New York City, New York — Carnegie Deli is officially back in Manhattan after a decade away, bringing its towering pastrami sandwiches, matzo-ball soup and old-school New York atmosphere to a new location on Seventh Avenue.
The legendary deli has reopened at 834 Seventh Ave. in West Midtown, the former location of longtime rival Stage Deli, which closed in 2012. For a neighborhood that has lost several longtime restaurants and landmarks, the return gives the area a noticeable taste of its past.
The revival also comes with some changes. The food is not exactly the same as it was at the original Carnegie Deli, but early impressions suggest that the pastrami and chicken soup may actually be better, while the service has received a friendlier makeover.
Carnegie Deli Finds a New Home
Carnegie Deli closed its longtime location a decade ago, leaving a recognizable hole in the West Midtown dining scene.
Owner Sarri Harper spent years searching for a place where the deli could return. In the meantime, Carnegie Deli products remained available online and at sports venues.
The eventual move to the former Stage Deli space was described by a spokesperson for Harper as a “twist of fate.”
The location is particularly fitting because the Stage Deli was one of Carnegie’s longtime rivals. Its reopening therefore brings another piece of New York deli history back to a stretch of Seventh Avenue that has changed considerably over the years.
The Pastrami Is Still the Main Attraction
The centerpiece remains Carnegie Deli’s famous pastrami on rye.
The signature sandwich costs $29 and is still enormous, with a towering stack of warm, spiced beef navel between slices of rye bread.
The pastrami is now sliced thinner than before, while retaining the rich, juicy character that made the sandwich famous. The beef is house-brined and served warm, with enough meat to make even an experienced sandwich eater think twice before taking the first bite.
The four-inch sandwich remains difficult to handle, although the oversized portion may have been slightly excessive in the past.
There is one familiar issue: the pastrami remains quite fatty, which is part of what gives it flavor but can make the massive sandwich even more challenging to finish.
Chicken Soup Brings Another Old-School Favorite
The deli’s chicken soup also makes a strong impression.
The homemade soup comes with matzo balls and golden noodles, delivering the kind of hearty meal traditionally associated with Jewish deli cooking.
The menu extends well beyond pastrami. Customers can order Reubens, corned beef, hot dogs, burgers, all-day breakfast dishes and other classic deli fare.
Three thick chicken sausages are also available for $9, making them one of the more affordable options on the menu.
Service Gets a Modern Makeover
The food isn’t the only noticeable change.
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The revived Carnegie Deli features friendly waitresses, a significant departure from the famously gruff service associated with the old location.
The atmosphere also leans heavily into the restaurant’s history without becoming completely trapped in nostalgia.
Vintage photographs of celebrities fill a “Wall of Fame,” recalling the original Carnegie Deli’s connections to Hollywood, television and New York entertainment.
The original restaurant appeared in productions including Broadway Danny Rose, helping cement its place in the city’s pop-culture history.
Music in the revived space also avoids the predictable soundtrack of New York clichés. Instead, customers hear jazz standards, including Horace Silver’s “Song For My Father” and selections associated with Miles Davis.
A Changing West Midtown Gets a Piece of Its Past Back
The reopening arrives at a time when the surrounding area has changed dramatically.
Several longtime restaurants, including Petrossian, Redeye Grill, Rosie O’Grady’s and Molyvos, are gone, while the former Wellington Hotel is being demolished for a new hotel project.
That makes Carnegie Deli’s return more than just another restaurant opening.
New York already has plenty of places serving pastrami, from established Jewish delis to newer restaurants putting their own spin on the classic. But Carnegie Deli brings something those competitors cannot completely replicate: the experience of eating a towering pastrami sandwich in a place carrying decades of New York history.
The revived restaurant is not identical to the Carnegie Deli of the past—and that may ultimately be part of its appeal.
Would you visit the reopened Carnegie Deli for its famous pastrami, or do you think New York has better deli options? Share your take in the comments.
