New York is famous for many things; black & white cookies, the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, subways, and of course the quessisential Jewish deli. Katz’s Delicatessen is the very definition of a New York deli, full of pickles, blunt employees, confused tourists and delicious sandwiches.

Huck & I timed our lunch just right on our recent visit to Katz’s, as by the time we were finishing our grub, the line to get in stretched all the way out the door and down the block. Before our flight to NYC, I had asked Huck what was one of the main things he wanted to do once we landed in the city and his answer was simple; sandwiches. So after flying across the country; a 30 minute subway ride and a 20 minute walk from our hotel only to taste some of the best sandwiches around, seemed like a small request.

The atmosphere inside of Katz’s is chaotic and it can be confusing as a first timer I’ll admit. But the restaurant flows like a well oiled machine and it wasn’t long before we were standing in front of a master meat carver and being given slices of succulent meat to try. Huck went straight to the pastrami and though my turkey was good, his was the absolute winner.

The meat was fall off the bone juicy and each bite was full of flavor. The sandwiches came with a plate of pickles on the side, and though I’m not usually a pickle fan, they provided a welcome bite of acidity amid the richness of the pastrami. We definitely should have shared though, as two full sandwiches was more than Huck and I could handle.

As the lines around us grew, and the sandwiches in front of us slowly shrank, it felt like we were real New Yorkers for a moment, just catching a bite at our favorite local deli. And as we shuffled out the door, laden down with full bellies and takeout boxes, I hoped that that memory, of just the two of us exploring one of the biggest cities in the world together, will come back to Huck again and again on his own someday adventures. And that he knows no matter where you come from, the feel, the flavor, the smell, and the taste of the place can be yours for a moment if you care to seek it out. And that you should always go for the pastrami, especially in New York City.

Katz’s Delicatessen

205 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002

Open Monday thru Thursday 8am-11pm and Friday 8am till Sunday 11pm

212-254-2246