Katz's Delicatessen, NYC

My dad came into the city to visit over the holidays -- I wanted to treat him and his new wife to some real New York food, so I took them to Katz's Deli. I confess this was motivated in part by my own appetite and curiousity. I'm embarassed to say I've lived in the Big Apple for six years now and had yet to visit the place. They were driving in from Philadelphia and ran into holiday traffic, so I spent a good hour and a half waiting in front of the deli. When we finally made it inside there was another hour-long wait in line for the food. . . . thank God I'm the patient sort, because it was worth the wait. I ordered a traditional "corned beef on rye", "grilled reuben", and a "pastrami on rye". Following a friend's sound advice I tipped the chef a dollar as he was preparing my food and he piled on the meat extra thick! -- it took a major effort between the three of us to polish them off, but we managed to do so. It was all in all an incredible culinary experience, and one that I'll gladly repeat (Hopefully next time at a reasonable hour without all the tourist-traffic). From New York First:

On New York City's Lower East Side, where Jewish pushcart peddlers once hawked street food, is the deli to end all delis. You don't go to Katz's Delicatessen for elegant décor. You don't go for the service. You definitely don't go if you're on a diet. This venerable warhorse, founded in 1888, is a timeless, unassailable living-history museum. And an eternally popular one, too. Some Sunday mornings, the line snakes all the way out the door. Devotees line up for Katz's hot dogs -- the thick-skinned, all-beef dogs are slender, sultry, and unexpectedly subtle in flavor and texture. They've been making these hot dogs on the premises since before they were called hot dogs. When New Yorkers think of hot dogs, they think of Katz's Deli. New York Magazine calls Katz's hot dogs "the best in New York."

Along the way to being the oldest delicatessen in New York, Katz's has gathered a fiercely loyal band of fans; among which are U.S. Presidents, stars of stage and screen and local and international political, social, and arts figures. Katz's has been featured in the movies. When Johnny Depp met with his FBI contact in "Donnie Brasco," it was at Katz's. When Meg Ryan displayed her orgasmic skill in "When Harry Met Sally" (I'll have what she's having) it was at Katz's.

During World War II, the three sons of Katz's owners were all serving their country in the armed forces, and the family tradition of sending food to their sons became sealed as the slogan "Send a Salami To Your Boy In The Army."

• Katz Deli Official Website
• Katz Deli Mail Order (Through NYCTOGO.com)
• Katz's Deli Reviewed by HollyEats.Com - check out her photo of a traditional Katz' Deli pastrami sandwich!

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Photo Credit: Leon