Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Co

Hooooooly crud, I could not write this review fast enough. I just devoured my Pop’s Pastrami and it is honestly the best sandwich I’ve ever had in my life. Meat is perfect, seasoning is perfect, bread is perfect. Granted, it’s also the most expensive — but it was worth every penny. Seriously, just try once.
Also, some Unilocalers have complained that the sandwich is too small. The bread is not as large or dense, true– but they make it way better by stuffing it chock full of their wonderful pastrami!

Came here for a sandwich craving i was trying to fulfill and heard they were great here. Service was very friendly, welcoming, and fast!
Upon entering, they served me a piece of warm, freshly cut pastrami which made my choice easy by going with Ida’s pastrami sandwich. I’m not a fan of fresh dill or pickles of the sort in my sandwiches, but I always try something as is the first time, and then tweak if needed. No tweaking needed. the flavor combos and textures work great together, I wouldn’t change a thing!
$ 13 was the price including tax, which I thought was pretty steep for the size, but after I took my first bite, I realized it was worth every penny. Everything in this beautiful bun is quality ingredients and grade A. I was more than satisfied when I was finished, and would do it again.
Seems to be the question on this page, so I’ll add this as well: How do they compare to Katz? Both are delicious. both give you a taster while you wait. and both on the east side. Katz uses sliced bread, H&I uses rolls/​baguette style. You get a little more meat at Katz, but the price is almost double there. i can’t say one is better than the other, but they are both great pastrami stops in NYC!

Food: Pastrami sandwich is simple yet very flavorful as the dill and cucumber compliment the amazing pastrami well. They also carry a number of pickled accoutrement, etc that I didn’t try but looked tempting.
Service: Awesome. I was offered a sample as soon as I stepped in and service was prompt and friendly.
Ambiance: décor was muted and on the grunge side, but not dirty. Pleasant atmosphere. very limited bar seating.

Okay, so I been to Katz, Second Ave Deli and Carnegie Deli. Every place is different and unique on its own.
Harry & Ida’s is more gourmet than the others and the way they cut their Pastrami is more chunkier compared to slices.
Did not know the difference between the Pop’s Pastrami verses Ida Pastrami. Thought one was leaner than the other. The person making the sandwiches said Ida’s got ¼ less meat than Pop’s. Asked for a sample. Went for the Pop’s. Delicious!!!
Price for sandwich with tax– came out to $ 19 bucks. Wish they put pickle with the sandwich like they do at Second Ave Deli.
They have a sandwich combo with the Ida which comes with bag of chips and soda. Did not get this. Pop’s currently does not have a sandwich combo.

I got a Pops Pastrami. The pastrami was really good, if a bit expensive (it’s a similar price to Katz’s but I don’t think it’s as much pastrami)
Also, it’s been about a few hours since I finished the sandwich and I’m still burping up the taste of dill (nor can I get it out of my mouth) and I don’t know how I feel about that

Absolutely phenomenal! We made this a mark on our map during our trip from Ca after doing our research on the best places to eat in Manhattan and man was this place great! Best pastrami i have ever had ever hands down! Great customer service and atmosphere! Please support this place it is top notch!

— pricy but worth it
— recommend: pop’s pastrami sandwich
— I’m a diehard Katz fan but this is definitely comparable in a different way
— Katz is very no frills, classic (pastrami, rye, mustard) blue collar version, whereas Harry and Ida’s is more like a fancy (dill, buttermilk fermented pickles, anchovy mustard) white collar equal
— I won’t put one above the other, just that it depends on what you’re in the mood for

Please don’t swarm this place after some great reviews because I hate lines but I have to say that this is the best pastrami you will ever taste in your life (if you’re lucky enough to stop by).
I do love Katz’s because they are legendary.
But I’m sorry to say that Harry and Ida’s beat them on the pastrami and on the potato salad.
Amazing!

Yes it’s $ 17.50 for a whole pastrami sandwich, or $ 12 for half… but there’s a point when something is so good that price doesn’t matter anymore.
Pastrami is my favorite sandwich and now Harry & Ida’s has given me the best kind. Some other reviews say they don’t pile on the meat much, but I disagree. I think there was PLENTY of pastrami chunks in my sandwich — like the perfect amount. The dill and cucumbers accent the sandwich so well too.
It looks like it’s mostly a grab n go type of sandwich shop, but there are 3 counter seats to eat there if it’s empty.
I want to go back already to try another sandwich, but it will be hard to pass up another chance to order some pastrami. LOVED this place.

Simply put this place has the best pastrami I have ever had. It is soft, juicy flavorful just amazing. I have never been a big pastrami fan but I love their version. The cut it thick and the serve it in a sandwich with mustard.
The shop has a unique look and feel. Everyone who work here is extremely friendly and accommodating.
Be warned they do not have a lot of place to sit just a couple of counters with room for 5 or 6 people total.
Must try for meat lovers

I am not a particular connoisseur of pastrami but this was certainly the most delicious pastrami I have ever had in my life. The Pop’s sandwich came with ½ pound of pastrami, dill and I think cucumber, on top of a nice roll. It was not the overwhelming meat pile you can get at other places of a similar vibe but was amazingly delicious and did not leave me feeling painfully full. At $ 17 this is on par with most other good pastrami sandwiches, though still a good bit of money for a sandwich. The bluefish, which was whitefish-​esque, sandwich was quite good but not overly salty.
There is not a lot of seating but the girl behind the counter was nice enough to bring us out extra stools to sit on. The fact that there is seating for a maximum of 7 people means you should probably have a take our strategy in hand when you go. Overall this is an amazingly delicious sandwich made by a somewhat odd goy hipster version of a Jewish deli

What a cute space! I came in here for a quick bite on a chilly night and was glad to walk in to this cozy space. I suppose most of their business is to go or delivery, because there are only maybe 3 stools by the window. The people working there are friendly and helpful, and recommended that I buy two Ida’s for two people who were hungry but not starving (ie my boyfriend and I). Unfortunately, the Ida is actually pretty small – I felt like there was a lot of bread and not enough meat. The flavor was delicious, but I wish there was more meat! Plus it was $ 12, and it felt smaller than a bodega sandwich. Obviously much higher quality. I would You can make it a combo and add chips and a juice/​water.
The shop is really cute and makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time into a rural general store. There are all kinds of goods for sale, from jam to pig feet to cookbook and small gas lamps.

Soo happy this place exists! I was skeptical about paying so much for a sandwich ($ 17.50) but it’s so worth! It’s a hefty sandwich made with love and has high quality. The first bite into the sandwich had me on cloud 9. The pastrami was sooo tender and seasoned so damn perfectly. I never really liked pastrami because it’s often really salty and I’m not a salty person. But their pastrami had the perfect balance. I intended to try the smoked eel sandwich but it was sold out by the time I got there. No problem though because I’m so satisfied with the Pop’s Pastrami Sandwich. Not sure how it is compared to Katz because I never had it and I don’t quite care right now because this has exceeded my expectations! The bread did get soggy after a while. but that’s because of all the juice from pickles, meat and mustard.

I think I liked it. I inhaled both the smoked chicken and Ida’s pastrami sandwiches pretty quickly in a daze. I think my mind was still reeling over the fact that two sammiches cost about $ 26 and change.
The chicken sandwich has some tasteful (not just tasty) slaw, and the rubbery texture of the chicken blended well with the crispness of the bread.
The pastrami was soft AF. It was dope. I’ve never really had pastrami before but it was enjoyable. The rough texture of the bread played well with the marbled beef. There’s a hint of mustard, not too overpowering but still enough to fulfill expectations.
The ambiance is quaint. Got an old country store vibe, where you can buy stuff like gas lamps and seed packets.
Three seats, though.

I just want to update this place with another 5 star review. Have been a consistent customer for the past 6 months and everything I get there is so great. They now serve breakfast which is a huge +. And are consistently adding items to the menu. Had the meatball hero today and it was amazing. Lots of love!

I wanted to try this place even though I’m not a fan of pastrami. This place didn’t change my mind about that, but it’s a cute place and the sandwich was good, so I wanna support it. The interior is really awesome, though with only five stools, it’s best to take it to go.
The Pop’s pastrami sandwich is huge – they give you so much meat so the ~$ 20 is justified. I came at night on a weekday, and there was just one older guy working and no one else there. (I’d imagine this is more of a lunch place). Not sure I’ll be back because pastrami isn’t my thing, but I encourage all to try!

The storefront is cute, but very small and dark. You almost feel like you are stepping into a saloon in the wild wild west! Definitely grab your food to go, as the only place to sit in the store are the three stools in the front window. We were told that they sometimes bring out more chairs, but there’s no other table or counter space, so I’m assuming you’d have to eat on your lap.
The sandwiches are much smaller than some photos would lead you to believe (especially for the price!). We ordered The Ida to split because we thought the original pastrami sandwich would be too heavy, and regretted it immediately when we saw the size of the sandwich.
It is tasty though, don’t get me wrong! Although I’d prefer my pastrami piping hot like the ones you get at Katz, I really like the fresh dill and the other toppings on the sandwiches here.
Service is a little slow, but if you are in the area, I’d definitely recommend making a stop here and checking out their menu/​the other goodies that they stock!

There’s honesty little I dislike more than having an opinion that goes against the Unilocaly grain, but having fallen in love with Harry & Ida’s via instragram long before I even stepped foot in the door I’ll admit that I had expectations that couldn’t have been higher. My meal was good, but with the price as high as it was I needed H&I’s to blow the competition out of the water, and I can’t say for certain that they did that given the high quality of that very competition (Katz’s, Mile End, etc.)
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
I imagine there are times when the line at Harry & Ida’s cascades out the door, but I was pleased to find on a Saturday evening that my party of four were among only two others present. We quickly ordered and waited only a few minutes before our sandwiches came out and were enjoyed a midst a quaint atmosphere with friendly folks behind the counter. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
It’s here that the real shock came in. Pop’s Pastrami Sandwich was $ 17.50, and that’s probably more than I’ve paid for a sandwich maybe ever? If not it’s certainly in the Top 5. At $ 17.50 I was expecting either size or absolute greatness, and while you might not be able to tell by the photo below, I didn’t get size. Pop’s Pastrami was moderate in size, and I was a bit surprised that I actually found myself still hungry after polishing it off. I rarely withhold this star, but think of the quantity and the quality that you can get in this city for $ 17+! It’s immense, and for that reason I can’t quite justify a star here. No Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
This was, without question, a good pastrami sandwich — maybe even a great one, but I can’t say without a doubt that it easily dispatches competitors like Katz’s or Mile End. The flavor was there, the peripherals were there, and the overall quality was certainly there, but it was very much on par specifically with what Mile End offer’s, and for quite a bit less money! Either way this was great, and great deserves two stars. Dual Stars Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
I want to say yes, but the price point is so high and the competition so strong that I simply can’t say for certain that I’d recommend Harry & Ida’s over some of the others. No Star Granted.

Soooo juicy and delicious !!! Had he pastrami sandwich with pickles and dill. Very clean, and nice window seats. Fresh, fresh, fresh !!!

While few places in the city resonate in my heart, you’ll be happy to hear that Harry & Ida’s is one of them– They hit the nail on the head with a resounding, satisfactory bang! You’ll also be hard pressed to hear me use the word best, because «best» is nearly impossible to achieve. However, they do collect a 4.9÷5.0 and here’s why…
Rest assured, Will and Julie Horowitz’s Alphabet City (East Village) smoked meats deli store won’t supplant Katz’s anytime soon, and they’re not meant to. Known to smoke everything under the sun, including pastrami, once you step into the store, it smells absolutely wonderful. Visiting is an experience all to itself, and I’m sure it was intended that way. Rustic and artisanal permeates from just about everywhere, especially their product. If you didn’t get a chance to try their pastrami while dining at nearby Ducks Eatery before, a visit here makes a ton of sense as this is where it belongs.
They have a number of fascinating items on the menu but the smoky, flavorful, $ 17.50 Pop’s Pastrami is the stuff dreams are made of. Pictures, from just about any angle do it justice. It’s still nothing to sneeze at but worth the experience. Thick cut, with a feather of dill and sliced cucumbers along with a generous slab of mustard within a roll… heavenly is about as close to the best description I can give you for it. Drawing comparisons to other pastrami sandwiches, makes little sense– It’s just different.
There’s not much seating to speak of, save three stools and a countertop. It’s also meant to be consumed rather quickly. The bread itself will go mushy on you if you let it sit too long. The crew behind the counter are friendly, and answer just about every question you can throw at them. For a few dollars more, you can add chips and soda with your sandwich, and they’re good in-​house choices too.
4.9÷5.0