Pickles NY Deli — Restaurant in Florida

After reading reviews I was cautiously optimistic and headed to Pickles. First impression was cluttered and disorganized not to mention there was a kid (maybe 13 years old) taking orders. He was struggling with the order he was taking so a young girl (teen or college age) took my order. I was looking for matzoh ball soup and a sandwich with a knish. When I asked if the corned beef could be sliced thin she seemed confused. A gentleman came over (later I found out this was her father and happened to be the owner). He said they could do the lean corned beef and showed her how to ring it up. They only had two bread options so I opted for white bread.

They have a cookie and pastry case so I asked the girl for rugelach. She asked me what that was. Ummmm....you are an "authentic NY Deli" so her response made me frustrated and further disappointed. I got a few cookies (they were very dry and fell apart when I tried to eat them).

The kid was the one to bag up my order. I double checked the sandwich and everything looked ok at quick glance. He put oyster crackers on top of the soup container and I questioned why they would give crackers with matzoh ball soup. He said they always do which made me quite frustrated. I asked him to take the crackers out and he packed up my order. I did not check the soup but quite frankly didn't think I had to.

I drove about 25 minutes to get here and almost 40 with traffic to get home. I opened up the box with the sandwich and the corned beef was actually chunks (like Irish corned beef). It was not deli style but you call yourself a "authentic NY deli". This is certainly not a representative of this.

Then I opened the soup and it was some type of bisque, not matzoh ball. So now I have soup that I cannot eat and a sandwich that was just meh.

I called the restaurant and talked to the girl who took the order. She apologized and said they realized they gave me the wrong soup after I left. She said the owner wanted to talk to me and would call me back.

He called me back and also apologized. He went on to say that the corned beef is just like you would get at Katz's Deli in NYC. I am from NY and spent 30 years there. I have been to Katz's many times over the years and I promise you, this is not how corned beef is served. I told him it was fairly inedible and I could not eat the soup at all. He said he would give me a credit for the soup and if I'd like to come back sometime they would comp my lunch.

It is now a week later and I never received the credit. Overall this was not a pleasant experience and I am disappointed they call themselves "authentic" as they are anything but. They are NY style (which gives them room to have a...

I'd confidently give this establishment a solid 4-star rating. There are some definite highlights to this dining experience, but it does have its drawbacks. Let me break it down for you.

First, the positives. The pickles here are genuinely good, offering that tangy and crunchy goodness that pairs well with any meal. The fries, to my delight, were nothing short of exceptional. Crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside, they hit all the right notes. The mac and cheese also deserves recognition, as it was rich and creamy, satisfying those comfort food cravings. The burgers, while not groundbreaking, were indeed good and satisfying.

However, the centerpiece of their menu, the pastrami/corned beef on rye, left me with mixed feelings. The bread, rye in this case, was on point, delivering that authentic, slightly nutty flavor that complements deli sandwiches so well. But when it came to the meat, there was a noticeable letdown. It lacked the robust flavor one expects from pastrami or corned beef. It was, for lack of a better word, plain. These iconic deli meats should burst with savory, peppery, and smoky notes, but here, they fell short.

I've given this place multiple chances, hoping for a different outcome, but each visit has resulted in the same disappointment regarding the meat. The ambiance, on the other hand, is a redeeming factor. The restaurant creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere that adds to the overall dining experience. Additionally, the service is exemplary. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely accommodating.

As a North Jersey native, I have a discerning palate when it comes to pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. I know what these classics are supposed to taste like, and unfortunately, this place falls short in that department. To win me over, they need to infuse more flavor into their meat, allowing it to stand up to the high standards set by classic deli fare. So, would I go back? I might, for the pleasant environment and excellent service, but I'd still hope for a significant improvement in the flavor of their...

I love a good deli, and Pickles has a multitude of positive written/video reviews, so it was at the top of my list of places to eat while visiting the Orlando area. It was about a 50min drive from the Omni ChampionsGate Resort and worth every minute.

Between the fun decor and full house of customers covering a multitude of demographics there for lunch, there was a lot of positive energy. We were told it would be 15min to get a table, but it was only a fraction of that that time. The servers and counter workers were helpful. I ordered an egg cream, which I had never tried, & a half Bronx Cheer sandwich (made like a Ruben with a mix of pastrami/corned beef and Cole slaw instead of sauerkrat) on rye with a side of potato salad. I have eaten at some very well-known delis, and this was maybe my favorite rye bread I've ever had! So good, & it didn't fall apart like some of the other substantial sandwiches served at other delis. The potato salad was creamy and tasted good but pretty standard as far as potato salad goes . The egg cream will go down as my first and last egg cream. It wasn't bad, & I'm glad to have finally tried one. It just wasn't my thing. My husband ordered Grandma's homemade chicken soup and the Broadway platter. He never got the soup, but he was very pleased with the platter. We were both full after we finished. I am not one to ever pass up Junior's cheesecake, though, so we both took a piece back to the hotel to eat later. While eating my cheesecake that night, I made my first resolution of the new year - eat cheesecake more often in 2025. In keeping with that, I decided to order a piece of cheesecake from room service the next night, which made me reconsider my resolution. Take my advice. Skip the Omni room service cheesecake, make the drive to Pickles for legitimate deli food, and take some Juniors cheesecake back to the Omni with you.

I wish I lived closer to Pickles because there is a lot that I would like to try off their menu. One trip was...