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A tourist in my town- Katz’s Deli NYC

November 17, 2013 by Renee

Katzs Deli NYC-2379No grand tour of NYC is complete without a visit to a NYC icon, Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side. This immutable institution has been around since 1888. The establishment’s longevity has more to do with the good than the bad, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.

The Good…

Hand carved pastrami. Huge sandwiches. Light and creamy cheesecake. Sharing tables with strangers and admiring all the vintage NY decor.

The Bad….

Oy! The staff is horrible. Plain and simple. The second you enter, you’re greeted with total chaos and no help at all from any members of staff. A line of security personnel ushers you in quickly and the only information we were told was to not lose the ticket they hand you or you’ll be forced (by their thug security staff) to pay $50 per misplaced ticket! (I’ve read horror stories about this arcane and asinine policy. Plenty of restaurants have the same number of covers and still manage to have people pay their tabs. Makes no sense at all. But hey…when in NY…)

We waited among a crowd of confused customers, while being shouted at by the staff behind the counter to stand back. Finally I realized that if we wanted to be seated as opposed to standing in line for counter service we needed to let a girl know who was behind a different counter our names, but there is no structure to this whatsoever and it was only by chance that I noticed this other counter.

Once you are seated, don’t dare ask a passing server a question or say “excuse me” to try to get some assistance- for anything. Just wait for your appointed server to come back- no matter how long it takes.  They will come eventually!

Oh, and they never clear any plates on your table whatsoever. So the dishes will pile up as your courses end. Just know it’s part of the Katz’s Deli “charm”.

Starters

So if that doesn’t turn you off, then maybe you will find it’s one of the most fun meals you can have in NYC. Sure it’s touristy, and expensive. But it’s the experience you are paying for. And the pound of melt-in-your-mouth meat on your sandwich.

Katz's Salami Katzs Deli NYC-2377

Katzs Deli NYC-2393 Katzs Deli NYC-2388Katzs Deli NYC-2383 Katzs Deli NYC-2363 Katzs Deli NYC-2374 Katzs Deli NYC-2357

 

So if you are ever in NYC and you want to experience a true fixture of NYC culture and a bygone era,  Katz’s Deli may just be the place for you.

Katz’s Deli
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-2246

 

 

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Filed Under: NYC/Metro Tagged With: Katz's Deli, NYC, NaBloPoMo

« A tourist in my town-NYC
A tourist in my town- Central Park, Lincoln Center and the NY Public Library »

Comments

  1. mryjhnsn says

    November 18, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Your photos are incredible! I would go on our trip based on your photos but your description kill it. We have a place in Cleveland that is probably better, cheaper and with a lot less attitude.

    • Renee says

      November 19, 2013 at 4:49 pm

      Thanks Mary for the compliments on my photos. Don’t let my post discourage you though! It’s a NY institution and surly service is part of it’s “charm”. It may be pricey and there may be rude staff, but the meal itself outweighs all that. As a NYer, you learn to develop a thick skin and can dish it right back if you have to! 🙂

  2. Nicole says

    November 19, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I had a sandwich there on my one trip to New York City. I need to go back and be a tourist again! 🙂

  3. Neil says

    December 26, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    I enjoy the rudeness of the place. The food — according to my mother — used to be better.

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