Owner, Eileen Reinish. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- The show must go on! After 20 years in the same location, Eileen Reinish takes over operations of the New York Marina Deli, carrying on her husband's high standards of quality and tradition in maintaining this iconic, Ft. Lauderdale  neighborhood  restaurant.

You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of the girl. So the saying goes, and Eileen Reinish, owner of the New York Marina Deli (still located in the Southport Shopping Plaza at 1453 S.E. 17th Street in Ft. Lauderdale) seems grateful for her New York roots.
"We're a traditional New York style Deli," says Reinish, carrying on the family business since her husband, Harry, passed away in July of last year.

Both from Brooklyn, Eileen (who grew up in the Brownsville area) and her husband, Harry, (who grew up in the Brighton Beach area, took over ownership of the Marina Deli 11 years ago in 2002.
"It was started by someone named Kevin in 1978,"reminised Reinish. "It's always been in the same location. The second owner, Jerry, bought the deli in 1992.

"Harry worked as a Cook for Jerry, when we first moved down here," related Reinish.
"This was really Harry's baby," stated Reinish, referring to her late husband's passion for his Deli business. "Harry just loved the customers and they loved him. He did the Harryoke on the 'Paul and Young Dan' Radio show on 102.9".

Eileen explained to me that Paul and Dan were customers of the Deli, when they met Harry and invited him to become part of their program. "Harry would read off songs over the air and the audience would have to guess song titles. He was 81 then."

Deli Manager, Janie Langley, from Hollywood, FL, directed me to a photograph collection hung on the restaurant's wall. "People come back and point to these photos of themselves as kids when they first ate here growing up. Now they bring back their families."

Janie also directed me to another wall of photographs - the celebrity wall – as it is known, which featured a photograph of Stephen Tyler as well as some of the Miami Dolphins.
"We get everybody in here, but we treat everyone the same," said Reinish, adding "like family".
Known for their overstuffed pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, Eileen continues in her late husband's footsteps, preparing homemade briskets, roast beef, knishes, a variety of soups – including homemade matzo ball and chicken noodle soup – as well as the old neighborhood Brooklyn staple salad favorites: whitefish salad, chopped chicken liver as well as homemade tuna, egg and chicken salad.

"The main thing is that almost every item on the menu is made here fresh and from scratch. We try to cater to our customer's requests and always deliver quality," she states.

The New York Marina Deli is open from 7am – 3pm, Mon- Sat, and 7am – 2pm on Sunday, still delivering fresh breakfasts and lunches 7 days a week. For more information regarding their daily specials, you can call them at: (954) 524-3354 or visit them in the Southport Shopping Plaza located at 1453 S.E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316.