The Financial District just got “a bisele” more interesting. Well, a lot actually. If you notice I dont even have a space for Financial District on the blog, which means I’ve never actually written about anything in that area. Even the foodie desert of Staten Island outnumbers it 3-0. Well you do have Eataly, Brookfield Place, a Nish Nush branch, some nifty food trucks and a dead rabbit. So when its time to recommend a place after taking selfies with the Bull’s private parts, its actually fairly easy due to lack of many options. I myself get attracted to the north, Tribeca.
So did you figure out what “Bisele” means? I bet Will & Julia Horowitz of Harry & Ida’s know. They are the brother and sister team of EWZ faves Harry & Ida’s, Ducks Eatery and now this Luncheonette. Luncheonette openings, particularly the ones offering cafeteria style food dont usually excite much. Unless they offer one of the best pastrami sandwiches in town. As you come in, before you know it, you are chewing on that pastrami and you are hooked for life. I became a statistic myself when I had my first. I remember Will handing them out like candy in a Grubstreet Festival. People especially got intrigued when he started yelling “Hey try this, its terrible” Its like we have this skunk instinct showing its face on occasion.
The Luncheonette main focus is to serve FiDi lunch crowds healthier options in the form of a Jewish Deli, by handing out free pastrami samples! Ok, baby steps. If you gonna go for the meat, at least have something as delicious as this. But then after you realize these guys can flat out cook, come back for the salmon, veggies (dont miss the carrots) and the terrific Smoked Apricot Chicken. And to seal the Jewish stamp on this deli, they even have Kasha Varnishkes. Talk about Ratatouille Moment.
The Jewish Deli is a dying breed in a city known for its Jewish Delis. Visitors may not realize that today for every Jewish Deli we have roughly 100 Ramen shops, and 20 Poke places. So when we have people like Will & Julia not only reversing the sad trend but also introducing some healthy options while at it, people need to take note.
Harry & Ida’s Luncheonette
11 Park Pl
Recommended Dishes: Pop’s Pastrami, Apricot Chicken, Carrots, Kasha
Eating With Ziggy 