Kosher Steakhouse-Deli Now Open in Foggy Bottom

Just in time for the Jewish High Holidays, the owners of now-closed Eli’s Kosher Deli quietly opened Char Bar & Eli’s Market in Foggy Bottom last week. The new (and, well, only) certified-kosher, full-service restaurant inside the District serves everything from pastrami sandwiches to pulled brisket tacos.

Char Bar is “a little bit more upscale” than Eli’s, according to co-owner Sina Soumekhian. It has a more spacious and modern feel to the interior, including an open kitchen.

Though the owners kept their most popular deli items, like the “New York” corned beef and pastrami sandwich and the “Western” burger with pastrami, sautéed mushrooms, and caramelized onions, the new restaurant is “less deli, more of a steakhouse,” Soumekhian says. This means items like prime ribeye and mashed potatoes. Other dishes range from steak fajitas to beef barbecue ribs to a whitefish ceviche with avocado and tortilla chips. (See the full menu below.)

While you can find a number of certified-kosher restaurants in the suburbs, D.C. is seriously lacking. Soupergirl, which has shops at 1829 M St. NW and in Takoma, serves all kosher (and vegan) soups. And Max’s Kosher Grill at Nationals Park sells kosher hot dogs, shawarma, knishes, and more. Are we missing anything? Feel free to leave other kosher options in the comments.