Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop is a lunch counter established in 1929 in New York's Flatiron District. The restaurant's long, narrow space features an extended bar counter with a few tables tucked in the back. Since its founding, they've been serving Jewish deli-style food.

The word "deli" comes from the German "Delikatessen," meaning a shop selling prepared meats and charcuterie. Eastern European Jews who immigrated to New York in the 19th and 20th centuries brought this culinary culture with them. Classic deli items include pastrami, Reuben sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and egg cream.

One of the most important features of deli cuisine is its traditional adherence to kosher rules: meat and dairy products don't appear in the same meal. That's why you won't find cheese on a pastrami sandwich. However, most modern delis, including Eisenberg's, no longer strictly follow kosher rules and offer a more mixed menu. Still, this place remains one of the surviving representatives of the tradition since 1929.

Beyond their classic sandwiches, they also offer soups and breakfast options. Sandwiches are priced between $16 and $25. The service is quick and the style is different from what you might expect, but it's a recognizable classic. They have a soda fountain: Coca-Cola is pulled from the tap, not served from bottles. This is called "fountain Coke." Coca-Cola actually provides special support to these types of restaurants; places like McDonald's use the same system. The syrup concentrate comes separately from the carbonated water, and the machine mixes them cold. Because the ratios are slightly different, many people find this version tastier.

Eisenberg's is also famous for its egg cream, which is regarded as one of the best in New York City. This is a lunch counter you simply can't skip when visiting New York.

Incidentally, Edward Hopper's famous painting "Nighthawks" was inspired by exactly this kind of New York lunch counter culture. When you step into Eisenberg's, you can feel that atmosphere.

The stretch of 5th Avenue where the restaurant is located takes its name from the iconic Flatiron Building, built in 1902 and named for its resemblance to a clothes iron.