Northern Virginians have suffered long enough without a viable deli option in the area. This void becomes even more apparent in September when the Jewish High Holidays roll around and there is no where to celebrate Rosh Hashanah or break the fast of Yom Kippur.
This year, things are different. There’s a new kid on the block! DC’s DGS Delicatessen has just opened its Mosaic District outpost and we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
DGS is a new breed of Jewish deli. They don’t believe in just making a sandwich bigger, but put their energy into the craft of house-curing all their meats. Everything (except breads) is made in-house, including pickles, smoked fish, pastrami and their famously fluffy duck fat matzo balls.
Owners and cousins, Nick and David Wiseman, also searched high and low to source a unique bagel that would showcase and compliment their smoked fish selection. This led them to Montreal-based St. Viateur Bagels. Each St. Viateur bagel is hand-rolled, boiled in honey water (as opposed to malt water), and cooked in a wood-fired oven. What comes out of this process is a chewy, slightly sweet bagel that is totally different than other bagels being made today.
This year, instead of rehashing old standards for the holidays (read: brisket), DGS is pushing the limits of tradition by offering a gorgeous piece of halibut and a mouthwatering beef tenderloin with a truffle vinaigrette. It’s deli food with a fine-dining twist.
ROSH HASHANAH MENU
September 13 & 14
5pm – close (Reservations are strongly encouraged.)
$45 per person + $20 for wine pairings
Creamy Potato Soup
Trout roe, honey crisp apple, dill
Villa Sante, Prosecco Rose NVPan Roasted Halibut
Rye spaetzle, carrots, hazelnut gremolata
Marc Aurel, Gruner Vetliner Austria 2013Roseda Beef Tenderloin
Creamy potatoes, spinach, black truffle vinaigrette
Contraste, Tauriga Nacional, Portugal 2008Apple Crumble
Heinz’s oats, walnuts, vanilla ice cream
Bodegas hidalgo, Pedro Ximenez, “Trianna”
DGS’s fish platters also look a little different. Instead of the “go big or go home” mentality, you are encouraged to slow down and savor every bite. Each fish offering is lovingly presented and the portion size leaves room for sampling other things on the menu (like their amazing apple filled donuts!).
YOM KIPPUR BREAK THE FAST
September 23
5pm – closeThe Grand Plate, $20
Selection of house cured and smoked fish (smoked salmon, peppered trout, kippered salmon belly, whitefish salad, salmon roe) traditional garnish, bagelThe Superior Plate, $27
Premium selection of house cured and smoked fish (smoked salmon, peppered trout, kippered salmon belly, whitefish salad, smoked sablefish, salmon roe and trout roe), traditional garnish, bagelCarafes of Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Peach Bellinis, $12
If you can’t make it into DGS for the holidays, they also offer catering and delivery. The year-round catering menu has old favorites, like matzo ball soup, chopped liver and latkes.
DGS Delicatessen
2985 District Avenue Suite 115
Fairfax, VA 22031
Behind Angelika Movie Theatre
(703) 280-1111
Reserve online.
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