2nd Ave Deli

The original East Village location was a stone-cold classic. It moved in 2006 and, despite some apprehension, we've found it hasn't missed a beat. 2nd Avenue Deli feels exactly the way a deli should: unpretentious and homey and a little cramped, with a big deli case, locals who look like they've been eating here since Moses was in short pants.

You can come here for any kind of meal, whether it’s a casual nosh or a big occasion. Yeah, it’s pretty casual, but people can, will, and do celebrate milestones here. Compared to its closest Anglo-analog, the diner, it feels special. It’s pricey, yes. But unlike a diner, you're engaging a long tradition of cuisine that you'd be hard-pressed to find outside of New York City.

The chopped liver is moussey and light, the pastrami is fatty without being gummy, each table still gets fixed with pickles; they come in half and full-sour for your pleasure.

There's a second location further uptown on the Upper East Side. And above that one, they've got a cute little cocktail bar called 2nd Floor Bar & Essen. But that’s not what we’re talking about here and if you're trying to go for the real-deli-deal, it doesn't get much realer than this.

The place is the quintessential New York deli, with pastrami, kishkas, kasha varnishkes—a grain and pasta salad. They don't toast bread; they don't serve cheese. Don't ask. Outside of that, the world’s your oyster—er, I mean, Matzoh ball.

Whenever I go, I get a tongue sandwich with a lot of mustard, pickles, a root beer, and remember New York the way it used to be. It’s an experience you can scarcely find anywhere else. And it's beautiful to see the place still rocking after all of this time, even if it’s not in the same old location. The food is just as good as it's always been. If you're in the neighborhood, do yourself a favor and get lunch here. Just keep in mind: you’re gonna want to take a nap afterward.