Stayed at the Helmsley Medical Tower before and after my surgery, so ordered 2nd Ave Deli after a long 24 hour fast. The corned beef and pastrami with Cole slaw and Russian dressing with health salad, brisket and onion pierogis, potato knish, and free pickles were from HEAVEN!!! Also bought matzoh ball soup. Ate nothing but 2nd Ave Deli for two days. My wife did the pick up. Manager was awesome. Keep giving her free samples. Even tossed in a free sandwich with extra bread. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Great food. Great service. Always a fantastic place to dine when visiting NYC. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Smoked salami and pastrami sammich. Yum!!! - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

Just what I needed Service great Food tasty and hot Typical deli ambiance - calm quiet and welcoming Only surprise is that 2nd Ave deli is on first Ave read more

They served us the absolute BEST warm chocolate babka we've ever had! The triple decker sandwich #4 with pastrami and corned beef was comically big... so why did they whisk away our cutlery before bringing the impossible sandwich? Were we on a hidden camera show? They also took away the bowl of carrots and cabbage mix, which looked like it would have been a great accompaniment for the meats. We asked them if we could split a matzo ball soup, yet were charged for two, even though we each received only half a ball. We asked for an egg cream, and the waiter said they don't make them as they're not kosher, because of the milk. Yet, there are photos on their Yelp page showing egg creams. Weird... EPILOGUE: We went through 6 napkins for that sandwich. read more

2nd Ave Deli - Triple Decker #4 - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

A community gem - I've been coming to 2nd Ave deli & enjoying the kosher delicacies since I could walk. Born and raised New Yorkers know that this is the spot to get your franks, matzo ball soup or pastrami. You finish it off with an egg cream and your meal is complete. Great spot in the afternoons, especially when you're craving the afternoon snack. Service is impeccable as it has always been for many years. Trust the ones who have been coming here for years. We know OUR CITY best and that includes this gem, 2nd Ave. deli! read more

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

ALWAYS make it a priority to stop at 2nd Ave Deli when you're in NYC and thank me later! Thanks down the best deli. I always love the platter of cabbage and pickles you receive at the beginning of your meal- some of the freshest pickles you'll EVER have! My go-to meal is always the pastrami on rye. You can't go wrong with it, not to mention it's large enough to save a half for another meal later. Staff has always been courteous and check-in often, and the resturant gives the true old-school deli charm I love. I will always be a fan! read more

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

Unfortunately the quality of the food and service has slipped dramatically. Now just living off of the reputation. Sad to see these great institutions fade away. read more

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

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Truly disappointing these days Used to love it, but not after tonight. So bad Roast beef sandwich was over salty and didn't even taste like roast beef and wife had the egg salad and we made the mistake not ordering the ones without egg shells.... Wife couldn't even finish it. This place was mostly empty... it won't be here in another 3 years if they don't make a change. read more

Food was v good I had a chicken soup n a pastrami sandwich, though a little pricey for the amount of food, pastrami sandwich not overflowing n chicken soup not that hearty but both were delicious n I guess high $ is the reality of eating out in NYC these days. read more

It should be against the law to serve take-out and when you open the bag there's nothing in it!!!! $28.00 for half a bad pastrami sandwich! I want my money back! read more

I wanted my NY deli fix but didn't feel like being herded like cattle at Katz's or the vibe at the Murray Hill 2nd Ave spot, so tried the UES location. It was a breath of fresh air with floor-to-ceiling windows, a mellow atmosphere, and--shocker for a deli--genuinely friendly service. The few, previous grumpy reviews made me hesitate, but everything was so enjoyable: --The pickles were exactly as I remember from 33rd St. Crunchy, salty, and didn't require a bribe to get a refill. --Piping hot matzo ball soup --Pastrami on very fresh rye ordered extra lean. While some complain the portion isn't a "Katz's-sized mountain," it was more than enough for two to share. Our waiter even went the extra mile by plating each half separately. --Huge baked potato knish, don't skip this--it's massive and really good. If you want to pay for the privilege of being yelled or fighting the crowds, go elsewhere. If you want a more laid back environment with actual sunlight, come here. read more

Stopped by here as I was craving a pastrami sandwich! Wait staff was friendly and you can either order right at the counter or request dine in seating. I got the Pastrami sandwich ($28.95 as of 5/2025) which had great flavor to it. They have mustard on the side you can add but I think the sandwich is best without it. While it's not cheap at $28.95 it definitely hits the spot if you're craving a good pastrami sandwich. Apparently it comes with a side veggie but they graciously allowed me to substitute it with a coleslaw which was great. Nice and creamy but not too heavy. Also a big fan of the full sour pickle! Definitely will be back next time I'm in the area. read more

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It's the first nice Saturday in Feburary. I call my brother in law and said: I'm picking you up for lunch. It's a surprise so come hungry! I want pastrami but with no crazy wait times. My wife and her sister are not waiting outside in the cold winter. It's time to make a dash to 2nd Ave Deli. This location has been here about 18 years. Theres no history, no movie stars on the walls, just the deli and the smell of amazing things being prepared. We arrive before noon on Saturday and have the place to ourselves. Once seated, our waitress was just a solid and knowledgable representative for the restaurant. I would like Matzo ball soup. My brother in law was unsure of what soup to start with, so the waitress came back with two samples for him? That is just good customer service and made my brother in law happy. We ordered appetizers for the table: Stuffed Cabbage, Potato Pancakes and Stuffed Derma. After our order is placed, we tear into the complementary pickles and cole slaw. Perfection, the slaw was not made with mayo and it was almost sweet? The potato pancakes came with a delicious, homemade apple sauce. Our minds are being blown not only by the Stuffed Cabbage, the Matzo Ball soup is so on point. That ball wasn't a dense belly bomb but a light and airy creation. The soup had carrots along with egg noodles, it's something a grandmother would serve. 2nd Ave Deli took extra care in making this soup. While we're enjoying our appetizers, our waitress comes back with a small sample of corned beef and pastrami for us to make a decision. Again, such a nice gesture and made us feel like valued customers. I asked the waitress for a large plate of well done french fries. My sister in law and I split a pastrami sandwich. The meat was succulent and well seasoned. The fries? This is what I would have ordered as a kid growing up in Brooklyn. And I'm Italian! At the end of our delicious meal, we were served the typical Black & White cookies but instead of one side chocolate, it was blue. I read about the 2nd Ave owner, he passed away in 1996. It would have been nice to give him a fist bump and tell him we drove from Long Island to enjoy this delicious food. *Because this is Yelp, I'm going to have someone email me: Have I been to Katz's deli??? Listen, Do you drive a Ford? This is the Chevy of Pastrami. Equally good, The soup along with no wait time makes me want to come back the next time I want good deli. read more

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I went here with my sister to pick up a chicken salad sandwich and a pastrami sandwich at $28 dollars each. With two small boxes of fries and Cole slaw. The sandwiches were 2 inches long. Two bite sandwiches. It's crazy how much they charge for the bs sandwiches. The total bill was $78.... No more business from us.... read more

Loved 2nd ve Deli for years. But lately corned beef sandwich is not so good. Meat is rubbery stringy and hard to eat. This has become typical. Even the rye bread is not so good. No more -too expensive to eat such a compromised sandwich. Just not the same anymore. read more

What ever happened to the 2nd Ave Deli? For years Ive counted on a great 2nd Ave Deli corned beef or pastrami sandwich on seeded rye with a great deli mustard. These days I'd order their sandwiches through Grubhub. $28. for a sandwich is rediculous but if it were a great sandwich I didn't mind , Today the quality of the sandwich at the 2nd Ave Deli has declined to such a degree that I find them UN-EDIBLE . My last sandwich was truly awful . I couldn't eat it . The meat was stringy and stretchy and rubbery. Even the rye bread sucked. So no more 2nd Ave. Deli for me. The end . They really blew it. read more

I noticed this establishment had gotten a lot of negative reviews within the past two months so I went in with some skepticism... My friend who lives in the area had recommended this place so I went along with it Everything was very good and tasty. The pickles were wonderful and that's what you expect when you go to a deli restaurant... The matzoh ball soup was very tasty with a generous portion of carrots however I noticed the presentation was inconsistent. Mine was not presented to me steaming hot, which I really enjoy and I did not want to send it back... And I noticed some patrons near me 10 minutes later got very steamy hot soup so they need to get their processes more consistent The service was great and the ambience was to be expected and nice. Thank you for a memorable meal. read more

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Excellent old school KOSHER delicatessen... Great roast beef... though I liked their turkey. Their Matzo Ball soup is excellent. If you are going to eat DELI...go to a KOSHER deli as they are the best. read more

Comfortable dining room, good pickles (2 types) to start. Waiter was a real professional. The pastrami sandwich was very very good along with everything else I tried. The kasha was quite good but it was too much food to really enjoy properly. No trouble just walking in and getting a seat. Easily accessible Upper East Side location read more

I ordered the pastrami kit for 4 thru goldbelly shipping. Paid a lot of money for 1 lb of pastrami jar of pickles and Some stale bread. We missed our nyc pastrami now that we moved to north carolina. The Pastrami was the worst I ever had. Tasteless and Grizzly. Could not chew. You must be kidding. Worst Fathers day gift yet. read more

Friendly service. However they are serving bland overpriced food. A quart of Matzo Ball soup with no chicken in it runs you $30.00 and the broth tastes like watered down knorr or diluted bullion. I knew it was going to be pricey but at least sell a quality product for this beyond premium price point. If it tasted great I would gladly over pay. But this is not even soup it's hot water and noodles. If you like flavoful soup made with love save your money and make it yourself. This is insulting. read more

Delicious, classic Jewish food. I love their pastrami and matzah ball soup. I go here whenever I'm in the area.

The 2nd Ave Deli is a New York City institution! Whike the original restaurant is no longer on 2nd Avenue and now has two locations. The one on 1442 1st Avenue has delicious deli as well as all kinds of wonderful Jewish foods. It is more expensive than other restaurants because allthe foods are under strict rabbinical supervision. I was surprised how delicious thier homemade chicken motzah ball soup tasted. While the cost surprised me, $28 for a quart, it was spectacular and if I went yona kosher butcher, bought an uncooked chicken along with the ingredients to make the matzah balls, I'm doubtful, mine would be as good as what I bought! And their hot pastrami, roast beef and corn beef was also fantastic! Does it cost s lot? Yes! But in my opinion, it's well worth the price! read more

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Love the food and service. The vibe is definitely New York. We love the pastrami and the wonderful pickles. I highly recommend going to this great restaurant. read more

Who doesn't want 2nd ave Deli? It was quite nice to find out they have a second location further uptown! Went on a Saturday afternoon, no wait. Great service, reliable food! We even got free cookies! read more

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

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The main event here is the pastrami. Grab the sandwich on rye with some mustard. The matzoh ball suit and potato knish are must-haves in addition. This is the ultimate New York comfort food. read more

Consistent great food and excellent service! Love it here! Try the homemade soups and dish pickles! read more

Was the best deli - such a treat! My last visit was the WORST pastrami I've ever had!!! Sent it back and the replacement was inedible! Dry and stringy... horrible!!! Shame read more

I have dined here before and have always enjoyed a good meal. As the restaurant always does, it brings out a nice size dish of fresh and delicious coleslaw. The matzo ball soup I ordered was good. I was asked if I wanted to order anything else and decided on a hot dog (about $10) with coleslaw mustard on the side. Trying not to doubt on the quality, I took one bite. As you can see, it was overcooked and had no juice or life to it. The waitress graciously took it away. I suppressed my annoyance even though I felt betrayed. When I was a teenager working at a deli in Brooklyn and assigned to the front preparing hot dogs, I was taught that to avoid serving overcooked hot dogs, when heated and nearly ready to be served, to move them over to the side of the grill that keeps them warm. read more

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

Have nothing negative to say whatsoever. Between the lovely service, the pickles, my matzo ball soup, latkes, and pastrami sandwich... 10/10. Definitely will be coming back in the near future read more

2nd Ave Deli is the real deal if you want traditional NYC Jewish Deli! Always a go to when I crave some soul food!

This is my go to to when I want a nice comforting bowl of matzoh ball soup with egg noodles & carrots & a good chicken broth. You also get complimentary pickles & coleslaw, challah bread & usually a shot of chocolate egg cream or for the holidays a Chanukah cookie. Noodles & carrots in your soup are optional. Their sandwiches & other plates are also delicious. The restaurant decor is simple but nice & the staff is friendly & attentive. They also have a full deli counter. If you're on 1st Ave., drop in & have some comfort food at 2nd Ave Deli read more

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Best deli ever. Love it. Love the food. Love everything about it. I come here every time I am in NYC. Please open one in LA!!!!

This is a kosher deli with sky high sandwiches and amazing pickles and other sides. Also great matzoh ball soup. It's pricey -- I think my turkey sandwich alone, no sides, was almost $30 -- but if you want an authentic New York deli, friendly service, and old school diner atmosphere, this is it. read more

Came to have dinner with my family my daughter was eatting chips they told me it wasn't allowed and waiters was giving a attitude about it so I asked for my food to go and didn't leave a tip since I was leaving the waiter blocked the doorway and harassing me cause I didn't leave a tip when I took my food to go? Terrible service read more

I called ahead for a table of 8 for Sunday lunch, and they fortunately had space for us. I saw reviews complaining about the service, but we had a fantastic waiter. The pickles/coleslaw were delicious and plentiful, and I only wish I could have packed the leftovers too. The pastrami is indeed delicious here. Only complaint would actually be the bread in that it doesn't live up to the meat. My friend got it with sauerkraut which elevated it even more. I got the corned beef, which while good, was a distant 2nd from the pastrami. We also got the chocolate babka which they serve warm. While I liked it enough, it was a bit more spongy(?) in comparison to Breads Bakery. I still prefer Breads' version. read more

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Amazing amazing pastrami! Just as it should be. We discovered this spot on our last trip to NY and can't wait to come back.

Went here for a pastrami sandwich around 6:30pm. Requested "fatty", and saw afterward that it said fatty on the ticket, but the sandwich was dry, like a lot of other reviewers have said. Surprisingly the pastrami they had in the display case looked wonderfully marbled. I don't think they're holding the pastrami inside a steamer, and I think they're slicing it too far in advance, as my impression was that it was not only not fatty, but had dried out in the air. Like maybe they're slicing it all in the morning and it's not being properly covered in the refrigerator all day, because of course they're selling a bunch of pastrami all day long and grabbing some out of the fridge every 5 minutes. Also the flavor was not there. The chicken soup was a bit watery, I use two pounds of chicken per quart of water when I make mine, but they're using only a pound from the taste of it or they're going too heavy on necks and backs instead of meat. Service was good. Waitress's English could have been a little better, but we got to where we needed to be. Katz's pastrami still my fav. read more

Walked down from the Met for a late lunch. It was nice and quiet, with few tables seated at 2pm. We were brought assorted pickles right away, including dills and half sours. We ordered a corned beef sandwich on rye, pastrami on wheat, and a side of latkes to share. We were told by the waitress that the latkes come as a serving of 3, so we were confused when it came out as one large latke. No matter, we cut it into 3 pieces. Unfortunately it lacked flavor, and came with a hyper sweet cinnamon applesauce that I personally did not enjoy. On a positive note, the pastrami and corned beef were both delicious. As you would expect at a Jewish deli, the price tag is large but so are the portions. We were offered Russian dressing for the table and served complimentary cookies at the end, which was a nice touch. read more

Delicious deli experience! My daughter had a pastrami sandwich and I had a salami omelette. Both very good, and we also loved the blue and white cookies! We can't wait to come back. read more

We went to this location recently with friends from out of town. My wife and I had already been to the other one in Kips Bay and enjoyed it- this one is just as good. The matzo ball soup is one of the biggest portions you will ever see, and even the half turkey sandwich was plenty to eat as an entree. They even brought us blue and white cookies at the end (black and whites in Israeli colors). Pricey but other delis are catching up to these prices and the quality here is so much better than most. Would happily come back. read more