Katz's Deli New York
Legendary Jewish deli
You'll find Katz's Delicatessen in every guidebook. It's famous, and there's no denying it. But as a fourth-generation New Yorker, I'm hard-pressed to think of a spot that feels more like Old New York (the term locals use to describe pre-gentrification New York in the 20th century).
Most people know Katz's as a filming location in the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally. There's even a sign indicating the table where Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan sat. (I won't lie, I always try to sit there.) Fewer people know it was around for 100 years before that. The deli opened in its current spot in the Lower East Side in 1888, making it as old as the world delicatessen itself.
As much as I love the giant pastrami sandwich (it's the best in New York), I love the tiny, squat brick building even more. Outside, the entire world has changed. The block used to be one of the most dangerous in New York; now there's a Whole Foods and luxury apartments. But when you go inside Katz's, time fades away. It could be the 1880s or the 1980s or any decade between them. Katz's has lived through them all, and it only gets better.
You can try almost any deli staple imaginable, but you should order like a New Yorker. Always get the pastrami (corned beef is an acceptable alternative) and Dr. Brown's soda.
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