This is one of those places that has too many amazing sounding options. But damn that was a good crab cake sandwich. The options at Wagshal's are a little pricey but totally worth it. That's really all I have to say about that. read more

My husband called in a sandwich order yesterday the. Popped in to pick up. We both had the East Coast without sprouts on sourdough. So. Disappointing. The turkey so so dry, it was crunchy. I've never in my lifetime of eating turkey sandwiches experienced that. Completely disgusting. Ended up taking off all the turkey and eating what was left, which wasn't much - a sad little slice of cheese, an overwhelming amount of avocado spread (completely off balance with the rest of the sandwich when it was still constructed), some very sad tomato slices. I'll probably give Wagshal's another chance since we love so close, but will steering clear of the turkey! read more

Yes it is a little pricey, but so are the neighboring options (Chicken Out & AU Law Cafeteria). I usually bring my lunch to school, but if I do go out, I usually head over to Wagshals. My favorite is the West Coast, which is a great vegetarian sandwich with avocado, sprouts, tomato, and swiss. If I am feeling like meat, I'll either order it with bacon or make it an East Coast (not on the menu, but when you say it they know to add Turkey). Usually with the turkey, I'm full after half a sandwich and I can save the rest for later. Be sure to show them your ID for a discount, and you can save a bunch by buying chips and/or drinks at CVS or back at the law school. read more

I used to love this place. Now, it's just like looking at an old girlfriend, "what did I ever see in Wagshals?" I had the phone number to the Deli in my phone. The servers recognized me when I walked in. I ate there several times a week. It's been a bad breakup. When I went to school next door, there were really only three real options: Wags, the Cafeteria, and Chicken Out. Spring Valley is like the deserted island of DC neighborhoods. But that's their own fault. The people who live in Spring Valley are so desperate to maintain their insular little community, they will do whatever it takes to make it inhospitable for new businesses or development. Who wouldn't want to keep their overpriced, chemical-weapons testing ground all to themselves? Anyway, because of the paucity of food options, Wagshals became my go-to. They have a bunch of Politicians' autographed photos on the walls, and sometimes you could spot Tim Russert (R.I.P) in here on Sundays after Meet the Press. They have all the Deli standards like Doc Brown's sodas, delicious soup options, and a wide variety of original sandwiches. It's just that the sandwiches aren't that good. They never were. But when you need a break from the library, a warmed-up Meatball sub on toasted French Bread seems like an amazing distraction. Now, you notice that the bread is too soggy, the meat doesn't have much flavor, and now that you're actually paying off your loans, the price is way too high. Goodbye Wagshals, it was fun while it lasted, but I've moved on. read more

New restaurant but some v old school ideas. Ordered poached eggs and bacon - came out luke warm/cold. Sent it back. Round two: same thing - cold eggs, luke warm bacon (which miraculously materialised three minutes later). The eggs and bacon were clearly pre-made and just barely warned through. The hapless waiter was left shrugging and telling us he'd "speak to the chef". We were still charged for the lukewarm "cooked" food and told that the "chef" (let's use this term very very loosely - "man with a microwave" might be more apt) had just grunted and told the waiter where to go.... Great start to your expanding empire Wagshalls This should be the easiest thing to get right. Maybe try a new "chef" read more

This is my go to place for Lunch these days and let me tell you I wish I had a car so I could go to Balducci's don't get me wrong they are not that bad. The have a good sandwich menu and a decent hot bar, but they have the same menu week in week out on the hot bar and I need a bit more variety in my diet. I also think they are a bit on the expensive side for what you get. Heck for breakfast a small and I mean small croissant cost me $2.95 and a large which I would consider regular size (same as Starbucks) is $3.95 and that just seems expensive to me. The salad bar down at the other location is good I would say and they do have burgers but I have not tired them yet as I am usually running in and out quickly so I can get back to the office. I will say I have yet to try the sandwiches but that is on my list this week as all in the office say that is the best thing they do but have said they are pricey we shall see. Overall I would give them 3 solid stars for what they do and how long they have been around - 80 plus years and still going strong Good Job Wagshall's read more

During a recent visit to my hometown (DC) i stopped off at a mini-mall deli institution in Northwest DC so I could indulge in a little culinary nostalgia... i guess they aren't kidding when they say "you can never go home again..." simply put, i found the sandwiches here to have about half (1/2) the meat that they once did (and my brother who still lives in DC and goes here regularly backed me up on this). too bad, really, because they do make a decent (not great, but decent) sandwich, but at these prices i would expect the portion sizes to be a little more generous. Maybe it is the sign of the bad economy (a management cost-cutting strategy), but they really skimped on the roast beef on my sandwich. bummer. What was historically a place that would have garnered an easy 4 stars has slipped to 2 stars based on this most recent visit. Wagshal's? WHERE'S THE BEEF?! read more

I have been a customer of Wagshal's for many years.....well aware that the ownership changed a few years back but the last two times I had eaten in the new addition out back...I was happy with the food quality....if not the selection for a deli type restaurant.....today I was having lunch with a friend and I suggested Wagshal's for the convenience..parking...and as I thought it would be good.....I did suspect something was wrong when I walked back at a little past 12 on a Friday afternoon and there were only 2 other tables being used.....the menu is limited.....I decided to play it safe and ordered the salad plate...bad choice.....both the chicken and tuna were dry...bland....the bread and butter advertised on the side was 4 little slices without butter....the fruit bowl small and uneventful....the iced tea.was horrible...I asked if it were machine made..was told it was fresh brewed each morning...this tasted as if it were brewed last Wed.... sad,,thought they had a nice little deli thing going there....obviously market is there...look at the crowding of the restaurants accross the street...will not return read more

I agree on a lot of the good points others have mentioned, and some of the bad. The smoked brisket sandwich is terrific, as is the house-made pastrami. The bacon topped doughnuts are also pretty damn good. Prices may be a little higher than you expect, but nothing too shocking - hell, this ain't Subway. Oh, and they also sell Cheerwine by the bottle :) Also worth noting is that they have a small, but very high quality liquor selection. Wray and Nephew overproof rum, Creole Shrub, Luxardo Amareto, and a number of smaller batch bourbons are some of the stand-outs you might have a hard time finding in other liquor stores in the District. Prices aren't really a value, but other than Ace Beverage on New Hampshire, just try finding Wray and Nephew or Creole Shrub anywhere else in DC. All that being said, the ordering system here is a mess, your wait time for a sandwich can be surprisingly long, and the queuing up of customers in the small space can make for an awkward and uncomfortable experience. There is also more than a little truth behind the complaints of staff rudeness, however, since I'm just there to order a sandwich, it's not as terribly a big deal to me as it may be to others. read more

In my opinion, Wagshal's Delicatessen is good for one thing, and one thing only: great breakfast. It's cheap, delicious (albeit greasy) and is a lot faster to obtain than the sandwiches later on in the day. I particularly like the Bagel Egg, Turkey Sausage, and Cheese sandwiches, although their hot breakfast bar is pretty good as well. As for the rest of it, well that's why I only give it three stars. I've never really been satisfied with a sandwich at Wags, and even when I found something that tasted okay, the fact that it cost me 8 bucks just made it bitter in my mouth. I prefer the market for lunch items, as their turkey burger is amazing. One last thing: the delicatessen and the market have amazing homemade twinkies, which are worth checking out. read more

I work near by on occasion so I've been coming here for lunch. Large selection of hot and cold sandwiches. I've tried the Reuben (yummy), turkey with stuffing (okay), steak and cheese (huge and messy). My most recent discovery is that you can get their pot pie or shepherd's pie as well. The pot pie was really delicious although I wish it had more crust. But it was the perfect comfort food for a brisk fall lunch. read more

Wagshal's - Chicken pot pie - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

On the short list of best sandwiches I have had in my life: Langer's #19 Wagshal's Prime Smoked Brisket Chap's Pit Beef Attman's Corned Beef I have been coming to Wagshal's for a number of years -- but never had their Brisket sandwich. Today I ordered it and may not be able to ever order anything else at Wagshal's. Granted, their sandwich menu has some very good sandwiches -- and they also have some meh selections -- but I don't think anything comes close to their Prime Smoked Brisket. read more

I come from the NJ/NY area where delis are plentiful and everyone considers themselves a deli snob. I'm no different---I love my delis. I wouldn't call this deli cheap---$40 didn't get me very far here, but that might be because I wanted to try a bunch of delicacies that I normally have to hand carry back from NJ! I know some have complained about the service, but today I had a good experience. Despite being busy, the staff were friendly and very helpful. I started with a sandwich--the #25 is just like a NY style sloppy joe without the cheese. Don't worry, I added back the swiss. It was great! A taste of home, minus the 4 hour drive. The roast beef was tender, complimented by the Russian dressing and creamy cole slaw--and of course my swiss cheese. Then I picked out a few desserts and random deli spreads: Creamed Herring---Wagshal's is amazing. I always loved this stuff and it's getting harder and harder to find. It's not too sweet or sour and not overly creamy. I'll be back just to buy more of this. 5.99/lb Whitefish Salad/Spread 11 or 13.99/lb. This wasn't my favorite take on it--at home it's slight sweet. Here, I found there was something wrong with the texture. the fish wasn't' flaky--it almost seemed grainy--I don't know what it was, but my mouth did a second take. The spread also had too much mayo. Beef Tongue--I know, most of you won't want to hear about this, but I think if you can get over what it is, you'll find the texture to be creamy and very pleasing. It almost melts in your mouth. Wagshal's, however, is not the greatest place to try it--wait till you go to NY. Here, it's ridiculously salty and expensive at 24.99/lb. For that price, I'd rather buy some smoked sturgeon at home. Cannoli--horrible. Definitely had been sitting longer than a day---the crust was soggy and filling was hard. I'm kinda sad that I started with the cannoli because I'm a little afraid of the fruit tart and red velvet cupcake sitting in my fridge. I'm not expecting much, but I'll update if anything is outstanding. read more

I work at AU, and I went at lunch once for a sandwich. I asked for brisket on sourdough with Russian dressing and havar--"You're killing the sandwich," the woman taking my order said, cutting me off. What? Lady, I know what I like on my brisket sandwich. Maybe you like it a different way. But no one's asking you to eat my sandwich. When my number got called, they gave me the wrong sandwich. (Mistake? Not so sure.) When I finally got the right sandwich, the brisket was so fatty, and in a stringy, greasy way. I'd honestly rather have dry brisket than be battling gristle. I've bought other things here, like wine, and while it's overpriced, there's really nowhere else to go if you live nearby and don't want to drive. read more

It's good. Not great. Solid choice for lunch Food seemed fresh but also didn't seem very inspiring Deli meats are top quality Breads are supposedly baked fresh. Half out order the bread was fresh the other half not so much. The bakery items were definitely a step up from sandwich choices Now the service is by far the RUDEST I have seen in a while. While there the staff was arguing about their break times while I stood in line with other customers. Then continued argument in the middle of order. I am the type of person that can befriend just about anyone but everyone here seems angry and disconnected and like they could not give a sh*t about customers I asked a simple question about where to find something and the staff member mumbled and did not even look up with some answer. This place may have had a better past but they have definitely has past the expiration date. I definitely will not be back read more

I went for the brisket ... and left impressed by the spare rib slider special (with bacon marmalade). Slow. Pricey. Slow. Did I say slow? Was the brisket the best in town? Nothing else jumps out as better ... but it was a small sammich and it didn't blow me away. Great diet ginger beer however! read more

Ordered the Wagshal's burger last night. Not good. Beef tasted like additive had been blended in with the meat. Served with some kind of sweet sauce that just doesn't work with a burger. Only choice for cheese was boring,tasteless American cheese. A McDonald's cheeseburger tastes better. Served with over-salted, limp, soggy French fries. Won't go back. read more

Yuck! The "east cost"... advertised as turkey, provolone cheese, tomato, mayo, and bean sprouts. I knew it would need something to give it flavor so I added mustard. However, they countered by adding guacamole (a traditionally east coast staple...) to the mix. This is the most bland sandwich I've ever tasted. I would return it but it's not worth the hassle. This sandwich has literally no taste. So unappetizing! Sorry Wagshal's, better step up your game. read more

Wagshal's - The east coast - avoid! Gross! - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Not good. Not good. Very dissatisfied. Never again. Sanwhiches are below average but cost more than Wiseys or other amazing sandwich shops nearby. It's not worth your time or your money. read more

After many months of having Wagshals on my bookmark list I headed over for lunch on Sunday. Nice new restaurant in back of market and deli. I was throughly disappointed with not being able to order a simple Pastrami on Rye sandwich because it wasn't on the Brunch menu yet being served at the deli counter. We asked if we could go to the deli and then bring it into the new restaurant and we were told no. Wow, policing food within you're own establishment. This restaurant has been written up as having one of the best Pastrami Sandwiches in DC and not having on the Restaurant Menu is incomprehensible. I welcome an explanation to the rational. read more

I really like this place. Lover getting salads here but then.... roaches. I just cant.

the truth of the matter is..if this place were any bigger, it'd lose its charm. upon entering, you can bask in gourmet goodness glory:: handcrafted pastries, fresh loaves of bread, fine wine and spirits, and awesome daily-made hot food bar items. the deli alone is the mitochondria of the establishment, if you will. (oh yes i did just make a biology reference in a review, what now!) always busy, always a lengthy wait for your order, but always, always, always worth it.* my standard is their lox and bagel. unbelievable. they have many bagel options and you can customize it the way you want it. the veggies behind the counter are so fresh and crisp (particularly those capers..MMM!) i've had other sandwiches as well and they didn't disappoint, either. it's a little on the pricier side, but everything is clearly made with love. however, i will say that one night a couple of years ago, i was charged $8 for a large bag of kettle chips. $8?!?! i shake my fist at the lack of price signage around here! i will end my review with a freshly discovered little secret. if you're looking to make your own dangerously delicious baltimore bomb, they sell berger cookies here!! and i asked. they're $5.95 per box. you're welcome. --- *always be closing. read more

See all

This place has been on my list of to-visit places since I moved here, so I was really excited to finally have the time to make the trek. First of all, this place is quite barely on the map if you don't have a car. You can Uber or Lyft, of course, but the only real public transit option is the N4 and N2 buses that come every 20 minutes or so. There's not a whole lot else around it, aside from AU and a Crate and Barrel shop. Once we made our way inside, we found ourselves in a bustling, confusing tight space (with very non-fussy design, given the high prices). There wasn't an obvious place to stand in line to order a sandwich (and view their massive list of options), pay, or pickup, with just a mass of people loitering around (and some pushing past you for the sitdown restaurant in the back or the hot food options). We finally figured out the system and grabbed drinks (they're in the far back). I'd encourage you just to look at the menu online before you get there if you want to have enough time to read it thoroughly -- people here were quite impatient to get back to their cars and drive home with their sandwiches. I'd also encourage you to go on a day with nice weather if you're not driving. There's a nice patio space (right by the parking lot), but no where indoors to comfortably consume your meal. I'd not suggest the sit-down restaurant itself since the menu is different from the deli (pizza and calzones, and just a handful of the sandwich options) and it was pretty quiet at 1pm (seems not a good sign, given the rest of the place was popping). Now for the food itself: it's good, but I wouldn't call it outstanding. I had the meat-filled panini, which could certainly have used a little more spice and cheese. All in all: for the authentic, family feeling of the place, I was hoping for bigger portions, more heart and soul, and fewer bugs (two giant flying ones were on the checkout counter, which didn't exactly inspire confidence in my meal). I might be back, but given the location, it will definitely be with someone who has a car. read more

Deli closest to AU law school. They give all AU students $1 discounts. That is cool. Their sandwiches are great, but expensive, even with the discount. I would opt for the hot reubens. I read that all their meats, breads, and pastries are fresh. That is their self-proclaimed modus operandi. I would tend to agree. Be aware of long lines at lunchtime, no seating, and an often unfriendly staff. I think they price gouge because of the law school or the fancy surrounding neighborhood. http://www.wagshals.com/Delicatessen/SandwichMenu.htm read more

I agree with the other reviews that have said their sandwiches taste bland. The sandwiches look good and sound like they would be good, but then when you actually dig in you realize it's mostly bread, bland, dry meat, and tasteless vegetables every time. They're also pretty expensive. Never had a bad experience with the service, but it also doesn't stand out as being particularly friendly or helpful either. The side grocery shop has good quality meat and seafood, and also some unique specialty items. This would be a good place to go if you were having a dinner party and wanted to make something really wild to wow your guests - they have crazy things like ground camel (yes, camel), alligator, and buffalo steaks. Props to being in a really beautiful part of town. If you can handle the boring sandwiches, they do have a nice patio. I do stop by every now and then to just enjoy being outside. read more

I like stopping here on my way back to my office after being downtown. The 175 (Corned beef, slaw & thousand island dressing) on a kaiser roll is my favorite. They pile the corn beef on. It's delish! Had the egg salad the other day and that was very good also. Their chocolate lace cookies are to die for. I had to have more than one LOL read more

I just spent 25 minutes waiting for a cold turkey sandwich. Standing up, as this is a DELI, not a restaurant. My total, $10.21 for a sandwich, small soda bottle, and small bag of chips. That was also after my $1 student discount. I pay that much for hot sandwiches at sit-down restaurants with hot french fries actually prepared by people, and when my soda comes with free refills. I come here out of desperation because I go to school next door and there are very few options in the area. Once I graduate in May, I will never return here, unless they slash their prices and hire more people to work behind the counter on busy Sundays. read more

Hands down, Wagshals is the best deli in DC. You do pay for shopping at the best, but it is the best none the less. When I lived in the neighborhood, I used to go to Wagshals almost every morning for breakfast. I worked from home, so I could sit outside and enjoy a chocolate croissant and a diet coke. I'd sometimes come by for lunch as well. Not once was I disappointed. During lunch and breakfast rushes it can admittedly be crowded. But come on, what good places aren't. If you can come a little early, or a little late then you can have a very relaxed place sitting at the tables outside enjoying the nicest neighborhood in DC. read more

This review is for the deli, not the butcher shop (which is 5 stars in my opinion). The service here is surly. I understand they are busy, but they don't have to be so nasty about it. The cashier was especially not courteous. The meat in the meatball sandwich was excellent quality. The sauce and cheese were cold which was underwhelming. The bread could be better too. read more

The meatball sub is my favorite sandwich here, but the wait is always FOREVER. Even if you call or order ahead, you might still end up waiting 20-30 minutes in the store. Also, the line to pick up and the line to purchase are separate and it's a confusing system. Other than the restaurant logistics though, the food is decent and reliable. The Berger cookies are great and it's the best easy spot for lunch in the area. read more

Deli's simply don't get any better than this. I'd eat here everyday if I could. Top quality ingredients, simply delicious sandwiches. I tend to get the Mikey's Special or the Parisian. The Prime Smoked Brisket sandwich is excellent if you're really in the mood for meat. They have a hot food bar which I hear is excellent. I've only gotten it once though as it's hard not to order one of their sandwiches. Excellent liquor, beer and wine selection. Lots of gourmet cheeses. You just might bump into any number of prominent politicians while you're in here as well. The walls are littered with photos of presidents, senators, and supreme court justices who have frequented the place in the past. I have to say though, sometimes Wagshal's is just a little silly in their pricing. For Easter they had these excellent looking sugar cookies for sale, so I thought I'd buy one with my lunch. The cashier rang it up: $6. Same price as my sandwich. lol, what. I told him nevermind, and he agreed with me saying that he didn't know what the manager was thinking. read more

Wagshal's ranks # 4 on my personal list of Top Delis in the area. #1 Attman's #2 Parklawn #3 Jack's #4 Wagshal's Highlight for me was the Gifford's ice cream. Nice touch. Only reason they did not rate 5 stars is the rude cashier. read more

I frankly don't understand all the high reviews of this place. The only good thing about this place is that most of their sandwiches taste great. There is the occasional dud (chicken salad sandwich, I'm looking at you) but wow is most of what they serve (sandwich-wise) yummy. Their hot food bar and soups are a different question. Very mediocre food and often only lukewarm. Their cookies and baked goods are hit or miss, and too much so for me to recommend them. They do have a unique and high quality selection of liquor and chips and other snacks. In general, I find this place to be overpriced for what you get, too cramped and crowded to endure, and with at best mediocre staff. There are a few tables outside for all the good that will do you in the freezing cold that encompasses 6 months of the year here. It is the only deli in the immediate area which I think it pretty much the only reason it stays in business. I'd much rather go elsewhere when I can. read more

Besides the great sandwiches and very broad beer, wine and specialties selection for a little place that is mainly a deli, I think the hidden gem at Wagshals is the service. I come here a lot - probably too much - and I can't think if I've ever left without having a conversation with at least one person on staff. They're friendly and generally very happy... It's clear that they take pride in what they do. This, to me, is what makes Wagshal's superior to a very good deli/specialty store like Balducci's I will not argue with the claims that it's expensive, but I don't think it's to the point where it detracts from the overall greatness that is Wagshal's. I have yet to find a better deli in the area... read more

This place was expensive, crowded during lunch with minimal room to move around, and not worth the price. (Disclaimer: I'm new to DC prices.) The lack of space confused people and made it difficult to figure out where the lines were. I ordered a gyro and it seemed to be barely cooked. Also, I was not fond of the cheese they put on it. My co-luncher also was disappointed with his meal. It came with mushrooms, which he hates, and they were unable to remove them while making it. Half of his sandwich went uneaten because he was tired of removing the mushrooms. It's a cute place with ok food, but in my lifetime, I've had much better for much less! Great rice-krispie treat tho! read more

This Jew here grew up on good brisket and the brisket sandwich at Wagshal's is incredible!!!! I love this place and wish I could eat that sandwich everyday for every meal for the rest of my life. It's amazing! A little fatty, but tastes so good that I try to ignore that ;) I moved and still will drive 30 minutes for the sandwiches when I am in the mood. My ONLY complaint would be the wait. It gets slammed with AU students sometimes causing the wait to be ridiculous, but I still think it's worth the wait. I know some people say its a little pricey, but most hole-in-the wall delis are. A sandwich runs you about $8 and add a drink and you are looking at $10-$12 for lunch, but you will leave with a full belly and be happy read more

Excellent food everytime we go. From eating there to picking up and taking home. only ever had an issue once with the curry chicken salad from the deli case going bad in one day.... next time we returned and told them we were leary about getting anymore because of that issue, they gave us a free half pound and apologized. So nice since they have expanded. Huge now, with so many options..... Back alley bbq is also worth a try as well, a bit on the expensive side but the carolina pork bbq sandwich is to die for. read more

Wagshal's - Uber double was amazing. - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I stopped here in August 2012 with a friend since he recommended the place. We were not disappointed with the delicious sandwiches we got, and the prices were reasonable overall. The wait at the register was a bit long, but it was lunchtime so we expected that. There were no places to eat inside that I could see, but there were a few tables and chairs outside. Would I eat here again if I was in the area? Yes, I would. read more

I used to go here often, and it was really good and the guys making the sandwiches were incredibly friendly. However, I hadn't been back until recently and the service has been very poor, they have closed up shop early, and the amount of stuff in the sandwiches seems to have been cut back. You can find a better place to get a quick bite. read more

This place is amazing and a local hotspot. Many congressmen and political figures come here for food. The sandwich was extremely filling and very tasty. It was fairly priced and I was impressed with how fresh the sandwich was they truly have an option for everyone. The staff is extremely nice and makes sure everything is how you like it. They also have amazing fresh lemonade, probably the best I've had. So make sure to try it. If you like a little spice get the #53 with extra hot peppers. Enjoy! read more