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Katz's Delicatessen

4 star rating
based on 948 reviews

Category: Delis  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Lower East Side
205 E Houston St
(between Avenue A & Essex St)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-2246
Nearest Transit:

2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)

Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)

Hours:

Mon-Tue. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Wed-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Lunch
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only

948 reviews for Katz's Delicatessen

Review Highlights   

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"Absolutely the best pastrami sandwich I've ever had, hands down." (in 736 reviews)
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"So yes, this is definitely the best pastrami sandwich I've ever had." (in 38 reviews)
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"Little known fact: you know that scene from "When Harry Met Sally." (in 64 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of yasmeen M.

 

49

156

yasmeen M.

Bronx, NY

5 star rating
2/8/2010

mouth watering....

sigh i just remember growin up as a little girl and my daddy always bringing home yummy pastrami sandwiches, that i didnt care much for i just wanted those pickles...but my parents loved em...

now i love that sandwich, but i dont get too crazy, its a killer lol...a great spot to take family or friends who are from out of town...

thanks daddy =]

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Photo of Shane L.

 

7

28

Shane L.

Marysville, WA

4 star rating
2/8/2010

Pastrami! This is the reason to go Katz, best pastrami ever! I personally liked the pastrami reuben but the normal pastrami is also freaking good. The meat is taken right out of a steamer in a huge chunk and sliced into thick pieces right in front you. It is succulent, juicy and warm. Really the antithesis of contemporary lunchmeat.

Another nice thing about Katz is the ample seating section, which easily accomodates the hordes of tourists coming through.

The only downsides to Katz are the rude workers and the fact that just about everything but the pastrami was bleh. Steer clear of the Jewish side orders and stick with the stuff that put Katz on the map; everything is a fleeting afterthought to the pastrami.

The workers generally acted like d-bags to me and seemed to hate their lives. No joke. The meat cutter looked and spoke to me with contempt and I was shuttled back and forth between two lines just for a bottled root beer. I mean really, it was about two feet from where they were standing.

Overall Katz was great. The hype is justified and it really is a fun time experiencing the ways of this deli.

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Photo of JulieJuli A.

 

71

61

JulieJuli A.

Beverly Hills, CA

3 star rating
2/6/2010

Julie

Very weird how i've never been to Katz's.  Been a New Yorker most of my life and went to school around here and still never stepped foot in this place.....  Well i took care of that today.  it's a weird procedure.  You get a ticket as you walk in.  Everyone in your party needs one to get out even if only one person is paying.  Lose that ticket and you're screwed.  It kinda does make sense if they want to be efficient with the 2 cash registers that they have up front....

On to the food.  What else... had to get the world famous pastrami on rye.  Gotta get it on rye with mustard it's the only way a true New Yorka wud have it.....  $14.95 for one super enormous sandwich with enough meat to make 2 - 3 sandwiches at a regular deli..  They have salami and hot dogs and soups as well....   and they'll give you a variety of pickled cucumbers and tomatoes....  

So how was it... hmmmm  tough one...  i did really enjoy it, but different than the pastrami that i had at Carnegie Deli or Stage Deli.  It taste similar to a corned beef sandwich and the meat was just softer and looser than I expected.  i guess I do prefer a Carnegie pastrami...  haven't had one of those in ages and maybe it's time for a trip there....  Undoubtedly, there will be yelpers that say this is the best pastrami they've ever had and judging by the lines and crowds at this place... i'm sure they have lots of fans.  Guess it's just a matter of personal preference.....

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Photo of Noa B.

 

16

11

Noa B.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
2/5/2010

Going to Katz's is almost like a ritual to me.
I still remember the first time I went there. It was just eye-popping experience.
If you do not know the definition of 'pastrami', this is the place.
Order "Pastrami on Rye". It's the best.
Atmosphere is good. People are nice and the owner talks to the each table and says hello. Very retro and friendly.
For a sandwich, it's a little pricey($14) but have one bite and you won't regret it.
Go, go, go.

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Photo of james f.

Elite '10

153

127

james f.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
1/31/2010 1 Check-in Here

Old NYC atmosphere at current NYC prices.

- you'll be commanded to hold on to your ticket .

- you'll hear random screams between the staff and other random loud noises (possible killing of cattle?).

- you'll be directed and redirected to different sections of the counter depending on what you want.

Crude! Chaotic! Confused !

For those who long for old NYC, here it is !!

The $16 pastrami is famous for a reason. Nice, lean and piled high it can probably feed two normal people. The $15 beef brisket is okay. The meat is lean, maybe too lean. I found it a touch dry but nothing a little mustard couldn't cure. One of my favorite things to get here at the beginning or end of a night of drinking is the $11 cheese steak.  It  hits the spot plain and simple.

While this is carnivore heaven, there are knishes and really good pickles if you don't eat meat.

It's not cheap but when you consider:

1. you can share one sandwich between two people
             or
2. get two meals out of it

It seems deal-able.

If you want a NYC experience, this is it.

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Photo of Sylvia C.

 

7

26

Sylvia C.

Oxnard, CA

5 star rating
2/5/2010

This place is "oh so good!"

We walked up to Katz right when the doors closed at 2:30am. I expected this place to be open much later than the 2:30pm. It was only months later that I was able to head back to Katz.

Before the cook starts carving my sandwich, he hands me a small plate with a few pieces of pastrami. I take a bite and WOW.

Langers in LA is nothing compared to Katz. We now gathering up a pool to have Katz ship some pastrami for us.

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Elite '10

2498

528

Jane K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/27/2010 1 Check-in Here

I had a meat baby and his name was "Pastrami on Rye."

Though there's not much more to be said, I'll tell you that the sandwich can be shared between two people - if not only for the girth (easily 3 lbs of pastrami) but for the rather steep price ($15). Though I do admit: every New Yorker should try it at least once. And if your group exceeds four people, sneak to the very back where you'll find more long tables.

So get a plate of half sours, fill up your mini glass at the water fountain and prepare for meat sweats, meat comas and you even may meat your maker if you don't stop after the sandwich and continue on to eat a tasty, salty hot dog (Chun) on top of all that.

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Photo of Rich R.

 

0

61

Rich R.

Poughkeepsie, NY

3 star rating
1/31/2010

Overpriced, yes. Overrated, yes. Over-reviewed, of course. But hey, what's one more review on the pile?

Katz's is bonkers. Crowded, crazy expensive and cash only. My food was cold, I was overcharged and I ate at a dirty table complete with buzzing poo poo flies (in January?! I haven't seen a living insect since fall?)  Will I be back? Probably. Weird huh? I don't want them to change anything. It would be a tragedy if this place was remodeled into a modern, tourist friendly Cracker Barrel of a restaurant. You feel like you are in New York City when you eat at Katz's, that's the beauty of the place, and that's why you spend nearly $20 on a sandwich.

Speaking of tourists, I must say again, it is a CASH only business. On my way out I passed a large group of very unhappy Brits pulling all their cash together to cover the enormous tab. There is an ATM next to the toilets (just follow the flies).

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Elite '10

83

235

Matteo R.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
1/27/2010

Since I moved to NY ten years ago this is just the second time I come to Katz's. The gritty atmosphere of this place always makes me think of Scorsese's "Mean Street", or Lou Reed's "Dirty Boulevard". Is this place still an "old New York" relic? Yes and no. It still looks the same way as it probably did in 1888, but at $16.28 for a sandwich you know that this place has also become a tourist attraction.

AMBIANCE: The neon lighting and brown formica give Katz Deli the same sex appeal of a cafeteria at a hospital.

FOOD: If you can forget about the price for a moment, the pastrami sandwich is really delicious: the meat is tender and moist, and full of flavor. The sour pickles are excellent, while the pickled tomatoes might sound like an interesting idea but they don't taste like much.

Come here either during the week or late after a night out in the LES. Once every 5 years.

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Photo of Jennifer S.

 

20

29

Jennifer S.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
1/28/2010

I've heard that Katz's is known for their pastrami.  The first time here I ordered a pastrami/beef brisket combo sandwich.  The pastrami was juicy and tender.  The beef brisket was a little on the dry side. I should have listened to yelpers and ordered a pastrami sandwich.
On my second visit here, I ordered the pastrami sandwich and was extremely satisfied.  The sandwich is a little bit on the expensive side, $15 for pastrami sandwich.  The portions are plenty.  I only ate half my sandwich and ate the other half for left overs.  My friend ordered their corn beef and it was more on the salty side.
Their salami was also very good.  I ordered a pound of dry salami for my trip back to California =]

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Photo of andy w.

 

2

38

andy w.

Mountain View, CA

4 star rating
2/1/2010

Wow is right.  This place just has great food.  Had the meat combo (or something like that), the meat just melted in your mouth with every bite.  Had the reuben as well, and I just couldn't eat that sandwich any faster.  

The one thing to remember is to keep your ticket, as that is really your exit pass.  For first timers like me I normally would have dumped the ticket, but I didn't as I was told not to do so...  otherwise it's a $50 charge when you exit the restaurant.

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Photo of Corey P.

 

6

22

Corey P.

Hoboken, NJ

3 star rating
1/23/2010

Logic Statement about my visit to Katz

Where (t) = Time
          (b) = 1 beer consumed in past 12 hours
          (Kr) = Katz's Ruben
          (Kp) = Katz's Pastrami on Rye
          (H) = Heaven

If t is greater than or equal to 2 a.m.,
then 12(b) + 1/2(Kr) + 1/2(Kp) = H

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Photo of Mar M.

 

7

37

Mar M.

Union City, CA

4 star rating
2/1/2010

Is Kat'z Pastrami is worth the price of admission?

For the most part. Yes, but I don't think it's worth the $15.99 price tag. Don't get me wrong the sandwich was godly but I could get just as much satisfaction from a large #9 at the local Togo's (flamesuit on). The ambience and scenery was everything I'd hope it'd be. There were tons of memorabilia on the wall too. The owner (some old Jewish guy in all the photos on the wall) came up to us to ask us how our meal was. I said it was great......I lied.

Folks. Do yourself a favor and get a Doc Brown's Cream Soda with your sammich. It's mmmmmmmmm sarap.

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Photo of Mike K.

 

1

36

Mike K.

Mountain View, CA

3 star rating
2/1/2010

It's pricey but you do get a lot of food. It's really expensive if you think about $16 for a pastrami sandwich but for the experience and the notoriety, might be worth it if you're a tourist.

The place is better suited in 'When Harry Met Sally...'

James F (yelper) said it best:
"Old NYC atmosphere at current NYC prices."

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Photo of mary l.

Elite '10

11

71

mary l.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/28/2010

So tasty.  So fun.  So salty I got a migraine. Best pastrami I've ever had.
I was excited to go here since I've never been in all my years in NYC.  While there was definitely a very NYC system/no system to getting in line to get your food and order, there was plenty of space to sit.  My favorite part about ordering sandwiches is that they'd give you a meat amus bouche from the scraps of your sandwich as you wait (unexpected and fun).  Sour pickles were ok, not the best I've had.  Cole slaw, I could definitely leave.  Really tasty thick cut fries. Kind of $$ for a sandwich but worth it for the quality of food and for the diverse crowd and experience.

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Photo of Mike D.

 

4

17

Mike D.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
1/27/2010

Alright, I know I probably won't please a lot of people giving this place such a low score, but come on people! This place is just not that good. There are plenty of better places around the corner (ie clinton st bakery), that it just doesnt seem worth it to throw down so much money on mediocre deli meat.

I mean maybe its just me, but I grew up with the knowledge that these types of delicatessen's were for geared for those poor underpaid workers who could not afford much, and for a small amount could actually find a meal that could fill them. Katz is definitely NOT that type of place, at $15 dollars a sandwich you are paying a considerable amount for a medium size portion.  

While i was there, I tried the pastrami as well as the corned beef hash, although both were nothing to write home about, the earlier was definitely much better. If you had to spend the money, spend it on the pastrami. One of positives of this establishment is that they are very efficient, and the meat carvers are generally very nice. At request you can have them slice the meat at whichever thickness you prefer, (IMO the thinner the better).

Katz is definitely a great example of old school lower east side, but like others have mentioned, definitely more of a tourist trap than a gem like others would like you to believe. Don't buy the hype!

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Photo of Karen S.

 

28

51

Karen S.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
2/5/2010

Delicious pastrami sandwich. It doesn't have the ridiculous high stacks of meat that Carnegie does but the meat is much more flavorful. So if you're actually going for the food and not the kitsch deli experience, I would pick Katz.

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Photo of Daniel P.

 

51

103

Daniel P.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/29/2010

World's "Best Pastrami" !!! Along with the Carnegie Deli, Katz's has
the "Coolest Old-School NY Jewish Deli Decor" !!! However, "that's alot of Dam Money" just for a Sandwich. "Give a Guy a Break."
The Pastrami and all Sandwiches are "Tasty as Hell" but the MONEY!
"Dam, I'm not Rich." !!! At least make the Sandwiches Bigger, they're kind of Minuscule for that kind of Money $17.50 a Pop." !! DAM!!!!
The Pastrami is So Tasty that every once in a while (Maybe twice a Year) I treat myself for the Most Expensive Splurge Sandwich i can think of. If they were more "Reasonable Priced I'd probably have a Pastrami at least twice a Month instead of Twice a Year.
The only reason I don't give Katz's 5 Stars instead of 4 is because of the "AWFUL PRICE RATIO."

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Photo of Marc F.

 

0

50

Marc F.

River Edge, NJ

5 star rating
1/22/2010

Yes, im biased. Im basing my 5 stars off the fact that i go here not caring about the "dumpy atmosphere", "stupid ritual to order food" and "cash only". Im basing it off the fact that you and I cant find better Pastrami or Corned beef out there. Everything else they do is about above average, but you come here for one of two things.

The only issue is you have to eat your food quickly, because it dries out and cools down very fast. Rest assured, if you take it home and put it in the oven, wrapping it in foil with about a tablespoon of water @ 425 for about 8-10 minutes you will have the same taste/juicy flavor.

Be real, go here for what its known for. The BEEF.

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Photo of Jennifer C.

 

1

13

Jennifer C.

New York, NY

1 star rating
1/21/2010

Was dying for Matzoh Ball soup, so I was very excited that Katz's was around the corner from my new apartment.  

It was more like a bowl of liquid salt, and I'm a salt person from the start.  I've never had something with so much salt in it that it actually burned my throat.  Even with a matzoh ball it was just inedible.

You'd think with the name like Katz one could get a decent bowl of Matzoh Ball soup.  Definitely will not go back.

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Photo of Dave K.

 

7

53

Dave K.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
1/29/2010

Tourist traaap!

If you want a horrible dining experience Katz's Deli is the place to find it! These people are rude. They giving these red tickets when you enter (of which have no purpose) and if you dont turn them in when leaving they wont let you out of the building even with proof of a paid receipt.

The door greeter will literally stand in front of the door and tell you that you cant leave. Are they not aware that this is an act of false imprisonment? Are they stupid as well as filthy and rude?

On the other hand...their pastrami sandwiches are heck expensive! Is it worth it? YES! If you are rich but to me, they taste like any other deli's sandwiches.

Pros: Brings back the nostalgic feeling of being in my high school cafeteria. (Probably a con for most of you)
Cons: Filthy enviornment, bad atmosphere.

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Photo of Neline S.

Elite '10

34

150

Neline S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/24/2010

We came in due to a friend's insistence for a pastrami sandwich and I was helping my Finnish friend tick off her list of NY things to do.

We came in to a packed place and to $15 sandwiches which all looked great to eat.  It was a hard choice but I opted for the pastrami sandwich with mayo on the side (yes I know, we're supposed to do it with mustard but I like my artery clogging goodness).

Service was slow and it seemed like there was one waiter for the whole floor which sucked for him.  It took awhile for us to get our waters and when the waiter finally delivered it he knocked the water and spilled it all over himself.

Possibly after 30 minutes, our sandwiches arrived and it hit the spot.  The mayo on the pastrami was so good but it gave me burping attacks much to the amusement of my friend's boyfriend.

However, the sandwiches weren't enough and we opted for cheesecake and coffee. That took another 30 minutes to arrive and my friend's order was messed up since she didn't want strawberries on it so she had to wait another 15 minutes but the waiter was kind enough to put it on the house and made sure that when we checked out, he walked us to the register and made the transaction easy.

Despite the service, I'll come back b/c you can't blame the waiter since he was the only one on the floor besides, I liked the sandwiches.

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Elite '10

116

71

Branson L.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
1/11/2010

14.00 for a pastrami sandwich? Is it really better than any other deli in New York? Maybe it's worth the 14 bucks, maybe their crappy light beer is worth the 6 bucks? Not to me.  

It was good, ok it was really good, very juicy... but it didn't blow my balls off...

Is it essential for every new yorker? Hell no, but wouldn't that be a good business model "everyone just try us once"

Overpriced, overrated, the chicken liver salad was pretty darn good though.

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Photo of Antonio D.

 

0

1

Antonio D.

New York, NY

1 star rating
2/6/2010

Okay. I've been here twice. And both times come out empty-handed, hungry-bellied. Seriously. Thank God I didn't lose the ticket though. Only that could have made my experiences worse.

I realize this place is an institution, hence my eagerness to visit it, and then give it a second chance, but what the hell!? Pardon my Midwestern mentality but why does everyone here have an attitude and stick up... ?

I've come in here twice and nobody wants to explain to me how the tickets work, the lines work and some semblance of what the flow might be. I know that I shouldn't ask for them to hold my hand through the process but come on, at least don't laugh at my face when I ask or leave me hangin' when I'm making eye contact with you Mr. overpriced-sandwichmaker. A little signage for stupid people like me would be extremely helpful. And since I live 3 blocks from it, I'm sure my would-be business might be appreciated.

Having said all that, I did manage to have some of my friend's pastrami the second time, moments after giving up on ordering food, and I gotta say... NOT IMPRESSED. To be fair, pastrami isn't to my taste, but I figured if anything might convert me over to the dark side it might be Katz's.

It did not.

Half a star for the owner who asked us how our meal was [I didn't have the heart to tell him I hate his establishment and rude (rude does not a "Charming, NYC-type" locale make), moronic employees] and another half because I gotta give them props for staying in the game as long as they have, bleeding customers of their money for what I think is just scraps of food.

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Photo of tom a.

 

0

13

tom a.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
1/27/2010

Pastrami is excellent, nice and lean and large. Pickles are very good.
Price: $15 is high!!
AMBIANCE: Like an old deli where the owner hasn't put a penny into it in 100 years. (and believe me he hasn't)
LINES: always a wait ranging from 5-20 minutes. Each item has to be picked up on a separate line which really is a pain and does NOT make any sense.
BOTTOM LINE: worth visiting but overall experience leaves alot to be desired.

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Elite '10

156

148

Eugene B.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/4/2010

I've been dating the same Pastrami sandwiches from various New York City delis for over 9 years now.

I just recently had the Pastrami sandwich at Katz's for the very first time in my freakin life. Yes, I know.

It's like finally meeting the most beautiful women you only heard or read about in the papers and then marrying her one day as "The One".

Now I just need her in bed, with the TV on, and some mustard like Costanza.

http://www.youtube.com...

"Sex is about love between a man and a woman, not a man and a sandwich." - Seinfeld

http://www.youtube.com...

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Photo of Dina G.

 

6

70

Dina G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/20/2010

I moved to San Francisco and left my heart down on Houston Street in the middle of a half-corned-beef, half-pastrami sandwich on rye no mustard with an extra pickle.

Please send backup, stat.

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Photo of Evan B.

 

3

21

Evan B.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/16/2010

Disappointed.  Of the big name delis in NY, Katz has let me down the most.  First and foremost, the place is a bit of a dump -- Some people may try and call it charm, but I believe there's a thin line between charming and dumpy -- Katz is a little dumpy.  

More importantly, the food is good, not great.  I had the pastrami and it was also just good.  The sour garlic pickles are delicious.  The meat here is sliced thicker than you'll find in the other big deli's, so be aware.  

The place still only accepts cash as far as I know, which is just annoying when your shelling out 15 bucks a sandwich.  

Overall, the place is overrated -- a good meal, but not an experience that can not be found in another smaller, lesser known, cheaper place.  If you aim to hit the big  name deli's of NY, I recommend Carnegie instead -- Bigger bang for your buck and in my opinion, far superior.  If you're looking for a place that moves away from the traditional kosher deli approach and creates original and incredible sandwiches, check out Tasty Deli up near 169th st. -- It's a well kept secret nestled up in Washington Heights near New York Presbyterian.

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Photo of Jennifer L.

 

3

24

Jennifer L.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/16/2010

After hearing for years about the legacy that is Katz's I finally made the pilgrimage down to the LES but I think I expected much more.

The atmosphere was a little less than spectacular and their ticket system was very confusing and poorly explained.

While their corned beef and pastrami were tasty the meat was cut very thick, had a bit too much fat and the sandwiches were not as large as I felt they should be for the $15 price point.  Also, could they not afford to serve their sandwiches on a larger plate?  Anyway, the sour garlic pickles were ok but not as amazing as I had imagined them to be and it took us about 15 minutes before we figured out where to get a glass of water.

I can't believe I am writing this but Katz's was just ok.  In my opinion, Carnegie Deli is far superior.

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Photo of Andrew C.

 

0

4

Andrew C.

Revere, MA

3 star rating
1/27/2010

Nothing like a good Reuben.
I expected to get 'THE BEST' "Classic New York Reuben on Jewish Rye" because that is what they are known for.

Price: Too High at $14 + $5 for steak fries.
Quality: Corned Beef was chewy, I had to spit pieces out into my napkin a few times and the bread was NOT fresh. Correct me if I'm wrong, a Reuben is supposed to be grilled..? The cheese was melted but the bread was cold.. hmmm?
The Pastrami sandwich was VERY tasty but fatty and again, the bread was not fresh.

The service was nothing to brag about, just okay. The atmosphere was pretty nice. The place was busy and the other patrons seemed to be enjoying their food.

Am I glad I went? Yes. I did enjoy it. Would I go out of my way to go again? No.
I wouldn't say don't go but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

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23

69

romeo b.

South San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/10/2010

The spot where Sally had her orgasm in the movie When Harry Met Sally.  Excuse my vocab, but I literally had an orgasm.  

During my holiday visit to the NYC, my friend and I decided to hit up the popular joint.  The process of making your order and paying can be irritating.  The cost might appear upsetting.  Finding a seat is irksome.  ALL WORTH IT!  This is what you do - line up behind the pastrami on rye sign, order, sit, attack, and FINISH!!! - haha.  Then pay as you leave.  I split the pastrami with a friend of mine to try their half of a cornbeef sandwich.  Still, I recommend the pastrami.  Best pastrami I've had.

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Photo of John C.

 

16

21

John C.

Mechanicsburg, PA

4 star rating
1/13/2010

I was here about two weeks ago with a friend of mine visiting NY for New Years.  The place is very clan and quite big.  I was a big confused walking in since just shove a ticket at you and expect to know what to do with it.  Once that was sorted out, I went straight for the pastrami since that was what was recommended.
The pastrami was SOOO good.  It wasn't too salty nor bland.  Although I think it is a bit pricey for a sandwich, it was worth it.

A word of advice, eat it inside the restaurant.  It tastes bad when it gets cold.

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3

23

Tiff L.

Livingston, NJ

4 star rating
1/24/2010

Be sure to show up extra hungry!  These sandwiches are so thick with meat i swear the bologna sandwiches use 2 Oscar-Meyer packages-worth of meat.  My personal favorite is their corned-beef on rye; the moist and tender meat is slightly sweet and is complimented well with mustard.  Take your time and savor the meaty goodness and check out the celebrity photos lining the walls.  And don't miss the sign above the "When Harry Met Sally" table!  I hope you have what she had!

The place crowded during lunchtime on weekends and one can see senior-citizen tour buses lined up outside the deli.  The deli takes credit only at the back counter.

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Eugene Y.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/26/2010

It seems kinda steep paying $25 for a sandwich fries and a drink right? .........................................

Not Really if you its enough to keep you full for breakfest, Lunch and Dinner. I also have my own way to making the perfect sandwich. You think Rye with Pastrami and mustard is good... PSHHH what do you guys know! Follow my steps to perfection.

Hoagie or Rye (per preference), Lettuce, Tomato's, Onions, Cole Slaw, Russian Dressing  and the Holy Pastrami. Yep, thats correct thats all inside the sandwich. The guy who's making the sandwich will look at your wierd, the people around you will stare in disbelief that you went against the regular pastrami sandwich ways. Thats because he has no idea what artwork he has provided for you to chow down on, and the people around you will then wonder is that really that good??? Then a follower will probably go in your footsteps and order that same thing.

I wouldn't say it otherwise.

Enjoy!

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Bo H.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
1/15/2010

Remember the end of The Godfather Part 1 when Michael attended his nephew's baptism while his men whacked every last person on his enemy list?  Well, that was how my last day in New York played out.  No, I did not whack anyone, but I did have a list full of names.  However, they were names of shops and restaurants I had to visit before the "director yelled 'cut' ", as Jay-Z would say.  So on that frigid cold Sunday morning, I played the role of a loyal footsoldier and carried out my mission while my friends attended the baptism, otherwise known as the MSG tour,  One after another I went down my hit list until the very last name - Katz Delicatessen!

True to a great movie script, I immediately ran into complications on this last mission.  Besides a frozen face Mother Nature hit me with, Father Time was not on my sides either as I was getting close to missing my flight. But if it were that easy to get your hands on Katz they wouldn't be the Don of New York City Delis right?  But I quickily snatched my Pastrami on Rye (with mustard of course) to go, ran to the subway, collected my junk from the hotel, hopped on a taxi to JFK, snailed through security, and finally it was me and the 'strami mano-a-mano.

A long two hours after I got my hands on it and it was still maybe the best pastrami sandwich I've ever had.  I can't imagine how much better it'd be if it were hot.  Maybe it was the fatigue, or the hunger, but the moment I stuffed my face with it I had forgotten the damn thing cost me $15.  

In the end, Katz proved to be a fierce opponent.  But with a little determination (and cash), it was taken care of.  Next time you're in New York, do your own Don (stomach) a favor and pay Katz a visit.

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Joseph F.

New York, NY

1 star rating
2/2/2010

120 years in business doe not give this place the right to serve lint with my french fries and my motzoh ball was submerged in dark broth...very appetizing ..don't you agree?

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Carol B.

Alhambra, CA

4 star rating
2/2/2010

Visited New York and heard so much about this place.  It was a blizzard outside and us out of towns just had to go eat.  We were lost and got directions from a kind elderly man who grew up eating at Katz.  He was nice enough to bring us there all the while telling us stories of how Katz came to be.  
Pastrami sandwich was to die for and honestly I have to say, it is just all meat.  Thank you Katz for doing it right.

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John S R.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/23/2010

$19 for a pastrami on rye with a can of cream soda can be a bit pricey, but then again it's not something you want to eat everyday so it's manageable.  Their pastrami is indeed great and satisfying - I highly suggest you go there hungry otherwise you won't be able to finish your thing.

Nothing fancy about the place other than the fact that it was on that movie and there are lots of photos of famous folks - just good food with good portions.  It's a cafeteria-style setting (comfortable atmosphere in my opinion).

Ordering system with different lines and the stub can be a bit confusing but eh that's part of the experience, I've seen worse situations in other delis.

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4

Notis T.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/22/2010

Ok, if you suffer from Gout, you'd probably wanna stay away from this joint. Seriously. But if youre a die hard and would like to engulf the best tasting pastrami, cornbeef or roastbeef sandwhich in all of NY or perhaps the world look no further my ill striken friend! You've arrived at your last tour before you start popping them gout pills to control the pain you'll be most likely encountering after you've visited this place. It'll be well worth it by far!!

If you're new and looking to visit this place I suggest ordering the pastrami on rye with mustard and mustard alone. It's all you really need!! Classic old school joint from back in the day still keeps it's roots with their seasoned staff of cutters and service.

Going in on the weekdays at around 10pm will save u some time if you don't wanna wait forever especially if ur doing the tourist thing all day.

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Julia L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/9/2010 1 photo

For me, this place is a bit overrated.

After all the big fuss, my friend and I decided to come here to try one of their sandwiches. We had the hot reuben with a side of mashed potatoes. The sandwich is very yummy, but for $16?! I've had other reubens that are large, just as good, and less than $10. And the mashed potatoes was a complete waste of money...it was just sliced potatoes in mayo sauce and nothing else.

Perhaps I should've tried the pastrami sandwich that everyone rants about, but yummy as it may seem, I'm not sure if it's worth that much money.

For all you sandwich lovers, I would recommend trying this place so you can decide whether or not it's great. But for me, once is enough.

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