Welcome to the official website of the Deli Smoker- a unique deli and catering experience.

And now a unique web experience.  No food served here, though there will be pictures, and maybe some recipes…  we will probally make you hungry.   Smoked turkey, brisket, pastrami….  Ah, memories….

The Deli Smoker was located on Ventura Blvd., at the northwest corner of van Nuys Blvd.  Sherman Oaks, California.  Next to the Chevron Station (used to be full service with a garage), underneath VIP Tickets (which I think is still there).  The location is now an ATT store, though for years it was a Sci-Fi/comic book store.   It was the Deli Smoker from about 1978-1986.

Your hosts, were my parents, Bert and Belle Markovitz.  If you were a customer, you probally remember them, as one of them was usually there.  Belle opened for breakfast everyday, and Bert usually worked lunch to after dinner.    If you were an employee, or one of the comedians that performed there, you better remember!

Yes, comedy! The Deli Smoker had a groundbreaking comedy club in the back room, and many comdians and personalities played there before they were famous,  including Kevin Nealon, Tim Allen, Fritz Coleman, Rita Rudner, Allison Arngrim, Adam Carolla, Julie Brown, Bob Zany, Dan Frischman, Fred Asparagus, Charlie Hill, and many many others…

This site will serve to preserve and recapture memories of the Deli Smoker, as well as the other restaurants run by the Markovitz family:  The Eat More,  Nosh-O-Rama, Bert’s Deli, Fish and Fowl, Fisco, The Bagel Bistro;  over 30 years in the Los Angles area, mostly in the San Fernado Valley.

Contributions of stories, memories, and especially pictures and artifacts greatly appreciated. If you have any match books, menu’s, business cards etc. from any of my folks places, please send them to me for inclusion on this site.   If you ever performed or worked at the Deli Smoker,  we would love to have you contribute your recollections!

Deli Smoker Merchandise is now available: T-shirts, caps, refrigerator magnets, aprons, even playing cards!  Products bearing the Deli Smoker logos – didn’t you always want a shirt or a hat?

If you remember the Deli Smoker, or my parents, or family, then click on the link to our Take-Out menu, and buy a t-shirt or a sticker or something.  And please send in your stories and pictures!