Katz’s Deli Review (NEW YORK CITY, USA)

WHAT: Restaurant (Delicatessen)

ADDRESS: 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St), New York City, 10002

PHONE: 212.254.2246

WEBSITE: katzsdelicatessen.com

HOW MANY TOBIES LICKED HIS LIPS IN HAPPINESS (out of 5):

(Yes, 6. The sixth Toby heard about Katz’s and insisted on gatecrashing the party.)

MY STORY IN A NUTSHELL:

• Simply that Katz’s pastrami sandwich is pretty much the best thing I have ever had the pleasure to shove into my mouth. This is what 125 of experience tastes like – heaven.

This is how Perfection looks. Photo by Gwen Pew, Apr 2012.

MY FULL STORY: When you think of sandwiches I’m willing to bet that you’re not going to be leaping to the moon in excitement. They’re good quick and filling, of course, but they’re hardly the first thing that comes to mind when you want a brilliant lunch.

Or are they? Because one trip to New York’s famous Katz’s Deli later, I am now officially in love with their world-renowned delis.

I first heard of Katz’s from America’s Travel Channel. Anthony Bourdain said he wouldn’t change a thing about the place, Adam Richman said that ‘if you don’t like it something is wrong with your mouth’, and seeing those two pretty much uphold the definitive pillars of good food on this side of the Pond, I took their word for it and decided to give it a go.

The slightly terrifying chaos that is Katz's at lunch hour. Photo by Gwen Pew, Apr 2012.

Looking back, it was a silly idea to go there during lunch hour, but hindsight’s 20/20 and we were starving. The queue stretched half way down the street when we got there, but luckily it moved fast and five minutes later we were in. In true New York style, the place was packed and so chaotic that even a city girl like me was slightly intimidated. Think City trading floor. After a lot of jostling, however, we finally reached the counter.

‘A pastrami sandwich, please.’

The cutter reached for his carving fork, went to the back wall where a large silver box keeps their meats hot and steamy, and speared a block of delicious goodness from its depths. He expertly sliced the beef, giving us a piece to sample. My taste buds swooned as the meat melted in my mouth, and my eyes widened as I watched the cutter pile on a whole pound’s worth of cut pastrami on to rye bread.

And then I sank my teeth right into what I can only define as the ultimate culinary masterpiece. No hyperbole could do this baby justice. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what almost 125 years of experience tastes like. No wonder every celebrity whose photo adorns Katz’s walls look so blissfully happy.

A cutter holding up the prized pastrami loaf. Photo by Gwen Pew, Apr 2012.

The pastrami was cooked to perfection, its flavour was rich without being overbearing, and the hint of mustard spread on the top layer of the bread added the final touch. It was an emotional moment. Never have I eaten anything that came this close to bringing me to tears.

In fact, it was so good that we decided to go back for more the very next day. It’s the first time that we have made such a desperate move but as we probably won’t be in New York again for a while, we agreed that the decision was justified. And I can assure you that the second visit was just as fresh and just as juicy.

All I can say is that if you happen to be in the Concrete Jungle, make sure you hit Katz’s up. Or else you’ll be regretting it for the rest of your life. The sandwich is worth every cent of the 16 bucks it costs.