After our visit to the new High Line park last week, we ended the day perfectly; got back in the car and went from the Lower West Side of Manhattan to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. This was the area where many immigrants (Jews, Irish, Italians) began their life in America. They found themselves living in cramped railroad-flat tenements with little air or light, but lots of street life. They shopped form pushcarts below, children played in the streets. When they had the money they moved “uptown” or left Manhattan for The Bronx or Brooklyn.
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Katz’s Delicatessen remains in the neighborhood. Watch this endearing video about Katz’s here if it doesn’t come up on the previous link. You’ll learn some history and some Yiddish. ESS GESUNT! (find the meaning on the site and I’ll send ya a salami).

Your food maven will continue…A Russian-Jewish immigrant family founded Katz’s in 1888 and the rest is history. This mecca for Jews has become a favorite for every group in New York City, and we have them all. Nothing more enjoyable than watching every imaginable ethnic group.”Send a salami to your boy in the army.” According to The Big Apple website, the phrase that was credited to Katz’s was actually a quote from Louie the waiter during World War 2.

The walls are, well, wall-to-wall with the faces of celebrities. You might remember this: (from Barry Popik whose Big Apple website holds a wealth of information) Katz’s Deli, 205 East Houston Street. Meg Ryan. Billy Crystal. When Harry Met Sally… (1989), directed by Rob Reiner, with a screenplay by Nora Ephron. Harry and Sally are seated. Sally fakes an orgasm, right in the restaurant! And another patron overhears and says– “I’ll have what she’s having!”

Katz’s is noisy fun until that plate is in front of you. Then you have to concentrate. Witness the couple at the next table:

So sit already. The food is here. You’ll always find pickles on the table and a bottle of Dr. Brown’s. The old die-hards love Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray. My dad used to like it. Celery soda? I don’t think so.