New York City. The Big Apple. Manhattan Island. You will find every ethnic group and every kind of food imaginable in New York City. And one kind of food that New York is famous for is the Jewish Delicatessen. One of the best delis in New York is the Carnegie Deli. This is the ultimate kosher Jewish deli. I try to eat there every time I visit New York City. You go there more for just the meal, but for the ambiance and experience. It has that quintessential New York feel to it.
The Carnegie Deli is just down the street from Carnegie Hall. Hence the name. The place has been there for decades. Everybody who is anybody has been there. On the wall are pictures of hundreds of celebrities: athletes, entertainers, politicians. Everyone from from Mickey Mantle to Barack Obama.
The restaurant is always busy and packed with people. However there is usually not much of a wait. Expect to be seated at a table with other guests. Most of the guests are not tourists, not native New Yorkers. (Some New York natives don’t think Carnegie is the best deli in the city. For an alternative point of view, see this lively discussion at Chowhound.)
Carnegie Deli is most famous for its Pastrami and Corned Beef, which they cure, smoke and bake themselves. At one time I was living in Sophia, Bulgaria when I flipped on the TV and there was an episode of How It’s Made on the Discovery Channel that showed the process of making Pastrami at Carnegie’s Deli’s plant in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Carnegie Deli goes through more than a thousand pounds of Pastrami every day.
My recommendation is the Pastrami sandwich ($14.95) with a Dr. Brown Cream soda. Pickles are gratis. Put lots of mustard on the pastrami. The Pastrami sandwich is about half a foot tall! There is enough meat in it for five normal-sized sandwiches. You don’t have to eat it all. Take half home with you. Afterward, order a chocolate egg cream. Expect about $20 or $25 per person. Be aware that Carnegie Deli only takes cash, so if you are like me and never carry cash make a trip to the ATM or bank-o-mat first because no credit cards are accepted.
Rating: Five Stars
Name: Carnegie Deli Restaurant
Location: 854 Seventh Ave at 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
Hours: 6:30AM to 4:00AM open 365 days per year
website: Carnegie Deli
