Stage Deli, "Please Bend Knees When Lifting"...Your Pastrami Sandwich
Written: Feb 12 '05 (Updated Jul 08 '05)
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Pros: Good service, good food, Huge portions.
Cons: Lines at peek times.
The Bottom Line: The Stage Deli is a place to stop by for a New York Deli experience.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Stage Deli |
Between 53rd and 55th Street on 7th Ave there is a stretch of NY delis. One of the more famous places is the Stage Deli. Just a block away is the awesome Carnegie Deli. The Stage Deli has been extended out onto the sidewalk area. It has a glassed-in, atrium-like area that, though it has a different look, still maintains the style of the place deeper inside.
You can feel history as you walk on the small white tile floors and spot the celebrity pictures on the walls. Look! there's Judy Garland...and over there Luci and Desi. Is that Elvis by the wall and Marilyn Monroe in that corner?
The menu gives a bit of back ground reminding us the place opened in 1937 and asking you to "...take a step back 60 years into Broadway history. Imagine famed newspaper columnist Walter Winchell or Damon Runyon sitting at their favorite table in the back corner, watch as Milton Berle or George Burns trade jokes with owner Max Asnas, (the Corned Beef Confucious), or even catch a glimpse of Yankee great Joe Dimaggio sipping chicken soup before a game...
At peek times you'll encounter a fairly-well moving line. A small sign dictates that parties of one and two are to line up to the right of the door and three and over to the left. Inside the door you'll see a guy, with eyes of an eagle, checking for the next open tables.
Walking straight in and straight ahead is a small square shaped bar that will seat perhaps twelve people. They have a few draught beers. If you see the Brooklyn Lager, be sure to have a mug-a-da-stuff. Excellent! That is of course, you're not going for a traditional New York Egg Cream, Brooklyn Root Beer Float, or Creamsicle. That's orange soda with vanilla ice cream. These are all drinks I used to drink in our local candy store/fountain, Rose's, on 7th street and Ave D when I was a kid. It's wonderful to know that the Stage Deli still keeps the tradition of these NY favorites going. Be sure to have one of these or treat your kids to one if touring the city.
You may notice that before you even make it to the bar or the small wooden tables with black metal chairs that you are hit with the aroma of pickles that come out with all the orders. These are huge pickles and definitely New York. At the same time your eyes are spinning as they witness the incredible cheese cakes and other desirable desserts making their way around and around in the rotating glass refrigerator near the entrance. You can get a closer look as you hang your coat on one of the hooks that surround the room.
One cannot help but get interested in celebrities when reading the menu. The Stage Deli is famous for their triple decker sandwiches. (they are a mile high). I'll tell you what some are, usually favorites. They have names like
#1 Marv Albert - Corned beef and Swiss Cheese $15.95(A favorite of mine)
#2 Joe Dimaggio - Corned beef, Pastrami, Chopped Liver and Bermuda Onion. $19.95 (I have to try one of these some day.)
#3 Cindy Adams - Corned Beef, Pastrami and Swiss $17.95(Another Favorite)
#4 Bill Cosby - Turkey, Tongue and Corned Beef $18.95
#5 Harvey Fierstein - Corned Beef Chopped Liver and Onion $16.95
#6 Al Roker -
#7 Adam Sandler - Nova Scotia Salmon, Stergeon, Lettuce, Tomato and Onion $18.95
#8 Katie Couric -
#9 Elliot Gould -
#10 Bernadette Peters - My absolute favorite!! Not the sandwich, her.
#11 Sara Jessica Parker -
#12 Ed Burns -Roast Beef Chopped Liver and Onions $15.95
#13 Conan O'Brien -
#14 Mike Piazza -
#15 Howard Stern -
#16 Mel Brooks...
...#24 Dolly Parton - Twin Rolls of Pastrami and Corned Beef... Now that sounds like something I would love to get my hands on. Mmm, Mmm, sure looks good!
These are huge and I mean HUGE sandwiches.
Instead of the triple deckers you can get regular sandwiches with all the same fillin's saving about three bucks a shot.
More celebs are named in Hot Open Sandwiches. Denzel Washington Reuben, my absolute favorite sandwich. Ben Stiller Hot Open Roast Beef, Stanly Tucci Hot Open Turkey and the Donald Trump Sliced steak. Other open sandwiches have the names Mohammed Ali, Allen King, and the Eartha Kit Tuna Melt.
A portion of the menu celebrates NY Heroes
Yes, Deli Hero sandwiches named after the Heroes of NY. You can have aNYPD, Rudy Giuliani, FDNY or PAPD They are made with different meats like Salami, Cappicola, Ham, Pepperoni, Corned Beef, Pastrami, Italian Sausages, and Meat Balls. Each sandwich is special though I can't say I ever tried any of them.
The Stage Deli offers so much more. You can get eggs and omelettes any time of the day. Salads are a specialty...and all kinds of dishes like Cheese Blintzes, Potato Pancakes, Potato Pirogen, Stuffed Cabbage, Meat Loaf, Hungarian Goulash, Corned beef and cabbage, and on and on.
The last time I was here, fairly recently, I had a bowl of their Borscht. They serve it hot or cold. It was incredibly good. I also had their chopped liver. I'm not crazy about theirs. It's too fine. I like mine a bit more course.
I can tell you that the pastrami is lean and delicious. I've stopped in for a Potato Knish and once I had it with melted Swiss. It's on the menu and it is delish.
I could go on and on about the food but now I'll tell ya a bit about the service. It's friendly, fast and unobtrusive.
I happen to go to these delis when I am working in the city. They have a fast moving atmosphere and a rough feel. I've never been to one with my wife yet only because when we go into the city it's usually for a finer dinner experience.
Having said that, I recommend the Stage Deli and especially the Carnegie Deli, just up the avenue, as places to get a New York experience of deli delights. I found that the Stage Deli and Carnegie Deli give much the same NY experience but if I had to choose one it would be the other place the Carnegie Deli. I don't usually compare two places in one review but because these are both long established places that are just steps from each other serving the same foods I felt I would. Some may differ but you can't go wrong at either famous NY Deli, but as far as atmosphere and quality the Stage is second to the Carnegie. If your budget is important, you will save a couple of dollars overall at the Stage.
...and yes there really is a "Warning" outside the doors of this place. Next to the picture of one of the Stage Deli's Triple Decker Pastrami Sandwiches are the words. "Please Bend Knees When Lifting". I believe that is good advice when eating at the Stage Deli.
NYC Midtown eats
The Carnegie Deli Just down the street from the Stage Deli / 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
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