KATZ’S DELICATESSEN: A $30 PASTRAMI SANDWICH AT WHAT IS LIKELY THE MOST FAMOUS DELI IN THE WORLD
The Cost - $30
The Atmosphere – Katz’s, as it is commonly referred to among New Yorkers, originally opened in 1888, making it New York’s oldest deli. The look of the restaurant has changed over the years though it still retains a lot of its old charm. From its iconic signage and neon lights outside, to the older tables and furniture and photos of celebrities all over the interior walls, when you walk in to Katz’s, you know you are in a New York institution. As you enter the restaurant, you are given a ticket and you proceed to your choice of counters where an employee takes your order and prepares it on the spot. Whatever you order gets marked on the ticket and you take your food and sit down, enjoying your meal before you pay at the register on your way out. You cannot make a reservation at Katz’s but the restaurant does take credit cards, something that certainly wasn’t the case when it first opened.
Katz’s Delicatessen might just be the most famous deli in the world, and for good reason. The New York City landmark has been serving up its famous pastrami and brisket sandwiches, which are carved to order, for over 100 years. The Lower East Side restaurant also offers a lot of other typical Jewish deli foods like matzoh ball soup and potato pancakes, but most people specifically come here for its famous meats, with lines of tourists and locals alike waiting to get their hands on Katz’s pretty prices sandwiches.
The Order – Pastrami Sandwich.
The Fantastic – The Pastrami Sandwich may run you about $30 after taxes, but it is legendary. The meat is piled high with mustard on top in between two slices of rye bread and the sandwich is served with a few New York deli style pickle spears on the side. The pastrami is hot, flavorful and far from dry. It is incredibly tasty on its own but the great bread and the really nice mustard, which has a horseradish kick to it, just makes it even better without overpowering the meat at all. The sandwich isn’t big enough to feed two hungry people, but it is a very big meal for one person and could be shared between two people who are not super hungry.
The Verdict – While there are other New York delis that we absolutely love as well (see All’Antico Vinaio), we think Katz’s is a must visit for anyone that is making a trip to the Big Apple. Between the history, the dining experience, and the food, the restaurant offers a taste of what food and life in New York City used to be like, and what many wish it would go back to being like.