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    PJ Bernstein

    3.5 (279 reviews)
    ModerateDelis, Diners, Sandwiches
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order PJ Bernstein Takeout or Delivery

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    PJ BERNSTEIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Pastrami Sandwich with fries. Ehhh lunch special.
    Glenn C.

    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

    Hot Pastrami Sandwich excellent
    Taxi G.

    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

    Half Turkey Sandwich w fries!!!! Crazy good.
    Peter I.

    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.

    Whitney D.

    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.

    Matzoh ball soup

    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.

    Denise W.

    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.

    Pastrami on rye

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    2 years ago

    Great food and service! We've been coming here for years. Highly recommend for an authentic NY deli experience!!

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    4 years ago

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    Pj B.

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    1 year ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food was never delivered. Called multiple times to track my order and was given a round about answer every time.

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    2 years ago

    Absolutely Unfriendly not Communicative with Customer about the menu (cashier )and food counter was not friendly!

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The brisket was completely dry and had no taste, a sad experience and there is a fee to use a credit card

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    10 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I have waited for 90 minutes and called twice. Food no where to be had. Place sucks. Don't order

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Grew up going to this place and they have never disappointed me once, honest best in the city and a real staple to the area.

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    5 years ago

    Outrageous prices quality is good food is better then most restaurants in the upper east side

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    All'Antico Vinaio

    All'Antico Vinaio

    4.2
    (123 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I first found this place through TikTok, where people were hyping it up in Italy. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised to find out they had a location in New York City, so I obviously had to give it a try. There are a few locations, but I decided to visit this one because it was the most convenient for getting to and from home. I got there around 7:00 PM, which felt a little close to closing time since Google said they close at 9:00 PM, but it wasn't busy at all. In fact, I was only the third customer to place an order. I ordered the La Summer sandwich and added pesto. After sitting down and taking my first bite, I immediately understood the hype. Without a doubt, this is one of the best sandwiches I've had in a very long time. I'm not even a huge sandwich person when it comes to subs and deli meats, but everything tasted incredibly fresh. The ingredients paired together perfectly, and you could still taste each one individually. The only thing I'd change next time is the meat. I had no idea prosciutto was a type of ham, but honestly, it didn't even taste like ham to me. It was sliced paper-thin, slightly salty, and worked surprisingly well with everything else. Next time, though, I'll probably add salami just to see how it compares. Overall, this sandwich was a solid 10/10, and I will absolutely be back--whether it's to try a different sandwich or, if we're being honest, order the exact same one again with salami added. I will say it's on the expensive side, but that's New York City for you. Apparently, all of the ingredients are flown in from Italy. After tax and tip, I paid a whopping $28 for a single sandwich. That said, it was incredibly filling and definitely kept me satisfied. The workers were also really nice and accommodating, and the indoor seating was beautiful. The atmosphere felt like a fancy Italian café, complete with couches and artwork throughout the space. I wish I had taken pictures, but honestly, I was too busy enjoying what might be the best sandwich I've had in years.

    This is such a great spot for a quick Sammie that is big enough for two. Don't let this place…read moreintimidate you. The menu inside breaks down all of the sandwhiches, you roll up to the deli counter when they say next, spill out your order (add/remove stuff to your order) and you're done. The most overwhelming thing is deciphering the Italian sandwhich menu. I hit up the Italian Hot. Pretty decent! I added sun dried tomatoes...but it would have been just as good without it. Be PREPARED this Sammie has some chili honey liquid /oil sauce they put on it and it's tasty but it's a lot. The staff are friendly - just focused on getting your order and getting it to you so you can enjoy. The wall is pretty interested they have made their own decor out of door panel fixtures.

    Photos
    All'Antico Vinaio
    La District
    La District
    LA DISTRICT sandwich

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    LA DISTRICT sandwich
    All'Antico Vinaio

    All'Antico Vinaio

    4.4
    (614 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Kid friendly

    This is a cozy place for italian sandwiches. Expect a crowd during lunch time and seats fill out…read morequickly. They have an extensive menu so be ready for some tough choices. We got the limonata and mandarino to drink and the la toscana and la paradiso for our sandwiches. They are massive so prepare for leftovers. La Toscana- The foccacia is soft and fluffy. You get savory salame toacano, pecorino, and truffle honey that ties the flavors together. La Laradiso- The mortadella is tasty and given in generous amounts. The stracciatella, pistachio cream, and pistachio bits add a depth of flavor and texture. Limonata and Mandarino- This was sweet, fruity, and refreshing. Hits the spot after walking around all morning. Love the vintagr can designs! Great experience overall!

    Someone order a Hot Italian? Here I am…read more The legendary Florentine sandwich shop achieved global fame by earning some of the highest praise in food journalism for its massive, fresh-baked schiacciata sandwiches. Google their name and "best" and get hundreds of hits, but the majors who crowned them "best sandwich" title include Saveur Magazine, the big one touted by the family; Eater NY, ranking La Paradiso the most elite Italian sandwich outside of Italy; Las Vegas Weekly, who crowned them "Home of the world's best sandwiches"; TripAdvisor, for whom the Italian original is the most reviewed eatery with a near perfect rating; and The Infatuation NYC guides who promise the execution of the crispy, airy schiacciata bread completely justifies the hype. All 17 options looked amazing, so I spoke to a regular in line, telling her I couldn't decide between "La Paradiso", the most praised (even though she informed me "mortadella is just bolonie" or the Hot Italian, which was more my style. So, I did what any gluttonous American would do and I got both. And a Diet Coke, of course. La Paradiso has thinly sliced bolonie for a savory base, with creamy shredded stacciatella cheese, with sweet but earthy pistachio cream, and a sprinkle of toasted pistachio for texture (that I didn't detect). It was good, but I will likely fuggedaboutit. The Hot Italian had thin, lean turkey, spicy and smoky spreadable Calabrian pork sausage, a balancing provolone, calabrian chili honey, and peppery arugula (that they claim adds crunch that I didn't detect). Were they life-changing? No. But I rank Paradiso a 8.8 and Hot Italian a 10. And because everyone is hard-working and everything is so freshly prepared and cut, it's a class act. They should seriously make a sign that says, "Can't decide? Get two!" and then give me free sandwiches on my yearly trips for the idea.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    La Schiacciata di Manolo
    La Schiacciata di Manolo
    The New Yorker

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    The New Yorker
    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings

    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings

    4.5
    (882 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Great overall assortment. Central location. Staff was warm and inviting. Went with the pan fried…read morenoodles, shrimp, fried rice, chicken, soup, dumplings, the Chinese pancakes, and orange chicken. Great quality food. Fresh ingredients that were prepared well. Everything from plating to presentation was on point. Don't miss out on this great option for Chinese food.

    More than just serving soup dumplings as the restaurant name implies, Joe's is a pretty casual…read moreChinese restaurant in Midtown. It's a pretty solid lunch spot for during work and this just happened to be a few blocks from my office. I thought this spot would look like a hole-in-the-wall spot, but the space is actually decent with a full dining area. They do have a lunch menu, which is in the last page of the menu. Why they hid it all the way in the back, I have my assumptions and suspicions. I had to get an order of soup dumplings here so I got the Crab Soup Dumplings ($15). The skin is a bit thicker than other spots, but that means the skin ain't going to break on you easily. And do be careful how you bite into it, as the first one I bit into, the soup splattered all over my shirt and pants. Overall tasted great. Soup dumplings was not going to fill me up along, so I got something off of their lunch menu and settled upon Orange Chicken w Brown Rice ($18.50). Chicken was white meat, which is battered and deep fried. It says it was spicy, but it really wasn't. Comes with a vegetable spring roll and a choice of rice, which makes this a pretty decent lunch deal for $20. Menu prices are cash prices. If you pay with a credit card, they will slap a 2% processing fee. Overall, service was pretty decent as well. Would come back again for lunch.

    Photos
    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings
    Young Chow Fried Rice
    Young Chow Fried Rice
    Hong Kong Hot and Sour Soup

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    Hong Kong Hot and Sour Soup
    ALIDORO

    ALIDORO

    3.6
    (53 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    We had arrived in NYC for fall break and dumped out bags at the hotel before heading out to find a…read morequick lunch and explore the city. I have three big guys with me and sometimes quick lunches need to be more filling than fast food options, so we chose Alidoro's under Rockefeller Plaza. We could walk to it form the hotel and it was in the middle off all we wanted to show the boys on their first day (first time) in the city. We all chose different sandwiches and they were ready pretty fast. Since the shop itself is not huge, we landed a small space at the window bar with two stools and some standing room. After being in a car and on a flight and in another car all morning, we weren't mad about the standing part. We were all able to share and sample each sandwich, and honestly, we were not disappointed. We were all full and happy when we weren't finished, so what more could we want for a relatively quick NYC meal? Being under the plaza, the restrooms were outside the shop but very close by so we were able to wash hands and such before journeying out into the wild. I would definitely stop back by again on another trip! The guys and I all gave Alidoro's two thumbs up - so 8 thumbs total, if you're counting.

    Good flavor of the Pinocchio sandwich due to the olive paste a s sweet roasted peppers. But my…read moresandwich was seriously lacking in the prosciutto and sweet sopressata. For $16.50, I definitely should have gotten at least two slices of each meat.

    Photos
    Il Sole
    Il Sole
    Giorgio
    Giorgio
    ALIDORO

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    PJ Bernstein - delis - Updated June 2026

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