Carnegie Deli

Midtown temple of the high-piled Jewish deli sandwich.

by Josh Ozersky at Citysearch

The Carnegie Deli is the Federal Reserve of delis: You can take it to the bank. This crowded, overpriced midtown spot is packed with tourists who come to gawk at the towering, high-piled corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. But they're right to do so. These sandwiches are supremely reliable, always hot and fresh and almost never disappoint, despite their cost, which creeps closer to $20 every year. On the other hand, you’ll never go hungry at Carnegie, especially if you top off your meal with a slice of one of the cakes, which rotate like circus elephants holding each other's tails in a refrigerated case near the cash register.

08/02/09

Worst Deli in the entire city and midtown area!

by chefvanessa at Citysearch

I am a concierge in midtown so I decided to go to Carnegie Deli to check why everybody wants to go there. It was a terrible experience I paid 18 for a corned beed sanwich- a specialty as per the menu- and there was basically no bread I had to ask the waitress for more bread... It was really bad I almost couldnt eat it. My friend had a tuna melt and it was as bad as my corned beef sandwich. I would never ever reccomend this place to anybody I will never go back. Any other deli in NYC will make a better sandwich for a quarter of the price.

Service...no words.... I had to ask 3 people to take my order in the end a lady came and I placed my order and 10 minutes after I have a dish thrown to the table with a "sandwich" almost falling apart.

And for last... you can only pay cash...

Dont go there.

• Pros: none
• Cons: terrible service, bad sandwich, over priced

05/04/09

Great cheesecake, terrible service

by LadyBug at Citysearch

Although the desserts are good, they're not the best. A bit overpriced, so it doesn't make up for the terrible serivce. All of the servers, managers and hostesses are extremely rude!

• Pros: Great deserts
• Cons: The service is aweful

03/25/09

a mainstay!

by partaaaay at Citysearch

First place I go to eat whenever I'm in New York is the Carnegie Deli. Oh sure, there are lots of competition for the best deli in the City, but this place is a tradition for me!

I've been comforted by their cold borscht pepto-bismol soup, oooh, yum! I looove their pile-high corned beef on rye. And their cheesecake, why I have one in my fridge right now (a friend just came back from New York).

Anyhoo, it might be very touristy, but still great fun, and a mainstay!

02/21/09

One of the worst experiences in NYC. AVOID!!!

by luismassieu at Citysearch

One of the worst experiences.

The service was rude (both server and "manager")

Paid $80 +tip for 2 sandwiches 2 sodas and a cheesecake.

Turns out there is a $3 fee for sharing (same quantity)

So a $27.00 sandwich turns out to be $30 ($3 for sharing)

There is also a $12.50 minimum charge

No credit cards CASH ONLY mhmhmhmh makes me wonder...

I can not think on one reason i would ever go back.

• Pros: Cheesecake
• Cons: worst service, price and abusive rules,

01/02/09

Chicken Soup from the Can!

by CJG29 at Citysearch

If Chicken soup is the barometer of a good deli, then Carnegie Deli should change its name. My matzo ball soup came in what tasted like canned chicken broth. It was horribile and unnaturally orangey. The potato pancakes were good, but everything else was mediocre at best. A major disappointment.

One highnote, the cheesecake rocks! Avoid the line and get a slice to go.

• Pros: Cheesecake
• Cons: Everything else

12/16/08

Is it worth it???

by Lynn1217 at Citysearch

The wait was 25 minutes the cost for 3 footlong hot dogs with sauerkraut, 3 sides and 3 drinks (soda) was $45 (before tip) and we were rushed. Be mindful the minimum purchase is $12.50 per person a side of fries cost $5.45. The food was good but that was a bit costly for lunch. I purchased a Danny Rose to go with a slice of cheesecake and a Black Cherry cola, that cost me $32. By far that is was the BEST cheesecake I've ever had. The sandwhich corned beef and pastrami were both a little fatty. The sandwich was $17.95 with no extras. I did get 4 sandwiches from the one but since the meat wasn't lean it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been.

I'm from Baltimore and we have Attmans here, the sandwiches may not be as big but they are so much leaner and you can enjoy.

• Pros: The cheesecake is phenomenal...
• Cons: That wait isn't worth it, especially with so many other places.

08/22/08

The feeling wears off quickly

by nealr2000 at Citysearch

Okay, this is a NYC landmark. Everyone must go at least once in their life. It's a great place to take out-of-town guests who want one of those NYC experiences. The look on their faces when the sandwiches come out is priceless. The novelty factor, however, wears thin after eating about a quarter of your meal and you are stuffed. Order carefully and you can keep the tab down to an affordable level. Everyone orders way too much food. Prices are steep. So, have your "Broadway Danny Rose" moment, and oh, yes, try and go during off-peak hours, and you will get in faster and not get rushed.

• Pros: The wow factor for first timers
• Cons: Lines. Prices.

06/10/08

Overpriced and average.

by Lillybeth43713 at Citysearch

Yeah, the hype is that they have BIG sandwiches. They are BIG. But not the BEST. There was about 4 lbs. of meat on my sandwich, so much it was impossible to eat. We paid $47 for a sandwich a piece, and split an order of fries. There are plenty of good places to eat in NYC. This was the only place I had buyer's remorse. In addition, they don't take credit cards, AND they charge you for sharing. The only way around this, I can figure, is to buy a loaf of bread, take the sandwich to go, and make about 5 sandwiches out of it to avoid the waste. The portion was obnoxious.

• Pros: Prompt seating and service.
• Cons: Obnoxious (not just large) portion sizes, charging $3 to share....

01/23/08

Great Pastrami

by jetski42 at Citysearch

The pastrami sandwich is awesome. I think the $3 plate charge to split an $18 sandwich is kind of crazy though. The service was fair. It was nearly impossible to get a refill on my ice tea. Also, when they bring you the check, they make it a point to say "You pay the cashier but you leave the tip on the table". I thought that was rude and unnecessary.

The food is very good though.

• Pros: Food and portions
• Cons: Plate charge and poor service