I was inspired by this classic post for Katz’s in NYC. I love Katz’s, and like all things in New York it has the intensity dialed up to an 11… and there’s some equivalent tips for Schwartz’s! This advice is designed for a first time visitor. If you’ve done the classic then you have my full blessing to break out and order the liver steak and a turkey sandwich on your next visit. I have never met anyone who has eaten the turkey sandwich.¹

1. Wait in the line to sit in the original restaurant if it’s less than… 20 people. It’s fun in there. If it’s more than 20 strongly consider coming back later or getting it to go next door and eating it in a park. The smoked meat is the same but you lose the atmosphere.
2. Order a smoked meat sandwich. It’s (strangely no longer kosher/halal) beef delicious brisket on rye bread with mustard.
3. One sandwich per standard adult person-appetite.
4. Order it medium-fatty. Lean… doesn’t carry enough flavour and this is not place to cut down on fat, and fatty is not for rookies. There’ll be some mustard on it, you can add more at your table.
5. You may be tempted by the small and large smoked meat plate options if there’s a few of you, where effectively you’re making your own sandwiches. I would say don’t do that your first time. Making your own sandwich is kinda fun but it’s not the gold standard experience here.
6. Order a standard pickle. One per two people, it’s a hefty pickle. If it’s just one person, still get the pickle and maybe skip the fries. Half sours pickle people already know what’s wrong with them so they can order those instead.
7. If you’re… hungry, order the fries. One order per two people. The fries aren’t what people are coming here for, but it is still somehow part of the standard.
   • People for some reason feel compelled to order the poutine here, I guess trying to kill two Montreal food birds with one stone. But it’s… just OK. It takes two good things and makes one OK thing, be like getting Katz pastrami on a classic NY slice of pizza. Unless you’re for some reason here for 45 minutes and you’re back to the airport. Get a real poutine at a good poutine place, get a good smoked meat sandwich here!
8. Get a Cott’s Black Cherry for your soft drink (Quebec English)/pop (Canadian/Midwestern US English)/ soda (US coasts outside of the south). It’s similar to a cherry Coke but… for whatever reason is the most delicious soft drink in this settings. Normal Coke is acceptable too but… you can get that anywhere.
9. If you’re a deli fan feel free to grab a Nash (Knish!?) or Frankfurter

1. Let me know if you do. Maybe it’s incredible!? ↩︎