Essen NY Deli

"Midwood has a sizeable Orthodox Jewish population, so it’s no surprise that one of our favorite Jewish delis is in this South Brooklyn neighborhood. Don’t reach for the salt shaker before you taste the matzo ball soup here, because the seasoning is spot on. The broth is rich and has a chicken-forward flavor. It comes with one big matzo ball that strikes the perfect balance between density and fluff, and a whole bunch of noodles." - carina finn koeppicus

"Pastrami purists will want to make a pilgrimage to Midwood’s Essen NY Deli. Here, the sandwich comes with nothing but a thick pile of thinly-sliced, slightly gelatinous pastrami between two slices of soft, squishy rye bread. The first time you go, skip the more interesting pastrami variations and get this, maybe with a side of mustard or Russian dressing. It will come with full and half-sour pickles and a bowl of sweet, creamy cole slaw. " - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang

"Midwood has a sizeable Orthodox Jewish population, so it’s no surprise that one of our favorite Jewish delis is in this South Brooklyn neighborhood. There’s nothing touristy about Essen, it’s a deli that exists to serve its community — and to make the best pastrami sandwich in New York. Yeah, we said it. This isn’t a monstrous, too-big-to-eat affair. The pastrami is juicy, thinly-sliced, and piled high between two slices of soft rye bread. The matzo ball soup and latkes are both exemplary, and if you’ve never had a pastrami egg roll, you should try one here. " - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang

"Midwood has a sizeable Orthodox Jewish population, so it’s no surprise that one of our favorite Jewish delis is in this South Brooklyn neighborhood. There’s nothing touristy about Essen, it’s a deli that exists to serve its community — and to make the best pastrami sandwich in New York. Yeah, we said it. This isn’t a monstrous, too-big-to-eat affair. The pastrami is juicy, thinly-sliced, and piled high between two slices of soft rye bread. The matzo ball soup and latkes are both exemplary, and if you’ve never had a pastrami egg roll, you should try one here. The menu is divided into two sections: Jewish deli and takeout-style Chinese. Both are worth ordering from." - Carina Finn