Katz's Delicatessen

Katz's Delicatessen is a New York institution that has been feeding the Lower East Side since 1888, making it one of the oldest continuously operating delis in the United States. It's a cavernous, fluorescent-lit cafeteria-style Jewish deli where the pastrami and corned beef are cured and smoked in-house, hand-sliced to order, and piled so high on rye bread that the sandwiches become almost architectural. This is not a trend, not a revival, not a homage — it's the original article, and the lines of locals and visitors who pack the place every day are a testament to that.

When you walk in, a cashier hands you a ticket — guard it with your life, because you'll need it when you pay. You grab a tray and queue at one of the carving stations, where the counter guys will often hand you a slice of pastrami or corned beef to try while they're cutting. Order a full sandwich and a Dr. Brown's cream soda, find a table (there's a good chance you'll share one with strangers), and dig in. The room is loud, the décor is decades of accumulated nostalgia, and yes, there's a sign hanging from the ceiling marking the table where Meg Ryan filmed the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally. That table is real, and people still fight over it.

Katz's does not take reservations, and the line during lunch on a weekend can be daunting — but it moves faster than it looks. Go early on a weekday if you want relative calm. The sandwiches are expensive by any normal measure, around $25 or more for the pastrami, but they're enormous — one sandwich easily feeds two if you're not ravenous. Cash is accepted, as are cards, but many regulars tip their carver directly for a more generous cut.