Depends what you mean by "good" atmosphere - you will very likely get yelled at by the staff at Carnegie, especially if you don't finish your enormous sandwich! However, I would agree with those who cast their votes for 2nd Avenue. I was taken there years ago by a native New Yorker who swore it was better than Carnegie or Katz's - and I think she was right.

If you go to Carnegie, be sure to look at someone else's sandwich order before you order one. They are very expensive but huge. You can then judge how many can fress (stuff themselves) on a single sandwich. ;;)

I think Katz's is more of an authentic deli experience, but we did not enjoy it.

Ratners has been closed for over a year, I believe.

Is anyone familiar with Kaplan's Deli? We stumbled upon it a couple years ago and loved the food. It's connected to the Delmonico in the East 50's, near Madison, I believe. Coming from Nebraska we weren't familiar with some of the dishes so the waiter brought us samples to try. Food was great and atmosphere seemed 'authentic.'

I don't consider myself a deli expert, but I have been to Katz's and Second Ave. Deli. Second Ave is designed more like a typical restaurant than Katz's. Katz's has more atmosphere, but Second Ave. is more Kosher. Tough choice. I would lean toward Katz's, but you can't go wrong with either for the food, and each has its own interesting atmosphere. I would make the pick for the neighborhood. How does it fit with your sightseeing agenda so that you don't go too far off the track? If you choose, Second Ave. you get the extra benefit of being just down the street from Pommes Frites (123 2nd Ave.), a little hole-in-the-wall place that sells magnificent (and I do mean magnificent) french fries accompanied by a wide selection of sauces. If you have any appetite after the deli, have fries for dessert. I did it in reverse, and the fries made it hard to eat my sandwich (it didn' help that I was exhausted at the time - but the serving size at both places was large too).

dan, Second Avenue Deli is a Kosher Deli while Katz is not. Katz is Kosher style however.

Today's free locall paper "Metro" has a piece about the Second Ave. Deli. that might interest the OP.
It seems that a notorious NY character Al Goldstein has been hired by them 5 weeks ago as the host of the restaurant.

He has been the subject of a few scandals here in NYC previously, and his comment for the record was "These days I prefer gelfilte fish to naked flesh!" Ha.

As well as being the restaurant host, he will be hosting a stand-up midnight show on weekends at the deli. (Be forewarned, it will probably contain lots of blue material)

Al G. has risen a third time from obscurity, and this time he had been living in a homeless shelter on 23rd street, when he landed this $10/hour job. Only in NY, only in NY......

Do you have a link?

Sorry for the delay gotravel-just had a marathon workday. Couldn't fins the general link for the paper, but the story was the lead one on the local page (page 06) for today, September 21.
The editor for that page in Michael Ventura, and his email is published as
[email protected]
maybe you can get the story or a link through him-
I think the story is truly bizarre, but one has to know who Al is (was) to really appreciate it!
Good luck-

So how does it actually work in Katz's? You walk in and have to get a ticket? And then... ?

I heard Al Goldstein has been fired already. Anyone know?

At Katz's they give each person a ticket when you walk in. DON'T LOSE IT. When you order food at the counter they will ask for your ticket and write a price on it. There are several different areas that serve different foods so you may need to wait on >1 line (hot dogs and knishes are in the front, sandwiches are in the back, drinks are somewhere in between). At each counter they'll write on your ticket. Then when you leave, you bring your ticket to the booth at the door, where they'll add up all your items and you pay. One ticket must be handed it for each person, whether or not there's anything written on it.

My vote id for Ben's on 38th. We were told they were great and they were. Great service and the best coleslaw I have ever had. We are soooo craving it now!! There were no lins and it is in the Times Square area.

Thanks suzanne!

Where on 38 is Ben's - I usually stay in the Courtyard on 40th???

2nd Avenue hands down.

Ben's is at 209 W 38th St., btw 7th & 8th Ave.

I prefer Katz over 2nd Ave, but you can't go wrong whichever you choose. My family's been eating at Katz for probably 100 years, so there you go.


IMO, Carnegie, Stage, etc. are tourist traps.

My earliest memories of eating out are at Katz's, probably fifty years ago. And then my father lived down the street from the Carnegie for ten years and that was the neighborhood deli of choice for him. I'm picturing his face at the thought of it as a tourist trap. So they both rank high on my list; I wish we had anything like either one of them closer than two hundred miles from my home.

I love the carnegie deli.It is a great NY experience.It is fun with great food.Do not be afraid to share.The portions are huge