If you’re like me, you take your Reuben sandwiches with turkey instead of corned beef – and on “regular” white-ish bread – instead of rye. Which by definition, makes it not a “real” Reuben. I am completely at peace with being a picky eater! Locally, a couple of the best “turkey reubens” I’ve had are at Knight’s  and Haymaker, both in Ann Arbor, MI. I’m sure the world famous Zingerman’s also has a great turkey reuben, but… I’m a bit of a cheapskate! Read on to learn more about this classic deli staple…

Reuben’s Restaurant in New York City operated between 1908 and 2001, and by some accounts, it may be the “first” place the Reuben sandwich was offered as a menu item. According to Reuben’s Restaurant “lore,” an actress working with Charlie Chaplin requested a combination of ingredients resembling a Reuben sandwich of today. And when I say actress “working with” Charlie Chaplin, well…use your imagination (he was quite the epic womanizer, but I digress)! Reuben’s Restaurant is one of several restaurants “claiming” to be the “first” place the sandwich was offered.