Heading to Manhattan for a few days and I’m thinking I would like to hit an authentic New York deli for lunch. Katz’s is the oldest and, I guess, the most famous.
If you have been to Katz’s, tell me about your experience. Or tell me another deli that might be preferable.
And, while we’re on the subject, what should I order?
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I’ve been to Katz’s a few times, always had a great meal. The ordering process is a bit confusing, you get a ticket on entering, and you get it filled out at the counter or at your seat, and then pay when leaving.
The pastrami is to die for, everything else is good but have what she’s having.
The first time I was there I went to the counter, ordered my sandwich, and the meat cutter handed me a plate with two pieces of pastrami. I asked what this was and he said it’s for me to eat while he made the sandwich. 10/10.
There are many other delis with very good food, but Katz’s is my favorite. It’s more expensive than most because of its popularity.
Oh, the pickles are the best.
Any diner that has been around for more than 5 years in Manhattan is probably going to be very good. (At least south of Central Park)
Try an Chocolate Egg Cream when you go, it is pretty much a NYC only thing and quite the treat. Pretty much every NYC deli and diner probably makes them.
I’ve been a couple of times and it’s top notch deli, pastrami is the right choice. I think a sandwich is about $30 now.
If it’s a tongue sandwich you’re after, I’ll throw in a vote for the 2nd Avenue Deli (which, FYI, is no longer located on 2nd Avenue).
(As Marty Supreme taught us, don’t order the roast beef unless you have a goyishe kop 
)
I ate at one of the famous delis (Katz’s? Stage? Carnegie?) decades ago. I think I had the pastrami sandwich. It was as you’ve heard; comically overstuffed with pastrami, so that you have remove half or more just to get the thing in your mouth. I have no idea why. Do they expect you to take half the pastrami home and have a second sandwich in five days, after recovering from the meat coma?
As a Chinese man once said, the problem with Jewish food is that two days later, you’re hungry again.
I agree with @What_Exit that any NY deli will be fine, and much cheaper, and won’t give you that stupid amount of meat in the middle. If you do to go Katz and get the pastrami or the reuben, it’s enough for two – maybe you can get some extra bread or something to make two still-overstuffed sandwiches.
Any of those are good choices, but what do you like? That’s what you should get. If you are really tied on those three, I’d give a nod to the pastrami, because it’s such a characteristic NY deli thing.
Been to Katz’s a couple of times, but I wouldn’t say it’s any better than any number of NYC delis, and is certainly more expensive. The pastrami sandwich is massive and it’s okay to go if you just want bragging rights. The food is good, but I have to say I would never mail-order food from them again. I did it twice and both times feel like it was substandard; like they took the worst of the pastrami to send. Same for Zabar’s.
Katz’s slogan, a holdover from wartime, is “Send a salami to your boy in the Army”. I love that ‘salami’ and ‘Army’ are supposed to rhyme.
Whereas we all know that ‘salami’ rhymes so well with ‘mommy’ and ‘commie’.
QFT. Several years ago we were visiting the Intrepid museum, and found a very nondescript diner a block or 2 away. Easily the second best sandwich I’ve ever had, at an astonishingly reasonable price for Manhattan.
Helps that it was in an area generally away from the touristy area.
We ate at one last August, east of the park near Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and it quite reasonable and excellent. Only a little more expensive than lunch down by us in Central Jersey.
If I was back in NYC for some reason (not going to happen though) I’d check out another deli institution on Houston St. - Russ & Daughters.
Pre-sampling via mail order is available.
Who wouldn’t crave a nice whitefish on St. Patrick’s Day?
The last time I was in NYC, about 15 years ago, we went to the Carnegie Deli for lunch. I had a BLT. The bacon was stacked about 2 inches thick, I think, maybe more. I love bacon, and I didn’t try to eat it as a sandwich until I had picked up with my fingers and eaten about 80% of the bacon. It was excellent bacon, cooked just right. I never thought it would be possible, but I was kind of sick of bacon by the time I finished.
One morning for breakfast we went to Zabar’s on 81st and Broadway. The best bagels I’ve ever had.
And if you’re uptown, try Barney Greengrass.
(Nitpick: R&D is “appetizing” (smoked fish and dairy products) not deli (meat-based sandwiches), while BG is both.)
If you’re a lover of lox, I heartily recommend Russ & Daughters as well.
I went to Katz’s around 2008, but I honestly don’t remember much at this point, other than I was confused by the ordering system. I do recall that I got the pastrami on rye.
I don’t know if this is true, but I was told that back in the day the sandwiches were intended for sharing, which is why they’re so huge. Ironically when I went to the Carnegie Deli and shared a sandwich with my family they charged us a sharing fee.
I’ll look for you when the lunch is over. That’ll be, what, 90 minutes?
When I lived in NY I used to go to the Stage and the Carnegie all the time. I didn’t hang around near Katz’s. The portions seemed just about right. Always got pastrami on rye.
One time I was at the Stage I ordered a pastrami on rye and it was on the table 30 seconds later. The waiter said “fast enough?” I miss those places so much.