They won’t “have what she’s having.”
Venerated New York City institution Katz Delicatessen was spit-roasted online over its $30 sandwich, which viewers labeled “diabolical” and a “waste of money.”
Founded in 1888, Katz’s is the oldest deli of its kind in NYC — and was made world-famous by the iconic orgasm scene in the 1989 film “When Harry Met Sally.”
The backlash came in response to an X post that began in praise of the Lower East Side pastrami purveyor.
“The sandwich, sold for $27 in New York, is famous for its generous amount of ingredients,” wrote businessman Tansu Yegen in the post.
An accompanying clip shows a worker preparing what looks like Katz’ mondo reuben, which actually retails for $29.95 barring substitutions, and features several tiers of luscious corned beef (or pastrami) that’s traditionally piled with sauerkraut, Swiss and Rueben dressing and bookended by two giant slices of rye.
Despite being one of the deli’s most venerated noshes — outside their legendary pastrami (which costs $28.95) — many X users felt that the juice was not worth the financial squeeze.
“Such a waste of food and money,” decried one critic on X. “How do you not get sick to your stomach halfway through. Average person can’t finish that and shouldn’t and for $27???”
“$27 is highway robbery. What generous amount…” said another.
“Half the ingredients, half the price, please. No one is eating a small animal and a bag of cheese between two pieces of bread lol,” scoffed a third.
“Katz deli, really overrated & a total tourist trap,” said one critic. “Go to a neighborhood bodega, a third of the price & twice the quality imo.”
“Crazy because a single patty cheeseburger at Five Guys is like $25,” said another, likely referring to the recent uproar over a bacon cheeseburger and fries that ran a customer $24.10 at the burger monger.
“All respect to Katz, but to pay $27 I’d need to be in a movie theater located at a baseball game being played in Las Vegas,” quipped one X wit.
“And Americans say British food is bad, that looks absolutely diabolical,” critiqued another.
However, some Katz stalwarts flocked to the restaurant’s defense with one fan declaring, “If any sandwich is worth $27, it might be that one.”
“Katz Deli … a must-visit in NYC and now one of the only Kosher places left there,” said another. “Amazing food and a scruffy restaurant-perfect!!”
“Had it a week ago. Worth its weight in gold,” said another while lauding the meat, which is “cured for weeks in a saltwater brine,” before getting boiled, steamed and painstakingly sliced by hand.
“The sandwiches are totally amazing and worth it,” defended one Katz die-hard. “The meat is incredibly rich and it would be difficult to eat an entire sandwich. My wife and I really enjoyed the place!”
They added, “As I said, the sandwiches are massive and next time I’m in NY I will go with their soup/sandwich combo.”
In December, Taste Atlas named Katz the most legendary restaurant in the Big Apple and the 8th most iconic eatery in the world.
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