This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Kosher Deli & Market Caters to All

With large portions, low prices and a variety of traditional deli items, market boasts it has something for everyone.

Commack Kosher Deli and Market provides certified Kosher meals to customers throughout the North Shore and even into the Hampton Bays. 

The deli offers a case of fresh food, prepared daily according to strict Jewish law and under the supervision of Rabbi William Berman of the Commack Jewish Center.

"Everything at Commack Kosher is prepared in accordance with the laws of kashrut," Rabbi Berman said. "Kashrut (Hebrew for kosher) laws are extensive, but mainly  require that all meat and chicken are slaughtered in a certain, more humane, way, and that all meat coming into the store is first de-veined, soaked and salted."

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Another thing Rabbi Berman points out, is that in order to be certified kosher, dairy and meat must be kept completely separate at all times.

"Commack Kosher does not serve any prepared dairy meals or have any dairy products open at the deli counter," Rabbi Berman says.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Commack Kosher does, however, have a small section of pre-packaged dairy foods for sale in the store's supermarket section that is kept separate from everything else.

The Yarmeisch family chose their Mayfair location over 30 years ago, because of the concentration of Kosher families in the area, and slowly expanded to feeding all families in Commack – and beyond, including Dix Hills, Smithtown, East Northport, Kings Park, Huntington and Northport. Some East Hampton residents also place orders, the owners said. The organic meats draw additional clientele as well. 

"Our poultry is hormone-free, antibiotic free, free-roaming and grain-fed," Buddy Yarmeisch, co-owner said. "And our beef is hormone-free and grain-fed as well." 

Customers also enjoy the cole slaw and traditional deli favorites. On any given day – except Saturday when the store is closed in observance of the Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) – you'll find the deli counter brimming with customers waiting to order steeping deli sandwiches, an array of hot prepared foods, plump, juicy grilled hot dogs, chopped salads or one of many knish varieties.

"I don't eat any cole slaw but theirs!" says Jodi Sider of Kings Park, who's been coming to Commack Kosher for more than ten years. "It's a magical mix of sweet and crunchy and creamy. I don't know how they do it!"

Robin Nackman, a working mother from Dix Hills, uses the deli's takeout services to bring meals into the house that meet her family's needs. 

Rabbi Berman can often be spotted standing on line at Commack Kosher's deli counter, too. "We use Commack Kosher for catering Kiddushes (festive meals that occur on the Jewish holidays or Shabbat) and other special occasions here at the Commack Jewish Center," he said. "And personally, I'm a frequent take-out customer myself."

The business has not slowed since the recession, Yarmeisch said. Instead, he said he noticed a change in how people are spending their money and what they are using to pay – he said many pay for small ticket orders with credit cards, something that had not happened in the past. 

"What I've noticed is that people are spending less," he said. "Instead of $50 or $60 orders, they'll make $20 or $30 orders. So we haven't experienced less customers, just less spending." 

Friday is Yarmeisch's busiest day of the week as many of his customers order Shabbat dinner for their family. Some area synagogues also request multiple Shabbat dinners to be brought in for catering.

"I recently catered a Shabbat dinner at the East Northport Jewish Center for 30 relatives in town for my son's Bar Mitzvah," says Betty Cole of Commack. "The roasted chicken was delicious and the portions were very generous."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?