Paul Nakis

The Climb

Since 2012, Paul Nakis has held the owner and Executive Chef role at Schwartz’s. In Montréal, where deli tradition is judged by pace, precision, and continuity, that position means more than management: it means carrying a service format that depends on repetition done well, smoke handled consistently, and a room that still reads the same to regulars and first-timers. At Schwartz’s, Nakis is the one responsible for keeping that operating language intact.

Today

The owner’s chair at Schwartz’s in Montréal comes with a practical brief: keep the house recognizable without freezing it in place. For Nakis, that work sits in the daily exchange between kitchen, counter, and customer, where the value of a classic deli is measured service by service. The craft is maintenance as much as presentation, and the standard is continuity.

Signature

Famous Montreal Smoked Meat is the signature most closely tied to Paul Nakis and to Schwartz’s itself. It is the dish that defines the counter’s public identity: seasoned, recognizable, and fixed in the restaurant’s repertoire. Under Nakis, it functions as a core expression of house style, carrying the deli’s history in a format that regulars already know how to read.

In Their Words “There are just a few things that remain. Most important of all: the signing.” Those lines point to a trade that depends on consistency and a few non-negotiable markers. The emphasis is on what stays in place, and on the small operational details that give the room its character. For Nakis, the work is less about invention than about protecting the elements that make the service legible.

Recognition

It’s the most unique restaurant in the world, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. The recognition attached to Schwartz’s comes from duration as much as reputation. Years of service have made the deli familiar to locals and a destination for visitors, and that combination is part of what keeps the counter relevant. For Nakis, the distinction lies in sustaining a place where routine itself is the craft.