Thursday, January 8, 2009

Katz's Delicatessen

Tony and I went in for a light lunch this afternoon. HA! What a laugh. Sharing a bowl of split pea soup and a pastrami on rye, we left amazed. Full beyond full, we gawked at those around us who tackled an entire sandwich. I'm convinced you have to be in construction, or some purely physical job, in order to sink a whole meal at Katz's.

Having said that, the place is classic. Photos of celebrities line the walls. Upon entering you're handed a ticket, like what you'd get from winning at skeeball. With 50 tickets, you could get at best a plastic boomerang. The prizes at Katz's, however, are far better. For each item you order, you hand your ticket to the person behind the counter who in turn scribbles in your price. As you accumulate items, you too accumulate new numbers, your former cost scratched out, a new one in its place. Old school. No computers. No credit cards.

And the pastrami? Sliced off the bone in front of you per order. A sliver of meat is handed to you by your butcher/sandwich maker to ensure quality and satisfaction. Rye bread and yellow mustard. Go. Share a few things. Bring cash, maybe $50. It's awesome but it ain't cheap.

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