225786 Tue Aug 23 17:15:05 -0700 2005 17 18 Manhattan 0 1200726 Unless I know better, I seldom order pastrami sandwiches anymore because it's just a losing battle finding a good one. On a recent trip to Manhattan, I made the trek to the Lower East Side and ate at Katz's. At the suggestion of Nina W (and where has she been lately?), I first stopped at Russ & Daughters and bought some chubs. The selection of appetizers at this place is terrific and the prices reasonable. I took my chubbs down to Katz's and followed the drill: $1 bill in hand, step up to the counter man and say, "Pastrami on rye, fatty please, with an order of pickles." Naturally I got a sample, followed by a hand sliced sandwich. I took my sandwich to a table, opened my parcel of chubs, and feasted. The pastrami was moist and was well complemented by the mustard and rye bread. Delish! As an aside, I peeked into Yonah Schimmel's and wasn't the least bit impressed. Tue Aug 23 17:15:05 -0700 2005 0 Scagnetti 1 1200728 I hate to sound ignorant....but In this case, I am. Ummmmm.....Chubbs? Insatiable. Tue Aug 23 17:18:02 -0700 2005 1200726 0 Insatiable 2 1200729 WHITEFISH, SMALL ONES Tue Aug 23 17:24:13 -0700 2005 1200728 0 MORE KASHA 2 1200796 ah your missing out chubbs are so dam tasty the only problem is making sure you don't swallow the little bones....if if you debone properly your hands will smell of fish. tough luck. A good chub is flavorful, and moist and is so good that you can eat it straight with nothing on it. or you could have a bialy or english muffin or portugese roll with a summer ripe tomato with a big slab of chubb/white fish on it. now that is good livin' oh you are missing out Tue Aug 23 23:28:36 -0700 2005 1200728 0 erma 3 1200809 Another great thing to have instead of the ubiquitous lox or smoked salmon with cream cheese is sable. Sable on a bagel with some cream cheese and a little onion.....oh my. Wed Aug 24 06:20:42 -0700 2005 1200796 0 Peter Flom 4 1200866 don't forget sturgeon, that ridiculously priced but deliciouly good bagel topper! (or my personal fave: baked salmon) Wed Aug 24 12:02:24 -0700 2005 1200809 0 jon 1 1200731 A relative of a friend showed us to Russ and Daughter's during the NY stop of my trip and I got myself a great bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese. I really should write about it when I have the chance, but it was simply great stuff I've never enjoyed smoked salmon so much. Katz's was also good, tender moist pastrami, although the price can be a bit steep. Tue Aug 23 17:34:37 -0700 2005 1200726 0 Curtis 2 1200770 You gotta pay for great meats! If it makes you feel better, Langer's in LA, which some people claim has even better pastrami than Katz's (never tried it), charges over 10 bucks for their sandwich as well... Tue Aug 23 19:38:44 -0700 2005 1200731 0 Dave 3 1200847 Langer's in LA is no where near as good as Katz... Wed Aug 24 10:55:28 -0700 2005 1200770 0 mr_fro2000 4 1200900 I beg to differ - the pastrami at Langer's in LA is more tastier than Katz's and that double-baked rye bread is fabulous! Wed Aug 24 13:35:42 -0700 2005 1200847 0 John 5 1201095 I've had the pastrami at Langer's and I was amazed at how good it was. Thu Aug 25 11:40:16 -0700 2005 1200900 0 Scagnetti 2 1200889 While it may seem that the price of a sandwich at Katz's is a bit steep -- they are so huge that two people can actually share a sandwich and some sides and it really ends up being a bargain -- considering the quality of the food. For anyone who loves pastrami and is adventurous enough to travel off the great island of Manhattan -- a trip to Ben's Best Delicatessen in Rego Park, Queens is well worth the trip. Not hand sliced meats like at Katz's, but excellent quality and the prices are a lot more reasonable. Wed Aug 24 13:04:45 -0700 2005 1200731 0 mshpook 3 1200922 I think the size at Katz's has shrunk. I won't go anymore because my last few sandwiches were wimpy, and the price had gone up. Wed Aug 24 14:56:32 -0700 2005 1200889 0 JMF 2 1200944 It's been about a year since my last trip to Katz's -- I live in Annapolis, MD. But I've been going since I was a kid and always get the pastrami. How can we put a price tag on perfection -- don't change the sandwich and I'll pay what they ask. Wed Aug 24 15:56:58 -0700 2005 1200731 0 chesapeake72000 3 1200958 My sentiments exactly. Wed Aug 24 16:21:31 -0700 2005 1200944 0 Scagnetti 1 1200739 Schimmel's is nothing to look at, nor is it impressive inside, but they have some pretty fantastic knishes. Get the sweet potato knish (if they've got any that day). It's fanatastic with a little salt and pepper. Nosher Link: http://nycnosh.com Tue Aug 23 17:54:23 -0700 2005 1200726 0 Nosher 1 1201011 I love that whole area with Katz, R&D, Shimmel's, and a few blocks up, Moishe's. I'm regulars at all those places. But have to say in regards to Katz's, the pastrami sandwiches aren't really all that big and easily within the reach of an average volume eater. They're not like the size of the glitzy mid-town Carnegie or Stage sandwiches, where you can be stranded on a desert isle and live off them a few months. Anyhow, love Katz's hand cut and the free taste, but- and not to burst anyone's bubble- I swear I read in the NYT last year, in a feature on pastrami, that theirs is made some place in Brooklyn and "imported". They just cut it up there. Does anyone else remember this feature? All the top pastrami places listed, if I recall, were actually in Brooklyn. Wed Aug 24 18:45:27 -0700 2005 1200726 0 Silverjay 2 1201120 I believe that the pastramis are made for Katz's off premises, but what difference does that make? At one time, The Carnegie made their pastrami and corned beef on site. But, I believe they do have farmed both out to a processing plant ...I think it is in NJ? Remember seeing a spot on FoodTV and they own the place. East Rutherford? I agree that the Carnegie gives you a bigger sandwich. I cannot finish it, but I always finsh the Katz sandwich. And, for years I thought it was the best. But, for downright quality, Katz's is the best IMHO. Their meat is simply amazing. A dollar tip to the Katz carver almost evens the playing field as far as Carnegie vs Katz's for amount of meat per sandwich. Thu Aug 25 13:11:17 -0700 2005 1201011 0 Chuck