Katz's Delicatessen

"You may have to wait half an hour on a Lower East Side corner to get your food at Katz’s, New York’s most legendary Jewish deli. You’ll also need to hold tight to your paper ticket, and know exactly what you want—or get ready to be bullied by the person taking your order at the counter. And yes, it's almost $30 for a pastrami sandwich. A sandwich that, by the way, could probably sustain the Maccabees through all eight nights of Hanukkah. Play by Katz’s rules, and you’ll be rewarded with Meg Ryan-in-When Harry Met Sally levels of elation.  The Order: If you’re by yourself, get the following combo: half hot pastrami on rye (with a nice schmear of mustard), and matzoh ball soup. That should keep you full until tomorrow." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick

"One night, we were pretending to have fun at a bar in the East Village, and then we remembered we could just go to Katz’s instead. On weekdays, the Lower East Side pastrami institution is open until 11pm. But on Friday, they open their doors at 8am, and don't close them until 11pm on Sunday. The late-night scene at Katz’s is still crowded and tourist-heavy, and you will need to pull it together for an interaction with the deli bouncer, but once you make it inside, all the pastrami and potato salad you need are right at your fingertips. And after a few drinks, forking over $27.45 for a sandwich feels like a fine idea." - willa moore, will hartman, neha talreja, bryan kim

"This mythical sandwich counter on the Lower East Side has been dishing out astronomical portions of some of the best pastrami this city has to offer since 1888. Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist trap, with a line down the block at peak lunch and dinner hours, trademark gruff service, and photos of famous customers on the walls. But even if you live here, you should wait in that line at least once a year for a hot pastrami on rye with mustard and sauerkraut. It's worth it for those juicy hunks of peppery meat, sandwiched between bread that sometimes disintegrates, all washed down with a crisp Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray." - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja

"The Dish: Pastrami Sandwich Katz’s is touristy, but it is not for tourists. That’s an important distinction. The famous Lower East Side Jewish deli is, first and foremost, for New Yorkers who need a mountain of the city's finest pastrami. Per square inch, the version at Katz’s is one of the finest foods on the planet. Warm, thick, salty, and smoky, the pastrami pulls apart like a fresh croissant and leaves a grease stain on anything it touches. The rye used for the sandwiches could, admittedly, be a little more moist. But we promise, you won’t be paying attention to the bread." - bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja

"Hours: 24/7 By day, Katz’s is a tourist trap. But after midnight is actually a more fun way to eat pastrami anyway. It’s also a better time to get in your “I’ll Have What She’s Having” performance." - Luke Fortney, Robert Sietsema