This is an institution. I've been eating 2nd Ave Deli's food my entire life. Actually, they helped cater my parents' wedding, so you might even say this deli has been a part of me longer than I've been alive. What I'm trying to say is that I've got a lot of great memories here. I love the pickles. the giant sandwiches. The cole slaw, and the matzo ball soup. The knishes. The pierogi. The latkes. They all taste like my childhood. That said, the prices have edged into unconscionable territory. My cousins were in town, and they have a similar place in their heart for 2nd Ave Deli, so we came by to pick up a few things. I figured I'd get some pastrami. It was $13 for 1/4 pound ($52/lb?! OK, sure. But when I got home, it was also just about all fat). As I was leaving, I texted my mom to see if she wanted anything. She asked for some matzo ball soup to go. A large. This is the first time I've been thankful for the silly ordering system at the counter, because when they handed me the printed ticket, it said $30. $30. For chicken broth, some veggies, and a matzo ball. What are we doing here? I get it. NYC is expensive, and there's a lot of overhead. You can charge whatever you want, and it's up to us, the consumer, to decide if we want to pay those prices. But I don't want to pay those prices. I canceled the soup order. I'll be back I'm sure, but I'm going to be making my own soup from now on. read more

The location is very nice. The service is very good and the food, I had brisket burger, was wonderful. The only problem is the man at the reception that need to learned how to be friendly and gentile with customs. When you enter is even not looking at you playing with the phone and I a ride way is asking " pick up or dine in?" read more

2nd Ave Deli - Brisket burger - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

My 1st stop upon arriving in NYC. It's a Friday noon and the place wasn't packed yet. Upon entering I was greeted by a friendly staff working the counter and he offered slices of pastrami to try. I decided to eat in, so he directed me to the counter where I'm immediately taken to the back dining area of the restaurant. There're decent amount of booths and tables. Service was brisk and fast. My server didn't take time to explain the menu. There was another friendlier server working (not mine). Extensive menu but the orients are rather small. I'd prefer for my server to recommend their best or most popular item, but oh well... Overall good experience. The pastrami is definitely Would I come back if I'm out of the way? Probably not. If I'm in the area, perhaps. Half a sandwich (lots of meat) and a large bowl of soup was $31++ Kind of expensive for lunch, but maybe it is normal NYC price read more

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In NY for one night and we craved a good jewish deli. Debating on just which one to go to but 2nd Ave deli was walk-able from our hotel and won our decision. Such a good choice too. Old style deli with professional servers, lots of old photos on the wall and probably hasn't changed...well...ever. We were seated at a comfy booth...coleslaw and jewish pickles quickly placed on the table. So good. Now... decisions decisions.... corn beef, brisket, or pastrami...oh my??!! We chose to split the corn beef and a side of fries. And wow...soooo darn good. But after seeing the pastrami sandwiches, I questioned if I made the right choice. We had just one shot afterall. In any case, we gobbled every bit. Sharing the sandwich was definitely the way to go. Our bellies were full and satisfied! But note to self...order the pastrami next time in NY. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Omg...this and the pickle...sinful. - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

Where does a 364 day a year vegetarian go on the day she wants her kosher pastrami fix for the year? The 2nd Avenue deli of course! Arriving in town, I swung by here to grab a pastrami sandwich before heading to my hotel. It is the best! And they had it ready super fast for me. If I'm gonna eat meat it's gonna be here. Thanks for keeping the tradition alive for new generations, 2nd Ave peeps! read more

Don't let the name mislead you! This kosher deli is actually on 33rd Street! We showed up to 2nd Ave Deli on a Friday evening, and the restaurant wasn't too busy at all. Seated in a booth, I enjoyed the complimentary pickles and cabbage while waiting for the meals to arrive. The menu is big. I tried both the pastrami ($28.95) and the corned beef ($27.95) sandwiches, and I actually found myself gravitating to the corned beef more, though the pastrami was no slouch. The rye bread didn't have caraway seeds and was very moist. The Jewish Penicillin (aka matzoh ball soup, $13.95) could certainly cure many ailments. When we mentioned splitting the soup, our server brought it out as two separate portions which was very thoughtful. I loved the addition of dill too. There's old timey deli ambiance in spades. The restroom could've used some freshening up, but it was all right. Be sure to check out the celebrity photos on the walls! read more

Not gonna lie, we were a little disappointed. The matzoh ball soup was outstanding but the pastrami and corned beef left us wanting something more like Katz's. The portions were small and the prices large. Service on this day was also lacking. I understand that there are always one or two tables who get forgotten about when it's really busy, and unfortunately, today was our turn to be waiting to order and waiting for our food. And we didn't feel like we were valued customers, just a table to get in and out. I miss the original location at which I remember having one of the best corned beef sandwiches ever. Those days are gone. The nostalgia was nice, but the value for what we paid was anything but. We shall continue our quest of trying all the corned beef and pastrami New York City has to offer. Just not here again. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here recently in search of a pastrami that was not from Katz Deli and was directed by the internet to the 2nd Ave Deli as an alternative. I was also informed by the internet that their kreplocks were very good. So I ordered both to go. They were both very good and I would highly recommend them both. The kreplock tasted hand made. Apparently even though this place is called the 2nd Ave Deli, it is on 3rd Ave because it moved from its original location after a famous NYC type incident. I was not aware of this and did not use GPS to find the place and got partially lost along the way. read more

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2nd Ave Deli is one of the best, classic, Jewish delis in New York City, or anywhere, for that matter, and, as opposed to Katz's, it's Kosher, as well. I have eaten inside the restaurant, at the old location several times, but this time I ordered delivery, which was just as good. Of course, I ordered a pastrami on rye with (deli) mustard, and PLEASE, not lean! Also, a bowl of matzah ball soup, potato pancakes with cinnamon apple sauce (no sour cream, here) and, of course, a can of Dr. Pepper's Black Cherry soda. (Pickles and cole slaw are included.) Just for old times sake, add a Kosher beef hot dog with sauerkraut...they don't make them any better. Everything was great! Delivery was fast. Packing was nicely done. Don't miss a little bit of heaven while you can. FYI- I'm not here to compare it to Katz's, both are terrific. Each to his own. I hope both never close, as have so many wonderful Jewish delis in New York, Carnegie Deli, quickly, comes to mind. What else, but my highest recommendation. read more

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My family of six had a great lunch there recently, starting with the cole slaw and pickles, of course. My wife and I split a combo corned beef and pastrami sandwich and I'm glad we did. We were able to "pick" at everything else we ordered for the table...such as french fries, a spinach knish, and stuffed cabbage. All washed down with Dr. Brown's cream soda. Everything was delicious! This is one if the last places for good deli... read more

Ordered for delivery. Came in about an hour (not bad for across town around dinner time). We ordered the corned beef sandwich, matzah ball soup, and it came with challah and pickles. Omg everything was so good. Loved it. Some of the best soup I've ever had. Lots of dill. Make sure to add the Russian dressing to the sandwich, yum. Can't wait to try again and next time in person. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

Staff were friendly. Food was extremely expensive and stuck in the 1980s-90s. Seems like the menu was set in stone with zero deviations or culinary development over time. The matzoh ball soup was tender but carrots just shy of over cooked and noodles very soft. Broth was just basic chicken broth without anything special. The egg salad sandwich was huge amounts of plain eggs, with two slices of tomato and lettuce. Zero flavor development. Had to take off more than half of the egg mixture to be able to eat. And then I had to slice up the complimentary pickles and the cabbage mix to add flavor to the sandwich. And it was like, $22 !!! The helliante!!! My son doesn't eat meat. Word of caution for vegetarian kids: all they have for you are fries. No other sandwiches or food. My son was also freaked out by the bathroom. Apparently the seat was broken so they put a plastic bag over the toilet you sit on!!? I don't know. Sounds like old man cheap vibes. Really disappointed and felt like we got ripped off and no good memories. I hate that feeling. I don't recommend this place at all read more

2nd Ave Deli has the best matzo ball soup that my wife and I have ever eaten, and we have eaten a lot of matzo ball soups in our respective lives. Somehow, the matzo ball is rich and flavorful. Its texture is smooth and homogenous. It's perfectly seasoned. The pastrami is also extremely good here. It's very rich and well seasoned, but not greasy. The horseradish and mustard (as well as the cabbage salad and pickles) that they serve it with is very high quality and a great pairing with the rich meat. I also got a piece of babka here to go and it was excellent. All in all, a great experience. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Matzoh Ball Soup - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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I do love a good Deli sandwich, and that's what I got at 2nd Ave Deli. It was my first time in their 'new' location - I've been living in California for about 35 years now. I miss the things that are basics in NY delis - pickles and cole slaw on the table, brusque wait staff, overstuffed sandwiches, and knishes. Of any kind. We just don't get 'em here in northern California. My corned beef was just fatty enough to give it amazing flavor, and my knish was like ambrosia. I was surprised at how fast the food arrived, and thankful that they had Diet Black Cherry soda as well. I still think I prefer PJ Bernstein's and Katz, but of course deli is truly a matter of taste ;) read more

2nd Ave Deli - I've missed you, cole slaw! - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

I've been going to 2nd Avenue deli every other time I'm in NYC for the past 25 years, ever since they were on 2nd Avenue. I've tried several other delis - Katz's, Carnegie, the local stops, etc and 2nd Avenue just hits the spot for me the way the others don't. I mean, I thought Katz's was good but the lines are just ridiculous so service is efficient but not personal. At 2nd Avenue, there's a personality and vibe here that makes it feel like a local deli. I don't remember everything I've had over the years but nowadays, if I'm coming by myself or a friend who doesn't want to share, it's a half soup and half pastrami sandwich. Yes, the bread on the sandwich could be a little better but the pastrami is so tender. The soup is also the ultimate comfort food to me. The first time I had it, it was freezing out and I was feeling a little down and it made me feel so much better. It never fails to hit the spot for me when I come back. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Pastrami sandwich with tongue - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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My mom enjoys coming here for their matzo ball soup. It's a great location in the middle of midtown. They have really good service. Everyone is very attentive and you'll enjoy each bite of whatever you choose to get. They don't make delis like this anymore, so this is definitely a place you have to try. read more

Vibes at 2nd Ave are impeccable - booths with walls up the side so you can have privacy during your conversations. Didn't end up waiting at all even with a party of 6 on Sunday around 11:30 AM and overall, I'd say the food was good, but not life changing. Prices were a quite high with sandwiches costing ~$30 and I just wanted them to be a little better. Spinach Knish (4/5): Surprising hit at the table, thin, soft dough around a thick layer of soft spinach. Great option for pretending your healthy Square Potato Knish (4.25/5): Fried, crunchy crust is always a win and there was a good amount of salt both in the potato filling and the dough. Franks in a Blanket (3.75/5): Beef sausages in some puff pastry, came out piping hot. Nothing crazy, but hits the spot. Center Cut Tongue Sandwich (3.5/5): I just couldn't get over the untoasted, super dry bread :(. The tongue itself was actually super tender and had great flavor - good intro if you've never had tongue before, but altogether not my favorite. Pastrami Sandwich (3/5): I actually preferred the tongue to the pastrami, but it suffers from all the same problems: just much to dry with cold bread isn't a fun eating experience. Challah French Toast (3.75/5): Just a decent french toast and I liked the caramelized crust on the outside. read more

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THIS is the classic NY deli restaurant to go to- walk right in & be seated at a nice comfy booth midday; servers who must've been there for years will be right over. The dining room oozes old-school charm. The complimentary slightly brined cabbage & pickles render any additional sides superfluous; the cabbage is generous, & you get both half & full sour pickles. The pastrami is perfectly juicy & peppery; the bread could be sturdier but holds up throughout. At lunch we found splitting 1 sandwich perfect for us. The owner who may chat you up is a NYC, if not national treasure. Avoid the tourist pastrami spot, come here & taste real Manhattan. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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Cuisine: 2 Service: 5 Decor: 6 Value: 1 Overall: 2 What is the opposite of wow? I guess this would be it for me. How can such a famous deli fall so far from grace? I dunno but I just experienced it firsthand. It was never my one of my favorite Jewish delis in NYC, yet I still have some fond memories of it, especially in its original location. Haven't been here in probably over a decade, but decided to grab a pastrami sandwich while nearby recently. I love Katz's Delicatessen and its pastrami. I have it several times a year and it never fails. They are simply the best to me because it's always thick cut, hot, juicy, tender and flavorful. This version from 2nd Ave Deli is the exact opposite. Most noticeably is how dry and tough the beef was. Barely edible to me. On top of that, it costs $30, which is $1 more than Katz's where everyone complains about the price. I agree Katz's pastrami is expensive, but at least it's worth it because of how good it is. This is a waste of money. After this meal, I had to visit the new pastrami sandwich made by San Wei (Chinese restaurant) inside Queens Center food court. It's way better too. Read my review. https://yelp.to/QVGuFxjF8k read more

Exceptional deli with friendly, efficient service. Come hungry, because the portions are generous and the food delivers. We tried the new pierogies with fried onions and they were excellent. Ordering them half boiled and half pan fried was the perfect move and made it easy to pick a favorite. read more

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I was greeted by a kind, flattering host as soon as I walked in the door at 2nd Ave Deli. He told me I look fabulous, not good, fabulous and asked I was carrying out and dining it. Since it was the hottest day NYC had seen since 2012, I wanted a chance to soak up the AC and chose to dine in. The man led me to the dining area in back and got me settled in a cozy, corner booth. Almost immediately I was brought a caraffe of iced lemon water and a bowl of slaw with two dill pickles. My server was not fare behind and brought me the best iced tea I had in New York on this trip. It was just the refreshment I needed. While I was all set on pastrami, it was so hot outside I opted for a cold sandwich and chose the tuna salad on rye. My sandwich arrived quickly. It was very simple, just tuna salad and bread, but the portion was generous and it was quite delicious. I was checked on throughout my meal and got a refill of that amazing tea. And a wonderful cookie was brought just before my check. Definitely loved 2nd Ave Deli and will make another visit to try that pastrami. read more

2nd Ave Deli - tuna on rye - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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Search for great pastrami in NYC fulfilled. I really enjoyed it. No frills, just delicious pastrami. Had been trying to seek out a place and my tour guide suggested this one. read more

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2nd Ave Deli originates as a small 10-seat luncheonette on E 10th back in '54 - they offer an extensive menu that includes traditional apps (such as stuffed cabbage, gefilte fish, chopped liver, etc.), noshes (such as mini burgers and franks in blanket), soups, knishes, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, and even some breakfast options (omelets, hash, etc.). I came for a carry-out order of one of their specialties, the 'Half a Sandwich and Soup': +I opted for the Hot Pastrami on rye - served with sliced pickles and mustard; the pastrami was sliced thin, hot, flavorful, and delicious! + side of coleslaw - nice and creamy, but wished there was more of a tang to it +a side of potato salad - chunky and a good side to have +and, a Matzoh Ball Soup with carrots, noodles, and rice - the broth was unbelievable, as it was extremely soothing and yummy; most chicken soup is on the bland side and just tastes watered down; this was hearty; the matzoh ball was okay If you're indecisive, you can ask for a sample between the pastrami and the corned beef; I thought the latter had an off/strange taste to it. Service was fine, but could have been friendlier; note that they do not accept Apply Pay, in which they stated that it could possibly be an option later in the future. Dine-in is an option - the place was pretty busy during the lunch rush. +hot pastrami +matzoh ball soup read more

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Do not order out from 2nd Ave Deli! They will rip you off and there won't be anything you can do about it because now you're home with your sandwich and starving. We bought 2 of these sandwiches for $66 (including tax). What a rip off! They've totally lost me! It seems like you get a decent sandwich when you eat in but that is not the case for take away. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

When i go to some place i do not like to be disappointed. After parade i was going to Katz's, then i changed my mind came here. We didn't order too much, one pastrami one corned beef sandwich and fries. We got our coleslaw and pickles. Then our hot sandwiches came, which they were NOT hot!! Just slightly warm, bread is not toasted and stale. Of course i am pissed. When i was walking out i was questioned how was our food, and of course i had to mentioned it that our sandwiches came cold. Then the owner was you should have told me, i would have fixed it. I said that is not the point. You are selling hot sandwiches and they are not cheap, charging $28 a piece and make it wrong. Also i responded i hate to send my food back then i loose my appetite. I would like my food served how it is supposed to be. Owner said then next time please remind me!! There won't be a next time i am sorry! read more

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Absolutely delicious!!. The pastrami was like butter and the knish was perfect. Also, the service was excellent.

Well, it's 7 years later and we're back. Same review basically with again the preference for Barney Greengrass over this one. That said, this is still a fun deli experience. We had the salami omelet, the turkey, chopped liver on rye sandwich, and the pastrami sandwich.. Photos pretty much look the same! Enjoyed our food, fun to be back read more

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I love their sandwiches and soups. Great service and huge portions. Big fan and order on Ubereats or go in person. Neither disappoints. Nice homey feeling. read more

One of my coworkers has encouraged me to come here for years and I finally did. I was disappointed. The pastrami sandwich was average, Katz is better. The $10 french fries is a big disappointment overcooked and when I complain, they still expected me to pay for it, not worth the high price. The service was subpar also. read more

There is nothing better than a lean, tasty corned beef sandwich. Unfortunately good corned beef is hard to find where I live. I get to New York every year or so and always make the pilgrimage to the 2nd Ave. Deli for my corned beef fix. Always delicious and consistent. Just awesome! read more

Amazing deli, amazing food, amazing staff, amazing experience See a pattern here? This place should be Michelin rated! read more

The best deli in the world - don't miss it! The matzo-ball soup is absolutely divine. My son loves their pickles. My husband, the pastrami. We love the people there, too! read more

Came to 2nd Ave deli while visiting NYC with girlfriends. One of my friends really wanted to come here so we made sure to stop in for a late lunch. Having never been to a legitimate NYC deli (first timer) the walkways were VERY small. But the overall ambiance was very cozy and emulated my expected "New York City Deli" vibe! The 6 of us were sat at a table near the back of the restaurant and were immediately given glasses of chilled water with no ice! We all ordered a matzo ball soup and some other things to share. I loved that the soup was served with the accoutrements and then the broth poured over the top after it was delivered. Very nice touch. I also LOOOOVED that a side of table pickles were served with some fresh vinegar slaw! The soup was really good but I also really liked the chicken salad sandwich. While the service and food were all amazing, I will note that everything was way more expensive than I expected. Overall, this was a really great experience and I would definitely return to get another fresh chicken salad and delish kosher pickle while in the area! 8/10 recommend read more

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I'm not sure if it's because we ate right before they were about to close, but for all the hype I did not think this place met my expectations. My half sandwich and fries was almost the same price as a regular sandwich! The fries tasted like old oil and have been sitting for a long time. The bread fell apart and the pastrami was not even warm at all. I was really looking forward to a warm sandwich especially since it was a cold evening. The positives - the manager seated us even though one of the staff members turned us away at the door saying only the deli counter was open (we arrived about 30 minutes before closing). Our server was attentive and we were given cookies on the house for dessert. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

I haven't had much pastrami in my life but this is hands down the best pastrami on rye sandwich I have ever had. Only thing is is that it is really expensive but it's nyc everything is read more

Stopped by for the matzah ball soup and it definitely delivered. A friend and I came to the 2nd Ave deli while i was visiting on the search for a good soup. After some searching we decided on a spot. The staff welcomed us immediately and helped us get a table. Note: if you have a drink or food from somewhere else they will not let you take it to the table , but they will hold it for you up front. Immediately they brought out pickles and cole slaw. The slaw was one of the best i have ever tried. The sweetness and the vinegar were the perfect match. I love when you get the soup the broth comes in a ladle that they pour into the soup right in front of you. The soup was delicious. The only downside is it would have been warmer. The matzah ball was so tasty. It was a great experience and i would love to explore the menu more. read more

The best Jewish uptown deli around since Carnegie deli closed. I love their baked beans! The white lean turkey sandwiches is a must!!! read more

Like any good New Yorker, I have my personal favorite pastrami. For a long time I thought of Katz as the standard bearer. Then Harry and Ida's came along and I was obsessed. Sadly, Harry and Ida's closed shop. Now that I'm no longer in NYC, I've decided to check out other popular pastrami purveyors and sandwich shops when I'm back in NYC. On my last visit, I decided to visit 2nd Ave Deli for the first time. Alas, I was very disappointed. While I liked the old-timey feel of the restaurant and the welcoming atmosphere, the pastrami and the corner beef were both underwhelming. I've heard of some good spots in Brooklyn so next time I'll have to cross the bridge and check them out. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York

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Ordered pastrami sandwiches and assorted other items. Pastrami was the worse I ever tasted in the 40 years or so ordering from 2nd Ave Deli. Tasteless, thick sliced. Went straight to the garbage can. More than $ 100.00 down the drain. Abe must be turning in is grave seeing what has happened to his great establishment. read more

I had eaten at their original location many years ago and returned with a friend a few weeks ago to find that not much (except the prices and location). What can I say, they have always been a solid choice for corn beef, pastrami and other deli meats. I ordered a chopped liver sandwich on rye. The flavor was good but the chopped liver at Sarge's (which contains egg) has a better consistency. Service was not overly friendly but they were and usually are quite busy. I suggest you go at an off hour. They will still be busy but you may feel a little less rushed and crowded in. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Kosher Near Me - New York, New York