Best Delis in Northeast Ohio: Davis Bakery & Deli is your winner in readers’ poll (photos)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - History rocks. That’s the message. Everything old is new again, but new for its own sake isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

If you don’t walk out of Davis Bakery & Deli in Woodmere thinking those exact words, well, we’re not sure how to help you.

Founded in July 1939 by brothers Ben, Julius and Carl Davis, the story began on South Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights. They pledged to never use lard in any baked goods and started with a coin-operated mixer – quarters were needed to bake bread!

A bold move in 1952 added a delicatessen to their bakery – a pioneering combo in the U.S. – and they even installed ovens in satellite shops, ensuring daily fresh-baked goods.

By the 1960s, Davis Bakery had expanded to 39 stores across Northeast Ohio, sparked by acquisitions of two other bakery chains in 1961. Packages labeled “North, east, south and west, Davis Bakery is the best” reflected their reach, with around 450 employees.

“Many of our customers comment on the fact we still use string to tie our bakery boxes closed,” said Joel Davis, the general manager of the deli-bakery combo. “It reminds some of our customers of the old – though maybe not always better – days back then.”

Your winner in cleveland.com’s “Best of Cleveland” readers’ poll for “Best Deli in Northeast Ohio” is Davis Bakery & Deli. They’ve been serving the community forever, starting when a World Series and football championship were still new ideas— and victories.

Unroll the scroll

To say that Davis rocks the house with tradition and recipes galore is to ignore something every amateur baker dreams of: they have a rye bread starter as old as your grandparents!

The rise of supermarket bakeries led the family to consolidate operations – focusing on wholesale accounts (like Heinen’s, hospitals, arenas) and scaling back retail outlets. But they’ve never lost sight of that quality.

In 1981, the company opened the Woodmere location at 28700 Chagrin Blvd; its design remains largely unchanged, with baked goods displayed on one side, deli on the other, and daily soup specials featuring hot corned beef, pastrami, tongue and more. And yes, all under one roof.

Well, two. There’s also a Warrensville Heights location at 4572 Renaissance Parkway (off of Emery, east of Richmond Road).

“[Scaling back] was a decision that we made back when we were still young,” Joel said. “But it’s served us well in the grand scheme of things. Now, we have several clients that we serve, including some bigger ones, and everyone benefits from all that hard work.”

They also have some employees who’ve been with the bakery for as long as those sepia-toned photos on the wall have existed.

The generation behind Joel talks about their mother’s time as an emergency room nurse as one more reinforcement of work ethic; there’s no shortage of hustle in any part of the family. They understand that quality, legacy and expediency go hand in hand.

A recent addition (several years ago) of a small dining room and patio enhance in-store dining. Today, the business is run by multiple generations: second-generation leaders like Joel and Sam, and their children — Jay, Stu and Matt — who are carrying the legacy forward.

Davis Bakery has been a distinct part of Cleveland’s Jewish-American fabric on the east side, using a yeast sour that is an octogenarian (well over 80 years old), while offering kosher-style products, and ensuring proper kosher supervision for certain items.

Their homemade specialties include Jewish rye bread, “Cleveland” coconut bars (“They were being made along the west coast for a while,” said Joel), along with Russian tea biscuits, rugelach and matzo ball soup. The recipes haven’t changed since Day One.

And if you’re lucky enough, they sometimes host workshops where you can learn how to make some of their wares yourself – guarded family recipes notwithstanding.

Regulars cherish the personal service: sandwiches come “with a pickle, a [chocolate chip] cookie and a smile,” said Joel. Longtime staff members are on top of customer “usuals.”

Eat up, friends!

Despite the challenges small delis face, Davis Bakery & Deli remains a thriving entity. “We’re open 365 days a year in Woodmere,” said Joel – and they’re regarded as one of the few remaining Jewish bakeries in the area.

With four generations at the helm, their motto captures it best: “The Taste Tells the Story.”

There’s so much goodness on offer, it’s almost too much to take in. Outside of some baked good classics, they have weekly specials that include a brisket sandwich.

You might think, “Brisket like this?” without a pitmaster. Don’t sleep on it. There’s no second chance (until next week) when they run out.

Egg salad is epic but simple, and sides are savory and sophisticated without being inaccessible.

Potato latkas? To. Die. For. Served up with sour cream and apple sauce, they’re A+ eats.

Yes, everything you’d expect of a deli is here, and more. Same on the bakery side of things.

The baked goods are unreal, including chocolate rugelach which lands on the palate like pure oxygen.

You would eat a whole tray of these things if someone wasn’t watching you… and you might shirk the guilt even if they were.

“We have stories upon stories to tell,” said Joel during our visit. “But until you’ve tasted what we make here, there’s a whole world of history and quality you’re missing. And our longtime customers – many of whom voted for us – will tell you just that. So come see us!”

Davis Bakery & Deli, two locations: Woodmere, 28700 Chagrin Blvd., (Across from Eton Collection). 216-292-3060; Warrensville Heights, 4572 Renaissance Pkwy. (off of Emery, just east of Richmond). 216-464-5599, davisbakery.net.