DGS Delicatessen
DGS Delicatessen is a privately held, single-location Jewish deli and specialty bar in Dupont Circle, Washington DC, founded in 2012 by cousins Nick and David Wiseman. It serves local diners, catering customers, and private-event hosts with house-cured pastrami, smoked salmon, and house-made traditional deli fare under Chef Eric McKamey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What DGS Delicatessen does
DGS Delicatessen is a privately held, single-location Jewish delicatessen and specialty bar operating since 2012 at 1317 Connecticut Avenue NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. The restaurant, owned by 3rd-generation Washingtonian cousins Nick and David Wiseman, is built around from-scratch deli production: the kitchen, directed by Chef Eric McKamey, cures pastrami for 8 days, smokes salmon over applewood, and produces house-made pickles, sauerkraut, mustard, and duck-fat matzo balls, while Beverage Director Brian Zipin maintains a cocktail program of 60+ original drinks with a monthly "Delicatessen After Dark" series. The venue serves as an upscale, dine-in delicatessen anchored by an all-day menu, a weekend bottomless brunch ($27 for two courses and a drink), and a daily happy hour (4-7pm, except Sunday).
The business generates revenue from four streams: dine-in service and walk-in counter takeout, online ordering for catering and delivery across Washington DC seven days a week (with seasonal holiday menus), private events spanning family-style brunches, corporate office lunches, and tasting dinners, and gift certificates distributed via OpenTable. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer, combining a primary website for menus, reservations, and ordering with earned media placements in the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Eater DC, Village Voice, and Brightest Young Things, supplemented by email newsletter opt-ins and reservations/gift certificate fulfillment via OpenTable. Recognition includes Washingtonian's 100 Very Best Restaurants rankings (2013, 2015) and Food & Wine's America's Best Happy Hours (2014).
The operating model is intentionally craft- and heritage-led rather than technology- or scale-led: there is a single physical location, no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no AI/ML or API infrastructure, and a small in-house team. Inputs are sourced from named local purveyors (e.g., Number 1 Sons for sauerkraut) and the team's roles center on culinary execution rather than platform or product development. As a result, the business profile is best understood as a mature, brand-rich, single-unit artisanal restaurant with diversified revenue lines within one location.
DGS Delicatessen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DGS Delicatessen
- Legal name
- DGS Delicatessen
- Website
- https://dgsdelicatessen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- DGS Delicatessen is a privately held, single-location Jewish deli and specialty bar in Dupont Circle, Washington DC, founded in 2012 by cousins Nick and David Wiseman. It serves local diners, catering customers, and private-event hosts with house-cured pastrami, smoked salmon, and house-made traditional deli fare under Chef Eric McKamey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DGS Delicatessen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Jewish Delicatessen / Casual Dining Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (72232)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional/Ethnic Specialty Fast Casual (e.g., Indian, Caribbean, African, Eastern European) (THAFABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)
Keywords
Where DGS Delicatessen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DGS Delicatessen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: Revenue from dine-in customers ordering from the all-day menu, brunch, and dessert menus. Customers can make reservations or walk in.
- Catering & Delivery: Catering orders and delivery service within DC seven days a week, processed online. Seasonal catering menus available for events like Chanukah.
- Private Events: Revenue from hosting private events including family style brunches, corporate office lunches, and tasting menus for dinner. Beer, wine, and cocktail menu available for events.
- Beverage Sales: Craft cocktail program with original cocktails, wine selection, and specialty drinks like Delicatessen After Dark monthly cocktail series. Happy hour daily 4-7pm.
- Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates through OpenTable platform
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Brunch Prix Fixe |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
DGS Delicatessen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DGS Delicatessen is a Jewish delicatessen in Washington, DC that serves traditional house-cured pastrami, applewood smoked salmon, bagels, matzo balls, and other classic deli items prepared in-house using old-world brining, curing, smoking, and pickling techniques. The restaurant also offers a craft cocktail bar program with 60+ original cocktails, a weekend brunch, catering and delivery, and private event hosting.
Product overview
DGS Delicatessen is a single-location restaurant offering a unified dining experience centered on traditional Jewish deli fare made from scratch. The core offering is the in-house prepared menu featuring house-cured pastrami, smoked salmon, bagels, and classic deli sandwiches. The business extends its offering through supplementary services including catering and delivery, private event hosting, weekend bottomless brunch, daily happy hour, and gift certificates. These services operate as interconnected offerings within the same restaurant location at 1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Restaurant Dining
Quantifiable outcome
- Named #30 of 100 Very Best Restaurants 2015 by Washingtonian
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use DGS Delicatessen
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DGS Delicatessen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
DGS Delicatessen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Number 1 SonsminorSupplier of sauerkraut used in DGS sandwiches, particularly their Reuben sandwiches. This is a local artisanal food producer that DGS sources ingredients from.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DGS Delicatessen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Russ & Daughters: New York appetizing shop and Jewish specialty food store with multiple locations, known for smoked fish, bagels, and Jewish heritage products. Comparable to DGS in Jewish culinary tradition, brand heritage, and house-cured specialties.
- Katz's Delicatessen: Historic New York Jewish deli famous for house-cured pastrami and traditional deli fare. Comparable to DGS in category, traditional preparation methods, and cultural significance as a destination Jewish deli establishment.
- 2nd Ave Deli: Iconic New York Jewish delicatessen serving house-cured pastrami, corned beef, and traditional deli classics in a full-service format. Closest analog to DGS in terms of traditional Jewish deli craft, full-service model, and brand recognition.
- Frankel's Delicatessen: Brooklyn Jewish deli serving house-cured pastrami, smoked fish, and traditional deli fare in a casual full-service format. Comparable in artisanal Jewish deli positioning, house-cured methods, and modern upscale-casual execution.
- Call Your Mother: Washington DC-based Jewish deli and bagel shop serving house-made bagels, pastrami, and traditional deli fare. Operates multiple locations in the DC market and is the most direct competitive peer given overlapping geography and category.
- Revival: Berkeley-based Jewish deli serving house-cured pastrami, smoked meats, and traditional deli fare with modern presentation. Comparable in craft Jewish deli category, house-cured methodology, and contemporary upscale-casual positioning.
- Mile End Delicatessen: Brooklyn-based Jewish deli featuring house-cured and smoked meats, Montreal-style bagels, and traditional Jewish deli fare. Comparable in artisanal approach, house-smoking program, and modern upscale take on Jewish deli tradition.
Regional players
- Le Diplomate: Washington DC upscale French bistro operating at a similar price tier and full-service format with strong press coverage. Comparable as a DC upscale-casual restaurant with comparable beverage program, brunch, and reservations model.
- Parkway Deli: Long-established Silver Spring, Maryland Jewish deli serving traditional Jewish deli fare in the DC metropolitan area. Comparable as regional Jewish deli serving the same DC-area market with traditional preparation methods.
- The Dabney: Washington DC upscale American restaurant known for wood-fired cooking and a regional Mid-Atlantic menu. Comparable as a DC-based upscale-casual restaurant operating at a similar price point and chef-driven level of execution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DGS Delicatessen social profiles
Digital presenceDGS Delicatessen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DGS Delicatessen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
DGS Delicatessen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DGS Delicatessen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DGS Delicatessen
What does DGS Delicatessen do?
DGS Delicatessen is a Jewish delicatessen in Washington, DC that serves traditional house-cured pastrami, applewood smoked salmon, bagels, matzo balls, and other classic deli items prepared in-house using old-world brining, curing, smoking, and pickling techniques. The restaurant also offers a craft cocktail bar program with 60+ original cocktails, a weekend brunch, catering and delivery, and private event hosting.
Is DGS Delicatessen a public or private company?
DGS Delicatessen is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was DGS Delicatessen founded?
DGS Delicatessen was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is DGS Delicatessen based?
DGS Delicatessen is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does DGS Delicatessen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are catering & Delivery, private Events, beverage Sales and gift Certificates.
Who are DGS Delicatessen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Russ & Daughters, Katz's Delicatessen, 2nd Ave Deli, Frankel's Delicatessen, Call Your Mother, Revival and Mile End Delicatessen. Regional players are Le Diplomate, Parkway Deli and The Dabney.
Does DGS Delicatessen have an API?
No public API is recorded for DGS Delicatessen.
What industry is DGS Delicatessen in?
DGS Delicatessen's product category is Jewish Delicatessen / Casual Dining Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAM, Regional/Ethnic Specialty Fast Casual (e.g., Indian, Caribbean, African, Eastern European), with a secondary code of HSACAGAH, Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly). Its NAICS code is 722511.