A Taste of Katz’s!

Brooklynites being the loving people we are, we are gratefully accepting the fact that we’ll only get A Taste of Katz’s. Our own DeKalb Market Hall in Downtown Brooklyn has the pastrami slinging giant filling up the bellies of shoppers schlepping their Macy’s bags. Additionally, they are introducing younger generations to the sensation of Katz’s.

Manhattanites got the better of us this time.

Manhattanites got the better of us this time. The original Katz’s has been on the corner of East Houston and Ludlow in the Lower East Side since 1917. Everyone from confused tourists to local deli lovers have wandered into Katz’s. People line up to hear the clatter of plates and inhale the aromas of freshly cut meat smothered in spices only Mrs. Wollowitz would know. But after 135 years of throwing mountains of pastrami on rye, serving matzo ball soup and bean-topped knockwurst, Katz’s third generation owner Jake Dell decided to build the first non-OG location in Brooklyn’s busiest new food hall.

In Jake’s own words, “As our sign reads, this is only ‘A Taste of Katz’s’”.

In Jake’s own words, “As our sign reads, this is only ‘A Taste of Katz’s’. There is no way to fully recreate the experience and nostalgia… the look, the sounds, the smells of our Lower East Side location as a long-standing NYC institution.” However, his simple logic was, “Many of our long-time customers come to Manhattan from Brooklyn, so opening an outpost in their neighborhood felt right.”

A Taste of Katz’s represents a heritage with a history that extends into the Old Country.

A Taste of Katz’s represents a heritage with a history that extends into the Old Country. Jewish deli food dates back to the late 19th century. Waves of Eastern European Jews immigrated to New York and brought over their culinary heritage rich in cured meats and pickled vegetables. Naturally, delicatessens became a place to meet up with friends and indulge in all things that were good in life. Struggling immigrants understandably found a piece of their heart and a taste of the familiar right on their plates. That essence of wholesomeness has carried on and fueled the last gatekeepers of the old style delis of New York.

Their slogan, “Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army!” comes from a tradition.

Their slogan, “Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army!” comes from a tradition where the Katz family would send food to their sons who were serving during World War II. This slogan is proudly displayed to this day on their signs and the backs of carvers’ t-shirts. Bringing the community together.

A Taste of Katz’s will do as it says and give you a taste of the original Katz’s.

A Taste of Katz’s will do as it says and give you a taste of the original Katz’s. It doesn’t have the same ordering system, which was one of the funnest things about it. Fuhgettabout taking a ticket or chatting up the carver for a little nibble of heaven. The conversations are simply the best part of the original Katz’s. You go in and experience the overwhelming sense of history. You feel the hustle of the city while talking and sharing a table with complete strangers. Asking for the bark of the pastrami is the best request you can make. This is considered gold inside the deli. Unfortunately, sacrifices were necessary to ensure Brooklynites could experience Katz’s in our own turf. Nevertheless, Jake Dell believes DeKalb Market Hall is the best place to showcase the sensation of Katz’s and minimize the overhead cost of the location.

Katz’s hours are all hours.

Katz’s hours are all hours. Open 24/7 to provide the best piece of deli meat right to your mouth. Although crediting its recent rise to popularity to social media, Katz’s delivers the same excellence as they always have. The Reuben sandwich is by far the most solid sandwich of all time. A hefty pile of corned-beef (pastrami) topped with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and house-made Reuben sauce. All of this is jammed between two slices of rye bread. Understandably, this is the most served sandwich in their 135 years of business. And no, there’s no actual corn in it.

With the entry of Katz’s bold marketing campaign, it doesn’t mean that other old favorites like Nathan’s or Brennan & Carr will go out of business.

With the entry of Katz’s bold marketing campaign there is still competition from old favorites like Nathan’s or Brennan & Carr. Where else would you find that Sunday afternoon roast beef sandwich with the gravy on the side? Jake Dell’s gravy, however, will keep hitting all the right spots for years to come. Come on over to DeKalb Market for a Reuben sandwich and get A Taste of Katz’s! This will surely leave your spine and mouth tingling like the foodgasm scene of Meg Ryan in ‘When Harry Met Sally’. Just as the old lady said, “I’ll have what she’s having”.

Psst! Just between us? Was it the pastrami on rye?

Read more about the history of Katz’s Delicatessen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katz%27s_Delicatessen

Check out our previous post on Biggie Smalls aka the Notorious B.I.G:

https://172-234-236-52.ip.linodeusercontent.com/biggie-smalls-aka-the-notorious-b-i-g/