Katz's Deli
135 Years of Lower East Side History
To understand Katz’s, you have to understand the Lower East Side of the late 19th century. Established in 1888 by the Iceland brothers, the small deli originally known as Iceland Brothers was formed to serve the massive influx of Jewish immigrants arriving on Manhattan's East Side. In 1910, Willy Katz joined the business, and the deli was renamed to Katz’s Delicatessen.
During World War II, the deli launched its famous advertising campaign, "Send a salami to your boy in the army", which remains printed on vintage signs throughout the space. The deli grew into a focal hub for local theater actors, artists, politicians, and working-class families, cementing itself as the community center of East Houston Street.
From Meg Ryan to TikTok Icons
While film buffs recognize the table directly in the center of the hall where Meg Ryan famously performed her mock-orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally, today's crowds are driven by mobile video feeds. TikTok's short-form food culture has launched Katz's pastrami stack to viral fame.
Creators film the theatrical "first slice sample" ritual. When you order from your designated cutter, they slice off a hot, glistening chunk of pastrami and slide it onto a small plastic plate for you to eat while they assemble your sandwich. This direct, sensory interaction with the cook has become a highly recorded, iconic social media milestone.
The Art of the Cut
1. Thermal Heat Retention
A cold metal spinning blade extracts the fat from hot beef, leaving the meat dry and stringy. Hand-slicing keeps the fat inside the fibers.
2. The Grain Alignment
Cutters read the grain of every individual brisket and adjust their knives table-side to cut precisely against the grain. This makes the meat hold its structure on the bread but break apart instantly when bitten.
3. Decisive Fat Distribution
A machine cannot tell the difference between heavy deckle fat and soft marbling. A cutter distributes slices from the lean flat and the rich deckle to build a perfectly balanced sandwich.