Benji’s Deli

4156 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood

It’s a deli, and a diner—but here I’m approaching it as a place for a cup of coffee. You can sit at the counter—and I suppose if it’s not too busy, you could sit here alone at a booth or a table and get something done. I remember when they remodeled—about 20 years back, I’m guessing—and I was disappointed—it had looked better before. But now I can’t remember the old look, and it’s been the same for a while, and it looks great. There’s a big TV on one wall—is that new? Anyway, the sound was off when I was here—TV is bearable with the sound off. No music, either, which is good. I had a regular cup of coffee, and one refill. Seeing how I’ve been drinking only espresso lately, I forgot what a regular cup of black coffee tasted like—the singular pleasure in a normal cup of black coffee—really good. Maybe I’ll go back to coffee. Definitely the next time I’m at Benji’s. Good food here, too, but that’s for another time. As a place to meet someone, or go with someone to talk, you can’t beat it.

11.8.23