i remember going to Barney Greengrass with some friends. We got on the back of the line. A friend said to me that a person on the front of the line looked like a famous writer (not Philip Roth). I walked towards the front of the line,turned around and said "he doesn't look like so and so, he IS so and so."
12
Been going to Barney Greengrass and Russ & Daughters for 40 years. This is NYC !
7
Glad you got the ID of the mounted fish corrected from lake sturgeon to jack.
Barney Greengrass used to be great in the 1970s-80s. We were there last year. The food was over-priced, and mediocre. The worst, though, was the unwelcoming attitude of the counter staff and the manager. We tried to pay with new $20 bills we'd just gotten from our bank. They ran our money through a machine, telling us they were counterfeit...loudly. We took the money back to our bank. The bank ran them through their own machines and told us they were NOT counterfeit. With so many other places to get the same food-notably Zabar's, and Fine & Shapiro, we won't be going back for more Greengrass guff any time soon. Buh bye to Barney G's. Too much rude 'tude.
25
I lived in New York for ten years. When I moved away, this was my last meal in NY. Not Per Se, not Joe’s pizza, not some trendy spot. And I loved it and think of that meal often.
10
If anything screams "New York," it's this place. When I lived on the upper west side, my friend David and I used to frequent it every weekend. I also proposed to my wife here. I made friends with Nick the cook and the waiters, and they treated us like family.
Between Barney Greengrass and Fine and Schapiro, I was a gastronomically happy New Yorker.
36
Gefilte fish? Interesting dish. I have loved it since I was a child. I just turned 74. It was an inexpensive way for the Jews in Eastern European ghettos to enjoy their fish. My DNA is Askenazi Jewish and my spouse's is northern European. Both my kids hate gefilte fish. Must be a non-dominant or recessive gene that gives one that yen. The deli sounds wonderful. I look forward to hanging out there one morning when I come east to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Though the brunch will take a week off my life, it will be time well spent. Lovely article whoever has eaten there. Thank you.
31
"I passed the great apartment buildings on Central Park West, the brownstones sleeping in the sun on 87th Street. This is a different New York from the city of the 21st century; filled with gorgeous buildings, it is quieter, greener, more residential. " I immediately wondered if the author was from a different place. Indeed - quickly confirmed when I scrolled up to lifelong " downtown denizen".
6
Whenever I visit my Upper Westside family,I make a pilgrimage to BG. I go between the breakfast crowd and lunch crowd and always get a table. The sable appetizer (half the price of regular plate ),coffee and the NT Times. My Jewish meditative space.
9
How about an article on Harry's Shoes?
30
How this photographer managed to find a time when the place was practically empty is miraculous! I've never seen it this empty myself.
Everything Nadelson says is true; for the absolute best in appetizing (noun) there's no place like Barney Greengrass. Long may it wave! And where else can you get pletzel?
22
I went to Barney Greengrass once by myself for a LEO and bagel. The store was mobbed so they set up a TV tray for me by the front near all the waiting customers. Anyplace else, I would have left, but the allure of a Barney Greengrass LEO was too great.
12
Could someone (Gary?) please explain the New Orleans themed wallpaper - not exactly the "old country"?!
1
Hey. Appetizing is appetizing whether it's NYC or NO. I have found the two cities as the only American cities in the top 10 when the great eating cities of the world are listed. From my limited experience that is accurate.
5
It's beyond sad that deli culture is disappearing. If there's a Heaven it'll be full of good delis.
43
Great place. Should never go out of business. Landmark status. But that fish above Barney Greengrass is a bluefish, not a lake sturgeon. Smoked bluefish is great too though.
7
I love this article, makes me want to have a piece of sturgeon (in Mpls hard to find!) and read a Philip Roth book. What could be better! Thanks for a wonderful article.
13
And bring cash (only) - and plenty of it.
17
Groucho liked his scrambled eggs and Nova.
14
When I was a student at Barnard, I used to babysit for a couple who lived on West 87th St. They paid me in Barney Greengrass herring and whitefish salad. I think I got the better end of that deal!
44
Unless your Jerry Seinfeld, the waitstaff at this place treats you like chopped liver. After paying the price of waiting in a long line, they’re capable of grabbing a hot cup of freshly poured coffee right out of your hands to get you to pay and leave promptly after eating. I wouldn’t waste your time or money when you can go to Russ & Daughters for same quality, humane treatment.
33
As an Upper West Side Jew I love the food at Barney Greengrass. As the neighborhood (and city) increasingly resembles a suburban strip mall, it is great to have old time places with character like this. I don't begrudge their right to make a living, but their prices have really gotten ridiculous. As noted in the article, it was once a place where a writer or teacher could frequently dine. Now they would need to take out a loan to pay for it.
48
@NYC BD I went to a Russia deli in Minneapolis (Minnetonka, actually), and was shocked to find that all the smoked fish was the SAME price. Sable was the same as trout, as whitefish, all reasonable. And you know what? Take away the fur-coat price, and sable tastes about the same as any other fish.
17
Totally interested in reading about the amazing store. Lost me when the focus went to Roth eating there.
7