2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
I always loved delicatessen: there is something homey and nostalgic about these places, the only annoyance being the tourists invading obnoxiously places like Katz’s Delicatessen. Kosher or not, they have quite a classic menu, more geared towards the non-vegetarian than the vegetarian, cold cuts and all sorts of meats being the star. So yes, I was excited to go to the 2nd Avenue Deli. This time, we decided to go to their location on the Upper East Side on…first avenue. That is where I saw an automat for the first time, when entering the place: interesting to see but of course, it was inoperable and just for the decor, but 20 cents for a .pastrami sandwich is definitely of another time, far far away!
Automat at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
Automat at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
Quieter for sure compared to the deli I mentioned above. It is kosher so do not expect to see things like a pastrami Reuben on their menu. But they sure have matzo ball soup and salami. The soup is spectacular: the chicken broth is well made, accompanied with carrots and pasta, not salty, and the matzo is one of the best I had! It was dense in the center, like discovering the heart of deliciousness.
Matzo ball soup at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
Matzo ball soup at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
The salami sandwich, soft salami in this case, was quite big, even if I ordered their half sandwich and soup for my meal. The amount of salami is quite generous and I cannot imagine eating a full sandwich. For $23, matzo ball soup and this is a decent deal.
Salami sandwich at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
You may wonder what Jodi had as she is vegetarian: she settled for a huge knish that was slightly crispy on the outside. Definitely a heavy dish.
Knish at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
With this we got some sodas (root beer for me, black cherry for Jodi), and, like many delis, they brought us pickles and coleslaw.
Root beer and Black cherry soda at 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC
This was a great meal and 2nd Avenue Deli is the perfect place for a meal like this, as well as a good option to avoid the crowd in more popular ones.
Enjoy (I did)!
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2nd Avenue Deli - 1442 1st Ave, New York, NY 10021
