What Loveski Deli does

Loveski Deli is a privately-held Bay Area restaurant concept operating under the "Jew-ish deli" positioning, founded by Chef Christopher Kostow and Martina Kostow as part of Team Kostow. The business runs three physical locations—Napa (the original), Marin/Larkspur, and San Francisco's Jackson Square (opening late February or early March 2026)—with headcount in the 11-50 range. Its product portfolio is anchored by house-made bagels (including a signature "Famous Yeast" recipe that earned the top ranking in an SF Chronicle blind tasting and was named the Chronicle food team's favorite bagel in the Bay Area), complemented by house-cured pastrami sold by the pound, smoked fish, handcrafted spreads, deli sandwiches on rye or sourdough, salads, soups, matzoh ball soup, dumplings, latkes, smoothies, and rice bowls. The culinary approach leverages traditional Jewish deli preparation methods—including fermented dough techniques, house curing, and artisanal assembly—while incorporating hyper-seasonal California ingredients.

The business generates revenue through a direct-to-consumer retail model with three streams: in-store retail food sales across all locations, online ordering for in-store pickup via its own website, and a catering/private events business. Pricing is unit-based with catering trays ranging from $40 (Small Latke Tray, Marin only) to $400 (Large Sandwich Tray, serving ~30 halves), pastrami sold by the pound at $38/lb or $30/half-pound, and gift cards (physical and digital) available across all three locations. The customer base is segmented horizontally into general consumers and food enthusiasts (primary) and corporate and event clients (secondary), served through in-store dining, pickup, DoorDash delivery for catering, and direct inquiry-based sales for private events including Breakfast & Brunch, Lunch & Dinner, Canapés, and Kiddush Menus. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard restaurant SaaS—Toast Tab for gift card purchasing, BentoBox for the website and online ordering, and DoorDash for delivery—with no proprietary platform or AI/ML systems disclosed.

Name

Loveski Deli

Legal name

Loveski Deli

Website

https://loveskideli.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Loveski Deli is a privately-held Bay Area "Jew-ish deli" concept founded by Chef Christopher Kostow and Martina Kostow, operating three locations (Napa, Marin, and San Francisco Jackson Square) serving handcrafted bagels, deli sandwiches, salads, bowls, catering trays, and private event menus to retail consumers and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Deli & Bagel Shop

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Delis & Sandwich Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Breakfast-to-Go (Breakfast Sandwiches, Parfaits, Oatmeal) (CRAHAKAG), Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Artisan bagels
• Deli sandwiches
• Catering services
• Jewish deli food
• House-made spreads

Headquarters

HQ city

Napa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Sales: Direct in-store sales of bagels, sandwiches, soups, salads, and beverages across three physical locations. Customers can purchase items for immediate consumption or take-out. Gift cards (both physical and digital) are sold to facilitate future purchases.
2. Catering and Private Events: Catering trays and spreads for large parties, including bagel platters, sandwich trays, and latke trays. Catering is available for pickup or delivery through DoorDash. Private event services offer breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner, canapés, and Kiddush menus for celebrations and corporate gatherings.
3. Online Ordering: Direct online ordering through the company's website for in-store pickup, enabling customers to place orders ahead of time for efficiency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Loveski Deli operates three physical deli storefronts in the San Francisco Bay Area that sell house-made bagels, specialty bagel sandwiches, deli sandwiches, salads, soups, smoothies, and bowls. The company also sells house-made spreads, house-cured pastrami, and other pantry items, and offers catering trays plus customizable private event menus for breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner, canapés, and Kiddush gatherings. Gift cards and online ordering for pickup are available across all locations.

Product overview

Loveski Deli is a 'Jew-ish' deli concept by Chef Christopher Kostow and Team Kostow, operating as a single unified restaurant brand with three physical locations (Napa, Marin, and San Francisco Jackson Square). The core product is The Loveski Bagel, complemented by specialty bagel sandwiches, deli sandwiches, salads, soups, dumplings, latkes, fries, smoothies, and bowls. Additional offerings include catering trays and spreads for events, private event catering with customizable menus (Breakfast & Brunch, Lunch & Dinner, Canapés, Kiddush), and gift cards. The product portfolio centers on elevated deli fare that celebrates Jewish deli traditions while incorporating modern California influences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• House-Made Bagels Handcrafted bagels available in multiple varieties including Seeded Everything, Sesame Seed, Cinnamon Raisin, Poppy Seed, The Famous Yeast, Sea Salt, Plain, and Gluten Free (made in a shared facility). Sold by the piece at Loveski deli locations.
• Specialty Bagel Sandwiches Prepared bagel sandwiches including Nova (smoked salmon with fermented onion spread, capers, shallots, dill), Pastrami Egg & Cheese, Avocado & Radish, Heirloom Tomato, and Whitefish Bagel. Sold individually at Loveski deli locations.
• Deli Sandwiches Deli sandwiches served on rye or sourdough including Turkey & Cheddar, Tuna Melt, Smashed Chickpea (vegan), Chopped Reuben, Egg Salad Sandwich, The Tribute, The Tradition, Tuna Sandwich, Braised Brisket, and Whitefish Sandwich.
• Salads & Wraps Fresh salads including Loveski Salad, Tahini Caesar Salad, and Green Goddess Salad, with add-on options for chickpea salad, turkey breast, smoked salmon, avocado, tuna salad, and chopped pastrami. Also includes a Chicken Caesar Wrap.
• Dumplings & Soups Asian-inspired and traditional deli soups including Beef Dumplings with sour cream and chili crisp, Matzoh Ball Soup in chicken broth, and Vegetarian Matzoh Ball Soup in mushroom broth.
• Latkes & Fries Potato latkes available in mini sizes of 10 or 5, served with sour cream and applesauce, alongside Loaded Fries and Crinkle Cut Fries.
• Smoothies Health-focused smoothies including Marine Layer (blueberry-based with blue spirulina), Berry Glow (strawberry-based with maca powder), and Almond Butter Power (banana-based with chocolate whey protein and creatine).
• Bowls Rice-based bowls including Thai Steak Salad with akaushi wagyu, Roasted Salmon Bowl, and Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, with protein add-on options of chickpea salad, roasted chicken, or smoked salmon.
• All-Day Breakfast Breakfast items available all day including Scrambled Egg & Avocado, Smoked Salmon Plate, and 'Den's Way' Matzoh Ball Soup with Thai herbs and lemongrass.
• House-Made Spreads and Deli Meats House-made cream cheese spreads including Plain Cream Cheese, Yellow Chive & Fermented Onion, Miso Vegetable, Vegan Cream Cheese, Herb Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon Spread, and Butter & Jam, plus house-sliced pastrami sold by the pound.
• Catering Trays & Spreads Catering trays available for pickup or delivery including bagel trays (12 bagels + 3 spreads, serves 8-12), A Little Loveski trays, Bagel Sandwich Trays, Sandwich Trays (serves 12-24), Large Sandwich Trays, Pastry Boxes, Farm and Green Goddess Salads, Latke Trays (Marin only), and pastrami by the pound.
• Private Event Catering Customizable private event catering service with four menu categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Lunch & Dinner, Canapés (including tray-passed bites and stations such as salmon or pastrami stations), and Kiddush Menus for Jewish celebrations.
• Loveski Gift Cards Physical and digital (e-gift) gift cards available for purchase and redemption at Loveski Napa, Loveski Marin, and Loveski Jackson Square, sold through Toast Tab and redeemable only at the store of purchase.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Josey Baker BreadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor the new San Francisco Jackson Square location, Loveski will feature non-bagel sandwiches with bread sourced from Josey Baker Bread, a well-known artisan bread bakery in the Bay Area. This partnership enhances the product offering at the new location.
• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDoorDash is used for catering delivery at the Jackson Square location, enabling customers to receive catering orders through the DoorDash platform. This expands the delivery reach for catering services.
• Culinary AgentsminorOthersLoveski uses Culinary Agents as their recruiting platform for career inquiries and hiring, as indicated on their careers page linking to Culinary Agents for job opportunities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Mill: The Mill is a San Francisco café and bakery with multiple locations, serving coffee, toasts, and bakery items. Comparable to Loveski's Jackson Square concept in café, beverage, and light-food daypart.
• Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels: Izzy's is a Bay Area bagel shop and cafe serving Brooklyn-style bagels and sandwiches from multiple locations. It directly competes for the same artisan-bagel, dine-in/carry-out customer.
• Boichik Bagels: Boichik is a Bay Area bagel specialist with multiple locations focused on hand-rolled, sourdough-style bagels. It overlaps directly with Loveski's core product line and customer segment in the same regional market.
• Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen: Wise Sons is a Jewish deli with multiple Bay Area locations serving bagels, smoked fish, sandwiches, and pantry items. It is the closest direct competitor to Loveski in format, menu, and customer base.
• Bini's Kitchen: Bini's is a Bay Area Indian-Jewish deli concept serving playful mashups of Indian and Jewish deli fare. It is a direct comparable in the elevated Jewish-deli niche with a similar chef-driven, modern positioning.
• Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen: Saul's is a long-established Jewish deli in Berkeley serving bagels, deli sandwiches, and Jewish comfort food. It is a direct comparable in cuisine category with a similar dine-in and catering model.
• Marla Bakery: Marla is a Mission/Haight bakery-café in San Francisco serving pastries, bread, and casual breakfast/lunch fare. It overlaps with Loveski's SF bakery-café positioning and Bay Area culinary credibility.

Broad incumbents

• Souvla: Souvla is a Bay Area fast-casual Greek restaurant group with multiple locations and catering. Comparable as a regional, chef-driven, multi-location casual concept with similar scale and catering operations.
• Mister Jiu's: Mister Jiu's is a Michelin-starred modern Chinese-American restaurant in San Francisco. Comparable as a chef-led, fine-dining-pedigree concept in the SF market, though in a different cuisine category.
• Tartine Bakery: Tartine is a globally recognized Bay Area bakery brand with brick-and-mortar locations and a broader specialty food footprint. It is a broader incumbent in Bay Area craft bakery rather than a direct Jewish deli competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/loveski.deli
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loveski-deli

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Loveski Deli