best pastrami and matzah ball soup in the city. Great service, quality is fantastic. it's a family owned, NYC staple - 10/10 must go

Always wanted to go to a legit Jewish deli. Sadly lots of delis in LA are no longer Kosher so you lose a bit of authenticity right there. When I saw a bunch of old Jewish people chilling reading the paper I knew I was in the right spot. This was the BEST pastrami I've ever had. Look at that juice dripping from the meat! The Latkes were so crispy with gooey potato on the inside. An incredible feat and paired perfectly with that applesauce. The Larry David sandwich was wonderful and the coleslaw was banging. Turkey was moist. Just a great overall sandwich. Coming back next time I'm in the city. The waiter was so cool too and she broke down several things on the menu for us. read more

See all

So good! I got the corn beef sandwich and wow it did not disappoint. I was going to do the soup combo but I wanted all the meat. My friend got the pastrami and split pea soup. We shared a smoothie. All was yum. Classic NY Jewish style food. read more

See all

I went to this OK kosher-style delicatessen a while back. They have some OK specials and as I have passed by the place on numerous times, I figured I might as well stop in. Service was expected for a deli like this though she did fill the water quite often which was nice. One of the specials was half a deli sandwich on rye along with fries which I chose pastrami on seedless rye with some Russian on the side. It was also served with one sliced full sour pickle and one sliced half sour pickle along with a little thing of coleslaw. The pastrami was fine. It wasn't as tender or juicy as Sarge's (or Katz's/2nd Ave/Pastrami Queen/insert place here) and there wasn't as much meat as Sarge's being closer to Pastrami Queen in terms of portion. The seedless rye was a bit dry even with the meat so the Russian dressing helped a lot. The fries were OK. No crisp at all and presumably frozen/store bought. I would also have appreciated full pickles and not sliced and the coleslaw was tiny and alright. In short, everything was pretty small portioned but for lunch you'll get full. Outside of the reasonable price point, I don't exactly see the reason to go here outside of the old school atmosphere and if you're looking to spend a little bit less on delicatessen food. The meat is worse here and the stuff you get with your sandwich is both smaller portioned and worse than most other Jewish delis. Spend a few bucks more and go to one of the better delis. Mid/low 2 read more

See all

Went for the pastrami and was glad I did. Excellent portion and thinly sliced. Most delis in N.Y. are very dry and tough .This was tender and moist. I place it at ties for best in Manhattan ( Katz and SnP). I'm under the impression the cutters worked at Katz. They were super fast and friendly. Nice diner very clean. I was greeted when I entered. Price is a few points less than Katz's and is not a tourist destination. Plus I didn't have to pay the MTA 9.00 punishment. Restrooms were clean Will return read more

PJ Bernstein - Hot Pastrami Sandwich excellent - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I love small delis. This is one of my favorites, maybe 10 tables and a to go counter. The meats could not be fresher, and the fries could not be better.Christy took such great care of me and packed up what I couldn't eat, which was a lot in a little box and I was on my way a very happy diner. If you're on the upper Eastside in New York, you have to stop by and have a bite, I also hear the soups are unbelievable. read more

PJ Bernstein - Half Turkey Sandwich w fries!!!! Crazy good. - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I'm obsessed with this place. The latkes are amazing. The service is awesome and everyone is so nice.

I ordered a small portion of orzo and chicken soup. For this they charged over $15 and I could count the number of orzo's That were in it with very little chicken and some carrots and celery that were completely undercooked. The saving money on orzo and charging $15 for basically a cup and a half of soup I really don't know how they sleep at night charging $15 for this slop. I am planning to speak to them today. It's ridiculous. We also ordered a pastrami sandwich and I don't understand why we have to pay 26 or $28 for a sandwich that's completely over stuffed. Why can't they just sell a normal sandwich and charge a little bit less for it? We still have we've been eating the pastrami from it for two days and we still have pastrami. I don't know what's wrong with these delis. It's a licensed to steal basically by the way I didn't think the sandwich was very good either, but it was passable. read more

Do NOT go here. Owner is extremely rude and unprofessional and was horrible to me when I tried to place an order. I have given this place too much business to be treated like that. That's no way to run a business. read more

First timer had never heard of the place before I picked up to go. Incredibly great pastrami on rye and perfect round knish. Big too. On a scale of 1 to 10 the pastrami sandwich was an 11. The hot dog was also good but with the mustard and kraut, it was way to heavy and moist for the bun so by the time I got home it was a big mess (but still damn good). read more

The overall experience shows attention to important details. The team performed exceptionally as well. You'll enjoy the visually pleasing environment. The kitchen and waitstaff performed perfectly with no problems. This spot will always have my support. read more

This Upper East side staple has been around for a while. Great Jewish deli and they have awesome Knishes. I usually get turkey sandwich or pastrami. Their frenchfries are good too. They have plenty of seating and it is a laidback diner place. Service has always been good whenever I have come. read more

See all

Why a three star review if the sandwiches are good? Because nothing else is good! Aside from the sandwiches, which have good flavor, plenty of meat, and thankfully are served on seedless rye bread, there is nothing else to say that is positive about the restaurant. The chicken noodle soup is bland as is the matzo ball soup. There is no mustard at the table (no deli mustard at all Jewish deli is blasphemy), and you only get two pickles (one half sour and one sour) with your sandwich. The coleslaw you get with your sandwich is good but you only get a small amount. Note: Pickles and coleslaw should be free and unlimited at any Jewish deli. That is the equivalent to chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant or complementary bread and olive oil or butter at an Italian restaurant. The service is erratic as I had to chase down anybody who was willing to help me and the servers that were there were not particularly friendly. I am taking it off my list of deli to recommend. There are other delis in this city to choose from that are better for the overall experience. read more

Very good traditional Jewish deli. Huge sandwiches great pastrami kasha varniskas. Fair prices . Speedy delivery

Our last night in NY before flying home and we were in the mood for a tasty deli sandwich. We were not disappointed at PJ Bernstein's! It's a neighborhood diner with a menu that has many choices! OMG, the Pastrami sandwich was sooo lean and tender... just melted in our mouths! For dessert, had cheesecake which was light and delicious... so yummy! Rosanna, our server, was so nice and sweet! Thank you for a wonderful dinner!! read more

I am almost 70 years old, a real city kid who grew up on pastrami and corned beef from everyone of our temples of Jewish staples. I could not begin to guess at the number of pastrami sandwiches I have eaten in my life- having migrated from corn beef in my 30s for the deeper flavor and juicy nature of great pastrami PJ Bernstein was our neighborhood supplier, as I grew up just three blocks away. It was always good but the Carnegie deli, castes, pastrami queen - there were lots of competitors, each one with its own character, and while I always placed PJ up there, it never attained my number one rating Pastrami, queen and king held that position for years Well, this week that changed I hadn't had a great pastrami sandwich for several years, since we moved our principal residence out to Westchester but this week, my son and I indulged He came up from downtown with a behemoth from Katz, and I snagged a couple of beauties from Bernstein's It wasn't even close While Katz has always been on the greasy side, this one was particularly fatty, and the flavor not as deep and layered as my memory. My son concurred. Then I opened up the foil to reveal Bernstein's offering. It was neat, orderly, even it didn't just collapse in a heap. I lathered on the mustard and went to it. A positive revelation! Perfectly lean, but still plenty of that soft melting fat that lubricates the beef as you chew it, had that grainy deep, flavored texture that can wake you up in the middle of the night, screaming in yearning desperation. I couldn't stop. As I've gotten older my appetite has diminished. Where I used to polish off a 26 ounce Porter house without batting and I now I can barely struggle through 12 to 14. I expected to barely manage a half of the Bernstein beauty, but that was gone within minutes. I'm gonna say it. I think it was the best pastrami sandwich I've ever eaten. It's impossible to say that authoritatively because so much time has passed, but I can say without the slightest hesitation. I do not ever remember having enjoyed a sandwich more. It may be that Bernstein's current iteration of the sandwich is a bit lean for some people, the telltale sign being that the bread and sandwich remain intact and orderly all the way down to the finish But I don't think you will ever find a more enjoyable example of New York's ultimate potentate of deli supremacy. At $26, the sandwich will take a bite out of anyone's budget. That's the upper east side for you but an hour or so later when a little belch of digestive joy escaped, my sinuses were filled with the rapture of that sent, that taste, that Proustian remembrance. I was taken all the way back to the 1998 World Series where I grabbed a bag full of Bernstein sandwiches and got on the subway to Yankee Stadium with my dad. What could have been more perfect than sitting in a field level box slathering the mustard on and then holding onto it for dear life as the stadium erupted and Tino Martinez ball sword into the upper deck for that first inning grand slam? It was like being inside the engine of a 747 at takeoff, or the Saturn V at lift off from Cape Canaveral. That vague scent of coriander and - is it clove? - At the back of your sinuses merging with the site and sound of 60,000 screaming stomping New Yorkers., and the sharp tank of that kosher pickle!! Yeah, I'll take two pastrami's on rye to go with a side of a world championship. That's the stuff that dreams are made of read more

Friendly service and good food! I think it's a decent deli that consistently delivers good deli fare. The space could do with a little rework but it's clean for a quick meal. It may be a bit higher priced than most sandwich shops but consistent with deli pricing. read more

Solid option for a Jewish deli. The matzoh ball soup was very good. The half corned beef was good, not great. Friendly service and good value for the price. read more

PJ Bernstein - Matzoh ball soup - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

Came on a recent Saturday afternoon with my family. Had a great meal, great pastrami sandwich, and the BEC was on point. Never a cheap meal but well worth the experience. read more

I got a Groupon here and thought to myself, "why not give this place a try". I got the pastrami sandwich. The meat was a bit dry. This is the first time for me having pastrami sandwich. It is served on a cold hard rye bread. They claimed to have the best pastrami sandwich and this restaurant has been in NYC for a long time. It is somewhat hard for me to compare if the sandwich was authentic or not or even, if it was supposed to be dry because like I said this is my first time having pastrami sandwich. They stacked the meat in the center making it look like a generous portion when they cut it into two. Don't get me wrong the portion size was not bad. The sandwich was quite dry, I added mustard to it. I can tell that the mustard was home made and so was the pickle. I do like the coleslaw that came with the sandwich. Here is where things become really awkward. Service here was somewhat slow or non-existence. It seems like the server was a bit lost. I had a question and the server didn't know how to answer the question but instead he just walked away. I didn't bother flagging him down asking the same question again. Also the restaurant itself was quite cold. Seems like the owner wants to keep the heat down. I noticed most people do take out and rarely anyone would sit down in the restaurant. I guess there is a reason why they have to promote on Groupon. The deal I got was $5 for $15 to use toward anything in the restaurant on any day. read more

See all

Slowly arrived and Food not hot Great menu Great food Ok to eat in. Very simple deli restaurant read more

quality jewish ny deli! delicious deliciousness matzoh ball soup! just like my grandmother's highly recommend pjb! read more

The service here makes the meal! We had a party of eight with different orders and the staff handled them all with speed and precision. I didn't take a picture of each dish, yet know that everyone cleared the plate. The pastrami arrived on very soft rye bread - not too soft, but soft - and I fear I got the end of the pastrami. The flavor was okay, but too much edge meat. Pickles perfectly sour, and the blintzes I'd return for. The cherry and sour cream topping matched perfectly with the soft flour folds lightly crisp on the edges. The plates are expensive yet ample. Service for our table aside, management and waitstaff carried on conversation across the room and behind the counter making it hard for us to hear one another. So, not the best ambiance. Looking for a decent deli, you'll find one here. Not sure if this place would be a regular for me. Only the blintzes and service calls me back. read more

PJ Bernstein - Pastrami on rye - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

See all

P J Bernstein is a classic Deli. It's very popular with the older crowd. I was treated very nice when I entered and no one made a fuss about my photo taking. The cashier changed my receipt to reflect my cash payment. You save if you use cash. I bought a Spinach Knish for my lunch. It's wrapped up nice in tinfoil to carry home. It's smaller than their competitor but also two dollars less. I love this old school atmosphere with entertainment stars photos on the wall. There's lots of seating inside and outside. In colder weather I may return to eat inside. There's a counter in the back. I love the neon sign for Take Out that hangs over the deli section. Like I said this place is classic and the food is fresh and delicious! I'm recommending! read more

See all

The food has gone significantly down hill and the prices are positively offensive. They should be ashamed.

In today's world it is not too tough to find a Deli here in New York City. They are all over the city. But to find a true, old fashioned style Jewish Deli is not so easy. They do exist, but you have to find them when you can. That is why we are lucky when we walk into PJ BERNSTEIN Deli on the East Side. It is authentic. Where can you begin. It had everything. Before going in I knew what I wanted to have. It is like a standard order when you walk into the deli you always remembered. It is what you always like and want. First up was the MATZOH BALL SOUP. This is a classic. It was huge, fresh and filled with everything you would expect. And it was all homemade today. The matzoh ball was large and fresh. It was light and moist. The soup itself was fresh chicken soup and had in it carrots, celery, and some onion. It also was filled with noodles. These alone could have been a bowl of pasta. But in the soup the bowl could have been an entire meal. It was perfect. And they are famous for it here. We also had KREPLAH SOUP. This is traditional. Similar to matzoh ball soup, but it is filled with dumplings filled with beef in a soup that also contains carrots, celery and onions. The flavor was perfect. A little salt and pepper, but not too much. It is the beef soup that makes you enjoy each spoon. One extra order was of BEEF GOULASH. It was filled with large pieces of beef along with carrots and some vegetables. It was placed in the bowl on top of noodles. This you eat with a spoon for each bite you take. It is a good dish when you have the soup. Here at PJ Bernstein you have to have a traditional Deli Sandwich. Even before we entered we knew what we wanted to have. Of course, when you look at the menu, or talk to the team, you might want something else or more. We went with what you expect. To start, we had PASTRAMI on RYE with mustard. That is perfect. The fresh rye bread was just made. It was real rye bread freshly made. It was a good size. Not think and not thin. Just right. Inside it was filled with fresh pastrami. This was lean, which is perfect for today. In the past it would have been more fat, but in today's world it is a bit more lean. In either case, with a little mustard on your sandwich you could take a bite and be glad you did. It is just right. In fact, you can eat half the sandwich and take the other half home for another meal. That is how much you have here. The other sandwich we had was the REUBEN. It is a classic. This is a combination of pastrami and sauerkraut placed on fresh rye bread that is then topped with Swiss cheese that is roasted so that the cheese can melt. In many places this is a standard size when you order. But here at PJ Bernstein it is large. This is the way it use to be made, and to have it here is eating the way it use to be made. It was warm, melted, fresh, tasty. You look at it and believe you cannot eat the entire thing and have to take half of it home. Instead, you sit and eat and enjoy. You can finish the entire reuben as you enjoy each bite you take. Naturally this is served with some coleslaw which is homemade, and a pickle. The perfect, traditional reuben. Naturally we also had a side of LATKE. These are freshly made potato dish that are ground and mixed and then fried. This is something that can be served on the side, or become an entire meal itself for some people. Either way, it is crisp, fresh and tasty. The seasoning is right. When you are in PJ Bernstein you do not need french fries. You cannot go to the deli without having a dessert and a cup of coffee. That is the way to finish your meal. And, here at PJ Bernstein, they have a dessert list that will take you time to consider what you want. In our case we went traditional with an order of RUGGELACH. Ruggelach is a typical pastry dessert which is not too sweet and has the right flavor and taste. It can be plain, or it can be filled with jams, fruit, nuts, or chocolate. It really is what you would want. We had a variety of 8 different ruggelach to try. Each was different and perfect. It was freshly homemade, so it was new and perfect after the meal. PJ Bernstein has been around since 1965 when it was founded by Alex. The price is right. You know that when your meal arrives. That is a big portion. Each bite reminds you of the history of eating in a Jewish Deli. (it is non-kosher.) The staff is excellent. They can answer questions and help you as you try to decide what you want. There is also a small Jazz Group that will be inside playing at night to whoever arrives to eat. This is something new and ideal for the time. It is worth checking out when you finally decide what to eat. Overall, PJ Bernstein is the perfect, authentic place to go for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. It is open 7 days a week, so it will be there when you are ready. Go now. read more

See all

I came for pastrami... Big No Way. I was told better than Katz Deli so came here instead BIG mistake. I love a great pastrami, not sure if isolated incident but I've had enough good patramis to know it wasn't. The bread was dry and stale and I literally couldn't keep eating. I think by my 1st half I just stopped eating. N pulled the meat off the bread. Also had chicken noodle soup and it was decent but both guest and myself didn't find one piece of chicken anywhere to be found. The reason I bumped it to a 2 star is the waitress was nice and they played Princ album the whole time we dined! Prince got me through lunch!! Thank You, PRIINCE!! I will keep trying to find the best New York pastrami and I know it's out there but this surely isn't it!! read more

PJ Bernstein - Can't wait to try it!! - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I've been going to Jewish Delis in NYC for my entire life. I happened to walk past this place, amazed that I had never heard of it. I went in and ordered a sandwich, the name of which escapes me now (Jewish Supreme, possibly?) which was a bunch of pastrami piled on a knish. Absolutely fantastic. 10/10. The pastrami was flavorful, not fatty, and juicy, while the knish was the kind you get from a street vendor, super crispy on the outside, pillowy and creamy on the inside. My companions enjoyed their meals as well. Additionally, the staff was incredibly kind. I'll definitely be hitting this place up again. read more

PJ Bernstein - Jewish Supreme (I think it was called) sandwich. Delicous! - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

I'm not from NY but I go in about every 8 weeks and I was lucky enough to hear about this classic deli from a book I was reading. The atmosphere was authentic the food was fresh and delicious. So good in fact I went there again for my next trip and brought it home for my love to try it! read more

We had the homemade "Summer Borscht" (that is only made in the summer) it is "absolutely fantastic" along with delicious potato latkes...Eugene the owner of PJ Bernstein's warmly greeted us !! Our family has been going to PJ Bernstein's since 1979 when we moved into the neighborhood !! The quality of the food and the service provided are always top notch !! read more

This was our second time coming to PJ Bernstein and it was just as good as the first! This is your classic Jewish Deli; great pastrami, great tuna melts, great vibes! They also have gluten free bread, which is a huge plus. 10/10! EDIT: the register said we would get a 5% discount if we left a review, but they did NOT include one at checkout. -1 star read more

Love the homie and local feel. Went in today after asking a Jewish dad where I should go get a pastrami sandwich. Pastrami was not too spicy and more mild compared to other places but very good in quality. Rye bread was from Eli's (I believe) and paired well with the sandwich. I took the first bite with out the spicy mustard and it was fantastic. The cole slaw was on the sweeter side, but I enjoyed it. Pickle spears were good too. More of a "cant-go-wrong" kinda place. The highlight was the staff. All super friendly, attentive and helpful. No wait at 10:30am read more

See all

The RUDEST, most UNPROFESSIONAL people. We were told the delivery would take 1/2 hour. 1 hour later, I called and was told they took down the wrong address. I asked why no one called, and they told me to hold on. I held on for 8 minutes, and when the cashier got back on, she told me it will be there in a few minutes. I asked why no one called if they had the wrong address. She said "we had the right address, it will be there in a few", and hung up on me. When the food arrived, everything was ice cold, and despite my asking twice for fresh mustard, they didn't include it in our order. I ate inside the deli about a month ago, and what I saw should have warned me to stay away, but foolishly, I gave them one more chance. The young man and his co-worker at the register were eating AT the register, all the while, taking people's money. It was not only unsanitary, but is against health code. The guy was wearing a jacket with a profane expression on the back, - completely unfit attire for a place of business of any kind. They behaved like two teenagers with complete disregard for customers and a professional environment. What used to be a nice upper East Side deli is now a dump, - and hopefully, on it's way out. They don't deserve to be in business with such low-class attitudes. read more

Way at the beginning of the pandemic we were invited by the @pjbernsteinnyc family to stop in at their NY deli/restaurant. I never thought we would get to the city. But today I was in the #UpperEastSide at the @hspecialsurgery and noticed that PJ's was within #walkingdistance I had a delicious #PastramiBurger #wafflefries a couple of pickles and a #coke. It was a perfect NY lunch. #PJBernstein #deli #pastrami #BigDudesBigFoods #CelebrateEveryDay #globaleats #shenanigans #BDBFCertified #ThePhoneEatsFirst #WOYP #Forkyeahfoodies #BDBF @forkyeahfoodies #YouDontKnowJersey #BeLocalish #ClearEyesFullBelliesCantLose #ABigDudesGottaDoWhatABigDudesGottaDo read more

See all

Located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, this deli style NYC restaurant is a good choice. I purchased a Groupon to give this place a try. It was for dine in only. Not too many people dine in but they do take out and delivery. I had the Scottish Salmon plate dinner with coleslaw, pickles and two sides. I chose the baked sweet potato and creamed spinach. Everything was so delicious. I really enjoyed it all. I had enough for leftovers as well. The server was nice. read more

See all

PJ Bernstein is exactly what one thinks of when it comes to a classic NY Deli/Restaurant that serves delicious sandwiches and other "NY" specialties. This was the first stop my aunt took me to upon visiting from Miami for a couple of days. She had a pastrami sandwich, whereas I had a half pastrami, half corned beef sandwich. The portions were very large and delicious!!! Meat and beef quality was great and exactly what I expected. I have to seriously look into who makes a sandwich like this back home in Miami!!! Each sandwich comes with a side of house pickles and coleslaw. She was able to save half of her sandwich for lunch the next day. The pictures truly speak for themselves. Service was very laidback and allowed us to talk and enjoy our meal while Keeping our glasses of water full. My aunt ordered a cappuccino with her sandwich, which she said was one of the better cups of coffee she's had in a while. Give this classic, laidback place a try when you are in NY and looking for a filling and delicious lunch! read more

PJ Bernstein - Half Pastrami, Half Corned Beef with pickles and coleslaw - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

First and last time i go in here. I came in because i saw that they are known for their pastrami and it is not worth it. I paid 29$ total for a pastrami sandwich. For the amount of money you are spending for a pastrami sandwich you would hope it would be big, like KATZ DELI. The pastrami itself is thin sliced and very dry. It was not very flavorful and I do not believe it is fresh. Also the pastrami was on the colder side. The bread was nothing out of the ordinary. I rather walk the extra mile and go to PASTRAMI QUEEN or even go out of my way to go to KATZ DELI (been to both) Keep your money people and go to pastrami queen instead if you in the area. read more

PJ Bernstein - PJ'S FAMOUS PASTRAMI Sandwich - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite places! I usually order the pastrami on rye to go. The motza ball soup is really good too.

THE REAL DEAL! No crappy boars head, these guys roast their own roast beef and turkey. Awesome pickles. This place should be mentioned in the same breath as any big time NYC deli. These guys know what they're doing. They kill it. read more

Visiting from out of town and tried this deli for Sunday lunch. The waitress was very pleasant, but we did have to wait to get some dressing. We had chicken noodle soup, which was chicken broth and noodles, did not have any pieces of chicken in the soup. I had the pastrami on white bread. As this is the only deli I have tried here in NYC I don't have anything to compare it to locally. The pastrami had good flavor, but the bread left a little to be desired, as it was a little hard around the edges. We also had bagel chips which was a first for me. I enjoyed them. I will try another deli next time in the mood for a pastrami sandwich. read more

PJ Bernstein - Pastrami on white bread - Delis Near Me - New York, New York

See all