PJ Bernstein Delicatessen Reviews

I visited with friends for a weekday lunch. Between us we tried the tomato beef soup, which was pretty good, the pastrami sandwich, which was very good, and also the roast beef s/w and tuna salad s/w. All were of a good size, but the pastrami was proper NYC serving, probably 2.5 inch deep with meat.

NY Deli reigns supreme at PJ Bernstein. Over-stuffed, over-priced (as is the custom in NYC), high quality sandwiches served by friendly and attentive staff. Devoid of ambiance, but very good.

The staff is genuinely warm and friendly, paying attention to individual customers with patience and a sense of humor. But the food is surprisingly mediocre. Especially in New York, one expects a deli to be a lot better. The matzoh balls taste bland; the main dishes not much better.

It is hard to find a typical New York deli, but this is about as close as you can get. It has everything you would expect, without the snarky waitresses. The corned beef sandwich was perfect, and the egg cream was made exactly as it should. The rye bread on the sandwich was first rate.

Menu is extremely large with anything and everything deli. We had the pastrami sandwich, grandma's chicken soup and the smoked whitefish bagel plate. Everything we ordered was amazing.

Pretty Good Deli upper east Side ONe of the very last Delis in Manhattan that still retains some of the character of olden days but you can see that that special nature is gone. I still like an old standby of Turkey and Tongue on Rye with Russian. Made properly with excellent tongue and good quality turkey. MOst of the people are having "semi kosher style but it is no longer considered kosher by my standards. Food is good but prices have risen a lot and some of the quality is gone but still worth a visit. They do excellent soups, especially the borschts (the best is cold Borscht with hot boiled potatoes (try the meat borscht). Still you do not have to go downtown to Katz's for a goo deli sandwich.

Finally got around to visiting this deli, that had great reviews of its pastrami sandwich. Yes, it was superb, from the meat to the bread. I hope to try some of the platters next time. Nice menu; great staff.

Went to try the Good Matzah Ball soup, but had to try the Meatloaf that comes with great mashed Potatoes, definitely, it hit the spot and the pocketbook :) I also took small soup to go. It is not cheap, but it is NYC Baby! Don't forget to ask for extra Pickle!

If you're after traditional, basic NY style deli food then this place serves a purpose. It's simple and basic but with a comprehensive traditional deli menu and staff were happy to see to our requests for adapting menu items. Portions were of course enormous and the corned beef was very lean but a bit lacking in flavour. Turkey burger was delicious!

This place is a classic NYC deli with a new twist: gluten free bread! I had a fabulous pastrami sandwich...heaven on earth! Eating in a deli is almost impossible for those of us with Celiac or gluten intolerance but this was a sure bet. They offer several other items that are guaranteed to be gluten free but ask the servers to explain and help you decide. It is very busy at lunch time and your gf bread takes a little more time, so plan ahead for that. Bon appetit!

Great neighborhood deli. Caters to a lot of regulars ( my husband and I included). Food is always good. I love grandma's chicken soup when I am not feeling well. It's just like what grandma used to make!

Food excellent. Matzoh ball soup with fine noodles heavenly. Pastrami on rye with Russian outstanding. Although they forgot the Swiss cheese. Chocolate egg cream great. Service friendly. Very good

Went there last Sunday and four of us did a sampler of many different specialties. Owner was very accommodating to allow us to split portions so we could taste more dishes than usual. Hint - ask for split portions or let them make up sampler for you even though not on menu. We had a taste of pastrami, corned beef, brisket, turkey, roast beef, chicken soup with incredible mini kreplach with thin skin and filled with chopped brisket - fantastic, matzoh ball, chopped liver, 6 other items including deserts. All top quality and delicious. Price reasonable, overall very good value. Their location outside midtown but a few minutes by cab give them a big advantage even if we go to theatre, but luckily for diners they do not promote themselves so limited to the locals. We liked the proximity to the Fifth Avenue Museums and the fact we avoided the long lines at the tourist traps downtown (you know the names) with no rush to give up the table or waiters with attitudes.

I recommend the hot pastrami, though on this occasion I had the shrimp salad which was excellent. Nice rye bread.

Our very colorful server suggested a sandwich that was pastrami on one side and corned beef on the other - super tasty! Lots of interesting people-watching and all the class deli dishes you could want. I always go here when I am in NYC from the west coast

A classic deli providing an amazing array of choices. the food is not "fime cusine" but it is well prepared and satisfies the craving for a deli lunch or dinner

The gluten-free bread makes the deli sandwiches PERFECT! The corned beef was phenomenal!! I went back the next day and enjoyed the white fish sandwich (also on GF bread). The servers are great too!!

We ate in the fish restaurant. It was excellent. Service was great and friendly staff. Food was perfectly prepared.

Enjoy NY deli food at its finest!, I loved the matzah ball soup, tons of food, and its all really good!

it's like eating at your grandma's house, and the food taste like it too! This place is a very iconic Jewish restaurant in a great location right in the heart of the UES of NYC. If you feel like a nice soup or a fresh sandwich, or anything else, really, anything, they'll have something for everyone. 100% recommended.

Great pastrami sandwiches. Good bagels and lox. Very friendly service. We went back twice on this trip and would definitely go again.

We went for an early lunch. We were in the CentralPark and so hungry. We found this restaurant from Google and its reviews were good so just wanted to try. I ordered soup and half roast beef sandwich. My daughter got hotdog with fries and my husband got corned beef sandwich. Nothing was special. Sandwiches just have thin sliced bread and good amount of meat, that’s it. So, it was so dry for me. The restaurant was clean, the kitchen staffs’ hair and hands were covered but still I found a tiny hair in my sandwich. I just stopped to eat. Anyway, my sandwich was not so delicious so it was okay. We paid $70 and I am sure we could get more better food for that price in the area.

Good simple Jewish food. Large portions, fast service. We have been there many times and are never disappointed.

We went here for quick dinner since near the hospital where we were visiting and where family member lives. We ordered approximately $50.00 of food. One entree we were told came with coleslaw and pickles. While waiting for order asked if i could have some more coleslaw. ( No Problem i was told) . When we received the bill i saw a $6.50 charge for the coleslaw and an upcharge for a bowl of soup even though we ordered a soup and half sandwich and never asked for a bowl as compared to a cup so i was surprised by upcharge and let it go since we received more soup so no big deal. When I asked waitress why i was charged for the coleslaw she said second order is not free. I asked her why she did not tell me and if she had i would not have ordered it. Her response is she did not have to tell me. I asked for the manager who came over and said when he tells people they get mad and a side order of coleslaw on the menu says $6.50. I asked him if they get mad about them charging for additional coleslaw what do the say when they get the bill without being told which should make them more angry. He refused to adjust the bill even though i told him i am in neighborhood often and would never come back since they were so dishonest even though the food was fine even if extremely overpriced. His response to this was he has to pay the rent. At $25.00 for a sandwich i think the coleslaw overcharge should not keep him from paying the rent. While a couple paying $50.00 for dinner at a Deli and never returning might be more of an issue. I will never be back nor will anyone i know based on the unethical pricing and poor customer service.

The best pastrami I have had in years.. The food is all fresh and delicious and the service is equally perfect!

Superb Jewish deli fare--Definitely a neighborhood favorite, but cozy, charming & well worth a visit for NYC denizens & out-of-towners alike. The staff is also very friendly & gracious. Definitely order half portions of everything--all dishes are absolutely gargantuan!

We had the "Summer Borscht" (only made in the summer) that was absolutely fantastic along with the Potato Latkes ...Eugene the owner of PJ Bernstein's warmly greeted us !!

Host, Hostess, cashier, manager are confidently rude. The food would have to struggle to get to average. Delivery is late and wrong, the prices are higher than average. Avoid, unless as we, you are there and someone needs to eat.

We visited PJ's twice during a short stay in New York. Great traditional, not-many-frills NY delicatessen with friendly service. The pastrami sandwiches, pickles and hot traditional borscht were particularly good.

My daughter lives close to Beinstein’s Deli do we frequent occasional. The food is very good. Service is OK, nothing to brag about. People are friendly. Typical Deli atmosphere. Good for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Prices are reasonable for NYC.

Went here on the recommendation of a friend and glad we did. Neat part of the city that we probably wouldn't have otherwise seen and a really nice place to eat. Superb service from our waitress! Big menu and really good sandwiches. Sides like fries are extra but sandwiches do come with a little container of coleslaw, a pickle, and a cucumber (our first experience with that as a garnish). Our bill for 4 of us for lunch was $63 not including tip which is a little exorbitant for our budget but at least we got excellent food and service for our money.

WHen we are in town we are here almost every day, if not every other. PJ's pastrami is as good as it gets. Lean, moist and so flavorful. They make the best breakfast anywhere. Make sure to ask for well done french fries with your eggs and rye toast buttered in the kitchen (their tabs of butter are ice cold and won't spread.) Rye toast (or bread for sandwiches) is the bread of choice. Their matzoh ball soup is outstanding with soft and tasty matzoh balls and the kreplach soup is as good as it gets. One of my favs is the matzoh brie made with well done onions and soft scrambled eggs. I am making myself hungry thinking about Bernstein's. I promise you after one trip, you won't be able to stay away.

I love this Jewish deli/diner. Their pastrami sandwiches are delicious and huge. Their chicken soup is amazing. Their service is quick. My only complaint is that it is very expensive, and maybe that is the partly the source of the hate mail I see in these reviews.

We stopped here before visiting the Frick Museum as it was close. It was an excellent choice to start the day, good choice of omelettes, french toast, and Jewish fare. As we are visitors and some of the excellent deli food is not available in our area, I had Nova with my eggs and bagel, it was delicious, my friends had French toast with Challah bread and a pastrami omelet. Our waitress was very friendly and efficient. Great stop.

My husband and I shared a pastrami sandwich and matzo ball soup, big servings and were really delicious. The staff were very attentive, had a great atmosphere

My son had an audition at Marymount College a few Sundays ago and we stopped here for lunch. We were seated immediately. I had a pastrami reuben which was huge and so delicious. My wife had a spinach and feta omlette and my son had a western omlette. They were both very large and delicious. My son had an order of macaroni and cheese from the kid's menu which was made to order. As a mac and cheese connoisseur, he like it very much. Despite the fact that lunch cost $75, it was tasty and enjoyable. We would stop again if in the area. Covid protocols were adhered to. The staff wore masks and asked to see our proof of vaccination as required in NYC. Patrons wore masks unless eating or drinking.

I got here just by chance, pretty late for lunch and quite hungry. Bernstein is a rare memento of the good, old time New York dining scene, with its dated, but well preserved, decor. I had a super juicy, enormous burger with all the trimmings, which I liked very much. I never have burgers except in New York, where they are (occasionally) broiled to perfection. It was the case here. Service was super friendly and prices quite reasonable. Travel in time and pay a visit to Bernstein!

This once good deli has turned into a complete garbage dump, probably because of the extremely rude and almost criminally aggressive "manager". We were given the wrong package which was ordered at the restaurant but we did not discover this until we got home. We called the restaurant to request delivery of our correct order but the manager refused to deliver and tried to physically intimidate my wife when she returned to get the correct order. No apology was even given for their mistake

You can get a great deli experience here and great service. For my money it's the best. That new place on East 75th Street can't touch them!!! Go hungry! Turkey is amazing Potato Pancakes could be better than than the old Ideal Diner on East 86th street!!! Yes I said it!

Was walking by and decided to stop in for a pastrami sandwich. I have been eating pastrami for nearly 50 years so my standards are pretty high. I had not heard about Bernstein's so expectations were low but I was blown away. The pastrami was melt in your mouth, much better than Pastrami Queen and at least as good as 2nd Avenue Deli. Sandwich wasn't as big as those other two but more than large enough, just not the Instagram event type sandwich. I also loved the potato pancake (latka). It was really crispy and served with more than enough sour cream. The waitress was also great. I had trouble using their wifi so she actually took my phone and connected. Overall, great experience.

After a morning touring museums and central park, we wandered on foot trying to find a nice place to sit down and have lunch. As always, trying to please multiple age groups - kids 7 and 12, adults, and a senior not the least bit interested in fast food of any kind. So after a few places that just didn't pass muster, we found this amazing deli. The staff was ridiculously friendly. The food was delicious. My 12 year old expanded her herizons and discovered that (a) jewish delis don't serve ham, and (b) pastrami is good! (Shocker!) It was also nice to get slightly off the touristy track and see a little slice of a real New York neighborhood.

I've started going here following regular, nearby regular medical appointments--and not only do I find the food to be tasty and fresh, but I find the staff to be warm and caring. I'm only middle-aged, but it is clear from my posture that I am having a health issue. Well, though not Jewish, I head to PJ Bernstein for their wonderful, traditional, homemade chicken noodle soup (the panacea for all ills) and other, and I am always treated warmly. I like the fact that the owner/managers are on site; and it's a great atmosphere.

I love the food in this restaurant. The chicken soup is outstanding , the pastrami with their special pickles together with their coleslaw is to die for. This time I tried their BLT sandwich with their special spinach salad with beets and goat cheese. Both dishes were delicious!!! Also you have to try their white fish salad on a bagel

Three of us went here after a day at the Met. We were starving when we showed up and were not disappointed. Being as our friend was Ukrainian, we had to try the borscht, which was very good. It didn't have quite the number of vegetables as the one his mom made for us, but we didn't hold that against them. What really helped us in the hunger department was a couple of Reubens. The were served open faced and nearly covered the plate. The meat was stacked so high, that actually eating it as a sandwich was a challenge. We saw another patron remove half of the meat before folding it over. It was fantastic. We arrived between 4:30 and 5:00 in the afternoon. We didn't have to wait on a table, but it was not completely empty. By the time we left at ~6:30, all the tables were filled, and the phone was ringing off the hook with take out orders. All in all, it was just the sort of meal that we were looking for that day.

I love when I come to New York to eat at P J Bernstein. I had the hot pastrami sandwich on rye, my sister had the a BLT and my mother had the toasted cheese with bacon sandwich accompanied by the best ever potato salad & coleslaw and don't forget the pickles.

In today's world it is not too tough to find a Deli here in New York City. They are all over the city. But to find a true, old fashioned style Jewish Deli is not so easy. They do exist, but you have to find them when you can. That is why we are lucky when we walk into PJ BERNSTEIN Deli on the East Side. It is authentic. Where can you begin. It had everything. Before going in I knew what I wanted to have. It is like a standard order when you walk into the deli you always remembered. It is what you always like and want. First up was the MATZOH BALL SOUP. This is a classic. It was huge, fresh and filled with everything you would expect. And it was all homemade today. The matzoh ball was large and fresh. It was light and moist. The soup itself was fresh chicken soup and had in it carrots, celery, and some onion. It also was filled with noodles. These alone could have been a bowl of pasta. But in the soup the bowl could have been an entire meal. It was perfect. And they are famous for it here. We also had KREPLAH SOUP. This is traditional. Similar to matzoh ball soup, but it is filled with dumplings filled with beef in a soup that also contains carrots, celery and onions. The flavor was perfect. A little salt and pepper, but not too much. It is the beef soup that makes you enjoy each spoon. One extra order was of BEEF GOULASH. It was filled with large pieces of beef along with carrots and some vegetables. It was placed in the bowl on top of noodles. This you eat with a spoon for each bite you take. It is a good dish when you have the soup. Here at PJ Bernstein you have to have a traditional Deli Sandwich. Even before we entered we knew what we wanted to have. Of course, when you look at the menu, or talk to the team, you might want something else or more. We went with what you expect. To start, we had PASTRAMI on RYE with mustard. That is perfect. The fresh rye bread was just made. It was real rye bread freshly made. It was a good size. Not think and not thin. Just right. Inside it was filled with fresh pastrami. This was lean, which is perfect for today. In the past it would have been more fat, but in today's world it is a bit more lean. In either case, with a little mustard on your sandwich you could take a bite and be glad you did. It is just right. In fact, you can eat half the sandwich and take the other half home for another meal. That is how much you have here. The other sandwich we had was the REUBEN. It is a classic. This is a combination of pastrami and sauerkraut placed on fresh rye bread that is then topped with Swiss cheese that is roasted so that the cheese can melt. In many places this is a standard size when you order. But here at PJ Bernstein it is large. This is the way it use to be made, and to have it here is eating the way it use to be made. It was warm, melted, fresh, tasty. You look at it and believe you cannot eat the entire thing and have to take half of it home. Instead, you sit and eat and enjoy. You can finish the entire reuben as you enjoy each bite you take. Naturally this is served with some coleslaw which is homemade, and a pickle. The perfect, traditional reuben. Naturally we also had a side of LATKE. These are freshly made potato dish that are ground and mixed and then fried. This is something that can be served on the side, or become an entire meal itself for some people. Either way, it is crisp, fresh and tasty. The seasoning is right. When you are in PJ Bernstein you do not need french fries. You cannot go to the deli without having a dessert and a cup of coffee. That is the way to finish your meal. And, here at PJ Bernstein, they have a dessert list that will take you time to consider what you want. In our case we went traditional with an order of RUGGELACH. Ruggelach is a typical pastry dessert which is not too sweet and has the right flavor and taste. It can be plain, or it can be filled with jams, fruit, nuts, or chocolate. It really is what you would want. We had a variety of 8 different ruggelach to try. Each was different and perfect. It was freshly homemade, so it was new and perfect after the meal. PJ Bernstein has been around since 1965 when it was founded by Alex. The price is right. You know that when your meal arrives. That is a big portion. Each bite reminds you of the history of eating in a Jewish Deli. (it is non-kosher.) The staff is excellent. They can answer questions and help you as you try to decide what you want. There is also a small Jazz Group that will be inside playing at night to whoever arrives to eat. This is something new and ideal for the time. It is worth checking out when you finally decide what to eat. Overall, PJ Bernstein is the perfect, authentic place to go for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. It is open 7 days a week, so it will be there when you are ready. Go now.

This deli is an institution on the upper East Side of Manhattan. It has been there forever, which in this era of insane commercial rents, is a remarkable achievement in and of itself. The food is solid Jewish style deli fare. Matzoh Ball soup, ✔️ Pastrami, Corned Beef, Roast Beef, et al sandwiches ✔️ Hot open sandwiches ✔️ get the drift? The food is good, the staff VERY friendly & service is quick as it should be in a deli. You don't have to be Jewish to love PJ Bernstein (but, it couldn't hurt!) The decor hasn't changed since...forever, and that's exactly as it should be (and not to worry, PJB is immaculately clean.) PLEASE don't order a pastrami on WHITE bread with MAYO, you may be expelled. (Actually, they'll serve you that as well if you REALLY want it.) Go, eat, (and eat and eat), the prices are more than fair for this kind of food. in NYC. By the way, this ain't no BISTRO, (heaven forbid.) GO...support local business...remember... IT COULDN'T HURT!

An authentic NY deli was on my bucket list and this joint did not disappoint. We were welcomed in like locals and were given great service. The menu was huge and we wanted to eat everything but had the reuben and the knish, two kinds of pickles. Both were amazing. They had a gluten free bread option which was huge for us. Server gave us dessert on the house - fresh watermelon on a hot day! Will definitely be back and will tell all our friends to visit.

A very simple order of Pastrami and fries to go. Sandwich was piled high and the fries were done the way I like them.

I stopped for lunch at PJ Bernstein on Third Avenue recently. Service was prompt, super friendly and very funny. Cleanliness was excellent. I had a bowl of borscht soup, which was excellent. It went well with an almost perfect pastrami sandwich.

Heard about this restaurant from our daughter who lives in NYC. My husband ordered the special (stuffed peppers with steamed broccoli) and he was very pleased with his generous choice! I ordered a half a turkey sandwich on 7 grain bread and this was delicious! The two types of pickles that came with the sandwich were so good and crispy and even the small side of coleslaw was fresh tasting. The wait staff was friendly and efficient and we plan to go there again on a future visit to NYC!

About the best pastrami I've had in New York, and the hot dogs are great too (of course with mustard and sauerkraut)

We’ve been repeat customers at P.J. Bernstein’s for years - bearing their price increases (but not food quality increases) with stiff upper lips and also bearing up with the cacophony of noise inside and often abrupt service. On our most recent visit, we see that they are now charging a fee to use a credit card. Food quality which is not, in our opinion, commensurate with the prices charged coupled with a credit card fee is, also in our opinion, the perfect “recipe” to encourage customers to “vote with their feet.” Regrettably, we won’t be back.

Okay, you wouldn't go out of your way for a meal here, but if in the 'hood, you will find corned beef, tongue, pastrami and a other heart unhealthy goodies. There are blintzes and potato pancakes, lox and herring along with shrimp salad, brisket, delissh' soups and a long list of other treats . . . Decor is bare bones, plain. I like rhe pastrami sandwich, which is piled so high with meat. that I often take some home.It's fast food for the soul,. There's a take out counter and speedy delivery. Sandwich platters are excellent. When I got a 10am phone call that my grandson and 5 friends were enroute to Manhattan from the 'burbs, , They would briefly vist me, for a brief visit, I said ' Come for lunch." I phoned Bernstein, ordered sandwiches, cole slaw, etc . It was delivered promptly, beautifully orepared and tasted wonderful. Six hungry college students loved it! Me, too.

I have been going here for many years and the menu is pretty constant. They do great soups and their brisket is outstanding. The stopped taking Amex a while back and I stopped going there. I also foundtheir prices are pretty high even for the city when their sandwiches are now $14.95 per. The one dish that is a standout is the cold borscht with hot boiled potato and sour cream(the best around). Seven Layer cake for dessert is good as well.

Excellent pastrami and corned beef. The bread couldn’t get any fresher. Mariana 💥 is an excellent server. She is on top of her job!! Juice bar also recommended.

Can not visit NY and not find a place for pastrami. Found this establishment as I was out walking for lunch. So glad I stopped. I sat at the counter for my pastrami on rye. Nice thin slice of bread and perfect amount of meat. Staff very nice and attentive. I will visit again when up this way. Prices reasonable.

Huge selection of deli favs. Generous portions fair prices. Only ‘beef’ is they sliced meats too thin for my taste

This is a great throwback 1950s New York Jewish deli. Formica counters and stools but great pastrami sandwiches. The walls are decorated with photos of stars current and past. We even saw Jackie Mason there. Perfect for your craving to nosh and nosh big.

This is a great kosher style restaurant! We ordered our food via seamless (my latest obsession). We had: Matzo ball soup - delicious Knish (not fried) - so so good! Pastrami Sandwich - terrific Roast Beef with Cheese Sandwich - Great and rare Tuna Fish Salad - Very good In my opinion, this place is better than 2nd Avenue Deli. The staff is really nice - they called us when they didn't have a plain bagel for my daughter's tuna fish. We will definitely order from them again

This is close to Marymount and we wanted to get a little snack. It's a local gem that you would stop at as a tourist, but it was a lovely experience. We were greeted by the owners and thinking of take out but he convinced us to relax for a bit. He brought noodle soup and a huge burger for our son. And then they served us watermelon (it was about 100 degrees) even thought two of us weren't eating. The food was fresh, the service was welcoming and family like and we will come here when we visit our daughter! Loved this bistro. Also have fresh juice!

We always have dinner at that deli when in NYC. The place is unpretentious, the portions are huge, the food delicious and the service is friendly.

Attentive, friendly service. Great food! Nice interior. What's not to love? We finally found our favorite NY deli! We'll be back!

Exactly the authentic deli we were looking for while visiting NY. We ordered (between our whole family) Grandpa's meatball soup, egg salad, mushroom soup, Matzoh ball soup, reuben, grilled cheese, tuna salad, and the pastrami - and it was ALL spectacular! Go to the Met - then eat here afterwards.

I have been stopping here for more than 17 years. The place has been sold a few times. The physical plant looks a lot better. Than before , prices are higher but the food has not kept pace. Ordered turkey dinner. And the meat was pretty tasteless, the potatoes looked as if it was Just scooped out of a big pot. And the rye bread slice was so thin you could see through it. If you are going to charge more then improve your product. The one thing that was good was creamed spinach. There us no heart here so stick with Katz or Russ and daughter or even fine & Schapiro for some. Real deli

Some days there is no better diner that this place. Other days it gives me a headache and I never want to return. Too much attitude in general so I am inclined not to return and I know they won't miss me! Good coffee though.

I say double because the week I spent in New York i so loved this little deli that I went twice. Their Pastrami was lean and delicious, good rye bread and as it was cold and snowy i have chicken Noodle soup one day and Borscht the other. Wash it down with a Dr. Browns Cherry Soda and I for one am happy. Clean restaurant, popular with the neighborhood and really nice service. Upper East Side family friendly give them a try. In my opinion you will not be disappointed.

This place has been family’s go-to deli for ages and it has never let us down! The turkey is the best I’ve ever tasted and their soups are perfection! Such a warm staff- many of whom have been there for decades. Very kid friendly as the team is extremely accommodating. They recently renovated and the space looks excellent (and the bathrooms are spotless). There’s good reason we keep coming back for more!

Place has improved since new owners took over. Very good soups and deli especially their corned beef. Prices ar a bit high but service is good and sour tomatoes are great. Recommended except Saturday nights when too crowded. Try it as it is one of a dying breed of kosher Delis left in nyc.

Food is ok. Service deplorable. Wait staff nasty and rude. And delivery takes over an hour. Better to pick up.

We lived right around the corner from PJ Bernstein's and have enjoyed their food for many years. We recently moved to Maine and sometimes you just need a really good corned beef sandwich! Whenever we're in town now and when that urge comes, we head to PJ Bernstein's. We'd been to Pastrami King, and the newly relocated 2nd Avenue Deli ( among others) on the Upper East Side, but other than classic Katz's Deli on Houston Street, PJ's is the best. I usually start with with a grilled frank with mustard followed by a sandwich. My wife usually has the chicken noodle soup (their matzoh balls are good too). It's a classic and you'll really enjoy that. Their seeded rye bread is the perfect foil for the lean and juicy corned beef piled high on their sandwich. Ask for Russian dressing and see if you'd prefer that over the mustard it's usually served with. Gotta have the Dr. Browns Cream soda, too! The service is brisk but efficient. You'll probably get the check before you are finished, But hey, that's the deli biz in NYC. Enjoy

This Deli is a wonderful place to experience genuine foods that are otherwise hard to find. Food variety is very large. The place was extremely busy while we were there. I ordered a corned beef sandwich with latkes (specified in the menu as potato pancakes). The beef was excellent, the latkes a little overcooked but overall, a wonderful dish. Highly recommended

Classic, old school sandwiches, soups, breads and service. Hectic. Very much the best at pastrami, salami, salad, rye bread, chicken w or w/o matzoh balls (you have to ask, ? don't go) Location works for shopping on the East side. Go with an appetite but close your ears to the ruckas

First, the open-faced Reuben is a winner! However, bring the wallet--think $24 for the sandwich, pickle, and slaw. Simple dining area, and we had entertainment from the quirky clientele and workers. Disappointed that there was no pumpernickel in a Jewish deli for my adequate egg salad sandwich. Too many other restaurant choices to return here.

Our favorite place for matzo ball soup potato latkes! Both my son and I crave the soup and it is the best in town! Alex the owner I always buzzing around the restaurant checking in to make sure everyone is happy, which is nice to see. The staff always remembers my son and chats with him for a few mins. This is a great little spot for good solid homemade food. Nothing beats a great hot bowl of matzo ball soup on a cold nyc day!

The food was really good. We walked by y and decided to stop- glad we did. The Rueben- was big enough to share between 2 adults. Tasty The French toast- very good and came with fresh fruit that was actually fresh The chicken noodle soup- good homemade soup Mediterranean salad and falafel- good fresh lettuce and veggies. Falafel is good too. Customer service was great. Bathrooms clean Tables nicely spread apart

Huge menu selection and fantastic value for the money. It's nothing fancy but the food is fantastic.

Worst chicken soup. Colored water with tasteless matzo balls. The price was almost $10.

The food was good and the staff was friendly. Standard Jewish deli food, prepared quickly. Burgers take a bit longer. It’s a bustling place! Pickles were amazing!!

Excellent food. We wanted a true Jewish Deli meal and PJ's had exactly what we wanted. Staff extremely friendly and helpful with suggestions.

We wanted the original deli expierence and this was it. The lady serving us was great, really friendly and attentive. You could probably share a sandwich but we opted for one each though one was a smaller grilled cheese. Would recommend if you want a deli sandwich

Ordered via Seamless and have taken out from the counter. I've tried the roast turkey sandwich, grandma's chicken soup and split pea soup. All were excellent. Although I've never eaten inside, it's a good place to stop in as there are few Jewish delis anywhere nearby on the UES. The soups look amazing. Bernstein's claims to have the best pastrami in the city, and from the sandwiches I've seen being prepared, I wouldn't doubt it!

I felt like a deli sandwich the other day and headed here. Delicious, huge sandwich almost needed a ladder to scale. Not cheap but definitely value for your money. Take out or eat here, extensive menu.

So, I met an old acquaintance from out-of-town for what started out to be a late-ish breakfast. We walked into what I thought was a typical upper-east side NY deli. It was one of those hot heat wave days in mid-August. The air conditioning was perfect! The décor, welcoming, the ambiance inviting. We sat down and perused the menu which to my experienced eyes was reasonably price. Apple Pancakes caught my friends eye and asked the waitress whether the apples were real (meaning not out of a can). The waitress said, "Yes". We decided to share. Verdict? Delicious !!! Not too sweet. Well cooked. We sat and savored and caught up and suddenly, it was lunch! Oh, said my friend, let's have lunch! "Upper East Side Ladies' Delight" is a salad which we shared because we simply could not have eaten the entire salad without sharing. We left around three hours after we had arrived. Unlike in other busy delis and restaurants, we were never rushed, even though PJ Bernstein's is indeed busy. When you're in this area Third Avenue between 70th and 71st Streets and you want a very tasty meal, here's the place to go.

This is a classic New York Deli for mostly local elderly people. Its a neighborhood unassuming stop off for guaranteed fresh sandwiches, salads, soups etc. You can't go wrong here but don't expect a trendy New York restaurant.