Manhattan for one lunch - which deli do I go to?

We'll be spending only one day in N.Y. at the end of the month. I want real deli. I want pastrami, corned beef, chopped liver - perhaps all together at the same time. We'll be going to the Met, a walk through Central Park and a visit to The Strand (is that the name of the great used book store?). And, also, taking the train from Long Island so we'll be at Penn Station. This will happen during the week, not the weekend. Help! Deli emergency! Am willing to cab or bus or subway it for something truly wonderful and memorable. I am a NY deli virgin - be gentile.

2nd Avenue Deli is my favorite.

Bill/SFNM

It sounds very cliche, but I believe Katz's is the best all-around. Wonderful meats, great chopped liver and onions.

And yes, the bookstore you seek is called "The Strand".

I think fish is the true delicacy (get it) at a great NY Deli. Barney Greengrass has your chopped liver and great sable.

I still want to try 2nd Ave deli, at the moment, Katz' is our favorite pastrami in NYC, epiphany time for my wife and I.

There are usually 5 guys who all slice meat. Do not line up at the 1st line you see, go directly to a short one. YOU ARE NOT CUTTING IN LINE!! We waited in the long line for a few until someone yelled to move down to one of the other 4 slicers.

Go to Katz's. Get a pastrami sandwich. Give the counterperson a couple dollars as you order, and he'll give you a sample and pile on the meat and the sour pickles/tomatoes.

Enjoy.

I concur with Katz's. Not only the pastrami but as mentioned, the whole experience. Its even better after seeing a band at the mercury lounge down the street and going there for a munchie fix at 3AM. The hot dogs with sauerkraut are outstanding as well.
LO

bryan wrote: I am a NY deli virgin - be gentile.

"Be Gentile" ? grin.

Itinerary: Start at Penn Station (34th & 8th Ave). Then to the Met and a walk thru Central Park. Strand Bookstore.

Mission: Continuous deli throughout.

Suggested Morning Chow Solution: In Penn Station, hop an A train express ten minutes north to 86th street. Walk a couple of blocks east/south to Barney Greengrass for a bagel and lox or sturgeon--the chopped liver is damned good too. Of course, in the same area are H&H Bagels (exc, of a style, get them hot), and one of the primal deli gourmand sources--Zabar's.

After Barney Greengrass, walk due east across Central Park, about fifteen minutes to the Met.

Walk through the Met several hours, fight bad food temptation brought on by fatigue and boredom.

From the Met, walk east to Second Ave (or is it First--forget which is downtown direction). Hop a downtown bus (better than subway as there's more to see and traffic won't be too bad midday) down to the Second Ave Deli in the East Village-- for my money the compleat NY deli experience.

Then walk north to 14th st then west then north up to the Strand. On the way to the Strand, you will walk thru Union Square and the terrific Green Market, where by the way on the west side on 17th st is hole in the wall Rainbow Falafel--exc $3.50 falafel pick me up.

Then its probably near time for a train home. Walk west and north then hop on a north bound subway express at 23 St and get off at Columbus Circle, then walk south a couple of Blocks to the Carnegie Deli for a second deli fix. Then walk or cab or subway back to Penn Station.

This neglects pizza, midtown kabob carts, exc black and white cookies and hot dogs at the Papaya King on E 86st, and Ninth Ave in the forties for international food fix, and, and and and....

Deli summation:
Barney Greengrass: fish maybe a shade not quite as good as Russ & Daughers, but its authentic, sit down, takes credit cards and damn good.
2nd Ave Deli: the real deal, soup to nuts, best overall. Get the mushroom barley soup, the corned beef/pastrami (neither lean!), pickles, kasha and potato knishes.
Carnegie: overpriced, portions WAY too big, touristy as hell, lines, almost always; cash only, that said the pastrami is damned good.
Katz's: haven't been since my youth. If you are down on Houston, give it a shot.

Last words: lots of chow choices, blend them logistically to jibe with your itinerary. Wear comfortable shoes. If you or your party tires in the afternoon, hop cabs--they are then a great value even though the subway is quicker during rush hour.

I like the way you think Steve.

Barney Greengrass for breakfast sounds great. Problem is I don't know if I can get my goy (I'm terrible) to two delis in one day. But I'll fight the good fight.

Seems as though 2nd Ave. is our best bet for our plans.

Thanks for the sound advice. Will, of course, report back.

Regards,

Barbara

bryan wrote:Barney Greengrass for breakfast sounds great. Problem is I don't know if I can get my goy (I'm terrible) to two delis in one day.

The show is 'the city'. It is best seen by foot. The chow is a secret mission, embedded within the larger mission of your staging of it: the 86st/b'way subway stop where the traffic median just north was the setting for the 1972 Dustin Hoffman movie 'Needle Park', the east to west stroll across the breadth of Central Park and the contrasting sudden skyscraper vistas in all directions, the Met, the walk east though the mansions of the upper East Side across the boutiques of Madison Ave past the doormen of Park Ave all the way to the 2nd Ave bus--great sightseeing as it courses south to the (former) East Village (and continues all the way downtown to the Seaport and the southern tip of Manhattan), the walk up the flatiron district by the Union Square Greenmarket, the Strand, celebrity sighitings at the Carnegie.

btw: Barney Greengrass serves straight up good eggs & potatoes and diner coffee.

If you're in midtown, this former NYer agrees that Carnegie is a good albeit expensive alternative to Katz's or 2nd Ave. Though one sandwich there will feed two maybe three people

If Papaya King is your craving there is (or was when I left), a small out post of that shop on 43rd Street just east of 9th Ave. Gray's Papaya at 8th and 39th(?) will suit well too. I miss those crispy skinned New York dogs with mustard and kraut.

Barbara,

If you make it to 2nd Ave. Deli and you feel like dessert, I have just one word for you: Chocolate Babka!!!!! Even if you are stuffed to the gills, get some wrapped up to go. You will thank me.

Bill/SFNM

Bill/SFNM wrote:I have just one word for you: Chocolate Babka!!!!! Bill/SFNM

Yes-------------- Must----------------have--------------babka !!!

Get a whole one and schlep it home on the train. Watch it disappear before bed. Take it to bed with you. Fight over the crumbs over your morning coffee.

An important fact has been missed in this thread:

Katz's and Russ & Daughters are a block away from one another. If you're on a limited time budget, this might tip the scales in Katz' favor.

You can also check out Yonah Schimmel's (another block west) if you're interested in hauling away a knish or twelve.

MSPD wrote:You can also check out Yonah Schimmel's (another block west) if you're interested in hauling away a knish or twelve.

Although I have enjoyed many many a Yonah Schimmel's knish in my time, sadly there are many, many recent and not so recent downhill reports concerning the state of knishdom at Yonah Schimmel's.

I know...I've heard the downhill reports. However when pressed for more info, the reasoning has been that they're too dense. I've interpreted the negatives as a statement of personal preference more than any changes YS has made. It seems trendy to pan Yonah Schimmels. I tend to like them dense and haven't myself been disappointed on any recent visit, although each style of knish has its own merits as far as I'm concerned.

(Sorry to branch off from deli suggestion topic to knishes)

Bill/SFNM wrote:2nd Avenue Deli is my favorite.

Bill/SFNM

Yes, Bill. Mine too. I got this beauty of a sandwich from 2nd Ave Deli to go on a recent trip to NYC. Took it back to my hotel room and ate it in bed. It was great in every way. Warm, fatty, succulent. I felt like I was cheating on the Chow Poodle.



2nd Ave Deli
162 E 33rd St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 689-9000

mmmm NY Deli
Katz' is my fave and I was born and raised in NY
Although that is one beautiful sammich upthread.

"Be a smartie, eat at Artie's"

Recently ate at Artie's Delicatessen on the upper west side. This seems to be off the usual tourist radar compared to Katz or Barney Greengrass, but it's another classic deli. Tile floors, loud, busy etc

Pickles and cole slaw are gratis amuses, which is a nice touch. Chopped liver, pastrami, what's not to like. Very good, very convenient to Central Park and the Met: