In our Dining Reports, we share a firsthand perspective of a recent restaurant visit, covering everything from the vibe to must-get dishes. See more in the Eater app.
Portland has some great sandwich shops, but good delicatessens are in short supply. Dream Deli, which arrived in Richmond in November 2025, is filling that gap with fist-sized knishes, whitefish sandwiches, and crunchy pickle skewers served aboard green trays in a bright and lively space that bustles during prime lunch hours. Word already seems to be traveling: I overheard at least one person recommend it to a friend while working in an entirely different cafe during my December visit to Portland.
- The Jewish wedding soup ($14) is the epitome of what owners John Bissell and Jessie Levine are trying to achieve at their shop — marrying Jewish and Italian deli culture. Strong chicken broth is beautifully laced with orbs of green oil surrounding plump Italian meatballs and matzo balls.
- The corned beef sandwich ($19) comes on a nicely marbled, soft rye bread with crunchy cabbage slaw in Russian dressing and lots of thin-sliced meat.
- At the strong recommendation of the person working the register, we ordered a chocolate chip schmaltz cookie ($5); it was ultra-thin and crispy.
- Order a knish ($6). On the day of my visit, my dining partner and I got one filled with mushrooms. The exterior is golden brown and dusted with flaky salt.
Only a few months in, this feels like a neighborhood lunch spot. Tables and window seats were packed. Order at the counter and they’ll bring your meal to you. Service was quick and efficient, and they thoughtfully split our multiple items across two trays without us asking. As a bonus, the window seats offer great people-watching…