The Reuben sandwich is a classic item on restaurant menus throughout the country. However, its potential origin is torn between two cities: Omaha, NE, and New York City. If you’re interested in a closer look at the history behind this fabled dish, use this guide to learn about the two main narratives.

The New York Reuben

This story centers around restaurateur Arnold Reuben, a German immigrant who was born in 1883. He opened a deli in New York City around 1908, and the restaurant would go on to change locations several times until its most famous and long-standing location at 6 East 58th St. The opening was attended by the mayor, and the dark, sumptuous eatery became a hot-spot for theater-goers and celebrities. 

In 1914, Reuben’s daughter claims that one of Charlie Chaplin’s leading ladies came into the restaurant and asked for a custom sandwich. It was a combination of Virginia ham, roast turkey, Swiss cheese, and coleslaw topped with Russian dressing and served in between two slices of rye bread. This became known as “Reuben’s Special.”

The Omaha Reuben

The other Reuben origin story belongs to Reuben Kulakoesky, a local grocer born in 1875. According to local residents, he was playing poker at The Blackstone Hotel in downtown Omaha with Charles Schimmel, the hotel owner, when everyone decided it was time for a late-night snack. He came up with the idea for a sandwich containing corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread, and had the chef make it. 

Mr. Schimmel liked it so much that he added it to the hotel restaurant’s menu. Evidence of the signature sandwich can be found on menus from 1937 and the 1940s. In 1956, one of the restaurant’s waitresses entered the “Reuben” into a national competition, and it won. 

If you’re suddenly craving a sandwich for yourself, head to Beffa's of St. Louis, MO. They opened all the way back in 1898 before any of the Reubens were invented. Whether you’re craving lunch, dinner, or drinks, you can enjoy everything from a full meal to live music under their hospitable roof. To browse their menu, visit them online. You can also call (314) 698-7669 to speak with a staff member.