Review Pastrami Queen - New York City

Dawson Devitt

Amazing Pastrami Sandwich!!! Setup -- another stop on our Tony Bourdain NY food tour and another homerun! Food -- definitely one of the spots I was most excited about on our first trip to NYC. After tooling around in Central Park, walked up to grab a pastrami sandwich. What I didn't expect was the huge selection and menu of food ready available. Had only planned for the sandwich, but which I'd saved room for more. The pastrami sandwich was huge and tasted fantastic. Pastrami was juicy and tasty, came with a big pickle, and two types of mustard. Opted for a side of potato cakes. They were definitely interesting and yum, but certainly different. They had such a huge selection, go there with an appetite, as I wish I'd tried more items. Vibe/Scene -- definitely a small deli and not much space. They jam tables and chairs in every inch of the space, it's just not big. Service -- was friendly, helpful, and prompt. Overall -- amazing Pastrami Sandwich and tons more to choose from!!!

Clemens Wan

Half sandwich with soup combo is an excellent lunch special. Pastrami was super delicious with some table mustard smeared everywhere. Definitely get the matzoball soup. Tried the spinach knish, but I was far too full by then.

ReedH

They serve up a great pastrami sandwich though at $25 it’s not great value. Their pastrami also tends to be on the leaner side compared to Katz’s. That’s a negative for me but on the other hand, the lines aren’t as long. Their seating area is pretty tiny so there is often an extra wait if you want to eat there but if the weather’s nice it’s a great lunch to take to Central Park.

Erica Meerbach

We went into this place on a whim since we’re big fans of pastrami sandwiches, but I think we would’ve been better off getting deli items and preparing them the way we wanted at home instead. The famous 8-9oz pastrami sandwich wasn’t bad, but for $25 (1/2lb of the same meat was $24 on its own), it was really just the meat on bread with a pickle, and left a bit to be desired for us - though we’ve had about a dozen pastrami sandwiches all over the country, so we may just have certain preferences. We also got the macaroni salad (delicious) and a spinach knish (HUGE and the flavor was good, but it wasn’t properly heated all the way through so we decided to just bring it home). The person who took our order was wonderful and very kind, though the sitting area to eat in was, as other reviewers said, quite small. He was very quick to make sure tables were clean and folks were seated though! All in all, I think I would’ve treated this like a deli instead of a lunch spot and just gotten all the items to go (and just the meat instead of the sandwich) so I could prepare them to my preferences at home. Worth a stop if you’re craving good pastrami and other deli specialities though!

Janeandmel

Came here a few days after hitting the more well known Deli down in Lower Manhattan. I believe that this Pastrami on Rye is just as good as the other. Only difference is you don’t see the butchers cutting the meat and the meat is much thinner here. Seems like it went through a commercial slicer but it could have been cut by hand. The meat was much leaner. Not as fatty is the meat at the other place. Had Cole Slaw which was very good. We had a server at the table that was very friendly and helpful. Not many seats inside. Ca probably. handle 20 people or less at tables. Would hit it again if in the area.

Giuseppe Albrizio

At Pastrami Queen, renowned for its classic deli offerings, we had the pleasure of trying their signature pastrami sandwiches, accompanied by homemade fries and a refreshing soda. With impeccable freshness and delectable ingredients, there is no doubt about the quality of their offerings. We are awarding Pastrami Queen four stars for its outstanding culinary experience. The star of the show was undoubtedly the pastrami, expertly crafted and packed with flavor. Each bite was a delightful combination of tender, succulent meat and robust spices, perfectly complemented by the soft yet hearty bread. The homemade fries provided a satisfying crunch, and the soda acted as a refreshing palate cleanser, rounding out the meal nicely. While the food left us thoroughly impressed, we feel compelled to mention one aspect that could be improved. Given Pastrami Queen's well-deserved reputation and popularity, we believe they could enhance the dining experience by offering a more comfortable seating arrangement. Unfortunately, during our visit, we were seated in a cramped corner near the restrooms and their storage area. However, despite this minor setback, the exceptional taste and quality of the sandwiches made the wait well worth it. Pastrami Queen holds a special place in the hearts of many New Yorkers, known for its long-standing presence and commitment to serving traditional deli fare. With over six decades of history, this iconic deli has garnered a loyal following, attracting locals and visitors alike in search of authentic and mouthwatering pastrami creations. In conclusion, Pastrami Queen delivers on its promise of delicious, classic deli sandwiches. While the seating arrangement may leave something to be desired, the exceptional flavors and quality ingredients make up for it. Whether you're a pastrami aficionado or simply looking for an authentic New York deli experience, Pastrami Queen is a must-visit destination.

Jia Sun

Old school kosher deli, pastrami is a lot leaner and thinly sliced unlike Katz of S&P, also less of burn exterior is trimmed giving a unique texture and taste. Pickle's not bad, such a large portion saved 1/3 for later. At $24 per is tad expensive for what you get.

Surab

Shout out to Anthony Bourdain, who always gave a rec for this spot - one of the best pastrami sandwiches in town, and definitely better than Katz's in my opinion. Small Jewish deli with a lot of Jewish Diner offerings, often frequented by locals.

Arturo Arriaga

Great pastrami sandwich - the only thing is that place is too small but other than that both service and food are just extraordinary

Yavor Edipov

Beef sandwich with a bit of bread - who wouldn't like that. Great place for the famous pastrami sandwiches. And they come with pickles. Beef was tender and flavourful. The staff is very friendly and positive. The atmosphere is not pretentious so it's a great spot for a takeaway food or a quick in-store bite after one's walk around Central Park - it's less than a 10-minute walk away.

Nick Gray

Fantastic and better than Katz’s Deli! My $25 pastrami sandwich was overflowing with meat. I got the mustard and dressing on the side. There was only a 5 minute wait on a beautiful Friday afternoon. This is probably my new favorite place to eat near the Met Museum.

FARZAM KAMGAR

Absolutely delicious, authentic pastrami sandwiches 🥪 I've been here twice in a week and would definitely go back!

acp

Stopped in for the famous pastrami! I was surprised it was almost $30 but it was delicious. It was our first time in New York so we had to try a classic pastrami!

Luis Mart

Pastrami Queen is the real deal! Best pastrami in the city and same with the Matzo ball soup. Hand cut fries were absolutely delicious. Service is top-notch and super friendly! Can’t wait to go back.

Daria P

Their pastrami hot sandwich is famous for a reason. Amazing! very good, tender, meaty, yummy. However, be aware that they use bread with caraway. if you don't like it, maybe you should ask to use another bread. I do not know if the replacement will be possible though. Garlic fries are also great. As well as the onion rings. But the rings are a bit too greasy to my liking. The staff was really nice too. We have been to Katz and also here. And here is not any less amazing than Katz. So if you want to skip the queue, come here instead.

Jacqueline Cerniglia Dion

This has been our go to take out for pastrami but dined here for first time and was even better. Quick service and Super attentive and kind staff. There is something special about their bread and pastrami. Also recommend their matzo ball soup.