New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > 2nd Avenue Deli

All Reader Reviews of...

2nd Avenue Deli

162 E. 33rd St., New York, NY, 10016
nr. Third Ave.
212-689-9000

Avg. Rating

6
Food: 7
Service: 6
Décor: 6
"Mixed Reviews"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

56% would go back.

 Write your own review

Best Pastrami, QUESTIONABLE health practices

By dday71 on 11/21/2010

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

Great pastrami sandwich! BUT... The guys behind the deli counter are oblivious to sanitary food service. Because these guys handle the food with rubber gloves on, and they also handle your cash or credit card without taking the gloves off! How do they know where these credit cards have been, and how many hands do credit cards pass through? Cards get dropped on floors, in bathrooms, on sidewalks. These guys handle credit cards at the register, hand the card back to the customer covered in pastrami grease, and then go on to handle more food for the next customer. Meanwhile I either have to place my grease covered credit card back into my leather wallet, or wipe it off myself with a napkin. Tonight, I had to ask the little midget behind the counter if he would please remove his glove while he handled my credit card. This did not make him happy. In fact it made him so angry, that when he placed my bag of food on the counter, he slammed it down in front of my face, and didn't give me the usual, "Thank you have a nice night." Or was he angry that I didn't tip him, on a $17 pastrami sandwich, that I am carrying home myself? Where is the concern for the health of your customers? I've had this same problem with the tall Hispanic fellow. If management had any concern for sanitary food service, they would ensure that their workers did not handle cash/credit cards with the same gloved hand that handles the food. Katz here I come.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
82 out of 167 people found this review helpful.

Like The Deli's Of Bayside

By carybagell on 5/23/2008

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

We had celebrated the passover holiday with outstanding food from the 2nd Ave Deli. Everything we had was better than the best I remeber mom making. I LQQK forward to my next meal from the great 2nd AVE DELI. The manager Rob was not only very helpful he is quiet handsome. So loosen your waistband and dig in.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
132 out of 241 people found this review helpful.

Food as good as ever, location not so much

By dt917 on 4/3/2008

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

The food is pretty much exactly as it was in the old 2nd Avenue Deli. The chopped liver, matzo ball soup, brisket, corned beef and macaroni salad are all excellent like you would expect them to be. The problem with this new location is the room. In addition to being cramped, it's just much too narrow and to me feels genuinely claustrophobic. I'd recommend getting take out over eating in, and calling in advance.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
153 out of 321 people found this review helpful.

Great to have 2nd Ave Deli Back!!!!

By johnnyrolex on 1/28/2008

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 2
  • Yes, I would go back!

I missed this place like nobody's business! I have to say, the food is exactly as I remember it.....and that is very gratifying. I am not so happy about the location, however. I have no problem with the neighborhood at all...it's so small inside..much smaller than the old location. And, at lease the old location had great big windows you could gaze out of and people watch, as you waited for your food. Service has never been great-- but you get used to it. I just wish that they picked a larger location. (Also BEWARE, my wife waited across the street in the car for me while I ordered some soup, and we got a $115 TICKET for being in a No Standing Zone)

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
187 out of 403 people found this review helpful.

The Chopped Liver is to Die For But the rest I Wouldn't write home about

By smdad on 12/28/2007

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 7
  • No, I would not go back!

On Thurs Dec. 27th 2007 I stood on line for about 40 minutes to get into the famous "Second Avenue Deli. The Chopped Liver is as wonderfull as always. The Gribbens were served on a very small dish. Not as advertised on your table with a bucket of pickles. Which eas a small plate with 3 pickles & a Sour tomatoe. The Corned beef was rather dry & tastless. The Pastrami had no real flavor. The Waitress an older lady with experience was a treat. She really tried hard to please everyone in the smaller crowded version of this historic Deli. My advise is go to Katzes, or Carnagie. Happy New Year, Lenny Waller

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
208 out of 407 people found this review helpful.

the best jewish deli in town

By beingdiane on 9/23/2005

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Great food, great service, great place! The best.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
447 out of 914 people found this review helpful.

Kosher Tuna

By mgillon on 3/14/2005

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Cool..Never ate kosher at a restaurant but this deli had some awesome tuna...friendly servers and atmosphere, it had something legendary with all these pictures...nice spot...Michael From ANtwerp Belgium

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
371 out of 813 people found this review helpful.

Add Comment

You will be prompted to sign in with your NYMag or
Facebook account.

  awful average excellent
In determining overall rating, food and service are given more weight.
Rate
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Food
Service
Décor
Would you go back?

Some Hints:

  • The best reviews give a clear sense of why you liked or disliked a restaurant, bar, or store. And that means details. Mention specifics dishes, type of crowd, pros and cons...
  • If it's helpful to compare one place to another, go for it.
  • Come up with clever, funny, pithy subject lines, and write in the first person.
  • Don't forget to read the user rating guidelines and rules.
CloseUpdating your review
By
| Not you?
Advertising
Advertising