New York City Travel Forum

Hi! I'm going to New York in May and I'd like to visit the legendary Katz's restaurant (205 E Houston Street). QUESTIONS:

a) What do you think of the place?

b) Are they open throughout the whole day or only on lunch/dinner hours?

c) Is service as bad as they say?

d) And, most importantly, what's the best (i.e. less crowded) time/day to go there?

Katz's in Not the place for an intimate candlelit dinner. It's also Not the place for a vegetarian,
organic, pinky-up small-portioned meal. It's a big noisy barn of a deli, full of young locals,
daytrippers from New Jersey and other suburbs, and foreign tourists. I was born and raised in NYC,
so I LOVE Katz's! it used to be open for breakfast, but do NOT eat breakfast there. Keep in mind
that they make their living selling hot dogs and roast beef! Katz's is self-service, while there are
tables along the wall that are served by waitresses. You enter thru a turnstile, where they give you
a blank, oversized movie ticket, upon which each server writes, by hand, the cost of each item. Traditionally, you belly up to the counter where the deli man solicits you for a $1 tip, in return for
"a taste"! Each pastrami and corned beef sandwich ($16?) is so overstuffed that it can satisfy
2 people. Don't forget Dr. Brown's Cream Soda. Enjoy the experience.

Personally, I prefer the pastrami at the Carnegie, which slices by machine (thin slices), whereas Katz's is famous for hand-slicing their deli meat, which produces thick slabs.

The thing about NY's "famous" delis is that they're old, and while (I hope) the kitchens are spotless, they all have a very grimy look. Except for the newly reopened Second Avenue Deli, which incidentally is the only one that's kosher. There was an outcry when they closed a couple of years ago (the landlord raised the rent through the roof!). They were smart this time and bought the building, which is on 33rd St. between 3rd & Lexington Aves. I highly recommend Second Ave. Deli -- have the half pastrami/ half corned beef combo.

Thanks!

This other reviewer, 10028, lives near this Carnegie Deli, which is in the midtown business district. Why would you want to see a business district, when you can see the vibrant Lower East Side, where Katz's Deli is?? It's in a residential, not a skyscraper-filled, area, with plenty of young people, alot of other small interesting boutiques and clubs.

Footstool, it all depends upon what you're looking for. I agree with 10028, with a preference for Carnegie's, because they do have the thinner-sliced pastrami/corned beef, and also I like the area (around 7th and 55th), because it has good access to the Museum of Modern Art, the shopping on 5th Avenue, and the theater district. However, I find the service at both Katz's and Carnegie's too brusque and bordering on rude, so I like to search out smaller places in Manhattan that are less publicized. It depends on what the OP's interests are as to where to go. Also, these sandwiches are so big at both places, they could feed an army! I have to keep my calories down so I can fit through the doors of Neiman Marcus :-)

I Love KATZ - it's a New York Experience!!!!

Here's their website: www.katzdeli.com with their menu, operation time, history, location etc.

and don't forget the Dr. Brown Cream Soda

Regards,

Carmen

Footstool, it happens that I was born on the lower east side, so I know it pretty well, and have been going to Katz's for many years. I agree with you that the area is interesting to see and that visitors shouldn't limit themselsves to midtown. But don't you think most visitors to NY will find themselves in midtown at some point?

By the way, I don't live anywhere near the Carnegie.

Of course. I was raised in NYC, too, so i have the city boy perspective. most tourists, tho, are indeed from smaller towns, and they do like to gawk at the high rise buildings here. I was simply trying to steer our visitor away from the crowded tourists traps, to the old New Yawk. why I was just at Katz's this day, and the pastrami is only $14.95! the server was jolly, even before I tipped him a buck for "a taste." take care.

============>John, as footstool

Without a doubt go to KATZ'S DELI especially since it's been rumored that it will soon sell to some real estate mogul.

Make sure you order the food yourself -- do not sit at the tables against the wall with the wait staff. Ordering it yourself is half the fun. Order PASTRAMI or CORNED BEEF ---that's what they make their money on-- ask for sour pickles. If there are two of you consider ordering one sandwich and ask for extra bread in addition to a hot dog/w sauerkraut. The meat on one sandwich can easily feed two people and costs around $15 and this way you can also taste a hot dog to compare with Nathan's (in Coney Island).

During the crowded times the food is replenished the most and you get the atmosphere that Katz's is known for. Probably lunchtime and weekends.

Bon Apetite

Losham

«it's been rumored that it will soon sell to some real estate mogul.»

Oh my God! Let's hope this never happens!

So, you're saying I shouldn't sit and wait for the waitresses and head directly to the food? It's a good advice, I hate waiting.

Thank you all for posting, guys!