By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shmuel Amit/COLlive
Ess N Bentch is coming back to Crown Heights in the form of a fast-food eatery near 770.
For years, bochurim and regulars at 770 Eastern Parkway knew they could rely on a small nearby kosher restaurant to grab a quick bite in the late hours of the night.
In between learning, going on Mivtzoim and attending a farbrengen with the Rebbe, Lubavitchers in Crown Heights would frequent the Ess N Bentch eatery on Kingston Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Union Street.
Having been closed for years, the name remained etched in the memories of those who lived in those times. Younger Lubavitchers would often hear the name in passing in the context of a greater anecdote.
Next week, the name will be reincarnated as a new fast-food eatery under the same name, just a few stores down the block, this time in the former location of the WLCC recording studio, at the corner of Kingston Avenue and Union Street.
The owner, who asked not to be named, has completely renovated the corner store which was used for decades as the base for the WLCC recording and filming operations of Chabad.
“I’m happy to bring it back,” the owner told COLlive on Thursday. “We will be offering tuna and pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, cholent on Thursday nights and maybe French fries too.” The restaurant is under Rabbi by Avrohom Osdoba, CHK Supervision.
He said employees of the store are being trained to offer a quick turnaround. “The only thing different about our store is that we will be giving you your sandwich within 1-2 minutes, instead of the expected 10-15 minutes,” he said.
While the store has been open since Kinus Hashluchim, its official opening, naming and full menu will be done this coming week when Ess N Bench will come alive again.
for men and boys only! Tee hee.
its getting outrated already…. feels like soon in crown heights we will only have restaurants
If 15,000 per day is going to be spent in our community on restaurant / takeout food and was divided between 3 places its 5K per place 6 places its 2500 10 its 1500 eventually it topples the weakest or ALL get hurt!
the television is playing a video of Sinai Tor ,someone who lives in hebron hills and fights for the land in Eretz Israel I’m sure his music will pass the test of most Lubavitchers he is far from modern he is Chavakuk
To #22, What would be so great about replacing focus on one sort of gashmius, with another type of gashmius? If people are more into fashion, which can in some case, be technically halachicly long enough and cover everything it’s supposed to, but so tight, it’s still not tzniusdik, why is that any betterthan a food place, To #24, more choices do not automatically create more obesity. Are you just as concerned about the free flowing alcohol at farbrengins and in so many other situations which so many underage people so often indulge in? When society starts looking over people’s… Read more »
Awesomeness. Glad it’s under HoRav Osdoba and CHK.
and glad their service will be quick!!!
the french fries in their falafel! those were the best
Who certifies?
Who remembers what it was before it became WLCC ?
I am sure quite a few do I certainly do! What about the pricing ?
In Ess & Bentch we could get almost a whole meal with a drink included for $1.95
ess and bentch made the best tuna sandwiches!
The owner is Harrel. A brother of the owner of chocolatte.
I forget his first name.
tried it last week. the pastrami sandwich is reduced to nothing – small tiny and doesn’t taste great the way its done.
Save the place, and consider NORMAL sandwiches!!
If we can get those in 1-2 minutes you will thrive.
I am def not coming back for what I ate – no offense as the folks were great and helpful – but the sandwichs just totally don’t make the cut as made…on all levels.
Tuna is good idea but again NOT heated and reduced to nothing will do it.
Techiyas Hameisim! !!
Are they open motzoei Shabbos?
Glad to hear that this store will actually have a hechsher
Ess ‘N Bentch Goimel
Hope they’ll replicate the best tuna sandwiches and fries!
it needs the late ’60s and early ’70 s ambiance..how can we do that? maybe all the men should wear smaller black hats as they did back then, albeit kind of nerdy! and maybe a juke box..with niggunim of course.
Given the history of that spot..?
It’s not ess n bench if there’s no hot dogs with mustard and sauerkraut
Ess en Fress we used to call it
I’m sure Mendy’s is thrilled with the news.
We used to refer to it as the “Fress and Greps”
Kingston Avenue is to fast food/takeouts as 13th Avenue is to banks. If so many food places can keep going, there must be a lot more money in CH than I thought.
After we ask ourselves why everyone is obese – our focus is only food! sad!
If only it was so simple 2 turn back the clock !
Why are people in crown heights so grub and only focused on food we have enough resturants how about people open more clothing stores ladies shoes and retail stores or an indoor play place for children
wheres the sauerkraut??
From the blurry photo of the TV, it looks like Sela Tur playing ok guitar. Super religious Israeli music
Maybe that’s why the owner is A SECRET!!!!!
To #14
Sounds VERY fishy……
At the original ess ‘N bentch Rabbi Marlow ate.
I doubt he would trust Mr. Anonymous!!!!
After an unsuccessful Shiduch attempt I decided to comfort myself with a hotdog and egg roll at Ess and Bench. In middle of my healthy meal I hear my name called from the counter saying I had a phone call. It was my sisterinlaw who tracked me down there and told me I got a nice girl for you. Well the rest is history. I should take my wife there on our next visit (will ladies be welcome?) but she probably will pass. Hatzlacha on the new venture
To no 3 the Rebbe told Chaim Boruch halberstam that we all grand children of Avrohom avinu and Avrohom did the same thing serving food
Very strange to not name the owner!!
BS”D You want nestalga, better wish for WLCC and its beepers going off to alert us to the Rebbe, (rather than a pestrami sandwich) to come back
why won’t the owner be named? seems dicey.
Succeed
At least for the picture they could’ve put more meat in the sandwich they look pretty sad
Yay!!! May they be successful
Why is there a tv showing Israeli non religious movies . What a busha.dear owner,please consider playing some nice kosher music videos .thank you
As we used to call it 😜
The current restaurant looks dry. They should put in some of the original vintage features, maybe an old Coke machine, maybe the original sign (I’m sure it’s been trashed but perhaps a replica) . This should not be just another sandwich shop, no shortage of that in Crown Heights, It needs to bring back a memory, a feeling of nostalgia, please of the warmth and joy and celebration. Modern chic is lovely, but the uniqueness of the sandwich is not how tasty the frankfurters are, they’re selling a much bigger experience
Why is there no cigarette machine 🙂
GET PINTO GREENBERG BACK IN THERE!
I went there and they have amazing pastrami sandwiches!! They are a must !!!!
Wow
Looking forward on my next trip to CH
2 Shabbasim ago I was in Beis Menachem Mendal in Flatbush . Rabbi Morozov quote the Rebbe and spoke about Ess and Bentch. I wish I could remember every detail of the story. The owners father who came from a long line of Rebbes complained that his son is now owner of Ess and Bentshc. I will get what the Rebbe said. My fondest memories as a kid was buying French Fries out of bag greasy but awesome .We under 13 year olds would go and sneak under the Rebbe’s Tish during the Farbragins and eat those French Fries we… Read more »
Not too many good memories of that place, it was where you ate as a last resort. I’m sure the new place will be a worthy successor.
Could they sell tacos? We need a taco place in CH please…