2nd Ave Deli
“Matzoh ball soup like bubby's. The best and juiciest pastrami on rye anywhere.”
“While the pastrami is not as good as Katz's it is a close second and is worth a stop just for their heavenly matzah ball soup.”
“The free pickles and pickled cabbage that start the meal are notable, and the free chocolate phosphate that completes the meal is a kicker.”
2nd Ave Deli
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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What I've Had: Matzo Ball Soup, Rainbow Cookies, Bite of Pastrami Sandwich, slaw salad, pickles
Would I go back?: Probably not
Story: I live a couple of blocks from this location – im a big fan of pastrami sandwiches – this place is renowned. Slaw salad, & pickles were probably my favorite part of this meal. I made the mistake of just getting matzo ball soup. The soup was good but the broth was very salty and I prefer many small matzo balls vs. 1 larger one. Regardless the presentation of the soup was nice. I had a couple of bites of the pastrami sandwich – meat was a bit tough and the bread was not soft. Paid a zillion dollars it seemed for a small box of rainbow cookies on our way out ($8). maitre de was fun though – did some magic tricks to entertain or distract us from the price we just paid for those NOT GOOD rainbow cookies.
One of the great things about visiting NYC is visiting a true NY deli. I've been to Katz which is great but a attracts a lot of tourists. It's also big and crowded. The 2nd Avenue Deli is more of a neighborhood deli – a smaller, cozier environment. We walked over from the Empire State Building on a Saturday evening and were able to get seated promptly.
As soon as you've been seated, you're served a selection of pickles – both fresh and true kosher dills. All of the pickles were good but the fresh ones (a brighter green) were exceptionally good.
2nd Avenue has an extensive menu including all of the traditional deli favorites along with salads, soup and other selections. In our party of 4, 2 of us had the 1/2 pastrami sandwich with matzah ball soup while the other 2 had the 1/2 beef brisket sandwich with the soup. My wife gave me a taste of her brisket and it was very good but my pastrami sandwich was exceptional.
Here in the Midwest, delis serve a drink called a chocolate phosphate; in NY it's generally called an Egg-Cream (no eggs/no cream) but at the 2nd Avenue Deli it's called a chocolate double shot. Simply, it's chocolate syrup mixed with seltzer water. Chocolate phosphates are one of my wife's favorites and it's been a while since we were anywhere that served them.. The chocolate double-shot (aka a chocolate phosphate) at 2nd Avenue was a special treat. Interestingly, when we were all done with dinner, they served each of us a complimentary (smaller version) of the double-shot.
I'm a big fan of NY delis and the 2nd Avenue Deli is one of my favorites. It will be one of the places I'm sure to visit anytime I'm in NYC.
Coincidence that I'm writing this review on the 8th and final night of Hanukkah 2014? I think not!!
What better on the last night of Hanukkah than latke overload, matzah ball soup, challah, sour pickles and top it off with a Dr. Brown's cream soda? Not much. 2nd Avenue Deli reminds me of a fantastic Jewish diner. Paper placemats, booths, windows all around and smiles.
Just like the other big and famous NYC Deli's, 2nd Avenue Deli is top notch. The portions are big, but not Carnegie Deli big. Also just like the others, your greeted with cole slaw and a plate of pickles, both sour and half sour. Want more? No problem.
My friend and I shared everything we ordered:
– Bowl of Matzah Ball Soup w/ Noodles
– 3 latkes (yup we ate them all)
– Israeli Salad
The latkes are fried to perfection, golden and crispy. They aren't nearly as big as the ones at Carnegie, but are just as delicious. At $6/pop, I'm thinking we better have an official latke-off next year? Or whenever, since just because the holidays are over doesn't mean latkes have to stop.
The service was great, our waitress was friendly and quite comical making a clever remark when she brought over the bill.
The prices here are comparable to Katz's and Carnegie, aka — high. The plus about this place, it's calm. The other spots are super tourist traps.
Let me start by saying that the 2nd Ave deli has two locations and neither one of them are on 2nd Ave. I knew this place was going to be pricey so I came prepared and made my trek over to the one on 1st Ave in uptown.
I was seated immediately and given a real juicy pickle with mustard on the side along with coleslaw. I ordered ice tea, the matzo ball soup with noodles and specifically asked for turkey with chopped liver on top with rye. Please note that if you add another meat or anything to your sandwich there is a small up-charge. The same is true if you order certain types of bread for your sandwich.
I got my tea but there didn't seem to be any ice in it so it was cool instead of cold. The waiter brought me my soup dish with a giant matzo ball in it and then poured the "soup" over it and the chopped up noodles. The soup was so so. The broth seemed rather bland to me. I was still working on my soup when I got my sandwich. Instead of putting my chopped liver on top they gave me half a sandwich of turkey and half a sandwich of chopped liver. I made him take it back to correct it.
When I got the corrected sandwich there was so much chopped liver on top I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. Nevertheless the sandwich was very good. The Deli has only one unisex restroom so when I came back to pay my check I saw a very small drink sitting there. It was called an egg creme dessert with chocolate soda. I couldn't stand the taste of it.
I must say the only thing I really enjoyed was that I was getting real turkey and chopped liver as opposed to many places that serve imitations in my city.
As in all delis they have an area where you can purchase food for takeout.
This place is very expensive but they do give large portions. I probably would have enjoyed my visit more if it weren't for all these errors they made.
2nd Ave! I will love you always…
I always opt for the half and half special (1/2 soup and 1/2 sandwich). Their mushroom barley and of course, matzo ball soup are the sure way to go, especially on a cold winter day, ahh…it's the best thing. I am drooling even as I write this.
I've always had great service with them, even with deliveries (don't forget to ask for a side of Russian dressing to go with your sandwich). They messed up my order once and when the delivery guy came back with the correct order, they included a box of rainbow cookies! How sweet of them.
When you thought you're done with your food and ready for your check, they bring you a shot of chocolate soda. It's definitely interesting and not for everyone, though it does grow on you after a couple times you drink them.
One of the best NYC pastrami deli, hands down.
I am kind of torn about this review because 2nd Avenue Deli holds a special place in my heart. At least it did when it was on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street (sadly it's a Chase or Citibank now). Used to go there all the time with my mom for lunch – 1/2 sandwich and bowl of soup. There was this waitress that had worked there forever, she had to have been in her 70s or 80s.. (That was 20+ years ago so she must be long gone..) She had her black hair styled in a big bouffant (not sure if wig or dyed) and wore blue eye shadow.. And she usually had on a fuzzy sweater with a big sparkly broach pinned to it – she was timewarped right out of the 1960s.. What a hoot she was… Nostalgia. Anyhow been to this location and 33rd St many times and it's just not the same for me as it was and I don't think the sandwiches are as good as they were back in the day in the East Village (5 star for sure). The matzo ball soup is outstanding and I've always loved the way they serve it when you eat in – the broth separate and poured over the matzo ball at the table (so that big ball stays nice and fluffy ;-P). Lean corned beef and brisket are my go to sandwiches, though my last visit I had the brisket and found it lacking in flavor and had to saturate it in brown gravy. The pastrami is just okay, I find it a bit bland and not peppery or smoky enough and too thinly sliced, it just doesn't have the same texture as a good hand carved pastrami. The corned beef is definitely the standout here. Lean corned beef, brisket, or pastrami sandwiches are ~$22 (incl tax).. And why is a can of Dr. Brown's $3.50? (Outrageous, you can get it for $1 in any corner deli).. Ouch my wallet hurts! The take-out sandwiches are definitely not piled high with meat as when you eat in and they don't send any health salad with the takeout order, at least you get a few pickles. I wish I could give more than 3 stars, I can't justify it though. For a $22 sandwich I want to have my socks knocked off.. sadly they're just not 🙁 It pains me to say so, but this place does not live up to the legend of what it once was.
This is still one of my favorite neighborhood haunts. We have ordered out and eaten in on multiple occasions and their food never disappoints.
Our favorites are:
Pastrami Sandwich – huge!
Roast Beef Sandwich – rare and good
Noodle Pudding – one of my favorites
Hot Dogs
Round Knishes – my favorite
Kasha Varnishes – my hubby's favorite
Matzoh Ball Soup – Hubby and the kids love
Challah bread – so soft and yummy
We never had anything that we didn't like. Always a big hit!!
Good old NY deli meat. Gotta love it. My friends were raving about this place and I figured deli meat was a necessity when in NYC.
I ordered the half pastrami sandwich, half matzo ball soup. Not the best pastrami sandwich I've had but it was pretty tasty! The matzo ball soup was a little bland. The matzo ball itself was massive and delicious but the broth wasn't all that great. After a lot of salt and pepper it was much better.
The pickles, cole slaw and challah served before and with the meal was a great addition!