The title says it all really - I'll be staying close to the Empire State Building



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2011 10:39PM by askanewyorker.

The Polish Tea Room or kitchen inside The Edison Hotel is classic on West 47th street.It's also a hang out for theatre people.

I like the ambience there, but not the pastrami.

Go to the Carnegie Deli, on 7th Ave. and 55th Street. They'll charge you $3 to share a sandwich, but that's the way to go. They'll give you extra bread, and that one sandwich will feed two starving adults, and leave a tiny bit of room for their extraordinary cheesecake.

Noy sure I understand what you mean by charging $3 to "share" a sandwich - I know the sandwiches in NYC are huge but would I really want to share one?!

I am going to Ben's Kosher Delicatessen tomorrow night, before the knicks game. It's right by madison square garden and not far at all from the empire state building. I'm sure I will order pastrami, and I'll let you know
I'm going to my first knicks game tomorrow and I have really good seats and I'm excited! I have to take a bunch of work people, and KM can't come, but I hope it's fun anyway.

Richard the sandwiches are huge, I only had one pastrami sandwich the whole time I lived in NY and I struggled to get through half. I took the rest home and had enough pastrami for 3 ordinary sandwiches which I made over the next 2 days.

Richard, I've seen doubters order one of the Carnegie's "overstuffed" sandwiches, and then their jaws drop when they see the monster!!! Seriously, pay the $3, get a regular sized pastrami sandwich, ask for extra bread, and stuff yourself silly. Or, if you like a little cheese thrown in, try their pastrami Reuben.

Kelly, enjoy the game! I'll be looking forward to your report on the game and the pastrami.

How come no one mentioned Katz? I realize its a bit south from the ESB but its worth a mention.

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wow, I had no idea you could put a video in like that. Katz'Deli is of course the best for pastrami.
I was at Ben's last night, see above, and I thought it was OK. I'm not complaining about it, not raving about it. It was good. Prefer Katz.
The knicks game was fun, even though they lost by one point in the last half-second of the game.

you can even get a good pastrami sandwich at places like smiler's or most delis you see as you walk around the streets. honestly, I haven't had a bad pastrami sandwich here.

I may give Ben's a try then on my first day (Tuesday) - as I'm going to the Rangers game against Ottawa (also have tickets for Rangers v Boston and a Knicks game)

Not long to go now!

Okay, shoot me if you will, but reading this entire debate on pastrami sandwiches I feel urged to 'come out' and admit: I - poor European - have never seen of heard anything of the kind in Brussels where I hang out and have gotten seriously curious about this whole 'pastrami' thing New Yorkers seem to have.
So my question: When - and be sure, I will! - I order a pastrami sandwich, what on earth is supposed to be in or on it? Recipes please ...