NYC is home to ~23,000 restaurants, and it would take over 20 years to eat at all of them, so knowing which ones to prioritize when grabbing a bite to eat is vital. Well, as luck would have it, TasteAtlas just released their 100 Most Legendary Restaurants in the World, and New York City made it on the list twice! Renowned for their longevity, reliability, and iconic dishes, we have a feeling you’ll want to check out these two spots sooner rather than later…
Among 23,952 traditional eateries in TasteAtlas’ database, this beloved NYC gem claimed the eighth spot, and to give you a hint at what it is we have one word: pastrami.
Hopefully, Katz’s Deli immediately come to mind–it is one of our favorite delis in NYC after all! The perpetually-packed establishment has been operating in the Lower East Side since 1888, serving up mouthwatering meats, platters, and the tastiest pastrami on rye in all of NYC.
Andrew Zimmern is just one of 44 food critics who recommend Katz’s, stating:
You won’t find a Reuben sandwich like this anywhere else besides Katz’s Deli.
In the early part of the twentieth century, Katz’s Deli, which originally went by the name Iceland Brothers, became a gathering spot for the millions of immigrant families that lived in the neighborhood. As time went on, Katz’s Deli was frequented by actors, singers, and comedians from various theaters on 2nd Avenue and the National Theater, and has since welcomed a pretty impressive celebrity clientele.
Joining Katz’s Deli on the list is Peter Luger Steak House at number 15. Known for their dry-aged porterhouse, this Williamsburg establishment, which dates back to 1887, has been one of NYC’s top steakhouses for decades.
TasteAtlas writes:
The steakhouse owes its success to using the finest, carefully selected meat from USDA Prime exclusively.
New York is the only state in the country that made it to the list’s top ten, so clearly there’s a reason NYC was recently named one of the best foodie cities in the world! You can find the full list of the most legendary restaurants in the world here.