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    2nd Ave Deli

    3.9 (1.6k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order 2nd Ave Deli Takeout or Delivery

    2nd Ave Deli Photos

    Business Info

    2ND AVE DELI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - 2nd Ave Deli

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    Kreplock
    Eugene C.

    I came here recently in search of a pastrami that was not from Katz Deli and was directed by the internet to the 2nd Ave Deli as an alternative. I was also informed by the internet that their kreplocks were very good. So I ordered both to go. They were both very good and I would highly recommend them both. The kreplock tasted hand made. Apparently even though this place is called the 2nd Ave Deli, it is on 3rd Ave because it moved from its original location after a famous NYC type incident. I was not aware of this and did not use GPS to find the place and got partially lost along the way.

    Bret F.

    Ordered for delivery. Came in about an hour (not bad for across town around dinner time). We ordered the corned beef sandwich, matzah ball soup, and it came with challah and pickles. Omg everything was so good. Loved it. Some of the best soup I've ever had. Lots of dill. Make sure to add the Russian dressing to the sandwich, yum. Can't wait to try again and next time in person.

    Aaron S.

    Not gonna lie, we were a little disappointed. The matzoh ball soup was outstanding but the pastrami and corned beef left us wanting something more like Katz's. The portions were small and the prices large. Service on this day was also lacking. I understand that there are always one or two tables who get forgotten about when it's really busy, and unfortunately, today was our turn to be waiting to order and waiting for our food. And we didn't feel like we were valued customers, just a table to get in and out. I miss the original location at which I remember having one of the best corned beef sandwiches ever. Those days are gone. The nostalgia was nice, but the value for what we paid was anything but. We shall continue our quest of trying all the corned beef and pastrami New York City has to offer. Just not here again.

    Pickles
    Bruce H.

    2nd Ave Deli is one of the best, classic, Jewish delis in New York City, or anywhere, for that matter, and, as opposed to Katz's, it's Kosher, as well. I have eaten inside the restaurant, at the old location several times, but this time I ordered delivery, which was just as good. Of course, I ordered a pastrami on rye with (deli) mustard, and PLEASE, not lean! Also, a bowl of matzah ball soup, potato pancakes with cinnamon apple sauce (no sour cream, here) and, of course, a can of Dr. Pepper's Black Cherry soda. (Pickles and cole slaw are included.) Just for old times sake, add a Kosher beef hot dog with sauerkraut...they don't make them any better. Everything was great! Delivery was fast. Packing was nicely done. Don't miss a little bit of heaven while you can. FYI- I'm not here to compare it to Katz's, both are terrific. Each to his own. I hope both never close, as have so many wonderful Jewish delis in New York, Carnegie Deli, quickly, comes to mind. What else, but my highest recommendation.

    Matzoh Ball Soup
    Ray N.

    2nd Ave Deli has the best matzo ball soup that my wife and I have ever eaten, and we have eaten a lot of matzo ball soups in our respective lives. Somehow, the matzo ball is rich and flavorful. Its texture is smooth and homogenous. It's perfectly seasoned. The pastrami is also extremely good here. It's very rich and well seasoned, but not greasy. The horseradish and mustard (as well as the cabbage salad and pickles) that they serve it with is very high quality and a great pairing with the rich meat. I also got a piece of babka here to go and it was excellent. All in all, a great experience.

    I've missed you, cole slaw!
    Mike K.

    I do love a good Deli sandwich, and that's what I got at 2nd Ave Deli. It was my first time in their 'new' location - I've been living in California for about 35 years now. I miss the things that are basics in NY delis - pickles and cole slaw on the table, brusque wait staff, overstuffed sandwiches, and knishes. Of any kind. We just don't get 'em here in northern California. My corned beef was just fatty enough to give it amazing flavor, and my knish was like ambrosia. I was surprised at how fast the food arrived, and thankful that they had Diet Black Cherry soda as well. I still think I prefer PJ Bernstein's and Katz, but of course deli is truly a matter of taste ;)

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]THIS is the classic NY deli restaurant to go to- walk right in & be seated at a nice comfy booth midday; servers who must've been there for years will be right over.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room oozes old-school charm.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The complimentary slightly brined cabbage & pickles render any additional sides superfluous; the cabbage is generous, & you get both half & full sour pickles. The pastrami is perfectly juicy & peppery; the bread could be sturdier but holds up throughout. At lunch we found splitting 1 sandwich perfect for us. The owner who may chat you up is a NYC, if not national treasure. Avoid the tourist pastrami spot, come here & taste real Manhattan.

    Pastrami sandwich with tongue
    Judy C.

    I've been going to 2nd Avenue deli every other time I'm in NYC for the past 25 years, ever since they were on 2nd Avenue. I've tried several other delis - Katz's, Carnegie, the local stops, etc and 2nd Avenue just hits the spot for me the way the others don't. I mean, I thought Katz's was good but the lines are just ridiculous so service is efficient but not personal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]At 2nd Avenue, there's a personality and vibe here that makes it feel like a local deli.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I don't remember everything I've had over the years but nowadays, if I'm coming by myself or a friend who doesn't want to share, it's a half soup and half pastrami sandwich. Yes, the bread on the sandwich could be a little better but the pastrami is so tender. The soup is also the ultimate comfort food to me. The first time I had it, it was freezing out and I was feeling a little down and it made me feel so much better. It never fails to hit the spot for me when I come back.

    Square Potato Knish
    Helen C.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes at 2nd Ave are impeccable - booths with walls up the side so you can have privacy during your conversations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Didn't end up waiting at all even with a party of 6 on Sunday around 11:30 AM and overall, I'd say the food was good, but not life changing. Prices were a quite high with sandwiches costing ~$30 and I just wanted them to be a little better. Spinach Knish (4/5): Surprising hit at the table, thin, soft dough around a thick layer of soft spinach. Great option for pretending your healthy Square Potato Knish (4.25/5): Fried, crunchy crust is always a win and there was a good amount of salt both in the potato filling and the dough. Franks in a Blanket (3.75/5): Beef sausages in some puff pastry, came out piping hot. Nothing crazy, but hits the spot. Center Cut Tongue Sandwich (3.5/5): I just couldn't get over the untoasted, super dry bread :(. The tongue itself was actually super tender and had great flavor - good intro if you've never had tongue before, but altogether not my favorite. Pastrami Sandwich (3/5): I actually preferred the tongue to the pastrami, but it suffers from all the same problems: just much to dry with cold bread isn't a fun eating experience. Challah French Toast (3.75/5): Just a decent french toast and I liked the caramelized crust on the outside.

    Search for great pastrami in NYC fulfilled. I really enjoyed it. No frills, just delicious pastrami. Had been trying to seek out a place and my tour guide suggested this one.

    Do not order out from 2nd Ave Deli! They will rip you off and there won't be anything you can do about it because now you're home with your sandwich and starving. We bought 2 of these sandwiches for $66 (including tax). What a rip off! They've totally lost me! It seems like you get a decent sandwich when you eat in but that is not the case for take away.

    Hot corn beef on rye
    Elliot K.

    Exceptional deli with friendly, efficient service. Come hungry, because the portions are generous and the food delivers. We tried the new pierogies with fried onions and they were excellent. Ordering them half boiled and half pan fried was the perfect move and made it easy to pick a favorite.

    tuna on rye

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    Review Insights

    4 months ago

    This is the real stuff. Been coming here for decades with my family! Their pastrami, knishes, and matzoh ball soup are my favorite!

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    4 months ago

    Great food. Great service. Great people!!! Love their pastrami sandwiches. Something for everyone and it's always delish!!!!

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    4 months ago

    We discovered this spot on our last trip to NY and can't wait to come back! Love their babka!

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    7 months ago

    Iconic. Haven't visited in over 10 years. Food is still as authentic. Service is fast and hospitable.

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    2nd Ave Deli Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - 2nd Ave Deli

    Do they provide Pickle?

    Yes

    Are they open on thanks giving?

    I doubt it but I would call them

    Gluten free options?

    I am not sure about the sandwiches; but there are several other non-bread options such as fish, veggies etc. also potato pancakes, but their menu does do a disclaimer that there may be cross-contamination. So it depends on if you have celiac disease… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    P.J. Clarke's

    P.J. Clarke's

    3.8
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    My friend and I came to PJ Clarke's to watch the Knicks in the NBA Finals, and despite the…read moredisappointing outcome of the game, we had a great night. We were thrilled to find two seats at the end of the bar when we arrived. As luck would have it, the two gentlemen next to us eventually left, allowing us to slide over and enjoy an even better view of the TV for the rest of the game. I started with a Tito's and club soda, but unfortunately, something seemed off--perhaps the club soda was flat. The drink just wasn't good. To their credit, the bartender took it back without hesitation and was very accommodating. I then ordered a Negroni after the woman sitting next to us highly recommended it. I don't usually drink gin, but this cocktail was absolutely delicious and changed my mind. Since we were there for several hours, we shared an order of zucchini and eggplant chips and happily snacked on them throughout the game. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, with a nice mix of ages and people enjoying the evening. We made sure to leave our bartender a generous tip since we occupied our seats for the entire game. Even though the Knicks didn't pull out a win that night, we certainly didn't leave defeated. I'd happily return for another game, cocktail, and fun evening out. And maybe even get dinner there. Little did I know there was another big room in the ack once you past the restrooms. They were having a thriving business there!

    Always been a fan of PJ Clarke's! I used to always catch the tall brunette male bartender who gave…read moreexcellent service. He was constantly busy zippin around but maintained a nice demeanor and made everyone feel welcome! Must orders of mine: the burger! Although small, it comes out piping hot and the fresh white onion between the bottom bun and burger is awesome because it doesn't make the bottom bun soggy and catches all the juices from the actual meat. Love subbing the fries for a Caesar salad! Standout appetizer is the fried zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki-- crispy, hot, juicy and I get it every time!

    Photos
    P.J. Clarke's
    Seconds in this pic - Lamb Chop, Smoke Salmon, Zucchini Chip, Avocado Toast, Chicken on a Stick.
    Seconds in this pic - Lamb Chop, Smoke Salmon, Zucchini Chip, Avocado Toast, Chicken on a Stick.
    Al fresco dining option

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    Al fresco dining option
    Monkey Bar

    Monkey Bar

    4.3
    (506 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Monkey Bar became one of my favorite Midtown restaurants because its modern history ran almost…read moreperfectly alongside my years in New York. I arrived in 2008 with very little, and when Graydon Carter revived the restaurant in 2009, I was beginning a rise of my own, first at a large global bank and then, to my astonishment, at one of the city's most powerful investment firms. The suits were daily, the walls were gold, and the pressure was so consuming that even success could feel like a form of attrition. After a few years, I moved to a smaller firm with Southern roots, where the culture was more humane, the work gave me greater autonomy, and I produced some of the strongest results of my career, even within an industry still governed by fear, greed, and status. Inside, the red booths, low lighting, generous spacing, and hand-painted monkey murals made lunch feel ceremonial without becoming stiff. The room was timeless and handsome, with polished service, quality food, and the subtle assurance of a place where you could be proud to bring someone important. I especially remember sitting in one of those booths with two mentors, each only a few years older than I was and therefore close enough in vintage to feel relatable, trustworthy, and genuinely within reach. One had entered my life after I left the larger firm and helped me understand an earlier chapter that had also ended abruptly and, at the time, felt deeply unfair; the other had guided me through the smaller firm where I finally found a more sustainable way to work. Over that long lunch, I introduced them, we discussed several promising ideas, and for a moment my career seemed to have reached the point where relationships, experience, and opportunity were finally converging. One of those ideas consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and energy, and I believed it might become the foundation of my next chapter. Instead, the arrangement eventually turned on me, the role I thought I had earned never materialized, and the business itself sputtered. My professional life, financial footing, and pride all collapsed just as COVID was beginning. Then Monkey Bar closed in 2020, which made the ending feel almost unnervingly complete: the restaurant, the city, and the version of myself built around New York finance all went dark at once. For years, I experienced that ending as devastating and unfair; now I can see it as wisdom delivered through an unnecessarily rough process. The restaurant's later revival by a Chicago hospitality group feels fitting because it still honors tradition and ceremony while allowing the old forms to evolve into something healthier, looser, and more current. I have not been back since that lunch, but a return now would feel like visiting the museum of my past, not reclaiming a life that asked too much, gave too little, and finally lost its hold on me. Even now, I remember Monkey Bar as a great Midtown lunch in a memorable room, surrounded by the residue of old ambitions and the gratitude of having survived them. The cocktails were sharp, the service was impeccable, and the dining room carried that glamorous old New York energy without feeling trapped by it. I remain deeply fond of the place, partly for what it was and partly for what it witnessed. Some restaurants become attached to a chapter of your life, and Monkey Bar holds mine with unusual grace.

    The truffle monkey bread while a total carb and calorie bomb was delicious and left a lasting…read moreimpression. It featured a crispy, sugar-glazed exterior and a soft, chewy interior, topped with truffle cheese and served with a truffle butter dip; the pairing was superb, and it tasted great both on its own and with the dip. For the main course, I ordered the miso-glazed black cod. The flavor was flawless, and while the portion was small (which was acceptable), the pool of broth accompanying it was completely unnecessary; it was inedibly salty, so what was the point of serving it? After finishing the fish, I was left with a plate full of broth, rendering the plate unusable. Plus, it was overpriced; for this dish, you're better off going to Strip House Strip House remains the undisputed king of this dish in New York. A friend ordered the chicken parmesan. It was just average. Another friend ordered the short rib stroganoff. The flavor was decent, but it was far too rich and heavy. As someone whose palate is split 50/50 between Western and Chinese cuisine, I could manage only five bites at most. If you have a palate that prefers 100% Chinese food, proceed with caution on this dish. Friends ordered sides of mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. These are dishes originally meant for low-income Americans to fill up on cheaply; there's no limit to how good they can be, but also no floor to how bad they can get. Both were on par with the average quality found in upscale restaurants. Honestly, these are two dishes I would never order myself. To sum up: the atmosphere was great. It's also hard to get a reservation; the place was packed when we had lunch at 2 PM. Aside from that monkey bread, I didn't feel like anything else justified the price or offered something you couldn't find elsewhere. I don't quite get the hype. Perhaps I just didn't order the right dishes; maybe next time I'll try the burger and the steak.

    Photos
    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
    Truffle Monkey Bread

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    Truffle Monkey Bread
    The Naked Pig

    The Naked Pig

    3.9
    (130 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    So this place has great reviews. I found it ahead of time because my kids have been wanting fish &…read morechips. I got the mac & cheese with chicken breast and it was very tasty. The flavor was great and it was just enough to fill me. The fish and chips were very delicious. The batter was nice and fluffy and the fish was huge. We loved the French onion soup, it had great flavor and the cheese on top made it so amazing! everything came out hot and delicious. We got there pretty early and I wish that we had gone on a day they had breakfast. The breakfast photos caught my eye. After we paid and gave our 20% auto gratuity, our waiter Jose asked if we wanted to leave additional gratuity. Our tip was already $25 and I was actually surprised he asked for more. We declined and left. Out of my whole entire trip this was the only restaurant that asked for more than the 20%. I found it rather odd. My review is based off the food itself.

    Update: After my…read moreoriginal review, I was contact with management and they really helped to turn things around. He took the time to listen to our concerns and invited our group back so we could give their group another chance. While I still stand by how our initial experience made us feel, I also think it's important to acknowledge when a business owner responds with professionalism and genuinely works to rebuild trust. Our return visit was a completely different experience. I appreciate the way the owner handled the situation and his willingness to have an open conversation with us. It doesn't change what happened that first night, but it did change my impression of how much he cares about his guests and his business. I wanted my review to reflect that as well.

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant
    Inside the restaurant
    Brunch
    Brunch
    Double Smashed Burger

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    Double Smashed Burger

    2nd Ave Deli - kosher - Updated August 2026

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