By Gus Saltonstall
Since the end of March, Pastrami Queen’s Upper West Side location on West 72nd Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus, has been closed “due to renovations.”
Within the last few days, though, a new sign has gone up on the storefront, announcing “Deli Chin — Home Of The Pastrami Egg Roll!”
There are also multiple work permit signs from the Department of Buildings on the storefront, including one for an alteration that includes “Renovation of eating and drinking establishment. Partition work. Finishes.”
Pastrami Queen did not immediately respond to West Side Rag’s request for comment on the future of the eatery at the location.
Much about the situation remains unclear, including whether Deli Chin would be a venture from Pastrami Queen ownership or a new ownership group, but the sign does indicate that pastrami will be sold in some capacity.
Pastrami Queen sells pastrami egg rolls at all of its locations.
The Rag also did not find any existing Deli Chin outlets on the Upper West Side or in New York City.
When Pastrami Queen announced the Upper West Side location’s shuttering in March, it described it as a “temporary closure,” and a representative told West Side Rag that the plan at that time was to “reopen as soon as the repairs are complete.” There was no mention of a Deli Chin.
When the Rag visited the location on Monday, construction workers were flowing in and out of the storefront, and it was clear that extensive work had taken place inside. The workers turned down requests from the Rag for more information.
The Rag will update this story when we are able to find out more.
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Have any other readers noticed that an overwhelming amount of WSR news happens on 72nd Street? Proximity to office or coincidence? 72nd is coverered like no other.
No
It’s a major center, the center of my UWS life.
Because it’s the best street in the neighborhood, of course!
LOL. 🤣🤣🤣
Is the office on 72nd?! How could I be there for 10+ years and not know that, lol? I always thought too much attention was being given to the neighborhoods above 90th St. Or maybe that was just all the complainers asking why they didn’t have as many businesses as 72nd. 🧐
Lols. There is little postings on anything above 90th Street.
Most likely not linked to pastrami queen. Sign for deli chin says “glatt kosher” which pastrami queen definitely wasn’t. Excited for a new Chinese option on the uws!
Oh my word, the UWS – at least the parts of it not near 72nd Street – has turned into a new Asian neighborhood. Businesses opened in the past few years – Hashi Market, Teso Mini, Xian Noodle, Sauerkraut Fish, Nan Xiang Express, Granma’s (or something like that), TBaar, two bubble tea places. It would be great to have Jewish deli here! Better yet, a branch of Tashkent Supermarket – Asian but not noodles, rice, or bubble tea!
And for those who never venture past the WSR’s apparent focus on 72nd Street, I’ll be a bit more specific:
Hashi Market – large Japanese grocery at NE corner of 107th
Teso Mini – small Japanese market between 106th and 107th on east side of Broadway
Xian Noodle – east side of Broadway between 107th and 108th
Sauerkraut Fish – west side of Broadway between 108th and 109th. Mostly Asian clientele
Nan Xiang Express – west side of Broadway between 107th and 108th,
TBaar – Asian variant on breakfast, I think – also west side of Broadway between 107th and 108th
Granma’s – basic Chinese take-out, trying to become a new chain (they told me) – SE corner of 108th and Broadway
Bubble tea – east side of Broadway between 108th and 109th
Another place that appears to sell bubble teas – west side of Broadway between 108th and 109th. Mostly Asian clientele
And then of course there’s H-Mart on the SE corner of 110th and Broadway, which isn’t new.
Also in the same area: Hey Tea, Luckin Coffee (Chinese chain), Cloud Touch, Aunt Jenny (Chinese chain), and Molly Tea. It’s getting saturated and boringly homogenous.
I think it is the proximity to Columbia, and
And another Hashi Market on Amsterdam and 70th.
That’s H Mart. Different outfit.
I’m with you 100% on a Tashkent supermarket! I love that place!
Please!!!
Love that area of Broadway (and I love 72nd Street too) —
They were certainly kosher, if not glatt. That matters so much?
100%. Strictly kosher people won’t eat at Pastrami Queen.
So “kosher” is different from “strictly kosher”? Just “slightly kind of a little bit kosher, maybe”?
Really, what is the difference?
Glatt means “smooth”in Hebrew. There are a number of checks as part of an examination on the carcass after slaughtering in order to confirm the health of the animal from which the meat comes. The “smooth” relates to the lungs not having any growths on it. It is just one indication that this was a healthy animal. How glatt relates to the overall health of the animal is not clear.
The difference mainly is the kosher supervision and certification authority used by the restaurant.
It was better explained below.
How hard you obey the small rules and restrictions. If you’re going to do it, do it right!
Sounds like a revival of the old Bernstein on Essex concept AKA Schmulke Bernstein’s . It was an early mashup of classic kosher deli and vaguely Asian food.
Note that the sign indicates that it will be a higher level of kosher (Glatt kosher) than Pastrami Queen is.
Schmulke Bernstein was a relative of mine! Yay, Schmulke!
A true legend!
Yes! Schmulke Bernstein’s! Grew up on the LES and went there as a treat for dinner. All of the Chinese waiters spoke some level of Yiddish or Hebrew! Fantastic!!
Yes. Ate there once with my parents
“Higher” level of kashurt is pure mythology.
Like different levels of pregnant. You either are or are not.
Another important distinction is that Pastrami Queen (like Fine & Shapiro before it) was open for business on Shabbas. For observant Jews who are strictly kosher, that simply is not Kosher enough and keeps them from eating there. Glatt Kosher means that they are closed on Shabbas.
Glatt Kosher does not mean that they’re closed on Shabbat. Glatt is a different standard of kosher meat. However, it almost always goes hand in hand with being closed on Shabbat, and having a mashgiach temidi (on-site supervision at all times).
To each their own. There are measurable differences which anyone is free to prefer or ignore. The point I made is that it signifies a different potential customer.
Not actually the case. For example, the level of “trust me bro” where the rabbi might come once or twice a year is not generally accepted by those who adhere to strict kashrut standards, and true Glatt supervision means a mashgiach on site, not just cooked with glatt meat. Which is also done by some who don’t want to pay for the supervision. There’s no myth to it, it’s very real, they’re just a question by those less observant whether or not it is required or if the trust can be given, and to each his own, but don’t call it a myth just because you don’t hold by it. And don’t assume I do just because I am defending it
Thanks. This is a helpful answer.
Temporary restaurants closures are usually bogus
Very true. This was brought up regarding Casasalvo’s closure for “renovations.” Most of the time, it’s just short-hand for “we closed.”
I think Pastrami Queen never found their customer base in the UWS. Every time I went there, it was empty. I think they are simply overpriced for what they offer. They have cheaper prices in some other locations, like Time Out Market or Moynihan Hall.
Ordered once from them. The Pastrami was so full of fat that there was almost no meat.Never again. Lately, many things I have ordered have been very lacking. In my area, 85&WEA, food is very disappointing except for French Roast & 5 Napkin Burger. Good places are gone.
Exactly. Their baseline sandwich was $30 after tax. Good luck with that
Same as Katz’s.
Katz’s sandwich has much more meat.
https://oldjewishmen.substack.com/p/how-much-meat-is-on-a-sandwich-crowning?utm_source=perplexity
At least Kat’z is a tourist trap. I thought 30 dollar sandwiches were only for suckers
Exactly…. The price/value equation was too far off for a sandwich. A good one, but not great one….
Fine and Schapiro thrived at that location for years so it’s interesting that they didn’t retain that customer base.
It wasn’t clean enough….
Fine & Shapiro – the defining deli of my childhood. Iconic
I’m not certain Fine and Shapiro could have retained that customer base either
It was never as good – and never had the variety – as previous tenant Fine & Shapiro.
And yet, how has it remained open on the UES since the 1950’s? Serious question.
Serious answer: it hasn’t. Pastrami Queen on the UES has not been there since the 1950’s. It opened in the 2010’s.
Hmm, interesting. Was it previously called Pastrami King? An older friend told me his family has been going there since he was a child. In any case 2010’s-2026 is still a long successful run.
Pastrami King was located on Queens Blvd in Queens for many, many years and when it closed there it reopened on the UES as Pastrami Queen.
Somebody finally got it right. Thanks, Renee. I was working on East 86th when the Queen opened.
Per Wiki: What is the history of Pastrami Queen?
The Pastrami Queen is a Jewish deli on the Upper East Side of Manhattan which opened as Pastrami King in Williamsburg, Brooklyn before moving to Kew Gardens, Queens in 1961. The kosher restaurant opened in 1956. They’ve since opened (2020) a location on the Upper West Side considered their flagship location.
PQ has operated its UES location since 1998, almost three decades now. Why it couldn’t flourish in the same form on the UWS with no similar competitors along a corridor of restaurants and heavy foot traffic is a good business question.
They opened their first store in 1998, according to their website, as Pastrami King. But they opened the shop on the UES ~15 years ago. I remember when they had free pastrami when they opened, and was happy to see the UWS location do the same when it opened.
The UES location probably does a better business because they are right across the street from Lenox Hill Hospital, so they have a steady influx of hospital staff and patients.
According to NYCtourism.com, the UES location opened in 2006. I was off by about five years and Kayson off by 8, so roughly in the middle. And the name change from King to Queen was in 1998.
Not the same quality. Much better in Queens.
Thanks for the info! 😊
When will someone re-open Eclair with its original recipes??? Also Grossinger’s.
To repeat myself: the cream cheese squares at Royale topped Eclair.
There are SO many empty storefronts! The wonderful bakeries of yore could attract so many grateful shoppers: Eclair, Cake Masters, Babka, Grossinger’s , Royale… that world should not be gone, and indeed, many of us are not gone, either. Moreover, the legions of fans have told their children and grandchildren about those bakeries. They would welcome revivals.
To say nothing of its mittel- Eueopra
…its mittel-European clientel….
Fugeddaboutit. That world is over and gone.
Like the P & G bar Ms. Grimbles cheesecake
And a host of other West Side places that gave the nabe it’s soul
I thought Red Farm was the home of the pastrami egg roll.
came here to say this!
Sorry to see Pastrami Queen go and that location was a Jewish Deli for 90+ years since Fine and Schapiro operated prior to PQ. I think Pastrami Queens prices were quite high and the sandwiches were not overstuffed like many Jewish Delis. Quality was usually excellent though. I believe Pastrami Queen was run by the same people who own Friedman’s and Community so they may be trying out a new concept.
Miss the Pastrami King in Kew Gardens on QB across from the courthouse.
I would guess same owners – the east side PQ has a pastrami egg roll on the menu.
It’s a pretty common item in kosher and Jewish delis not unique to PQ.
My old hood. Pretty much the only location in the City I’d be interested in buying an apt.
Its going to be a strictly kosher chinese restaurant
We ordered their chicken in the pot often. Excellent but overpriced. The space was dirty and run down.
The employees answering the phone didn’t speak english very well. We order from the UES now. That restaurant is rundown and tired too.Don’t be afraid to spend $$ to renovate.
The food world is a much better place since the invention of the Pastrami Eggroll!!
Looking forward to this new restaurant.
If Deli Chin keeps the same price structure as Pastrami Queen, it will probably go out of business quickly, too. PQ’s prices were ridiculous.
Every time I walked by or entered Pastrami Queen it was empty. They did have a waitstaff option but I rarely saw anyone actually eating there.
I figured they survived by takeout and catering (I occasionally picked up food there for takeout).
It’s a shame there are so few kosher (as opposed to kosher style) delis left in the city.
I wish this new kosher/Chinese hybrid restaurant luck.
Pastrami Egg Rolls are famous from The Red Farm – they are amazing – perhaps Deli Chin is part of Red Farm
The concern about news north of 90th Street might be because no one reports news north of 90th Street – or not!!!
I live on 90 & Columbus, AKA the Border Line!
Is there anywhere left in the Upper West Side to get a good pastrami sandwich?
I don’t mean some deli or diner that will open a shrink-wrapped package from the refrigerator. I mean real, fresh pastrami. Or is even the concept gone into history?
Pastrami Queen had the worst service.
The last 2x I went were horrible.
The prices went up for a minimalist pastrami on rye.
It shouldn’t take 25 minutes to get a hot dog and a knish and 10 minutes to get a straw.
They failed other customers as well.
Sad to say, I will not miss surly behavior and skimpy pastrami on rye.
Omg!!! Thanks for the happy reminder.
Shumelka Bernsteins- what memories.
I’m grinning!!
Sounds great. I’d love to go to Shumelka Bernstein’s!
And here;s something else: I’d love to shop at Fairway’s when the original three owners were there every day.
I went there once and it wasn’t so good. I didn’t know it was kosher. That explains why it was way overpriced.
I went to Pastrami Queen many times for take out orders. There seemed to be a lot of delivery business but typically there was no one eating in the restaurant. The food was expensive and inconsistent.