Kensington Kosher Delicatessen

Kensington Kosher Delicatessen Est. 1975 Layout/atmosphere *Five tables; counter area Food/drink *Paulie Special (Sliced brisket on toasted club with au jus gravy & horseradish sauce) - Good; horseradish wasn’t overpowering *Corned Beef & Pastrami on rye - solid *Frank (hot dog) - solid *Half sour pickle - solid *Macaroni salad - solid

Chicken salad and matzo ball soup very good and fresh. Today ordered mushroom barley and it was the Worst soup ever! Just water with barley. No mushrooms. So disappointed and what a waste of our money. Bens soup so much better.

I can't say enough about this kosher deli. The Corned Beef is absolutely mouth-watering and of course the hot dogs are second to none. One of the best corned beef sandwiches I've ever had also the matzo ball soup is delicious just like grandma's. I highly recommend this kosher deli for anyone who's in the Great Neck area. Also the owner Joe is a perfect gentleman and I have eaten there a few times already and if I'm in the area this is my go to spot to eat for lunch.

I actually liked this place but could not give it 5 stars because the tables are extremely cramped and uncomfortable. We ordered hot dogs and knishes and pastrami all of which were good. The service was also good. I like the old fashioned vibe reminiscent of a Jewish deli that used to exist on the lower east side. If the tables and chairs were a little nicer I'd have given higher marks.

Great neighborhood Deli store. Try their signature sandwiches. So yummy :)

Amazing experience! Matzo ball soup was amazing( which is so hard to find), and Frank w sour kraut and mustard was the best! The guys in there are soooo welcoming too def go if you’re in the area.

Yes… this place really is this good! … firstly, I’m not a relative of the owner (met the owner, Joe, and he’s a really nice fellow)… I’m a regular first time ever customer! I HAVE FOUND MY HAPPY PLACE… my wife and I are active seniors and we eat out often… we know a few things about dining out and this place has got to be “on your bucket list”! Why, you ask… well, we tried a variety of different menu items from pastrami to tounge, potato salad, a frankfurter, sauerkraut… and everything was DELICIOUS! … I’m not talking good, I’m talking great! Pastrami was “over the moon”, the tongue was splendiferous, the potato was mind blowing and guess what… everything was so good you didn’t need to add ketchup or anything to it! I know your time is valuable so let’s get down to VALUE! yep, prices… honest and true the prices are very reasonable in consideration of the quality, service and ambiance… left satiated and happy… admittedly this type of quality and presentation doesn’t come cheap but honestly… TOTALLY WORTH EVERY PENNY… WE’LL BE BACK AND AFTER YOUR FIRST VISIT YOU’LL BE BACK AS WELL!

My favorite place for over 50 years. I remember when their restaurant burned down and they opened this place on Middle Neck Road. Can’t pass without getting a hot dog. With! My grandchildren love it too as did my children and my late beloved parents. I only wish I didn’t love 3000 miles away.

Came here twice and was pleasantly surprised by this deli that I have passed by a million times but never went into before. So far, I've tried their hot dog as well as the round and square potato knishes. The round ones are baked but they deep fried it for me upon request and the square ones are like your traditional knishes. Both are delicious but I liked the square ones better. The round ones had a flaky, tasty pastry dough with flavorful mashed potatoes inside & a good ratio of filling to dough. Same with the square ones except their made with a different kind of dough & fried to crispy perfection~really, really good, coming from a knish snob. The hot dog was okay, nothing special. All the staff are incredibly welcoming & friendly. I heard they also have good pastrami, corned beef & brisket sandwiches~I'll be back soon!

Food was decent. Staff were friendly. Fast service. There's a small area for you to sit and eat.

I ordered a pastrami sandwich, which cost $17 dollars, and took 15 minutes to make, while the restaurant was completely empty. During the period I was waiting, the staff were extremely unprofessional, commenting in spanish on women passing by. The pastrami was extremely dry, and tasted like it had come from a freezer. Furthermore, the bread tasted stale & old. The sandwich was only salvageable by the sauces, of which a small amount was provided. No idea why the ratings are so high- I truly believe this is the worst restaurant in Great Neck.

Did not meet my expectations. I paid $17 for a pastrami sandwich that wasn't hot, was smaller than expected, and was served on a paper plate with plastic utensils. For that price, I expected better. Next time, I'm going to Ben's--at least they give you plenty of pickles. Here, I got just three slivers. Very disappointing.

Very good old school Jewish deli. Came here for lunch the other day and had a nice classic corned beef and pastrami sandwich. Meat was nice and hot and the bread was very fresh. Got a kanish on the side which was a little different then a kanish I'm used to but was yummy just the same and very big. To order you can either dine in or to go and the service was very fast, even with a bit of a lunch crowd. I've seen some negative comments on the service which seems to me like the guys working there are just very to the point, not overly friendly but not rude either. Regardless, they were helpful and fast. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area and looking for some good quick jewish deli.

we're first timers and we were "gob smacked" by the friendliness of the Team, the quality of the food and the VALUE! ... FIRST OFF WE'RE NOT RELATIVES OF THE OWNER... JUST REGULAR PEOPLE OUT FOR A GREAT KOSHER DELI EXPERIENCE and the Kensington "hit the spot" on all counts... Pastrami sandwiches, tongue sandwiches, frankfurter, potato salad, sauerkraut... absolutely the "BOMB"... yes, maybe a lot of food but, heck your only going around once! you really gotta go there, meet Joe and the Team (great people all) and enjoy some of the best Kosher Deli Cuisine around... now, this place ain't cheap BUT the Kensington Deli is a magniferous value and totally worth it... Honest and true, do yourself a favor and go there... from now on The Kensington Deli is right at the top of our list... we're active seniors that eat out alot and we know a great restaurant when we see one! Tell 'em Rodney sent you!

These guys delivered the goods. It was my mom's 98th birthday in Great Neck and I could be there due to ankle surgery in Florida. So I did the next next thing. I ordered from Kensington Deli in Great Neck and they really came through with the goods. My mom had enough left over for another 3 days. She had her fav, tongue on rye with spicy mustard. Half sour pickle, Cole slaw and a potato knish which she is saving because she was too full. She called me to thank me and to tell me how delicious it was and how big it was. Thank you from me and my family for stepping in and helping to celebrate our mom's 98th birthday

They have a good pastrami sandwich. You rarely ever get that kind of place. I think it beats Ben's as long as you're not expecting to sit down at a table and eat. They're small so the seating isn't really good. Prices are high which kind of sucks so I don't go often. Their knish is good but they need to work on the hotdogs.

Kosher cheese is amazing . Best value sandwiches in our area . Clean and nice store last decade

Love this deli and keep coming back for more the Kensington deli is the most amazing place to eat it gives your heart and soul a treat! I'm actually thinking about going there this weekend for my plans are set and the deli is open and it's first on my list and they always exceed the score on the test !!!

Best pastrami on Long Island! Great corned beef as well! Will definitely go back for more

When I tried the pastrami sandwich on rye with mustard this past Friday, I was amazed at how good the sandwich tasted. And the fries were good too. [Tuesday October 18, 2022 update]: I tried their great Paulie Special sandwich, the texture of the brisket meat, thinly sliced and served with the sharpness of the horseradish, and the tenderness and richness of the meat and au jus itself, with the nice club bread, all great. I tried their potato salad with it. Good stuff. And the Dr. Brown cream soda to accompany it.

Husband was in the mood for a pastrami sandwich for lunch. Taking a quick drive to Great Neck, we found parking and entered this small store. We walked right past it the first time. We ordered a corn beef sandwich, a pastrami sandwich, a knish( fried) and Dr. Brown Cream soda. The people behind the counter were very nice answering our questions. Everything came out to $35. My husband enjoyed his knish and pastrami sandwich. He said it was exactly what he wanted. The corn beef in my sandwich was sliced thin and piled high. I had mustard on the side. It was not the best corn beef I ever had but it was respectable, a good solid sandwich. The pickles they gave were also pretty good. If you are in the area, it's not a bad place to stop by.

The worst Jewish deli I've ever been to. I never give one star but this place was one star all over the place. Service was : while I sat in a booth , guy asks : what would You like? No menu. Nothing. I get the standard hot dog , pastrami on rye , and potato pancakes. Hot dog came on a stale hard bun. Potato pancakes dry and burnt. And had the texture of the boxed kind. In other words: no texture but mush with a burnt crust. The pastrami came cold , pale and tasteless. No pastrami crust. I'm appalled at this place. It was so bad.

I was very hungry and was walking by and saw this place. I came in to see what they have and took my favorite sandwich-pastrami sandwich. Each bite was great! I loved it! Meat was juicy and tender, pickles were a bomb! I liked pickles here more than then in Katz place that in Manhattan. Are almost all sandwich, even though I usually don't eat that much!:) Highly recommend!

Old school place. Good pastrami sandwich. Soup and knish! Told grumpy guy behind wish they had a 4 piece sandwich sampler, no smile cracked!

Awesome place, being going here since high school and it's always amazing. Highly recommend and service is always great. Enjoy

I was looking to get a pastrami on rye, this place popped up, so I went. Not the largest sandwich, but pretty damn good, mustard was great, pastrami was respectable, not mad about it. They had I sign up for a brisket sandwich with au jus sauce, horseradish sauce, get the grilled onions, you won't be mad. Sandwich was amazing. Staff does their thing, nothing fancy about the place, but that's not what you go there for. Enjoy.

Such great deli food and awesome service! Really has everything you could possibly want from deli food. The pastrami is out of this world!

I had a delicious pastrami sandwich on rye bread. The owner is a nice guy. I plan to go back and try some other items!

Wonderful food and lovely guys behind the counter. Such a nice place. Reliable every time!

Authentic kosher deli without having to travel to Manhattan or pay katz or 2nd Avenue deli prices. The pastrami on rye and square knish both great quality at under $15. Not as big of a sandwich at Katz but hits the spot. Paulie special is a tender roast beef with horseradish sauce and onions is excellent. Fries are thick but still crispy. Coleslaw, pickles, mustard, sauerkraut all complimentary and authentic. Will be back frequently.

I've been coming here for years and never reviewed it! Shame on me! Kensington Deli is a Great Neck staple. Yes, it's extremely overpriced but that's because 1. it's Great Neck and 2. it's a deli. Anyway, their chicken soup is great (better than Poultry Mart's), their latkes are very good, and their pastrami and corned beef...awesome. The employees are always really friendly, so whenever you're feeling like you want some really overpriced sandwiches, or good ol' Jewish eats, this is the spot.

Would you look at this bad boy? No, I'm not talking about great neck's pride and joy, Jake Levy, I'm talking about the pastrami sandwich from heaven. The bread, the meat, the deliciousness. Kensington, you got me good. The Russian sauce though, DAMN that's good stuff. Keep doin you kensington

It's a dry store. Sandwich fries a possible soup. WHATEVER you order is perfect. You can't be disappointed. It's fresh and good

Came here as tourists for the weekend and the food was OK. Matzah ball soup was a bit blend, stuffed cabbage was a bit to sweet and the tongue sandwiches was okay. We were party of 6, but the biggest table they have was for 4 people. We squished tight while we were eating, so it wasn't comfortable at all. Our server told us that he's been working there for 25 years plus, but he forgot to brought us utensils?? He could smiles more to the customers next time.

Stopped in for the first time today because I was craving a Pastrami on Rye. My wife and I ordered a Pastrami on Rye, Spinach Kinish, Hot Dog w/Must/Kraut & a order of fries. The service was fast and friendly but the food other than the Hot Dog was terrible. The Pastrami was dry and cold. My wife wasn't sure if her Kinish was even Spinach she thought it tasted odd maybe was Broccoli. The French Fries we're overdone and most likely reheated.

A great pastrami sammich. They didn't even need mustard, but it was greatly appreciated.

My fiancé always told me about this deli ever since we started dating. He used to go here more regularly when he was doing plumbing work in the area. Upon walking into this small deli there is a very mom and pop feel. It's almost like you walk back in time to when wood paneling was in style. You have the choice to order at the counter to go or sit down service in the back. The back area is a little tight there are bar stools at the back counter you can sit at or a few small tables for seating. After seating, you are handed a one page menu of the deli offerings. Their sandwiches can be made with rye, baguette or white bread. There is also a selection of sides. My fiancé told me they were known for their pastrami, so of course I had to try it. My baseline is comparing it to Katz Deli in LES. The pastrami has a very similar seasoning comparable to Katz's pastrami. The only difference is that they slice their pastrami thinner. I think it mostly because the workers in Katz's deli hand slice their meats as oppose to Kensington Deli uses the deli slicer machine. The fries also were very good and were very crispy. The side they had Russian dressing, mustard and ketchup in case you wanted to add it to your sandwich meat or fries. Overall I very much enjoyed the pastrami and would come back again. It is though a bit on the pricy side, but it's always good to treat yourself once in a while if the quality of the food is worth it.

Pastrami on rye with homemade mustard and home cured pickles. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I love Katz like the next New Yorker but, if you're out in Nassau county - come to Kensington. And get an order of French fries. You will thank me I promise you. If you don't believe me. Trust the line of older Jewish women in there waiting on their food. This place delivers and then some.

Hands down the BEST kosher deli on Long Island. As far as quality goes nothing compares. You can't go wrong with any of their meats (pastrami, roast beef, brisket, salami, turkey, chicken cutlet etc.) Every sandwich is loaded on with a generous amount of the freshest meat. The restaurant is an old fashioned gem in the heart of Great Neck's town. All the staff is super friendly and prepares the food with a tremendous amount of passion and love. Some suggestions: -The LOVE sandwich- rare roast beef, fried onions, au jus on a toasted club -The PAULIE special- Hot brisket on a club with horseradish sauce and au jus -Chicken cutlet with Russian, lettuce and tomato -WELL DONE FRIES are the bomb

We were visiting family in the area and decided to stop by. We loved the food so much that we may go back a second day. My 8-year-old said that we had to write a review, and this is what he wanted to say: "It's deliciously great!" If we could give this restaurant more stars, we would. We loved it.

best kosher deli around forget Ben's this spot been around over 37 years . all homemade meats , very friendly staff and local deli feel try the "Paulie" sandwich brisket , gravy , horseradish sauce on club . and say hi to paulie super nice guy! Highly suggest you try this place!!!!!!!!!!

It's time for you to take a trip to Great Neck, New York. Why? Because once you arrive you can head over to Kensington Kosher Deli for one of the most delicious sandwiches you'll ever eat: Beef Brisket with fried onions and gravy and a schmear of Russian dressing all on a club roll... You can't go wrong with the standard fare of steaming, fatty pastrami, cut thin and piled high but trust the NYC Food Guy and go for Brisket and an order of steak fries, well done. I've been eating at Kensington Kosher Deli for almost 13 years and it has never disappointed. The meats are all spiced and steamed on premises. Every choice ranging from Corned Beef to Tongue is fresh, moist, and delicious. Let's breakdown the Brisket's deliciousness... * The beef brisket is moist, fatty and delicious * The generic beef-stock gravy only enhances the overall gluttonous nature of the sandwich, but adds a textural layer that brings the entire meal up a notch * The thinly sliced white onions are fried quickly in the deep fryer, taking on nice charred edges while holding onto their onion flavor * The club roll is thick enough to compensate for the wetness of the gravy while supporting the weight of the brisket, rye bread would not be able to handle this sandwich * A nice schmear of Russian Dressing on the bottom is highly recommended * Fries, which must be ordered well done, are an essential complement to any meal at KD, particularly this one Other great choices at Kensington Kosher Deli... * Plump, juicy, and fat Hebrew National hot dogs slathered in mustard, ketchup, onions in sauce, and some sauerkraut * Hearty and crispy potato pancakes * Famous Knish Nosh Knishes, brought in fresh daily. Ask for your Knish deep fried, it's potato heaven. * Pastrami, Corned Beef, Roast Beef, and Turkey are all moist, flavorful and delicious * Chicken Noodle Soup is hot and full of nice sized piece of chicken and plenty of spiral noodles, carrots, and celery I've been eating at KD for almost 13 years and it has honestly never disappointed. What it lacks in ambiance and atmosphere (the place is about 10 feet wide with a long counter with stools and 5 tables) it makes up for with hearty deli whose authenticity is rivaled only by its deliciousness.

Amazing sandwiches, on the go food you really can't breath this place. The hot pastrami sandwiches with their thousand island dressing made in house. Very delicious for a quick bite.

Still real 'deli' food... large portions and some indoor eating....worth the money !!! Friendly employees and good service...

Might not be the best food but it's the real experience. I've been here a couple of times, and by the time to sum up the day it's always the same reaction - pretty crappy portions, service, and the food is passable... but it's special. Not to say it's terrible at all. The latkes taste great, the derma is fine, the pastrami is purely just "alright," and the matzo ball soup(which might be the only thing actually made here is very much like I would get from my grandma - spot on, actually. So it's not be Katz's or Sarges, but the thing is: these places just don't exist anymore. Once they're gone, that's it. So after all the gruff and the dungeoness walk to the bathroom downstairs, and the simple, cheap portions (I got half of 2 pickles with my sandwich....), it's still a special place. People complaining about the food and the portions are part of the experience. It's a life of hope and misery, and kveching about it - now you know how it feels to be Jewish. Next time? I would get hot dogs, french fries, maybe a brisket sandwich with fried onions on it.

First impression... A very clean hole in the wall. Ordered a brisket sandwich dipped in gravy on a roll. Service was lightning fast. By the time I finished typing in my first line, my order arrived. Awesome.... I'm back. The sandwich was sUpeRb !!! So good that I needed to order another sandwich. This time I'm ordering their pastrami on the same roll (the roll was so fresh that I decided to skip on the rye bread). I'll be back in a couple of minutes... JeEzUs !!! Fantabulous! This place lives up to the hype and then some. The staff was very friendly (both "Cous" and Bruce). I didn't want the rye bread because i find that it usually gets in the way but "Cous" offered me a sample of one of the two types of rye that they carry and he was right. It was out of this world. Fresh, soft and not overpoweringly hard or sour. I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! BRAVO !

I had an excellent corned beef sandwich from here!! It was moist, warm and lean. The Russian dressing is very different and not good, very disappointing (get it on the side in case you don't like it). The sandwich was so good, it didn't need anything on it. I did not like the coleslaw, wouldn't order it again. The pickles seemed like they sat there too long, they weren't crunchy at all.

Solid Jewish deli option. Felt like walking into a time machine. Friendly staff. Can get pretty expensive if you want to try multiple items. I'd go back.

Well it certainly isn't Katz Delicatessen. I come here occasionally to order the Pauly Special. It's a brisket sandwich on a club roll with gravy, onions and horseradish sauce. Don't get me wrong the sandwich is good... but it doesn't live up to the price point. The macaroni salad, coleslaw and potato salad I know for sure is not homemade. It's probably prepackaged and come in a bucket that they order through some local vendor. It has that generic typical deli taste to it. The service here is not the greatest either. I definitely think that if they can "up" their service it would kind of give the place a different vibe and make it more lively. Until then this place is just average at best.

Confidently, i can say this is one of the best kosher deli's in NY. The pastrami is one of the best I've ever had, right up there with Lido deli on Long Island. Hot dogs have that old school snap and the little potato pancakes served with apple sauce are addicting. I've had other sandwiches there too(like the brisket and corned beef) even though its impossible not to order the pastrami and they're very good too.

Sandwich was decent but on yelp but do not pay attention to their menu listed. The turkey sandwich said it was $10.95 on their yelp menu but then when I got there it was $15. I asked the owner and he kind of yelled at me and said they don't use that menu. I suggested he take it down or edit it then.

An all-time favorite food spot for me when traveling to Long Island, for good traditional Jewish deli food. My usual go-to order for Kensington is either 2 well-done hotdogs with mustard and saerkraut on top (for a good alternative, swap out the saerkraut for coleslaw) and either sour or half-sour pickles. Dr Brown's soda (my favorites are Cel-Ray, which tastes like celery), Black Cherry or Cream Soda). If you haven't had Dr Brown's, it's an old fashioned brand that started in 1869 (owned by Pepsi now).....a classic brand and must try! Also, their pastrami and brisket sandwiches are winners, good potato knishes and if you're in the mood for soup, try their Matzo ball! The space is small with 3-two tops, 2-four tops and 11 stools at the counter. You can find metered parking in front (bring quarters) and if you can't find anything in front, you can find a public parking lot around the corner. Kensington Deli is a Great Neck and NY institution and a must try if you are in the mood for good, quality Jewish Deli food for lunch or dinner! Enjoy!

Wow! We were looking to grab something quick for lunch before picking up our kids. My wife remembered seeing Kensington while driving through town so we wanted to give it a try. We are really happy we did! I had the pastrami, extra lean, on club with mustard and a round knish. The pastrami was very flavorful, the bread soft but with a good chew and the mustard nice and spicy. Knish was delicious. My wife got their Paulie's special. Brisket on club with grilled onions and horseradish sauce. It was great! The only knock I had is that the sandwiches were a little small. Probably better because it was the perfect amount for lunch. Just used to getting huge oversized sandwiches without ordering them special. We will definitely be back.

A Great Neck institution that has survived changing times. Small deli with small, bare bones seating area. Very nice staff. The pastrami is solid. The fried knishes are great. French fries are OK. Not a first tier deli, but a good trip in the wayback machine.

Food is okay.... totally overpriced and the service is absolutely terrible . So rude to customers. How they've lasted in Great Neck for so long is a mystery.

Been coming here for years! The best Jewish deli in Long Island! After years of pastrami, I've made a switch to corned beef and I'm doing fine! Amazing food, with classic deli charm.

Excellent deli worth the trip from anywhere. Sandwich pickles and color slaw were very delicious. Definitely coming back for the pastrami.