deli near Tenement Museum

Maybe the mixed reviews were from know-nothings. Have a pastrami sandwich and a bottle of Cel-Ray and soak up the one-of-a-kind ambience.

While you're in the neighborhood, pick up a knish at Yonah Schimmel--another gem of a place: http://knishery.com/

HTTY

If you're looking for a classic Jewish deli, Katz's is IT in NYC and happens to be near the museum.

And there really aren't any other delis near the Tenement Museum, so if you decide against Katz's, you either need to pick another type of food, or go to another neighborhood

Those people probably didn't know to put $1.00 in the deli man's tip jar to get an extra-thick sandwich, or to order a sandwich with the fat trimmed. My mouth is watering here in deli-deprived Northern California.

Unfortunately, you are about 50 years too late.

I do not know about mixed reviews. It could from people who have never had real Jewish deli. I traveled around the coutnry and what passes as NY Deli is just plain awful. I have not, however, been to Zingerman's or Nate and Al's in LA. But Katz's makes the best pastrami.

But to me the best Jewish Deli is 2nd Ave simply because they also sell dishes potato and noodle kugel and kasha varnishkes.

ok--you all have convinced me,im going to Katz's--by the way,in my searching before i posted, there was a post about the "rules" at Katz's, eg, sitting at a table, getting a ticket etc.I just now searched and couldnt find the post.Do any of you nice folks know the rules, or could link me to the post--thanks

When you enter Katz's each person will be given a little ticket like they used to have in cafterias. Do not lose it.

You can either go to the counters and order the food yourself or sit on the far left for table service.

If you order yourself, you must get dfferent items from different people behind the counter. If you buy a sandwich stuff a buck into the tip jar for a taste and a larger sandwich. Bribery is leagl there. The guy behind the counter will mark up your ticket.

On the weekends and most lunches during the week if is packed and it is a fairly large restaurant. Go at night.

If you want desseet go around the corner on Orchard street to Il Laboratorio de Gelato where they make their own.

thanks so much--we'll be there around 12:30 on a Friday---do you think it'll be like a zoo at that time--we'll be sitting.Guess we can go look and if its crazy busy,move on.Itll be friday 7/2,so maybe the normal lunch crowd will be alittle thinner.i hope

That Friday alot of people will alredy headed out of the city for the long weekend - but tourists will be there in swarms. I'm guessing a little bit lighter - since many tourists don;t know/like real deli (they expect the same awful stuff theyget at home. There is even a chain called NY Delis - which is about as far from a real delis as you can get anywhere - they serve tiny sandwiches, no real pastrami and no tongue, no kosher pickes PLUS potato chips!)

If you can go earlier, it would be better.

And don't get table service. Part of the experience at Katz' is the counter ordering. Make sure the deli man SEES you put $1.00 in the tip jar. Really, just $1.00. (I was the one who posted the "rules"). If you want french fries or a few other things (soda?) you go to a different counter, so your group can just split up into different lines. But your deli man can get your soup if you're going for that! And try to sit in the main (front) room -- the back room is too quiet!

bigbomoho, you're getting great advice on Katz's from everyone above. Note that this is also a worthy place to get an egg cream for a beverage if that's of interest.

And I'd personally be very suspicious of negative posters re Katz's. Their pastrami juicy on rye with deli mustard is arguably the best sandwich of any kind I've had anywhere.

Ooooh, an egg cream is a must!!

thanks again,alot.I have a foot probelm and cant stand for too long in one place, so will need to sit (its hell getting old)--i used to work in lower Manhattan so dont really need the experience as far as counter guys--i remember waiting "on line" and the counter guys would be yelling 5 or 6 deep saying "Ok what do you want,we dont have all day"I will have an agg cream as well--thanks.So after getting our ticket, we just go to our left,and someone will serve us//is the back room/front room choice as well??thanks

Incidentally, on my most recent visit to Katz, my dollar in the jar was rewarded with an entire plate of pickles along with my taste of pastrami.

bigbomoho, I've never stood more than a couple minutes in line even at the busiest. But yes you can sit. And rarely do I see a wait for "sit down service" tables. There is a back room, sort of, but no different really. I think the only sit down service is along the wall of the main room.

I'm pretty sure Neo is right that the sit-down service is along the left-hand wall in the main room.

i cant wait--now if i can find a deli somewhere near St pauls (WTC) we could go 2 days in a row--YUMMY!!

I went to Katz totally uninitiated - hadn't read the rules or anything. It wasn't hard to figure out as long as you've ever been to a cafeteria. I wouldn't worry too much about figuring out all the rules ahead of time.

There's no major Jewish-style deli down in the WTC/St. Paul's area, unfortunately. If you want to pick a second one besides Katz's to try at some point, 2nd Avenue Deli (around 33rd and 3rd) is a good choice -- it's the only one of the major delis that's actually kosher, too.

Further uptown (more or less near Rockefeller Center and Times Square) are the Carnegie Deli and Stage Deli. And both Artie's and Barney Greengrass (the latter has a specialty in smoked fish) are further uptown, in the general vicinity of the American Museum of Natural History. Maybe not the equal of Katz's or 2nd Avenue, but worth considering if you're in the neighborhood and want this cuisine.

The subway will reach all these easily enough.

thanks alot--we're staying at 53rd and 3rd so hopping a train to 2nd ave should be a breeze--cant wait.This is a birthday trip for me, 65, so being able to do alot of the things i did when i lived in NYC should be fun.The highlight will be the Spirit Cruis on July 4th, but Katz's will be a close second im sure

Are you staying at the Courtyard?

If Katz's and 2nd Ave were truly kosher they would be closed from Friday sun down to Saturday sun down.

2nd Avenue is kosher but not glatt. Whatever they call themselves, (I personally do not care!) I owe my recovery from a horrible bronchial infection last winter to many quarts of their chicken in a pot. I love that place!

yes--we're at the Courtyard--ive stayed there several times and its convenient and very clean,and has great views of Chrysler building

Agree that only glatt kosher restaurants close for the sabbath (there are several in my neighborhood since we have a fairly large orthodox population.

I think 2nd Ave Deli is the best overall deli in the city, even though the pastrami at Katz's is better. I am just pointing one that they do not fully comply with the arcane rules of keeping kosher.

Katz is the bomb.

I still recall the first of many pastrami sandwiches there; it was an epiphany for me! If all pastrami was like Katz's, it would replace hamburgers as the national sandwich!

Tip the counterman! Enjoy the experience (and do it early and often!)

bb, we've stayed at the Courtyard too. We thought it was excellent -- huge rooms by NYC standards, and we love the location (easy access to the subway, central, Duane Reade right downstairs, etc.)

who is Duane Read

Duane Reade is the ubiquitous drugstore chain

Just a few years back I did the Tenement Museum and then hiked over to THE deli and was by myself and did it all just fine!!!

First of all the Museum is amazing....and a total fantastic experience. By the time I arrived for my pastrami I was starving and the sandwich was great!!!!!

The place was not at all crowded on the day I was there...lots and lots of empty tables...including THE table....but I chose not to sit there!!

Anyway enjoy your entire day and food.....

thanks for all the advice--we'll be there in 2 weeks and look foward to it, and our trip on the Spirit Cruise for the fireworks--hoorah!!

went today--it was very crowded but got lasttable along the wall--excellent service.Pastrami was lean and very tasy, beer was exellent, wifes chicken soup in credibel, and our chocolate egg creams were very goodThanks forall the excelent advice--BTW, the tenement museum nearby was well worth it

Glad it worked out! I'm drooling over your meal....

bookmarking

Bookmarking.

This post is almost two years old. Any implication that Katz's is not a 'tourist' restaurant is now outdated. I was walking by last Saturday - a non holiday weekend in February - at 11:30 - and there was a wait just to get inside. It looked like mostly tourists to me. That doesn't mean the food isn't good, just that it is firmly on the tourist map. In fact if you google delis in NY the first three are Katz's , Carnegie, and 2nd Ave. There really are many other deli's with good food in NY. Google it and note some addresses in the area you are going to be in.

So if you're a tourist who is going to the Tenement Museum and want to eat lunch in the area, is this still a good place to go?

Well, the last time I was at Katz's -- about 7 months ago, it was also very crowded, but nearly a third were dressed as New York cops and fireman. Do tourists put on costume uniforms? People who think that in a city like New York, there won't be thousands of tourists who have found ANY good place, just isn't in touch with reality. Of course, tourists go there -- just like you Volcanogirl, many tourists seek out the best food in each category. Some may argue that a couple other delis may be as good or even better, but if you've never even been to a NYC deli, or even if you have, trust me -- you'll find the food amazing.

And if you find a place in NYC that has been in business for more than a few years and there are NO tourists, then probably it just isn't very good -- why wouldn't quality-seeking tourists have told each other about it, or why wouldn't have New Yorkers taken their tourist visitors there and let them spread the news?

Plenty of locals eat at Katz's. And plenty of tourists, too. This has been true as long as I've lived in NYC.

The difference is that in the last 5-10 years many, many other good places to eat have opened in that neighborhood...

If I were a tourist wanting to eat lunch in the area, I would go to Katz's. But I would NOT go there unless I was prepared to order one of their signature/best dishes--corned beef, pastrami, grilled hot dog. Maybe brisket. I've see far too many people over the years eating things like turkey sandwiches and tuna fish platters.

Pastrami it is then - thanks, guys! The sandwiches look big enough to split. I have my eye on Il Laboratorio del Gelato for dessert.

The line was out the door an hour ago at Katz's. It is a zoo on the weekends.

Sometimes this tourist/local argument on this board is absolutely ridiculous.

Yes, but Adu, those uniformed people in line were part of the contingent of firemen and policemen from Tuscaloosa who are in town for the annual competitive pastrami-eating contest.

No doubt there were a few imposters in the group who thought they could sneak in wearing those cheesy NYC firemen costumes they sell at the Rickey's post-Halloween costume sale for $19.99.

Many people come from the burbs on weekends to go to Katz's, 2nd Ave Deli, Russ & Daughters, Economy, Moishe's, etc.

We went to the Pickle Guys today, just to take a walk. And the line there was out the door.

And the kids who live in the neighborhood were in full brunch mode as the nice weather had everyone in the streets.