Katz’s Delicatessen had always been high on my list as a place I must visit. Katz’s Deli has always been considered NYC’s best’est deli. It is a Jewish kosher style deli and lies smack in the middle of the Lower East Side (which had been considered as the center of the Jewish culture in NYC). It’s amazing knowing Katz’s had been here for the last 120 years!
Katz’s Deli has a really strange way of operating their deli. Everyone who goes into Katz’s are given this small stub of paper. Be warned … don’t lose it or they will charge you something like $50 or something like that if you leave without one!
You see they mark what you have purchased on this stub and then you pay with this stub when you leave the deli.
It took me a while to get used to the system. First, you have a choice of waited on the table or you line up to get your sandwich from the cutter. Only the table by the wall are waited on while the rest of the tables are self served … weird. I can’t figure why the difference.
The entire deli is so busy and unbelievably noisy.
When you think of Katz’s Deli, many of you will probably remember the Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan movie called “When Harry Met Sally”. It is one of the most funniest movies of all time. It is in Katz’s that they have the infamous scene where Meg Ryan faked “it”. Check this youtube out:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-bsf2x-aeE&w=600&]
Right in the middle of the dining area is that sign that shows the table where Harry and Sally sat. That is the most popular table in Katz’s without a doubt. Now you know what the sign means what it says “Hope You Had What She Had”.
Everyone gets a plate full of pickles. There are two types. I love the “normal” cold crunchy ones but the other one is way too sour for me. I finished off the “normal” ones but left the sour ones half eaten. Nice … very nice.
I am not sure what Sally had but I ordered what I think is the best that Katz’s Deli has. Almost every table has at least one of these … Katz’s Pastrami.
Look at that … it’s wickedly delicious, don’t you think? I had never had such great juicy pastrami sandwich. It was hand carved and served hot. Oh … be warned … there are signs that warn you NEVER to ask for mayo. I dared not find out … I did not ask.
I guess it’s because their sandwiches was great just as it was … no condiments needed. It came with really thin slices of bread. It certainly was messy eating this as the meat pieces keeps falling out all over the place. I had a great time and my hands were all greasy that I had to wash them in soap in the washroom.
Oh … it’s not cheap for a sandwich … $14.45. It was worth every penny though.
For the drinks, I ordered a very New York beverage … the Egg Cream. I had absolutely no idea what Egg Creams are except that I read about it. Apparently there are two choices … chocolate or vanilla. I chosed vanilla.
Egg Cream is made of milk and sletzer (soda). Despite the name, it has no eggs nor cream. I am not sure why they called it egg cream though. I can’t quite make out the taste … it is creamy and fizzy … and I love it.
There is one and only one Katz’s Deli. It’s an experience eating there. When you are in NYC and if there is only one place you want to visit for a meal, I totally recommend Katz’s Deli.
What guide book you use? It seems to have a lot of info =)
Your entries are sooo tempting me to do an NYC trip this summer!
Never been to NYC, but when I do, Katz’s will be one of my first stops !
Funny how the pics remind me a lot of Schwartz’s on St. Laurent in Montreal, a local Jewish institution of smoked meat deli/restaurant. Signature offerings include smoked meat sandwich on rye, and the obligatory black cherry cola (don’t ask me why, but it tasted good when I was there).
http://www.schwartzsdeli.com/
Oh wow. That is a LOT of meat. It looks good though! I have heard that there is no delicatessen like there is in NYC! 🙂
I was at Costco today and noticed they have smoked meat sandwiches ($5) in their cafeteria.
Then later in the frozen foods section, they have boxes of Dunn’s smoked meats. Dunn’s is one of the other venerable smoked meat delis in Montreal
http://www.dunnsfamous.com/
Dunn’s Famous Deli of Montreal is scheduled to open a Vancouver location in early-fall 2011(their first location in Western Canada). Below some details from a Dunn’s Famous website.
This fall an iconic Montreal smoked meat restaurant deli is coming to Vancouver. “Dunn’s Famous” is a truly loved Quebec institution founded in 1927 by Meyer Dunn. It uses traditional recipes that include unique brine, proprietary light rye sourdough bread and always hand sliced, prepared to order, your-choice-of lean to fat, triple A beef brisket.
The first west coast restaurant will offer all the Montreal sandwiches, poutine and smoked meat favourites as well as new, locally inspired recipes with a Montreal twist.
The Vancouver owners/management team have just returned from months training in Montreal and meanwhile the BC hired chef heads to Dunn’s Famous, Montreal. Special meat cutters will be flying in from Montreal for the opening to ensure all kitchen staff are fully trained in the art of hand slicing the whole briskets.
Located on the ground floor, lobby level of the new Capital 6 building at 827 Seymour at Robson, Dunn’s Famous, BC is scheduled to open in early fall, 2011.
That is really good news, WS! I am sure a lot of people here in Vancouver will look forward the opening. Thanks for sharing this piece of info. Ben
Schwartz’s in Montreal is fantastic! Have you eaten there before? I’m curious to see how you think they compare.
Kill me now. That looks amazing.