Coleslaw and pickles share the spotlight on many trays. Together, they create the full deli plate that people picture when they think of a New York lunch counter.
A side that inspires return trips is rare. Here, plenty of people admit the potato salad is part of why they keep coming back.
So when the sandwich arrives, save room. The supporting cast might steal the show.
Soups, Popovers, and the Bakery Case
Sandwiches grab attention, yet the soup pot has its own loyal following. Matzo ball soup and borscht carry the classic deli torch.
Tomato basil soup gets particularly strong praise. Fans describe it as chunky and hearty, and some call it the best they have had anywhere.
White chicken chili and chicken wild rice soup also appear in the rotation. The owner has called the chicken wild rice one of the most popular soups among customers.
Then come the popovers. They work as a side option, or you can buy them separately, and they inspire genuine devotion.
The bakery adds another layer. Cookies sit in the case looking tempting enough that even people who skip them notice.
Salads like the Thai crunch salad give the menu range beyond meat and bread. That variety means coworkers with different tastes can all find something.
A soup and popover lunch is a smart move on a frigid January day. The skyway keeps you warm on the way, and the bowl handles the rest.
Inside the Dining Room
Space is a premium in a skyway storefront. The dining room has plenty of seats, but tables sit close together, so expect a bit of a shuffle at peak times.
That snug layout gives the room a bustling lunch counter energy. It is a place for a quick, satisfying meal more than a long, lingering one.
Ordering can feel a little clumsy when the crowd builds. Some guests have suggested number tags to help manage the line, and the owner has asked for ideas.
Mistakes occasionally slip through on orders. The team has responded by promising to double check and make things right.
On the bright side, waits are usually short. Many regulars praise how fast the food comes out and note that there is never a long line.
It also suits solo diners nicely. Grab a tray, load up at the side bar, and be back at the desk with time to spare.
Takeout is popular too. A generous container of sides travels well for anyone who would rather eat at their desk.
Who Lunches Here
Downtown office workers make up the heart of the lunch crowd. For them, the deli offers what fans call real food, a welcome break from endless skyway grain bowls.
Travelers find their way in as well. Hotel guests nearby use the sky bridges, and vacationers have left planning to tell friends about it.
East Coast transplants are a natural fit. The deli is often described as the closest thing to a New York deli in Minneapolis.
Big appetites will feel right at home. Between the double pastrami and the side bar, nobody needs to leave hungry.
Budget watchers benefit too. Food here is widely described as reasonably priced, especially with sides included.
Anyone looking for a quiet weekend brunch will need another plan. This is strictly a weekday operation built around the work crowd.
Locals who care about independent businesses have one more reason to stop in. Choosing a longtime family-style deli over a chain keeps a downtown classic going.
Timing Your Visit Right
Short hours are the one catch. The deli runs Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Fridays are even shorter, from 10:30 am to 1 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are closed.
Fans admit the schedule takes some planning. One longtime regular said it is worth shifting your day around to make it in.
Arriving a little early in the lunch hour helps you avoid the biggest crowds. It also gives you first crack at a fully stocked side bar.
Early birds can stop by when doors open at 7:30 am on most weekdays. That makes it a handy option for anyone heading into the office early.
Getting there is simple if you know the skyway. Head to 50 South 6th Street and follow signs to the second level.
The deli also has a website for current details. Checking before a visit is wise, since a closed sign at 1:35 pm would be a sad sight.
Worth the Skyway Detour
Few downtown lunch spots pack this much tradition into a second-floor storefront. The Brothers Deli delivers a New York-flavored lunch without the plane ticket.
It is not flawless. The room is snug, ordering gets busy, and the hours are tight.
Yet the strengths are hard to ignore. Big sandwiches, a generous side bar, beloved potato salad, and a long-serving staff keep regulars loyal.
First-timers have an easy game plan. Order the pastrami, say NY Style, and pile on the sides.
Soup lovers should keep the tomato basil and matzo ball in mind. Popover fans will want to grab one too.
Classic delis are scarce in downtown Minneapolis. That scarcity makes this one feel even more worth protecting.
So next time the skyway lunch routine feels stale, take the detour. Double the pastrami, double the fun, and you may find yourself back by Thursday.
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