Breit’s Serves Big Sandwiches and Strawberry Hill Good Company

A Reuben at Breit’s begins with the rye. The bread arrives crisp and flavorful without crossing into burnt-toast territory, holding a generous stack of corned beef in place while still giving the sandwich a little bite. It is a fine piece of deli architecture, and it has made this longtime Strawberry Hill stop a favorite lunch destination.

Breit’s sits at the corner of Fifth Street and Elizabeth Avenue in Kansas City’s Strawberry Hill neighborhood, where the deli counter and neighborhood bar have long shared the same address. Come in for a sandwich, settle at the bar with a beer, pick up a to-go order, or linger on the patio with friends. The mood is informal, social and pleasantly unhurried.

This is not a polished, white-tablecloth sort of lunch. It is a corner pub where a substantial sandwich can carry the afternoon, conversation can stretch beyond the plate, and newcomers fit into the room without much ceremony.

The Reuben is the order to put at the top of the list. Its corned beef comes in a notably generous portion, and the rye gets as much attention as the meat: delicious, crisp and sturdy enough to handle the job. For a sandwich that can become unwieldy in lesser hands, Breit’s version keeps its character together.

It also suits the way people actually eat lunch at a place like this. You can make a quick meal of it at the counter, take your time at a table, or carry it outside with a drink. The sandwich is hearty, but the setting stays casual.

Sides add another useful branch to the meal. Homemade potato salad, macaroni salad and coleslaw are familiar deli companions, while potato chips and pickle spears keep things simple. A giant pickle is also worth noting for anyone who prefers their sandwich accompaniment with a little more snap.

A Reuben may get the spotlight, but Breit’s is not a one-sandwich operation. Pastrami is another established choice, served steamed and especially good with spicy mustard. It gives the menu a second strong deli lane for diners who want the meat and rye experience without following the standard Reuben route.

Italian subs provide a different direction altogether, and daily specials keep the choices from becoming too fixed. A meatball sandwich has appeared as a special, the sort of lunch-board detour that can make a repeat visit feel less routine.

The menu’s appeal is its lack of fuss. These are recognizable, filling sandwiches at generally accessible prices, served in a place where lunch does not need to become an occasion in order to be satisfying.

Breit’s works because the bar and deli sides of the place do not compete with each other. A sandwich lunch can be just lunch, but there is also Guinness on tap for someone settling in for a longer visit. A nonalcoholic Guinness has been available as well, a welcome option when the table wants the pub ritual without the alcohol.

The room has the easy familiarity of a neighborhood gathering spot. It is used for post-work drinks, casual afternoons, sporting events and community occasions, with local touches that include a banner for a high school alumni association. None of it asks for a dress code or a big plan.

Regulars have their rhythms, but the atmosphere remains hospitable to someone walking in for the first time. Service is quick, attentive and friendly, with staff checking in without turning a relaxed lunch into a production.

Inside, Breit’s offers an indoor dining area along with bar and counter seating. The interior is relatively small, which suits the close-knit corner-bar feeling but can make the place feel more compact when people are gathering.

Outdoors, the patio or deck opens up the visit considerably. It has more seating capacity than the small interior and gives a sandwich-and-beer lunch a relaxed, picnic-like rhythm, especially with a scoop of homemade potato salad alongside. The patio is dog friendly, so it can be a natural stop for diners out with a four-legged companion.

Outdoor tables, naturally, depend on the weather. On a pleasant day, though, the patio offers a different version of Breit’s: still casual and local, just with a little more room to settle in.

Breit’s fits several kinds of day. It can be a quick lunch break, an off-the-beaten-path sandwich stop while passing through Kansas City, or the beginning of an afternoon that turns into drinks and conversation. The variety of seating helps, as does the fact that the place accommodates both small parties and larger groups.

Typical visits do not require reservations. To-go orders are available for days when the right move is simply taking that Reuben elsewhere.

Street parking is available around the neighborhood, and customer parking has also been noted, though space can vary. The reliable plan is less about expecting a huge lot and more about treating Breit’s as the neighborhood corner place it is: a spot for a good sandwich, a good pour and an easygoing pause in Strawberry Hill.