Carnegie Deli, It's a NYC Experience!
Written: Feb 08 '05 (Updated Jun 08 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
 |
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: They make a nice sandwich.
Cons: Service a bit rough around the edges.
The Bottom Line: Everybody has to go to the Carnegie deli at least once. Hey, the sandwiches are sure to get you there a second time.
|
|
|
| popsrocks's Full Review: Carnegie Deli |
On Seventh Avenues west side of the street between 54th and 55th Street you'll see a storefront that looks like its been around for years and years. Except for a TV monitor in the window showing off a staff in black and white serving-wear you might think that you were still in the 1940s-50s.
Atmosphere
The same look continues as you enter the place. As you walk in the door, you'll see a busy deli counter for take-out orders to one side and a register to the other. After eating at table service you take the check to the register. This helps open tables much faster. Don't forget to leave a tip back at the table. Ha, the waitress reminded me that though I was going off to pay the bill, I should remember to leave the tip on the table. That's New Yawk for ya.
As you enter be sure to check out the desserts in the turning glass fridge. If you dare have some.
Table service is deep within the place. There isn't much natural light coming through. You'll notice people at wooden tables in short rows running vertical from the walls. The tables are butted up against each other and seating is close, elbow to elbow, with your neighbor.
The place ain't fancy and is definitely not pretentious though the waitstaff may give a feeling of doing you a favor. I had asked for a "take out" menu (for info when writing my review) and I was told I could get it myself. She did get it for me.
In reference to regular menus, the place did the right thing. Instead of giving one of those ridiculously large laminated menus that fold in half, they give a ridiculously large laminated menu that folds into four. This makes it much more manageable. Now you may not have to bang elbows with your neighbor.
The walls are covered with autographed photos of stars and super stars of all walks of life. Some are stock photos and many are taken in the restaurant. Now you'll know who has really been there. I sat next to Dan Marino who was just inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this last weekend. At my right elbow was Alice Cooper and Ted Koppel was right behind me. Now if you go to the place, you'll know exactly where we sat. No, no pictures of popsrocks on the walls.
The place is busy but service is fast. Everything always seems to come in timely fashion and the waitstaff though seeming a bit crass at first will get you what you want and when you want it.
Menu
My Sandwich
This is a New York deli so if you have ever been in one you know what's on the menu. It's pretty much like a diner menu too. The difference here is that most of the servings are GARGANTUAN!! Actually there is a part of the menu with that name in it. It's "Carnegie's GARGANTUAN COMBOS"...and they are HUGE. I didn't dare say "GARGANTUAN" again.
I was there again this last week and happened to order the "Ah, There's the Reuben". It could have been named WOW!! Now that's a damn big sandwich!!! It really was Gargantuan. I only ate half of it. I had the rest for dinner that night. It costs a healthy $20.95
The Reuben is described as A savory grilled sandwich piled high (and they mean high) with corned beef, pastrami, or turkey with melted Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Oh Man, was this delicious! The pastrami was truly piled high. Ha, they call it a sandwich. There is no way of picking this up in your hand. It's Garg.... nevermind, it's big. The pastrami was lean, tender and juicy. The Swiss cheese was piled on thick all melted on the sauerkraut, pastrami, and somewhere under it all, two slices of rye.
I was in heaven eating this baby but even being as hungry as I was, this sandwich wasn't all going down. They put it in a big plastic container and put a lid on it and then all went into a marked, Carnegie Deli, bag.
There's a list of friendly and hometown sounding items on the Gargantuan Combos like
Carnegie Haul,
Tongue's for the Memory,
Nova on a Sunday,
Fifty Ways to Love you Liver,
The Egg and OY!,
The Mouth That Roared,
Bacon Whoopee and
Brisketball.
Every one of them is clearly defined as to what they are and I just wish I could have stayed in there for one straight week trying out all the combos and other fine foods they carry. Prices $15-$21.
More Items
The rest of the menu has fruits and juices, eggs in all styles, burgers, salads, omeletts, and many side dishes.
Of course they have Matzoh ball soup. I saw a couple of bowls brought to my neighbors on the left. The size of the two matzoh balls were something like what was on the bronze bull at the bottom of Broadway near Wall Street. These balls were formidable. I didn't ask how they tasted but those two large bowls were completely empty ten minutes later.
I happen to love cold Borscht with a side of sour cream. It is on the menu so I'll have to try it there. I have had it at the nearby Stage Deli and theirs is very good. I'll be writing a review of that place very soon.
Whenever I happen to be in the neighborhood I stop by for a quick knish. Though they offer kasha and meat I have the simple Potato Knish. "It's to die for". There was a time you could always find hot knishes on the streets at vendor carts. They are no longer easily found. That's why I go into a place for this "finger food". There's really no comparison to the Carnegie knishes anyway.
Sandwiches
Though this place offers a varied menu, the top items are the sandwiches. Corned beef, Hot Pastrami, Roast Beef, Brisket of Beef, Beef Tongue, Turkey
Chopped Liver, Salami and so much more. You gatta have a New York real Deli sandwich when in NYC. These are about $15 and a $3.00 plate charge if you wanna share.
All these dishes come with a bowl of two kinds of pickles half sours and sour. They are gooood. They'll bring you some more once you've ordered, if you ask nicely.
A New York Egg Cream
I don't know why they don't have egg creams available everywhere. They are simple to make and yummy. I ordered a chocolate egg cream. WOW! it was as good as ever. I grew up with these things at our local candy store fountain on seventh street, a place called Roses. They made these topping them of using the big seltzer bottles. Carnegie still knows how to make them. It's one of those things where I can't say they made it better when I was a kid. The egg creams are still special even at $2.95.
If you want to spoil yourself rotten order an Extra Thick Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Soda for dessert. $4.95
Complete and Concise
I like this place. The atmosphere is old fashioned with a semi-rude and very efficient staff. The place is busy, you'll probably have to wait a little bit before getting in at peek times. The tables and space allotted is small. The food is excellent and the portions VERY large, so are the prices. It comes out quick and it may not be pretty, but again, it will be delicious and GARGANTUAN.
The Carnegie Deli is a New York institution, why not make it your NY tradition. Oh yes, excellent cheese cake too!
NYC Midtown eats
Stage Deli just down the street from the Carnegie Deli
The Manhattan Chili Company good quick eats before a show. / ESPN Zone A sports bar, dining rooms, arcade, gift shop and MORE! / TGI Friday's Times Square Location. / Pig'n'Whistle, a great Times Square Pub / Ollies, Broadway / Ellen's Stardust Diner catch the rising stars and a good bite to eat right on Broadway / The Boathouse Cafe In Central Park
Downtown
Gotham Bar and Grill / Fraunce's Tavern GW ate here. / Katz's Deli A Landmark / TGI Friday's Downtown Location / Cafe Napoli In Little Italy
Uptown
Sylvia's Southern Soul food in Harlem
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.