Our story
Seventy years of the real thing.
Made in New Jersey.
We opened in Newark in 1956. The neighborhood changed, the city changed, the world changed – the pastrami didn’t. We’re still here, still making it the same way.
History
How we got here
1956
Founded in Newark, NJ
Eppes Essen opens its doors as a New York-style Jewish delicatessen in Newark, New Jersey – bringing the flavors of the city’s great delis to the Garden State.
1960
Moved to Orange, NJ
As the community grew and moved westward, so did we. The deli relocated to Orange, NJ, taking its recipes, its regulars, and its reputation along for the ride.
1970s–90s
Settling into Livingston
Eppes Essen finds its permanent home at 105 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Livingston, and becomes a fixture in the community. Zagat-rated. Generations of regulars. A deli counter that always has a line.
Today
Still here. Still the same.
Owner Josh Kanter and manager Jeff keep the traditions alive; complimentary pickles and coleslaw the moment you sit down, sandwiches the size of your head, and a room full of people who’ve been coming here for decades. Open every day, 365 days a year.
What we are
A Jewish deli, not a Jewish-style deli
There’s a difference. This is the real thing: hand-cut pastrami, made-from-scratch matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage the way your grandmother made it. We’re not certified kosher, but everything is made with the same tradition and care that the great New York delis built their reputations on.
Every meal starts with complimentary pickles – sours and half-sours – and a bowl of our coleslaw. It’s been that way since 1956, and it’s not changing.
We have a deli counter on one side for takeout, a full restaurant on the other with tables and booths, and a party room for larger gatherings. Outside seating too, when the weather cooperates.
The experience
