On the face of it, similar enterprises: both serve pastrami sandwiches; both have long lines; and both cut their meat to order for you. (While the version at Schwartz's is technically called a "smoked meat" sandwich, one could argue that it is effectively pastrami, since it's from the brisket and prepared in similar fashion.)
But is one better than the other? I am not the first to tackle this question: Robert Sietsema considered it himself in Gourmet earlier this year (he favors Scwhartz's; his wife prefers Katz's).
Well, for us, there was a clear winner: Schwartz's in Montreal.
Eh? Am I claiming that francophile Montreal makes a better pastrami sandwich than New York? Indeed. Here's why:
For one, Katz's had too much mustard on their pastrami sandwich, which overpowered the pastrami. Schwartz's took a more delicate approach, and also had the advantage because its pastrami has a more robust flavor: smokier, bolder, more peppery. Schwartz's also took Katz's in the texture department, as you can probably guess from the photos below.
Pastrami Sandwich at Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan
Katz's pastrami was denser and chewier than its rival in Montreal, a thicker slice that didn't break down as easily as the smoked meat at Schwartz's. Katz's was also leaner, which might be an advantage if you're looking at eating these on a weekly basis, but if you're limited to one visit every once in a while, why not enjoy the fuller flavor?
Smoked Meat Sandwich at Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen
Katz's also got under my skin a little bit with its "House Lemonade," which looked appealing in the fridge behind the counter, but once it got to our table and I read the label, all desire was lost. The ingredients read: "High Fructose Corn Syrup, Lemonade Flavoring," and so on. In other words, repackaged Country Time, labeled to fool unsuspecting tourists like myself.
"Lemonade" at Katz's Delicatessen
And on top of all that, there is the price: a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz's will set you back but five dollars; at Katz's in New York, the sandwich is $15, and only slightly larger than its counterpart in Montreal. One is a great value, while the other is terribly overpriced.
I'm curious to hear our readers thoughts. Reader Heavy D remarked in the first Montreal post that Katz's is superior, while reader playscape says the opposite. So which do you think is better? Weigh in in the poll, and sound off in the comments below.
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katz's makes the better sandwich, but not by a large enough margin to justify the crazy markup. plus, everything else - the pickles, the fries... just maybe not the lemonade - is better at katz's too. the last point in its favor, i think, is that katz's is the site of the famous "i'll have what she's having" scene from when harry met sally, a fact that tourists seem to love.
That's true about the Harry Met Sally bit at Katz's -- if you're willing to stake it out, you can sit at that actual table, which is clearly marked by a poster hanging above.
My friends and I sampled both within 48 hours. 3 out of 4 of us preferred Kazt's. First, a small preamble. The corned beef at Katz's is good but not great. The pastrami is divine. If we compared Schwartz's smoked meat to Kazt's corned beef, which is in some sense the more natural comparison, Schwartz's would win hands down. Schwartz's fries are superior, as is its beverage of choice, Cott Black Cherry. But based on my most recently sampling, Kazt's pastrami was really much better than Schwartz's smoked meat. It was more moist, and had a meatier taste, rather than the spiced Schwartz's flavour, which I enjoy but not as much.
Schwart'z I think used to be better than it is now. Of late, their meat is rather dry. Some people even argue that Schwartz's isn't the best smoked meat in Montreal anymore. I have friends who contend that Snowdon Deli is superior. I disagree (I think the club roll is actually the best sandwich at Snowdon Deli), though what Snowdon Deli lacks in flavour it almost makes up for in texture (though I'm usually not a texture guy).
Schwartz's is of course much cheaper than Katz's and has a better atmosphere: you're always able to strike up a conversation with the people, usually tourists, sitting next to you, whereas at Kazt's the eating is a bit more isolated. But both are great experiences and offer great food.
I've still never been to Carnegie Deli. Second Avenue Deli was good but not great at the old location. Anybody know how these compare now? And what about Cantor's in LA? Or other such places? I'm curious.
First, thanks for the name-check in the original post.
Second, on its best day Schwartz's is better, but I will agree that it is not as good as it once was (then again, neither is Katz's). One thing that Katz's has going for it is the interplay with the meat cutters (Terrence, you could have asked for fattier meat, less mustard -- next time).
Third, best pastrami/smoked meat in North America is Cantor's in LA. Hands-down.
I did ask for fattier from the cutter, and I tipped beforehand, so that was a bit curious. And I couldn't see the mustard going on, but that's a good tip for next time.
As far as LA, the less-visited Langer's in downtown LA is (after many visits to each) much better than Cantor's in touristy "WeHo". And they have curb service!
I would have listed the Rascal House in N. Miami Beach as my favorite, but it was closed for good when i visited last year. Now it is Katz's but by default, as the pastrami seems to be weaker in flavor than it used to be (or is that just my weak memory).
You're right. My bad. I meant Langer's in Downtown LA. I get them confused -- by name, not taste. Cantor's is good, not great.
Montreal smoked meat needs to lose this cage match purely because of how bad Montreal bagels are. Worst bagels ever.
Agree with the article -- definitely Schwartz's. And get the original one -- not the lean low-fat version.
Just patiently wait in line and watch the rather gruff Bobby cuts the meat with a knife by hand -- no one disses him, no matter how cranky he is.
Katz's, frankly, is an overhyped tourist trap.
But I really enjoyed my visits to Schwartz's, at there twice during a 3 day visit last summer, it was much better than Kat's. Kat's is not bad, but it really is a rip off, doesn't matter how you look at it.
Very apropos post since my wife and I were in Montreal just last week (enroute to our annual vacation in Maine), and Jill Garmin (our GPS) directed us to Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen for lunch.
Doctor E, and I are about as far from being Jewish as we are from being Martian, but we both love good pastrami. And we have BOTH eaten pastrami sandwiches at Schwartz's and at Katz's.
Permit me to tell you that, in our opinion, Schwartz's pastrami is FAR superior to Katz's. Not only is the quality of the pastrami superior, the price is FAR more reasonable and the attitude(s) of the people working and serving in Schwartz's is SOOoo much more courteous, more pleasant, and more conducive to enjoying one's meal.
If I may be honest --- I would NEVER darken the doorway of Katz's again in this lifetime. We do NOT need that establishment's New Yawk City attitudes, and, in our opinion INFERIOR product.
But I can assure you, that on our annual visit to our resort in Bar Harbor, we WILL be patronizing Schwartz' for a delightful pastrami sandwich (and TWO to go, please).
DocChuck and Doctor Elizabeth (Ph.D.)
Columbia, Maryland
So just had Katz's yesterday. I went light on the mustard. It was excellent, though I'll definitely say that the first few bites were better than the last few. The sandwich is just so darn big. Still, it was mighty delicious. I'll be returning to Montreal in August and will be sure to sample Schwartz's and Snowdon Deli while I'm there to compare. Anyone want to sponsor me to head out to LA for Cantor's and Langer's?
I had Snowdon Deli and Schwartz's this week. Snowdon Deli, normally very consistent, was disappointing. It was good, but the texture didn't wow me and it doesn't have the flavour explosion that some of these other places do. Schwartz's, which has been very inconsistent and in recent memory somewhat disappointing, was actually very impressive (I just had it today). Really moist and full of flavour. One of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. And my sister and I schmoozed with the two couples sitting next to us the whole time. You always make friends at Schwartz's.