The New York kosher deli is an endangered species, and with Ben's as one of its last members, the future is bleak. We were three, and nothing was accepable: the chicken soup had only one kreplach (although its flavor made it the best selection of all that we ordered); the pastrami and brisket were remarkably overcooked and dry; the chicken pot pie was dull and flavorless; and the carrot cake had shortening (not cream cheese) based frosting. And the waiter refused to answer basic questions; I had no qualms about leaving only a 15% tip.\r
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We chose Ben's for a reunion with an old high-school friend I hand't seen in 40 years. Since she was travelling in from Jersey City on the PATH train, we looked for a place near Herald Square. I was embarrassed by the choice.\r
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Therefore, if you're in the Herald Square area, try the Korean restaurants on 32nd Street instead. For kosher-style deli, you'll still have to go to Liebman's in Riverdale. The Carle Place Ben's is measurably superior. Ben's needs some quality control to balance out the variance.\r
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