There are two great deli sandwiches in Los Angeles: one is the iconic #19 at Langer's, which most people know about, but the second is the grilled black pastrami reuben at Brent's Deli.
Brent's Deli, founded in 1967, was the second deli to open at this strip mall location in far-flung Northridge. Founder Ron Peskin, who hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, had been working in various deli counters in San Fernando Valley before striking out on his own. Taking over a spot called Brent's Deli, Peskin and his wife Patricia decided to keep the name since they already had a son named Brent. Along with daughter Carie and son-in-law Marc, the family grew this iconic deli on the back of one great sandwich: the black pastrami sandwich.
As for the dish itself, it starts with house-cured pastrami, seasoned heavily with spices so that a black crust forms. The rye bread, which comes par-baked from a nearby bakery, gets another trip to the oven to create a nice crispy crust. House-made russian dressing, and some crunchy sauerkraut round out the ingredients, but it's all about the technique and quality of the meat.
A first bite is telling: the pastrami doesn't fall out of the bread. It's that perfect texture between tender and meaty, with a heavy dose of pepper and salt. Slather on some mustard, and remind yourself that it's the only sandwich making a trip all the way to Northridge (or the newer Westlake Village location).
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