Shelsky's Smoked Fish Reviews

Recommended by the Zagat, we had sandwiches twice in this deli and it is by far the best sandwiches Ive ever had. Salmon is crazy good (try the pastrami one!), sizes are generous and bagels are yummy. Most of all the food inside the sandwiches is so well prepared and marinated or smoked that your sandwich is unforgettable....The second time I had the lobster roll and it was so good I could cry... Well done guys !

My 3rd visit here - went last year when in NYC too. A great options to grab a bagel or sandwich and head down to the waterfront to sit and eat. You won’t need much else all day, soooo filling. I have also bought gift vouchers from here for the local NYers in our family.

All my favorite deli treats on one sandwich...I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Despite the crowds, the countermen served up our sandwiches quickly. There's not much seating so plan to take out. Also, the above address is no longer correct as Shelsky's has moved to 141 Court Street.

In an area of Brooklyn that has surprisingly few quality sandwich takeout options (the others being Bien Cuit and Cobblestone foods), this place stands out. The sandwich menu has some interesting options, like spicy smoked fish sandwiches, and items incorporating fennel and oranges. A bit pricey, but definitely worth it. The fish counter for straight fish purchases is extensive and expertly prepared, with creative salads, and lots and lots of different types of smoked fish.

If you desire the tip of the top in the world of a variety smoked fish choices then hie thee to this spot. Soul food that brings tears to the eyes if you are geographically challenged. So if you are lucky to live close by or just happen to be in town, do drop everything and head to the land of lox, sable, smoked fish, etc. And if there are no bialys left, life will still be good: proceed with a bagel, a bit of cream cheese, the fish that your heart desires and, yes, you will be a totally happy fresser.

We went here for Pastrami sandwich..$18. so, very pricey. My husband had that. It comes lean, medium or fat laden LOL. We got medium, also comes with a pickle. Had it on rye and it was a good size and very tasty. I got the lobster roll which was $15. and worth every dime. Loaded with lobster. On like a hot dog roll. We shared both items. Seating is almost non-existent, two small tables we did get them though so worked out great, otherwise is mostly a take out place. The owner or help were very friendly. Would definitely go back and recommend.

The food here is really off-the-charts amazing. Their whitefish and bluefish salads, the "salmon bacon" (!!), the lox... all of it is of the highest quality I've had anywhere. Faves: "The Gatsby" sandwich! Also: their cold-brew coffee is better than most dedicated coffee places.

A garlic bagel with salmon, herring salad and scallion cream cheese was very satisfying. The staff were helpful in letting us taste different ingredients to assist us decide.

This place was quite a discovery. Salmon pastrami is something that we have loved and it is something super original. Reasonably priced, having a salmon pastrami sandwich with some chips is a great plan on a visit to Brooklyn.

The bagels are ridiculously good, the smoked salmon "bacon", the whitefish salad.....I could go on and on. We had bagels with lox and cream cheese, the two sides, and coffee and everything was stellar. Great addition and very close to the Trader Joe's across the street.

Last time I was in New York, I decided to hunt down the best Cream-Cheese, salmon bagel. I had trawled Brooklyn and Manhattan upon advice from friends, Yelp and Tripadvisor, and been impressed with the offerings. Then I stumbled into Shelsky's. Went for the straight-up "Member of the Tribe" with scallions. The simplest, most tasty,delicious bagel to have ever passed my lips. This suprise packet has come out #1. Hands down.

I've lived in PA for 24 years and really miss the appetizing Brooklyn has to offer. I went on a Foodie Tour of Brooklyn with the Martz Bus company and I was in heaven. Hit a lot of spots that I haven't been able to go to for years. One thing I really missed was smoked fish (Sturgeon, Sable ,Lox). Everything from this place was fresh and excellent. The woman behind the counter sliced everything very nicely and packaged everything beautifully. The whitefish salad was very good as well. Need one of these places in the Poconos.

Their whitefish salad sandwich was the best I've ever had, It had a little spice to it, due to the pepper and listed hazel nuts as an ingredient, which gave me pause, but it was love at first bite. It's not cheap, but it is excellent. I've only been to their Court St location, which is geared toward carryout, but there is a very small eat in space. And the staff was friendly, which can be unusual for NYC.

Used to be if you wanted herring in all forms, pickled lox and other such items you needed to travel to the lower east side and brave the lack of parking and long lines. Not anymore. This place does pickled lox like no other. And other like items, herring, smoked fish, latkes, etc, equally good.

Last review, I read said this was one of the best delis in New York. If not the country. I thought it was overrated. The bagels were a little stale, the cream cheese on the bagel a little skimpy however, lots of lox on my member of the tribe sandwich.

The best smoked salmon in Brooklyn and probably beyond. Choices range from Nova Scotia to Irish to Scottish and beyond. Peter S. clearly has an eye for smoked fish, not to mention a variety of herring. If there are fresh babka muffins, buy them.

We were staying with our daughter in Brooklyn and I had a desire for a Rueben. I walked down Court Street to Shelsky's and ordered their Classic Rueben. I also bought a container of full sour pickles, a Dr. Brown's soda and a half pound of macaroni salad to go. When I got home and removed the sandwich from the bag I was shocked to see how big it was. I unwrapped it and saw a very, very, very meaty and moist sandwich. It was unbelieveable. I can't wait to go back.

Excellent bagels and deli. Tuna salad sandwich was delicious. Chopped liver and pastrami were great too. Wish I had more room to take food home.

The best smoked fish place in Brooklyn by far. Staff is helpful and a fun place to go. They have many varieties of fish to try and prices are fair.

The deli represents a revival of upscale jewish deli with an emphasis on the smoked fish. Don't know if you can get Matzo Ball soup here but the smoked fish is excellent and the inventive sandwiches, while expensive are large and very good.

Have you ever said: I want to go back again tomorrow? If not, then you've never had the immense pleasure of partaking of lunch from Shelsky's. Day one: four of us pay our first visit. Nova Scotia lox with cream cheese on a couple of bagels; ditto on bialys. Go to park , eat, smile, proclaim the food divine and without exception, agree it has to be done again. Was day one a fluke?, we wonder. Day two: the same group of four returns, sample some of the smoked sable--to die for--and Sockeye salmon smoked lox, have a slight variation of the previous repast, visit a different park, eat, smile and confirm that Shelsky's is unbelievably good--okay, far better than good, great or beyond even that. Yes, day two establishes that day one was not a fluke, so hurry to Shelsky's as their goodies are heaven sent (scent.) Oh, as there is no seating, hurry to a park and if the weather is inclement, take everything home. The food will tickle your taste buds.

Popped in here last week whilst on vacation to NYC. The bagels that my partner and I had, with cream cheese and lox, were very tasty and decent in portion size. If we were there longer, we'd have come back another day and sampled the sandwiches. Would recommend.

I have come here multiple times already to try their special sandwiches as well as their simpler items. The first thing I tried was the Brooklyn Native which is Gaspe Nova, Smoked Whitefish Salad, Pickled Herring, Sour Pickle, Served on a Bialy (you can do it on a bagel as well). It was a party in my mouth! So many flavors of savory, sweet, sour all wrapped up in one sandwich. The portion was not huge, but I was super full at the end of it. Another time I tried the Dr. Goldstein Special which is Duck Fat-Laced Chopped Liver & Apple Horseradish Sauce, Served Between 2 Schmaltz Fried Potato Latkes. Yes it is definitely as heavenly and gluttonous as it sounds. It was on special so I had it for almost half the price and I am glad I got to try it. Their chopped liver is some of the best I have had and the latkes were just delicious. They really put care into their sandwiches and the quality of the ingredients is just great. Finally my last visit I had a simple chopped liver on a bialy. You really taste the liver and the bialy was nice and fresh. Prices are a bit on the steep side, but you get what you pay for and if you get to try a sandwich on special it is worth it. I will definitely be back to try more items and when I feel like treating myself to something super delicious for breakfast/lunch.

I wiill be back for more every time I visit my daughter ib Brrioklyn and shop on Court Street. I never used to like bagels but one of these with cream cheese and such top quality smoked salmon is utterly delicious and has completely won me over! I also took a tiny pot of their liver pate to try - on brown sourdough toast it is also total deliciousness!

I truly found my happy place here! We planned our visit on a frigidly cold, sunny Thursday around noon and were excited that we didn’t have any wait. This quaint spot offers an extensive selection of lox, smoked fish, bagels, spreads and more. We had the pleasure of meeting Lewis, one of the owner’s, and Larry who helped us in the deli - both were so lovely, friendly and genuinely charming. The sandwiches look delicious but we wanted to sample instead. Larry was patient and sweet when we wanted to order a variety of several different salmons. All were fantastic: Eastern grasp (super clean with a light brine), David Burke Pastrami Lox (wonderfully salty, spicy and aromatic), Housemade Gravlax (perfect texture and amount of dill), smoked salmon jerky (moist, fill of flavor and well balanced). We loved the toasted pumpernickel bagel with horseradish cream cheese, as well! I’ve been to other delis in the city but this one takes the cake and will now be a staple when visiting NY.

All I wanted was a bagel and cream cheese. I ordered a pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese (bagels are on the menu for $1.25) not toasted. When I got to the deli counter to pay for the bagel and handed the counterman a $5.00 bill expected to get a buck and something change. The counterman told me that I owed him another 54 cents. I looked at him as though he were from another planet and told him that there was only one bagel. he explained that the vegi cream cheese was from a very creamy place and that was what it cost. The bagel was ok the counterman wasn't. Shelsky's; Never again!!

We stopped here on our Brooklyn Brownstone Neighborhood Eats with Brian at Urban Adventures (which we highly recommend!) and loved our bagel snack...the best we had!

If you want that classic NYC Jewish deli experience, go here. It’s mainly a deli but also has a seating area where you can enjoy your purchases over a bottle of cold root beer. The place specialises in cured and smoked fish - salmon, blue fish, mackerel - but also does roll mops, pastrami, macaroni salad, pickles, sauerkraut: all the usual suspects. Great service and unbelievably good food.

Terrific deli and appetizing in the heart of Brownstone Brooklyn. Smoked fish, meats, salads, bagels, breads and pastries. Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this stuff is the real deal and you don't have to go to the Lower East Side or Brighton Beach. Easy to overbuy, all so good.

This place is amazing. For years I've missed the smoked fish I had as a kid. Near me in Central NJ there are few Jewish Deli's selling Appetizing goods like quality lox, bagels, and smoked salmon. So tired of tough bland lox. The lox and smoked salmon I had here were deeply flavorful, with a perfect blend of moistness yet firm to the bite, and just heavenly! I have found nothing like this place for the past 20-25 years. The only thing i disliked were the pickles. Tho, the sour tomatoes were delicious This place is very expensive though. For my twice a year excursions to Brooklyn, I'll eat there and bring some home! I literally can't wait to return.

A neighborhood place, bagels are good not great, full assortment of toppings, abit expensive, not as good as Brooklyn bagels but alright, lines not too bad

An absolutely terrific experience for those of us who must have the absolute best in makings for Sunday morning brunch!