I just watched an Anthony Bourdain special, “Disappearing Manhattan”. Among the many old endangered places that he visited was Katz’s Delicatessan. For someone who lives in the deli-starved bay area of California, that placed looked like heaven. I haven’t had a decent pastrami sandwich in about ten years.
For any other deprived pastrami voyeurs, take a look. Admittedly, this is just the slicing of the pastrami, but related videos to the right will depict a finished sandwich.
So, who has been there? Are the 'wiches as orgasmic as they look? Do tell.
I’m not a New Yorker, but my buddy lives about 3 blocks south of Katz’s so I try to go there every time I’m there. Many real New Yorker’s here on this board have dissed Katz’s as being overpriced and mediocre. Hell, it is without question overpriced, but it is delicious. I’m sure that their commentary is heartfelt, but seriously, a criticism of a pastrami sandwich is entirely subjective. The place seems to be very authentic to me, and I believe it when they say it hasn’t changed in years. Frankly, I’ve hit nearly every single deli in Manhattan mentioned here and on foodie websites, and I’ve found almost everyone one of them pretty good, overpriced, and having way too much meat.
If you’ve never been, you should absolutely check it out.
I was there once about 10 years ago. I just remember it being overpriced and way too much meat. Like a salami sandwich was $12 and was just a pound of salami between two slices of bread. I didn’t know what all the fuss was about.
I believe the reason deli sandwiches originally had so much meat is that you’d buy the sandwich, remove most of the meat (to get it to a normal sandwich size) and then store your meat in the icebox/fridge and have enough for sandwiches for several days.
Nowadays, of course, everyone just gorges on the one sandwich instead.
Admittedly, it’s not a small sandwich, but isn’t it the Carnegie Deli which is famous for giving you way, way too much meat? The Katz sammy in this video doesn’t look overly monstrous to me.
I used to live practically around the corner from Katz’s, before I left NYC 14 years ago. I miss it, but I miss the 2nd Avenue Deli more. They’re both more “authentic” than the overrated Carnegie.
Our last trip to NY, we did a late-night subway journey just to make it to Katz’s before they close.
I couldn’t decide from among all the enticing items, but they had a special of liver and pastrami sandwich. HAD to have that, though everyone at the counter (you have to move down this assembly line of people) all thought I was absolutely nuts (I had to wonder if they listed it as a Special on a bet).
But man it was good. Really, really good (though to be fair, I’m from California, so there are few of those types of traditional delis easily available out here).
Oh, and you know who recommended it to us? Nick Arrojo from What Not To Wear (my wife was getting a haircut from him the day before).
I ordered a pastrami sandwich there once. As I waited at the counter the sandwich maker cut two slices of pastrami and put them up on the counter on the end of his knife. I stood there dumbfounded for a sec and gave him a quizzical look.
Ha, you know what? It was Carnegie that I ate at, not Katz’s. I googled images of Katz’s and the inside looks the same as Carnegie (bunch of celebrity photos up and down the walls) so I thought it was Katz’s I ate at.
Carnegie was overrated.
The sandwich is fine but grossly overpriced (granted, that’s pretty much the rule in New York…), and I’ve definitely had better sandwiches elsewhere. Still, and all, if you’re looking for an old-fashioned looking deli it’s good, plus you can say you ate at the place where they filmed the famous orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally.
The consensus among New Yorkers is that it is expensive, but the pastrami is the best anywhere. Unfortunately, the rest of the stuff on the menu isn’t really up to that level. So just get the pastrami. 2nd Avenue Deli (now relocated), is better all-around, but can’t match the pastrami at Katz’s.
I go to Katz’s every once in a while. I never really understood pastrami until I had it there. Evidently the difference between ordinary and great pastrami is huge.
A few doors down is Russ & Daughters, which is one of the best lox places in the city, and also has some very classic Kossar’s bagels. Coincidentally, the only place I’ve been to which had pastrami’d salmon. I’ve never tried it though, it frankly sounds a bit weird.
You can get mail order from them, and it is great. I got some in thanks for doing booth duty, from someone on our committee who knew how much I miss real pastrami. It comes with pastrami, corned beef, good mustard, pickles, and rye bread. Rye bread is something else we don’t have in northern California.
BTW, the Carnegie deli branch in the Caesar’s Palace mall in Vegas is quite good. The deli in NY, NY sucked the time I tried it.
I’ve read several times that the sammys are overpriced. A great deli that I go to in Chicago is Perry’s Deli. A hot pastrami as big as your head, and no that is not an exaggeration, runs you about $8.00.
What does a similar wich run at the delis mentioned above?
I keep hearing how these delis are supposedly overpriced, but they really aren’t. If you consider the amount of meat that you get on the sandwich, $15 for pastrami isn’t outrageous at all. It’s $10 or $11 per pound for decent pastrami in an Atlanta Grocery store. Yeah, the sandwich is too big for one person, but I don’t think they were really intended to be eaten in one sitting anyway.
I’ve been many times, although not in the last few years. I used to live pretty much around the corner, so I’d go quite frequently.
It is good. I don’t think it’s mediocre at all. As to authenticity, I’m not sure what that means. It’s pretty much the same as it’s been for years, if that counts, but it’s not kosher anymore (and hasn’t been for many years), if that’s what’s meant by “authentic”.
My father worked in Manhattan and would sometimes bring home Katz’s for dinner as a take out treat. I loved pastrami and corned beef. Now I’m a vegetarian but I still think of those dinners fondly.
Yeah, Katz’s has great sandwiches, but as other posters have said, its a bit expensive (but not overpriced). If you’re ever in L.A., try Greenblaat’s in West Hollywood.
(though to be fair, I’m from California, so there are few of those types of traditional delis easily available out here).