Katz’s Delicatessen
From its founding in 1888 Katz’s was one of the Lower East Side’s leading cured meat emporiums; now it is the only one.
This is the go-to place for the treasured classics: pastrami, corned beef, brisket, piled high on rye, or overlapping a plate.
There are other specialties – salami, chopped liver, matzo ball soup and knishes – but if you don’t expect to pass this way again soon, do not deviate from the main meats.
Dr Brown’s celery soda is the drink of choice.
205 East Houston St
212 254 2246
Barney Greengrass
Barney Greengrass falls into a kind of delicatessen known as “appetising”, not an adjective in this context but a category that has at its heart smoked fish, its garnishes and sides.
Focus on smoked salmon, sturgeon and sable. White fish and chubs (baby whitefish) are also wonderful.
If you aren’t in the mood to mount your fish on a bagel with cream cheese, try scrambled eggs with Nova Scotia salmon or sturgeon and onions.
Cucumber salad and pickled onions in cream sauce are good sides.
541 Amsterdam Ave
212 724 4707
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