I agree with Elizabeth - Katz's is the place to go for a big wallop of New York City history. The place hasn't changed much since my grandparents went there. There's an energy in that restaurant you won't find at other delis. My advice is to order a sandwich from the counterman - tip him and you'll get little samples of what you want like-corned beef or pastrami or tongue. You can sit at a table and get waited on but IMO it's not as much fun.<BR><BR>After you've stuffed yourself at Katz's, walk around the Lower East Side which is one of the hottest trendiest areas in Manhattan. Visit the Tenement Museum, check out Yonah Schimmels for delicious knishes, Russ &amp; Daughters for smoked fish. Have a drink at one of the new trendy lounges.<BR><BR>Second Avenue Deli is terrific too. It's smaller with sit-down service and you can then explore the East Village.<BR><BR>Stage and Carnegie do serve huge sandwiches but are more tourist-oriented because they're near Broadway shows. If you're in that area, try either one.<BR><BR>Try more than one to compare and let us know which one you prefer.

Mitch: In case you hadn't noticed, Judaism is very much a culture as well as a religion. And while there may not be an accent per say, there are definitely words unique to the Jewish culture. Yutz.

Katz Deli is fine but Second Avenue is far superior.

TO: Mitch,<BR><BR>Why are you trying to be such a smart ass? I'm sure the majority of people reading this post understood exactly what Brian was saying.<BR><BR>Each ethnic group in New York (or any other city) has &quot;additional accents&quot; on their accent.<BR><BR>Examples....<BR><BR>Italian/New York<BR>Jewish/New York<BR>Irish/New York<BR>Polish/New York<BR>Spanish/New York<BR><BR>I look forward to your retort.<BR><BR>Joe

Here's my 2 cents worth . . .<BR><BR>We went to Carnegie Deli and the sandwiches were good . . . however, our waitress was so rude that I would not go back nor would I recommend this place. There's never any excuse for poor service or rudeness and we experienced both.<BR><BR>We ate there around 3:00 in the afternoon, the place was not busy, and we waited about 20 min before anyone even glanced at our table. Then, a menu was thrown at us and we were to make our selection in less than 2 minutes! When we asked for a few minutes to decide, our waitress huffed off and didn't return for about 30 min. <BR><BR>She sat at a table, smoking and glaring at us. Waving at her brought no response. We finally had to ask another (rude)waitress to please get ours.<BR><BR>When we did order (and two of us split a sandwich), we did tell the waitress we were sharing, that incurred a hefty surcharge and we didn't even get a separate plate.<BR><BR>We were later informed that this is part of the &quot;Carnegie experience.&quot;<BR><BR>There are many other places in NYC to eat at and spend my money, I will not return and support that kind of service.<BR><BR>Reading about Katz, The 2nd Ave, and the other delis is making me hungry!

2nd Ave. a must, so Kosher you have to check out the clock outside. Great food and a very nice waitress.

A humble vote for Sarge's.

We went to Carneigie Deli four times the last week we were in N.Y. Best cheesecake I've ever tasted anywhere. But we'll have to try Katz's and 2nd Avenue next time as well. Good thing N.Y. is a walking city, otherwise we'd really pay for the extra calories.

One dines just before the &quot;at.&quot;

Okay, there's this thread about deli's in NYC and then the following,
?Top ten deli restaurants in NYC ?? &gt;&gt;&gt; at
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1343940

Any other updates or recent comments regarding the topic? I'm flying into LaGuardia, Aug-8th; flight lands at noon and I plan to head into the city, drop my luggage at the hotel and head out for a great corn beef sandwich! SO, I should go to Katz? 2nd Ave? ?

I agree with the Carnegie Deli kudos. The waiters are surly and the service leaves something to be desired, but the corned beef on rye is just pure bliss.

I always recommend Katz. It's an authentic deli that has been around for over 100 years. Well worth the trip down to the Lower East Side. (Just don't ask for mayonnaise. It's a sin to put mayo on a deli sandwich).

Yes, the rude waitresses are supposed to be part of the experience at Carnegie. And you better make sure you tip them at least 15% for their attitude, or they'll really let you have it. Not my cup of tea either. Food is fine, but I much prefer Katz'. And definitely do tip the servers behind the counter. As for the comments about the dining area's raunchiness, I think it adds to the charm of the place. I strictly eat the hot pastrami when going to any of these delis, so can't comment on anything else.

An aside, does anyone really still enjoy an egg cream on top of these monstrous sandwiches?

Thanks for all the feedback. Despite years of living down here in Texas I can dish attitude with the best of them.

Guess I'll see how I feel once I arrive. Flight departs at 7:40 am, so I'll be hungry and probably cranky by the time I ditch my bags at the midtown hotel where I'm staying. May walk over to Carnegie's Deli for covenience factor; yet from reading comments on a food site (www.chowhound.com), it sounds like Katz's Deli, particularly the pastrami is like an orgasm on rye (was that what Meg Ryan was eating?).

Tess -- are you a shopper?

If so - great opportunities in Katz' neighborhood:

either go down Orchard Street from Houston, and see what you find : famous for bags - Fine and Klein; for expensive clothes - Klein's of Monticello; for estate jewelry - Doyle and Doyle

and/or - after lunch at Katz' turn left on Houston St to Elizabeth St, browse the first two (long-ish_ blocks, then go west a block &amp; browse the same 2 on Mott Street, ending up back at Houston St.

You could also check out the Sunshine Cinema right there which is one of the great movie houses of NYC.

Parisian feeling, lovely little boutiques. (Probably not an area where many men would have that good a time, though I certainly know some men who are agreeable shopping companions.)

Elizabeth, thanks for the shopping tips. I hadn't planned to do much, but if there's bargains to be had I may alot time to check out those places.

I say barney greengrass takes the cake, or the pickle as the case may be.

and i don't think Mitch is being too politically correct (just slightly) - :) she could have been any religion and had a new york accent. wrong choice of words for ol' brian.

Now that I've been there, I'd like to offer up my opinions on the deli experience. Sorry to say that I wasn't able to get to Katz's. I did eat at the 2nd Ave. Deli and at Carnegie's --- pastrami at Second Ave. was good (not great); however they make an EXCELLENT chopped liver. My long departed Bubbe made a mean chopped liver, but I'd have to say that their quality/flavor surpassed hers. Also found the mushroom barley soup to be very tasty.

As for the Carnegie Deli, it was close &amp; convenient to my hotel (Sheraton Hotel &amp; Towers) --- and yes, they dish up their food with attitude. Maybe I've lived in Texas too long ... surly waitstaff doesn't hold a big attraction. Portions are monstrous.

Eisenberg's Sandwich 174 Fifth Ave. It's actually more of a diner than a deli, but the Tuna Melt is to die for.

It's a blast sitting at the counter &amp; watching the cooks. Think of the old SNL Cheeseburger, Cheezeburger, Pepsi skit.

Don't go right at lunch time cause you wont be able to find a seat.

to the top for kapmap, just in time for an early dinner