When you think of corned beef and cabbage for dinner, you usually think you’ll find a nice Irish pub to fill your cravings.
But I’m here to tell you not to miss a delicious dinner of corned beef and cabbage from Shapiro’s Delicatessen and fixed in the kosher way.
I recently visited the Carmel Shapiro’s and the corned beef and cabbage dinner there warmed the cockles of this Irishman’s heart.
For $13.95, the plate had about a half pound of corned beef, sliced nice and thin and without much fat, and a good quarter of a boiled cabbage plus two slices of rye bread and a dill pickle wedge. Then you could pick another side dish. I selected macaroni and cheese, which from Shapiro’s is an ultimate comfort food.
My dining partner selected the same meal except she wanted a potato cake with applesauce instead of mac and cheese.
Shapiro’s has been a long-time dining spot in the Indianapolis area. There’s one downtown at 808 S. Meridian St. and one in Carmel at 918 S. Rangeline Road. They both serve pretty much the same menu items, and the food is outstanding.
It can be kind of pricey if you take the ala carte route. But by buying a dinner you’ll get an entrée and two sides.
Entrees such as short ribs, stuffed cabbage, stuffed pepper, baked chicken and meatloaf are available with some specialty dinners featured on certain days of the week.
And of course since it’s a deli, there are many sandwiches available – such as a reuben, corned beef, peppered beef, roast beef, pastrami, turkey, chicken or tuna salad, salami, smoked salmon and chopped liver. The meat is piled so high, you can hardly get the sandwich in your mouth. In most cases you can order a half sandwich, which is big enough for a meal. I’ve seen diners get a whole sandwich and then take half home for another meal!
In fact that’s what I did with my corned beef and cabbage feast. I ate half and took the rest home for the next night’s meal – and it was just as delicious the second time around.
Other hot side dishes that are outstanding are German potato salad, green beans and baked beans. Cold sides include potato salad, slaw, broccoli salad, bean salad, deviled eggs, fruit salad and tossed salad.
My particular favorite for a cold side is the potato salad. I could make a meal out of it. That’s because Shapiro’s makes their potato salad just like my mother did. My mother was not known for her culinary talents – that is, she wasn’t a very good cook. But she made the most delicious potato salad I’d ever eaten until I tasted Shapiro’s. They must have used the same recipe.
Like soup? You can try the daily soups of vegetable, chicken noodle, matzo ball or cabbage borscht. There’s also a specialty soup like bean on Monday; lentil on Tuesday; and bean and barley on Wednesday.
Now if you’re into desserts, Shapiro’s has pies, cakes and cheesecakes to die for. They will not disappoint your taste buds.
The deli features a large carry-out and bakery area too. So if you can’t squeeze in a dessert at your meal, just stop by the bakery and get one to take home to enjoy later.
The menu is posted above the cafeteria line and it is quite extensive. It takes a couple of visits to get the ordering routine down. But don’t be afraid to ask questions; the servers are very willing to help you out.
There is also a breakfast menu. Both delis open at 6:30 a.m.
