Brooklyn Pastrami

Heading out to N.Y. for a (semi-annual) 3 day (1 in Brooklyn, 2 in Manhattan) food & booze fest next month. Never been to Brooklyn-curious about the best deli, and how the pastrami there rates with Katz's.
Some places on the list: Di Fara's(pizza); Spuyten Duyvil(beer, and the new sister restaurant for bbq); The Grocery on Smith. All suggestions welcome.
Also-any ideas on the best area to stay?(on the cheap side-more $ for chow & hooch.) Thanks.

Wow, this is such a great question!

I've lived in Brooklyn for eight years and have yet to find really good pastrami at a Brooklyn deli. In fact, I think the place you're referring to as the BBQ sister restaurant to Spuyten Duyvil is this place and, while not a deli, theirs is probably the most memorably excellent pastrami:

Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Avenue (near the Lorimer L stop)

A quick search revealed this place, which might be worth visiting, though it's not really near the subway:

Mill Basin Kosher Deli Restaurant
5823 Avenue T
(This is in South Brooklyn, way far away from the BBQ place in...well...North Brooklyn)

As for lodging, the Brooklyn Marriott is really the only hotel, though there is a Holiday Inn Express in an ugly part of Park Slope. You might try a bed and breakfast (http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/brooklyn-new-york.html.) My parents stayed at B&B Marisa in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and it wasn't too bad...though no breakfast.

Enjoy!

Thanks a bunch Artichoke. The bbq place is indeed Fette Sau, we'll try to hit the deli, and the advice on b&b's is greatly appreciated.
I don't know where I got the idea that there were killer delis in Brooklyn...
probably wishful dreaming...

artichoke wrote:Mill Basin Kosher Deli Restaurant
5823 Avenue T

The chopped liver at Mill Basin made #4 on the Saveur top 100 list. I'll bet that deli is worth checking out, though I've never been.

Maybe that's where I got the idea-anyway you guys are convincing me to make the trip down to Mill Basin.

You might want to check out Adelmans Deli on Kings Highway in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. I'm not sure about the pastrami there, but if the corned beef is any indication (outstanding, IMO), this might be a place for you to try.

Almost certainly the best Jewish deli in Brooklyn is Jay & Lloyd's at 2718 Avenue U, Brooklyn, 718-891-5298. Much better than Adelman's (and I ate at both in one heavy day). Jay & Lloyd's is located in the Homecrest/Gravesend area of Brooklyn.

Not Katz's, but very good.

GAF wrote:Almost certainly the best Jewish deli in Brooklyn is Jay & Lloyd's at 2718 Avenue U, Brooklyn, 718-891-5298. Much better than Adelman's (and I ate at both in one heavy day). Jay & Lloyd's is located in the Homecrest/Gravesend area of Brooklyn.

Not Katz's, but very good.

FWIW, while I don't have firsthand experience with either Brooklyn deli to share, Sietsema concurs on all points there.