In the city’s fierce battle for pastrami supremacy, there is one clear victor- Katz’s Deli on the corner of Houston and Ludlow. Unfortunately it has become more famous for being the scene of Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally than for it’s delicious sandwiches, but make no mistake- this is not just a tourist trap- this is a real deal New York institution. The place has a real lively old school feel to it, with it’s many signs and walls lined with celebrity pictures.


Katz’s has it’s quirks- the weirdest being the ticket stub you get upon entry that’s required to exit or face a $50 charge. Then there’s the cutters- perhaps no other deli on earth has such a well used tip cup for meat slicers. Normally I ignore tip cups on counters but at Katz’s it’s sort of an unofficial requirement that you tip the cutters in order to receive better service. Once you tip, they will let you try a slice of whatever you order to approve it and then make you a fatter sandwich than if you hadn’t tipped. It may seem odd to tip on a nearly $14 sandwich (yes $14, that’s not a typo!!!), or even to pay that much for a sandwich but once you sink you teeth into the hot savory lightly spiced juicy melt in your mouth pastrami sandwich (on rye of course) it’s all worth it. Katz’s is by far the best pastrami in the city and probably the world.

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3. SLICE PLEASE!
4. A New York question
5. Rupert Caught in the Act!