Katz's Delicatessen

Good enough for a President. 10/27/2008

by Jordieyoyo at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Be sure to check out the Presidential letters of gratitude in the front window. If it is good enough for them, then certainly all others will enjoy!!! more

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Good enough for a President. 10/27/2008

by Jordieyoyo at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Be sure to check out the Presidential letters of gratitude in the front window. If it is good enough for them, then certainly all others will enjoy!!! more

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Mediocre at best 10/16/2008

by FrenchieFan at nymag.com Provided by nymag.com

I took my brother, a corned beef connoisseur, to Katz's when he came to visit me in New York. We were not impressed - the corned beef was more salty than it was tasty. We also asked for extra lean, and it was not trimmed up to our standards. I commend Katz's for slicing their meat by hand - it ALWAYS tastes better when sliced by hand. Still, I though the quality and taste of the food was mediocre at best. more

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Not The Best 10/16/2008

by sandygramm at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Terribly overrated. Table service against the wall. If you want to be ignored, go there. Food is good, but I've had better. Dirty bathrooms. Pros: Nothing Cons: Dirty bathrooms more

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Not The Best 10/15/2008

by sandygramm at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Terribly overrated. Table service against the wall. If you want to be ignored, go there. Food is good, but I've had better. Dirty bathrooms. Pros: Nothing Cons: Dirty bathrooms more

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The UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT KING of DELI FOOD 10/3/2008

by NYTMSTR at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Well my title should say it all, but just in case it didnt get through your melon here it is. At one time the 2nd Ave deli was a great runner-up, I thought they had better chopped-liver, but I have never eaten anywhere as good as Katz. i must admit Ive been going there since I was a little kid, so I may be a bit biased. But even so the pastrami is to-die for! But here I go again Ive eaten so many things there the only thing left to eat is the menu! I cant get enough of this place. Pros: FOOD, FOOD, FOOD Cons: back in the 70's and 80's the neighborhood MAY have been an issue but not now more

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The UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT KING of DELI FOOD 10/2/2008

by NYTMSTR at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Well my title should say it all, but just in case it didnt get through your melon here it is. At one time the 2nd Ave deli was a great runner-up, I thought they had better chopped-liver, but I have never eaten anywhere as good as Katz. i must admit Ive been going there since I was a little kid, so I may be a bit biased. But even so the pastrami is to-die for! But here I go again Ive eaten so many things there the only thing left to eat is the menu! I cant get enough of this place. Pros: FOOD, FOOD, FOOD Cons: back in the 70's and 80's the neighborhood MAY have been an issue but not now more

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Overrated Tourist Trap 9/20/2008

by kungapa at nymag.com Provided by nymag.com

Having heard good things about Katz's Deli I decided to try it last night. I walked up to the slicer and ordered a salami. He quickly slices up some salami, puts it on some rather cheap bread and serves it to me - just bread and salami. It was as if I was being rude by asking for lettuce, tomato and mustard on the sandwich. Actually, they had barely any lettuce at his station so none of that. The place might have been good in its prime, but now it is a bit of an overpriced joke. You are better off getting something to eat at any of the places nearby. Also, even the pickles were crappy. more

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this is a Must Eat Here kind of place 9/17/2008

by Sticky at Menuism Provided by Menuism

great place. come in get a ticket, then order and sit. they have the table where Sally sat with Harry in... more

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this is a Must Eat Here kind of place 9/17/2008

Stuart Provided by Partner

great place. come in get a ticket, then order and sit. they have the table where Sally sat with Harry in the movie and it says "hope you're hav... more

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It's a 7/28/2008

by califsunlover at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

GREAT Deli!! Meats are top quality hands down! I have only eaten here once since I live in L.A., but I will come here anytime I find myself in New York. Beware though: They do NOT always tell you to retain your carnival ticket when you enter, it's a flat $50 if you lose it!\r \r Simple shop, tables are lined up very, very tightly. Must shimmy into your seat with no room to move it back.\r \r Service is quick & efficient, great for busier times. You get a sample of the meat you are requesting before they pile it onto the bread. Great portions on the sandwiches. Don't bother with ANY of the side dishes. No flavor. \r \r Sandwich & a cold beer and you're all set! Bonus: If the owner is there, he meanders around chatting with the peeps which is cool. \r \r MUST try!\r \r Pros: Excellent sandwiches!\r \r Cons: Tables jammed together which can be unpleasant during peak times. Don't lose your puunch ticket!! Yikes Pros: Pros: Excellent sandwiches though pricey! Cons: Cons: Tables jammed together which can be unpleasant during peak times. Don't lose your puunch ticket!! Yikes! more

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Classic NY 7/28/2008

by jsong327 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

This is my first review so don't take more from it than what it is:\r \r Please ignore all reviews that say this place is terrible and mark it with one star, it is not meant to be a 5 star restaurant with crisp white linens and impeccable waiter service. This place is a true to life NYC landmark. The format is disorganized and the tables are not the cleanest but people manage to get their food and seem to wolf it down without issue, imagine a slightly run down food court in an old school Jewish deli. I indulged in the traditional Pastrami sandwich with a side of Potato Latkes and a Chocolate Egg Cream (suggested to me as being the must have's). The Pastrami was juicy and delicious with enough meat to feed 2. The latkes I have to say might be the best I have ever had, thin and crisp with the perfect potato flavor. And the egg cream, well I'm not a big egg cream guy nor have I had many to compare against but it was pretty tasty. This is a must see/go for all New Yorkers and true travelers visiting this great city (I kindly ask TOURISTS to stick to the Times Square area).\r Pros: Food and History Cons: Rough around the edges and Price could be better more

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Classic NY 7/27/2008

by jsong327 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

This is my first review so don't take more from it than what it is: Please ignore all reviews that say this place is terrible and mark it with one star, it is not meant to be a 5 star restaurant with crisp white linens and impeccable waiter service. This place is a true to life NYC landmark. The format is disorganized and the tables are not the cleanest but people manage to get their food and seem to wolf it down without issue, imagine a slightly run down food court in an old school Jewish deli. I indulged in the traditional Pastrami sandwich with a side of Potato Latkes and a Chocolate Egg Cream (suggested to me as being the must have's). The Pastrami was juicy and delicious with enough meat to feed 2. The latkes I have to say might be the best I have ever had, thin and crisp with the perfect potato flavor. And the egg cream, well I'm not a big egg cream guy nor have I had many to compare against but it was pretty tasty. This is a must see/go for all New Yorkers and true travelers visiting this great city (I kindly ask TOURISTS to stick to the Times Square area). Pros: Food and History Cons: Rough around the edges and Price could be better more

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It's a 7/27/2008

by califsunlover at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

GREAT Deli!! Meats are top quality hands down! I have only eaten here once since I live in L.A., but I will come here anytime I find myself in New York. Beware though: They do NOT always tell you to retain your carnival ticket when you enter, it's a flat $50 if you lose it! Simple shop, tables are lined up very, very tightly. Must shimmy into your seat with no room to move it back. Service is quick & efficient, great for busier times. You get a sample of the meat you are requesting before they pile it onto the bread. Great portions on the sandwiches. Don't bother with ANY of the side dishes. No flavor. Sandwich & a cold beer and you're all set! Bonus: If the owner is there, he meanders around chatting with the peeps which is cool. MUST try! Pros: Excellent sandwiches! Cons: Tables jammed together which can be unpleasant during peak times. Don't lose your puunch ticket!! Yikes Pros: Pros: Excellent sandwiches though pricey! Cons: Cons: Tables jammed together which can be unpleasant during peak times. Don't lose your puunch ticket!! Yikes! more

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quite a scene 7/8/2008

by mckinley30 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Wow. Quite an experience. And for someone who doesn't eat a lot of meat, absolutely delicious. You know it's good and natural (in its way) when eating half a pastrami sandwich (and several bites of my friend's reuben) doesn't negatively affect my delicate stomach. The dill pickle, however, was almost too much pucker-up vinegar. I preferred the non-dill pickle. The pickled tomatos didn't taste like much of anything. Wish they would grace their meat with some better bread, but the plain Jane rye provided a nice blank canvas, in a sense. The atmosphere is not for the faint of heart (the lines, the crowded, the bus-your-own-everything, the sawdust on the floor, the nasty bathroom, the don't-lose-your-ticket-or-else)... but hey, this is why we live in NYC, right?\r Pros: meat Cons: expensive more

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quite a scene 7/7/2008

by mckinley30 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

Wow. Quite an experience. And for someone who doesn't eat a lot of meat, absolutely delicious. You know it's good and natural (in its way) when eating half a pastrami sandwich (and several bites of my friend's reuben) doesn't negatively affect my delicate stomach. The dill pickle, however, was almost too much pucker-up vinegar. I preferred the non-dill pickle. The pickled tomatos didn't taste like much of anything. Wish they would grace their meat with some better bread, but the plain Jane rye provided a nice blank canvas, in a sense. The atmosphere is not for the faint of heart (the lines, the crowded, the bus-your-own-everything, the sawdust on the floor, the nasty bathroom, the don't-lose-your-ticket-or-else)... but hey, this is why we live in NYC, right? Pros: meat Cons: expensive more

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Welcome to the mismanaged dive. 7/3/2008

by billtotman at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

I cannot believe someone wrote a review that said ""The pickles are good, too."" It's just not true. They are bland; both types. What types? It doesn't matter, they BOTH are worthless. They're not even tangy.----------\r \r But, that's not the most awful part. Before I lay into them I will say that the meat (on the reuben) is 'good' but no better than what you can find at a good BBQ joint where the meat is tender and juicy and about three times less expensive. I say BBQ because their meat has a smoky taste to it. Nothing BBQ-ist haven't already been doing for a very long time.----------\r \r Now, the lay in:----------\r \r First, the dope at the door doesn't explain that returning your ticket is 'mandatory'. What 'ticket' you say? Their ticket to keep track of people going in and ordering or not ordering food. You see, they are completely mismanaged. If they were actually well managed they would have a happier staff, the place wouldn't look like a dive, which it is, it wouldn't be a riddle to find out how to get service, it wouldn't be a surprise that there is 'waiter' service, there wouldn't be tables in the back stacked with dirty plates, and they wouldn't need tickets to keep track of who ordered and payed for food or not.----------\r \r Second, the 'rye' bread is about as rye as Wonder Bread and just as strong. Just another indication of how mismanaged they are; that they do not have it together.----------\r \r Thirdly, I just cannot recommend this place because the chaos the ordering system is, the reliance on tickets that can be lost (it also bespeaks of how much they trust the customer - or are hoping they lose their ticket), the bleh non-meat food, the misery of the staff, and how WAY, WAY, WAY overpriced they are (which is actually the third point).----------\r \r P.S - If you do not turn in your ticket they may threaten to call the cops on you for not turning it in despite the sign at the entrance that says 'Please' return the tickets. The sign is misleading. Pros: Smoked, greasy meats. Cons: Disorganization, Unique Service System, Overpriced, Dive, Unhappy Employees more

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Welcome to the mismanaged dive. 7/2/2008

by billtotman at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

I cannot believe someone wrote a review that said "The pickles are good, too." It's just not true. They are bland; both types. What types? It doesn't matter, they BOTH are worthless. They're not even tangy.---------- But, that's not the most awful part. Before I lay into them I will say that the meat (on the reuben) is 'good' but no better than what you can find at a good BBQ joint where the meat is tender and juicy and about three times less expensive. I say BBQ because their meat has a smoky taste to it. Nothing BBQ-ist haven't already been doing for a very long time.---------- Now, the lay in:---------- First, the dope at the door doesn't explain that returning your ticket is 'mandatory'. What 'ticket' you say? Their ticket to keep track of people going in and ordering or not ordering food. You see, they are completely mismanaged. If they were actually well managed they would have a happier staff, the place wouldn't look like a dive, which it is, it wouldn't be a riddle to find out how to get service, it wouldn't be a surprise that there is 'waiter' service, there wouldn't be tables in the back stacked with dirty plates, and they wouldn't need tickets to keep track of who ordered and payed for food or not.---------- Second, the 'rye' bread is about as rye as Wonder Bread and just as strong. Just another indication of how mismanaged they are; that they do not have it together.---------- Thirdly, I just cannot recommend this place because the chaos the ordering system is, the reliance on tickets that can be lost (it also bespeaks of how much they trust the customer - or are hoping they lose their ticket), the bleh non-meat food, the misery of the staff, and how WAY, WAY, WAY overpriced they are (which is actually the third point).---------- P.S - If you do not turn in your ticket they may threaten to call the cops on you for not turning it in despite the sign at the entrance that says 'Please' return the tickets. The sign is misleading. Pros: Smoked, greasy meats. Cons: Disorganization, Unique Service System, Overpriced, Dive, Unhappy Employees more

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WAY too expensive! 4/21/2008

by vincent3000 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

I had a similar experience to many of the other reviewers here: $19.25 for a sandwich and a soda. There was no table service, you go through a cafeteria-style lineup, and I had to wait in a line for over 5 minutes to get a drink once I had my hot sandwich sitting on a tray in front of me.\r \r Now, the sandwich was extremely good -- but it should have been for $14.95. You'd better get that soda to go along with it though... the meat was quite salty. Pickles were just average. Also, make sure you know exactly where your little orange ticket stub is or it's a $50 dollar charge. Pros: Sandwich was excellent. Cons: Sandwich wasn't worth the price. more

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WAY too expensive! 4/20/2008

by vincent3000 at Citysearch Provided by Citysearch

I had a similar experience to many of the other reviewers here: $19.25 for a sandwich and a soda. There was no table service, you go through a cafeteria-style lineup, and I had to wait in a line for over 5 minutes to get a drink once I had my hot sandwich sitting on a tray in front of me. Now, the sandwich was extremely good -- but it should have been for $14.95. You'd better get that soda to go along with it though... the meat was quite salty. Pickles were just average. Also, make sure you know exactly where your little orange ticket stub is or it's a $50 dollar charge. Pros: Sandwich was excellent. Cons: Sandwich wasn't worth the price. more

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Best	Worlds Best You haven't had Pastrami until you've had it here. Nowhere on planet earth is there Pastrami that compares. The Corned Beef ain't bad either. Potat...
Worst	Too popular Katzs being a landmark in NYC, it fell short of my expectations. This dirty place is always packed (tourist attraction?) and though the pastramy sandwich was good, I found it was ...

205 E Houston St (at at Ludlow St.) New York, NY 10002

Best

Worst

Good enough for a President. 10/27/2008

Good enough for a President. 10/27/2008

Mediocre at best 10/16/2008

Not The Best 10/16/2008

Not The Best 10/15/2008

The UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT KING of DELI FOOD 10/3/2008

The UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT KING of DELI FOOD 10/2/2008

Overrated Tourist Trap 9/20/2008

this is a Must Eat Here kind of place 9/17/2008

this is a Must Eat Here kind of place 9/17/2008

It's a 7/28/2008

Classic NY 7/28/2008

Classic NY 7/27/2008

It's a 7/27/2008

quite a scene 7/8/2008

quite a scene 7/7/2008

Welcome to the mismanaged dive. 7/3/2008

Welcome to the mismanaged dive. 7/2/2008

WAY too expensive! 4/21/2008

WAY too expensive! 4/20/2008

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