Pizza, bagels, Chinese food—these are the usual suspects when discussing the expansive cuisine of New York City, AKA the greatest food city in the world. But if you ask me, there’s another food that’s just as iconic. I’m of course talking about pastrami. On rye. With a smear of mustard. A couple of pickles on the side for good measure.
For the longest time, this was a food that even I, as a New Jersey super fan, only associated with New York—and specifically with the legendary Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side. But this is no longer the case. There’s a pastrami shop right here in Jersey that’s serving up a sandwich that’s just as good as Katz’s. Garfield’s Pastrami Grill Bistro serves real-deal pastrami—and it’s nearly half the price of New York’s most popular spots.
I first heard about Pastrami Grill back in 2021, shortly after it opened. The tiny Jewish-Polish deli made waves across the New Jersey food groups I frequent on social media. Fans were talking about this smoked meat as if it came from God himself. The brisket and corned beef were just as raved about. I had it once, but truthfully speaking, I don’t remember much beyond simply enjoying it.
It wasn’t until recently that I got an unbearable craving for pastrami—and I wanted the real stuff. Suddenly, Pastrami Grill Bistro came right back to mind. I met up with a friend at the strip mall deli who had never had it before. We indulged.
Samples of brisket and corned beef, a pastrami-topped burger, homemade pierogi (made at sister deli Bratek just a few doors down), latkes, Dr. Brown’s soda—you name it. But the star, of course, was the pastrami on rye.
Confession: I’m not a Reuben guy. I think pastrami needs to be good on its own, without the extra stuff. I want it tender, hand-sliced, with a smoky bark and well-seasoned interior. I want a smear of tangy mustard and soft—never toasted—rye bread to act as a vessel.
This is exactly the kind of sandwich Pastrami Grill Bistro serves, and it’s the reason it’s now in my regular rotation.
Walk in at lunch and a crew of skilled workers slice meat behind the counter. They’re efficient. You tell them your order, they start working, and they throw you a few samples while you wait. I sat there mesmerized watching these guys stab full briskets with a fork, pulling them out of a steam table to slice with a razor-sharp knife.
Rumor has it there’s decades of Katz’s experience between the workers—one guy at the front of the board worked behind the counter at the LES deli for 25 years. That shows.
The pastrami is fatty and savory—boasting a smoky aroma and a well-developed bark from a top-secret spice mix. The brisket is pleasantly salted, and the intramuscular fat coats your mouth. Grab a knish or some latkes while you wait, crack open a can of Dr. Brown’s Root Beer—my only gripe is that they don’t carry Cel-Ray—and don’t pass up the onion-smothered pierogi. You’re in a Polish neighborhood, after all.
And while the food is downright delicious, it’s the experience that really does it for me. It’s not as large as Katz’s, or as storied, but the experience still rivals it. You get to watch true experts at work—and you’re treated to free samples for your time. It’s a good reminder that while New York City is absolutely the food mecca, its influence extends deep into the Garden State.
We are intertwined. Our cultures blend together. And as New Jersey continues to grow, this will only become more and more apparent.
When I’m on the Lower East Side, I’ll always make a stop at Katz’s. That’s never going to change. But to have a pastrami option that’s toe-to-toe with it is a reminder of how lucky we are.
And may I remind you: It’s nearly half the price ($16.95 versus $28.95), and you don’t need to deal with NJ Transit or a Lincoln Tunnel toll to have it.
For more on Jewish delis in New Jersey, start here.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
