Katzinger's Delicatessen

I like the decor, and the old school deli setup. Lots of good meats, and a huge selection of cheese...some hard to find. They also offer endless whole pickles in dill and garlic. You can even take an extra home when you leave, however, the love stops there. The service is EXTREMELY slow. If youre in a rush, and think you can ""just grab a sandwich"", think again. Plan on about 15 minutes before getting served. The seating area was filthy. Not one of the vacant tables were clean. Even though its looks like they have 10 people working there, one would think you should have to clean off your own table to eat. The self-serve drink station was also messy. The food...the crust on the rye bread was too hard to eat with your teeth...I had to eat it with a knife. Other than that, the sandwich was good, but not $9.75 good! And $3.50 for a 2oz bag of chips!? Seriously!?Came out to over $15 for a (small) sandwich, chips, and a drink...way too much for a lunch sandwich. I know Katz is a Columbus landmark, has been around forever, and certainly has a following, and while I may go back in the future, its not going to be on my ""regular"" list because of the pricing. more

I've been eating at Katzingers for about three years now after learning about it on a Food Network show. Dianne's deli is by far my favorite lunch spot in town. I love the creatively named sandwiches and the amazing ethnic food selection. Katzinger's seems to go to great lengths to use only the best top quality ingredients in their food and you can absolutely taste the difference. Their Ruben's are the best in the city, and I'm also a fan of their two Tuna sandwiches (names are too long to type). Everyone behind the counter is friendly and personable and the service is quick, yet relaxed. I work in German Village, and often visitors will stop and ask me to suggest a good place for lunch. I'll continue to point them to Third Street and Katzinger's... Pros: Great selection, Top quality ingrediants, Friendly people Cons: Higher end price, but totally worth the pennies more

25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Diane Warren has run Katzinger's for 25 years (since its founding) and it is a consistent gem. The food is first rate with tremendous delicatessen variety. 100s OF GREATS Yes, the Reuben, of course, and the #11 sandwich (""Janis? Special Can-Do,"" smoked turkey breast, muenster cheese, Canadian honeycup mustard grilled on hand sliced challah) -- but also the fresh nova and the chicken salad is excellent. The motzah balls are as good as my mother's. SERVICE IS DELI STYLE I've eaten in delis all over the place (lived in NYC for a decade) and find that Katzinger's consistently matches the Stage or the Carnegie. And the staff surpasses the deli-curtness of NYC delis. I find the service to be cheerful when I'm cheerful; quiet when I'm preoccupied; and always helpful when making hard deli choices. RETAIL ITEMS TO GO The bread is trucked in daily from Pittsburgh. Go figure. Worth the drive. Great crusts. Great retail store for cheese and other edible finery. Pros: Only True Deli in Town more

Katzinger's has unlimited, crisp pickles and a variety of sandwiches in a commercial atmosphere. Prices are high for a deli. There is limited parking and service is slow and unattentive. more

The corned beef sandwiches have degraded. Based on 2 visits a montyh appart, the corned beef was found to be very tough(rubbery) and appeared to be undercooked. The pickles are still very good. Pros: Pickles are still good Cons: Corned beef is tough and rebbery. Appears to be undercooked more

The menu is extensive, and the food is good, but the girl behind the counter was unnecessarily hostile to my father in front of a large group of people. Apparently asking her to clarify how the food gets to the customers was some kind of veiled insult for reasons known only to her. It was highly embarrassing, particularly since I was introducing my extended family to the restaurant, and I was treating. While our sandwiches were fine, the frosty encounter was enough to keep all of us from returning. I noted in the review that Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton were repeat customers. I wonder if they would get the same kind of treatment if they asked a simple question to someone behind the counter. Pros: Good food Cons: Hostile service more

I'm biased because I come from Cleveland, where there's more than one deli, so competition drives a better product. I'm used to a city with two or three deli's on each square block and lunch time take out lines out the door. I got an average rueben for a premium price. In a real deli, the bread should not sit parallel across it's contents. It should be so stuffed, that it sits almost at a 45 degree angle. They advertise a ""bigger"" 1.5inch thick sandwiches, I'm used to 4inch thick ""averages"". Food tasted good, and pickels were done right, this just isn't a real deli. It is very colorful inside, and has a hip atmosphere which can be nice. However, what it all boils down to is quality of food per dollar, and paying $11.95 for an average at best meal doesn't cut it. The one thing the place has going for it is lack of competition. So far, I haven't found any other deli in the city. If you simply want a corned beef sandwich, go here. If you want a deli, leave the city. I recommend Slyman's in Cleveland. Pros: Only deli in city Cons: Not a true deli more

Katzinger's is part of the reason we moved to German Village. The deli-style sandwich place has something for everyone with about 70 sandwiches on the menu. I love #55 Fred's Jazzy Pita Treats. Of course, you pay a little extra, but the quality of the breads and meats (Amish-raised chicken) and imported cheeses cannot be beaten. This is a great place for breakfast and coffee too. Out-of-town visitors will enjoy being taken there (as my parents did). Expect long waits during weekday lunch hour and expect at least 20 minutes to get your sandwich during other times. Calling in your order is advised. Pros: high-quality, veg-friendly, huge selection Cons: busy lunches, long waits more

I'm from New York and am now in Columbus. Katzinger's is the best Deli by far in Columbus. If a deli doesn't give you an overstuffed sandwitch it doesn't deserve the name Deli! So get the bigger ones here. Parking and seating are a challange. A bit pricy for every day but a worthy special treat! In fact in all of Ohio the only one that tops it, that I have found, is Corky and Lenny's in Cleveland. Pros: delicious, overstuffed, endless pickles Cons: parking, seating, pricey more

I really think that the opening of Katzinger's signaled Columbus' renaissance. A truly topnotch deli, it manages to combine the city's laid-back vibe with food that'll match anything you can find in NYC. The overstuffed sandwiches are almost overwhelming (especially with that numbering system), the pickles are up to Gus's standards, and I don't know where they're getting that bread, but it's a treat in of itself. more