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It took almost 80 years, but Katz's Delicatessen just officially unveiled The Ludlow Room, a restored 68-seat dining room that has been closed to the public since 1949—when it was actually converted into an enormous walk-in fridge "to support the deli's growing demand for pastrami, corned beef and brisket during the postwar boom," according to an official press release.
The revamped space will be used for additional seating during busy hours and will also be available for private events, complete with an on-site cutter hand-slicing a variety of meats for guests.
Considering that every single piece of meat served at Katz's between 1949 and 2026 was weighed on a freight scale inside the now-renovated room, this feels like a true full-circle moment.
“We’ve always said Katz’s is more than a deli, it’s a living piece of New York history,” said Jake Dell, fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, in an official statement. “Reopening this room feels like uncovering a forgotten chapter of our own story. For decades, this space helped support the demand that made Katz’s what it is today, but very few people ever got to see it. Bringing it back to life is a way of honoring the generations before us while creating something new for the generations still to come.”
Although adapted to modern times, teh new Ludlow Room still boasts original architectural details like tin ceilings, period-inspired lighting and more. Basically, the perfect setting for a truly unique New York event.