The Best Pastrami Sandwich in Utah: How Enrico's Brought Brooklyn's Deli Soul to West Jordan

There's a moment at Enrico's Deli & Pizzeria in West Jordan when the kitchen goes quiet—not from a lull, but because they've sold out. Everything. The house-made pizza dough, the slow-braised meats, gone. It's become a regular occurrence at this Jordan Landing spot, where owner Jessica Lemieux has somehow bottled the magic of a Brooklyn bodega and uncorked it in the shadow of the Cinemark theater.

One DoorDash reviewer captured what makes this place different: "Every single associate working this afternoon made it a point to greet me, thank me for coming in, and have a great day... you can tell they take pride in the food and hospitality they provide." That's the thing about authentic New York deli culture—it's not just about the pastrami. It's about being welcomed like you matter, fed like you're family, and sent off knowing you'll be back.

From Tourist Trips to Taste Tests: Jessica Lemieux's Love Letter to NYC

Jessica Lemieux didn't set out to become Utah's pastrami prophet. "One trip to New York turned to three, then five, then more. Tourist trips would become taste tests," she explains. What started as curiosity evolved into obsession—the kind that can only be satisfied by bringing something real back home.

A lifelong restaurant operator, Lemieux describes Enrico's simply: "I just wanted to bring these flavors and feelings back home to Utah." It's a love letter to NYC, to bodegas with their humming pizza ovens, to deli counters where pastrami is sliced by hand, to those folded slices you eat while walking down buzzing streets. Only this version landed in West Jordan, right across from the movie theater at Jordan Landing.

The journey wasn't smooth. Enrico's opened in Murray in the spring of 2024 before relocating to their current West Jordan location —the kind of pivot that would break most restaurants. Instead, it made them stronger. They took over the space that previously belonged to Mr. Fries Man, transforming it into something that somehow feels both Utah-comfortable and authentically New York. The walls wear Big Apple memorabilia like badges of honor, the dining room spacious enough for families but intimate enough for the pre-movie crowd rushing in for a quick slice.

And the community responded. On a July afternoon, Enrico's posted on Facebook: "We're Sold Out for the Day!! Thank you for the incredible support—we've sold out of our house-made pizza dough and house-cooked meats! Everything we serve is made fresh, in-house." 

The Rico Experience: Utah's Most Legendary Pastrami Sandwich

Let's talk about number fifteen on the menu board. The Rico.

This sandwich features a full pound of imported pastrami—yes, an entire pound—shipped directly from New York City every two weeks. But here's where Lemieux's restaurant expertise shines: the pastrami arrives ready for on-site preparation, then spends a quarter of the day slowly braising in Enrico's kitchen. The result is what Salt Lake City food critics have been calling impeccable.

Layer upon layer of thickly sliced meat is piled onto toasted rye bread with Swiss cheese and spicy mustard, creating something "gossamer-esque, crumbling and tumbling with every bite. Salty, smokey, warm spices, magical stuff." At $20.99, The Rico has earned its reputation as an absolute steal—the kind of sandwich two people can share (and probably should, unless you're really hungry).

One food blogger on a quest to find the best sandwich in Salt Lake City declared: "I love pastrami sandwiches, and this was by far the best I've ever had anywhere... the pastrami was incredibly tender and packed with smokey flavor." The same reviewer compared it directly to Feldman's Deli, a Utah institution, noting that Enrico's version "isn't even close"—Enrico's wins.

But The Rico isn't your only option for experiencing that imported Brooklyn pastrami. The classic Reuben ($14.99) showcases the same meat in a more traditional format. Built with toasted rye bread, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and pastrami "all piled in thick layers," it's what one reviewer called "experiencing something special." 

A regular customer on DoorDash summed it up perfectly: "This deli has the best Ruben I've had in Utah. Ever. The bread and pastrami especially were incredible."

Then there's the pizza. Because at Enrico's, you don't have to choose between deli and pizzeria—you get both, all day long.

Eight different pies are available by the slice, greeting guests at the ordering counter, with slices starting at $3.99.  Lemieux's personal favorite is the white pizza—a garlic olive oil base topped with mozzarella, ricotta, and spices. It's served on a thin, foldable crust in true New York pizza fashion, the kind you can grab before a movie and eat while walking.

For the adventurous, there's the Peary NY ($4.99 per slice): alfredo sauce with prosciutto, grilled lemons, pears, and balsamic drizzle —a combination that shouldn't work but absolutely does.

Don't sleep on the garlic knots either. These house-made beauties are infused with a garlic oil that simmers for several hours, then finished with romano cheese. Four of these comfortingly-dense delights cost just six bucks. 

And if you're coming for breakfast? The lox is legendary: "Seriously, it's sooo good!! It's a huge portion, it's super fresh and tasty, the bagel is so delicious, and it's reasonably priced." They serve breakfast all day, because some cravings don't follow a schedule.

The Ziti alla Vodka ($9.99) offers a rib-sticking portion of pasta with a from-scratch sauce crafted by Lemieux—a house-made marinara base elevated with just the right amount of chili flakes, grilled chicken, and freshly grated parmesan.  In an era when it's nearly impossible to find a hearty dinner for under ten bucks, Enrico's delivers actual value without sacrificing quality.

Jordan Landing's Secret Weapon: How Enrico's Fits Into Utah's Food Scene

A truck travels straight from the streets of New York to Enrico's door every few weeks, bringing "fresh pastrami, corned beef, mustard, and other deli essentials" plus specialty items like black and white cookies. This isn't marketing speak—it's literally how they stock their kitchen.

The location at Jordan Landing, directly opposite the Cinemark theater, has proven to be perfect for the pre-movie crowd and families shopping at the complex.  But it's also become a destination in its own right. Former East Coasters bring family and friends "over and over—all in search of a taste from home." 

Utah's food scene has been growing its deli credentials for years now, with places like Feldman's and Caputo's earning national attention. But Enrico's fills a different niche—more accessible, more family-friendly, and arguably more authentic to the actual New York bodega experience. As one Salt Lake City Weekly reviewer noted: "At the rate that good New York deli food is showing up in Utah, I feel like I'm getting a decent primer to the traditional spots... from an objective standpoint, I can say with confidence that Enrico's is making really damn good food." 

The Jordan Landing location means you're never more than a few minutes from authentic NYC deli food whether you're catching a movie, running errands at the shopping center, or just craving the best pastrami sandwich in Utah. And with West Jordan's growing population in the South Valley, Enrico's has positioned itself as the neighborhood spot that happens to import ingredients from 2,000 miles away.

Planning Your Visit to Enrico's Deli & Pizzeria

Address: 3778 Center View Way, Suite 130, West Jordan, UT 84084 (Jordan Landing, directly across from Cinemark)

Hours:

• Monday-Thursday: 7 AM - 9 PM
• Friday-Saturday: 7 AM - 10 PM
• Sunday: 8 AM - 9 PM

What to Order:

• First-timers: The Rico ($20.99)—share it with a friend unless you're really hungry
• Reuben lovers: Classic Reuben ($14.99)—consistently praised as the best in Utah
• Pizza by the slice: White pizza ($4.99) or take a chance on the Peary NY
• Breakfast: Lox on an everything bagel—customers rave about the portion and freshness
• Pasta fix: Ziti alla Vodka ($9.99)—unbeatable value
• Don't forget: House-made garlic knots (4 for $6)

Insider Tips:

• They sometimes sell out, especially on busy evenings—call ahead if you have your heart set on something specific
• Breakfast served all day (because morning cravings don't follow rules)
• Perfect pre-movie meal with Cinemark right across the parking lot
• Pizza available by the slice all day from eight different pies

Find them online:

• Instagram: @enricosdelipizza
• Website: enricosdeli.com
• Phone: (801) 841-1990

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When Jessica Lemieux started making those trips to New York, she couldn't have known she'd end up creating Utah's answer to the question every East Coast transplant asks: "Where can I find real pastrami?" But that's exactly what happened at Enrico's—a place where a truck from Brooklyn delivers authenticity every few weeks, where pizza dough is made fresh daily, where a pound of hand-sliced pastrami isn't just a sandwich but a statement.

As one devoted regular put it: "I could and will eat here several times a week. The prices are very reasonable, food tastes great... If you loved Gandolfo's, you'll love Enrico's." 

In a state known more for fry sauce than Russian dressing, for funeral potatoes than pastrami, Enrico's proves that sometimes the best way to honor tradition is to bring it somewhere new. The Rico isn't just the best pastrami sandwich in Utah—it's proof that distance doesn't dilute authenticity when you're willing to import it by the truckload and braise it for six hours.

That's the kind of dedication worth driving to West Jordan for.