What kinds of food are there in a delicatessan in New York?|194198

A friend is going to NY for the first time (first time to the US) and wants to know in advance what she can order at a deli. She can_t speak English and so she_s hoping to remember the names of a few popular sandwiches. Also what kinds of bread are there? Bagels, baguettes, rolls? She_s terrified of being asked questions she doesn_t understand by the waitress. Any other travel advise will be helpful too.

Sandwiches at a deli are ordered one of two ways. Some have a board behind the counter where they will have several possibilities listed. Then just pick the number or name and say it. You may have to name the bread that you want and or the condiment.

To custom order a sandwich it is done in this order:

Meat
Cheese, if any
Type of bread
condiment
extras

Something like salami and provolone on a hero with mustard, red pepper and a little onion.


In the ordinary corner deli they will have a dozen or so meats, half that many cheese and four or five bread options. You can see that there are easily hundreds of possibilities to customize lunch.


Then you may find an ethnic deli with their own cultural specialties, but that is another lesson

There are many different types of delis in NYC. The type it_s famous for is the Jewish deli. If she wants a real NY deli experience, she should go to a Jewish Deli and order Pastrami on Rye.

I recommended Katz_s delicatessen on the lower east side. Though it_s a tourist destination (due to When Harry Met Sally _I_ll have what she_s having_ scene) it_s not super touristy and the food is still excellent.
http://www.katzdeli.com/
you can view their menu. The Pastrami on Rye is amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Carnegie deli is a big tourist destination but not that great IMO. Sandwiches are ridiculously huge (meat piled 5+ inches high) and impossible to eat without removing most of the meat.

Your friend shouldn_t be too concerned about her English. Chances are very good that there will be someone nearby that speaks her native language.

Easiest thing that will apply to pretty much any bodega is to stick with a sandwich. There are bodegas that offer falafel, gyros, all kinds of foods. Some have grills and might offer things like hamburgers, but some don_t. But you_ll always be able to get some kind of sandwich, and the basic choices for bread are either a roll or a hero. A roll is smaller and will cost usually about a dollar less for the same thing. Usually you could also order it on a bagel, but some places don_t have enough of those to last all day long.

So you can order basically any kind of meat, cheese or condiment that you want. _Roast beef with swiss cheese and mustard, lettuce and onion on a roll_. _Turkey breast with cheddar and mayo, on a hero._ _Chicken cutlet with bacon, lettuce and tomato on a roll._ _Egg salad plain on a roll._ Whatever you like. Just say whatever meat and/or cheese, and whether you want a roll or hero. Most of the time if you just give them a meat choice they_ll just suggest something to go on it, so if you don_t really care or know what it is, just say _yes, that_s fine._

But your friend shouldn_t worry too much about a language barrier. NYC is home as well as a tourist destination to people from all over the world. New Yorkers, especially those in service jobs, are used to communicating with people who don_t speak English, and in almost every case won_t be offended or irritated by it. It_s pretty much a routine part of New York life.