Where to get a good matzo ball soup?

[stratford]

Never ever tried matzo ball soup and would like to try it for the first time. So I'd like to know of a place where I can sample a good and quintessential example of it. Where should I go?

[scotty27]

Second Avenue Deli, Bubbes, and Cafe Edison and, believe it or not, DBGB where the chef, Jim Leiken, is making his grandma's version.
www.shrinkinthekitchen.com

-----
Second Avenue Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016

Cafe Edison
228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

[filmbomb]

Sorry to disagree with a few peeps here, but I've been going to 2nd Ave for 15 years and it saddens me to say its over. Its gone way downhill. Want a GREAT MBS? Don't freak out, but:

DBGB. Phenomenal. Who knew?

-----
DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

[catfell]

I agree completely with filmbomb about 2nd Ave Deli.

I've been eating at 2nd Ave Deli for over 20 years, and the motzoh ball soup has gone way downhill. It saddens me that I don't even bother going anymore as I've been very disappointed with the decline in food quality. I have not had MBS at Sarge's nor at DBGB, but will give it a shot.

-----
DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

[squid kun]

Who knew indeed? I see the menu calls it "Jim's" matzo ball soup, but that's all it says. What sets it apart?

[sam1]

i was at 2nd ave deli on xmas. the matzo ball soup was phenomenal...as usual.

i think the place is getting better. i have no issues with that place.

[iheartbacon]

dbgb does and unexpectedly good version with 3 little matzoh balls that have a nice, denser texture

[thew]

does anyone know of a place that makes denser matzoh balls? sinkers?

[Chuck Lawrence]

Cafe Edison aka the Polish Tea Room (Hotel Edison, 47th St)

-----
Cafe Edison
228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

[drumwine]

2nd Cafe Edison

-----
Cafe Edison
228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

[gutsofsteel]

The Mansion Diner on York & 86th makes quite a decent chicken soup with matzoh ball.

-----
Mansion Diner
1634 York Ave, New York, NY 10028

[thew]

in my experience, all matzoh balls at restaurants are too fluffy, too soft, too bland, and too big, for my tastes

[RGR]

Sarge's chicken soup with noodles and a matzoh ball is excellent. Follow it up with a superb pastrami sandwich and end with a slice of the delicious 7-layer cake.

Photos taken at Sarge's, including the soup, can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

[rkaene]

Love Sarges, also Lanskys on the UWS.

-----
Lansky's Old World Deli
235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

[wadawada]

Glad to see Lansky's cited - I agree. I eat more often at Artie's on the UWS which has a decent version but the last time I had it was at Lansky's and I have to say that it's better than Artie's. The house cole slaw at Lansky's is also really good; I can fill up on matzoh ball soup and cole slaw.

-----
Lansky's Old World Deli
235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

[valereee]

Just had the matzoh ball soup at Lansky's for lunch today. Soup was incredibly flavorful, with lots of noodles, a pretty good amount of chicken, and two matzoh balls. The matzoh balls themselves were perfectly tender but a little bland -- they seemed to need salt. My husband had the corned beef hash, which he liked a lot, but I took a taste and got a large piece of gristly fat and was turned off.

-----
Lansky's Old World Deli
235 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

[sam1]

i think sarges is going downhill personally. i used to have them deliver to my office quite often and it was solid for their souper soup and pastrami...but a recent visit made me feel like its any other deli.

2nd ave deli's matzo ball soup is just like my grandmother's...its awesome.

i keep meaning to have it at blue ribbon bakery though.

[ellenost]

I've recently been to Sarge's (within the past few weeks) and everything especially the pastrami was superb (pastrami was very flavorful, fatty and tender)! Sarg'es "Super Soup" (matzoh ball, noodles and kreplach) is fantastic. I love Sarge's matzoh ball since it is so fluffy. Sarge's also makes a terrific noodle pudding.

[kathryn]

I tried Sarge's "souper soup" and thought it was only OK. I liked the 2nd Ave Deli's matzoh balls better (more chicken-y flavor, fluffier) and the kreplach was kind of offputting. I found the filling of the kreplach to taste a little earthy/dirty and not fresh. Not sure why.

[gutsofsteel]

Give it a shot at the Cafe Edison and at the Mansion Diner when you have a chance...

-----
Mansion Diner
1634 York Ave, New York, NY 10028

Cafe Edison
228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

[erica]

2nd Avenue Deli. if you are going to take it out, the best thing to order is the chicken in a pot, which is a half chicken with matzoh balls, in soup. It comes with carrots but you can leave them out if you like.

[financialdistrictresident]

Ditto. Just went there recently.

[daffyduck]

ill order that the next time im there. when i had the matzoh ball soup from 2nd avenue deli it was one big matzoh ball not matzoh balls. I also like katz.

[erica]

I should not have used the plural; I do not usually ask for the matzoh balls to be added but I think that the one time I forgot to tell them that, they added one large ball instead of several small ones. But still good. Their chicken soup is the only one that comes close to the one my grandma used to make, and that chicken in a pot is just the greatest once you get over the issue of the skin, which I just throw away as soon as I get the jar home.
The jars they use are very handy to keep, by the way.

[kathryn]

Thanks for this recommendation! 2nd Ave Deli delivers anywhere in Manhattan and I ordered the chicken in a pot with extra matzoh balls while I was sick. Pricey, but delicious and totally worth it. Perhaps it helped me get over my cold faster? Plus, I managed to stretch it out for 4 meals by adding extra chicken broth.