Pastrami Grill Bistro — Restaurant in Garfield

Found this spot through Groupon and was very excited to try. I'd put the food at okay. I got the 3 meat platter and the pastrami was very dry and overcooked but the other meats were okay. The area I knocked off stars is due to their customer service. Firstly, I wanted to place a take out order with my Groupon because the deal said I could and the location is about 30 mins from me. I have an hour lunch. But the person on the phone stated that I had to place the order in person when using Groupon. She put me on hold and eventually accommodated me.. as an exception. When I went to pick up my food, I knew there was a credit card fee so I opted to pay in cash and gave a generous tip. Due to rushing back to work, I didn't notice there error until I got back. I was charged the credit card fee plus taxes and on top of that the balance that was due minus my Groupon was taxed again! I called and let them know about their error but the girl on the phone kept insisting I was charged the right amount. She eventually put Ana on the phone who must be a manager or something and it took me almost 30 mins to explain they are overcharging customers and need to learn how to use their register properly. I finally got fed up because she kept me on the phone while she tried to figure out how to make the math work in her favor instead of just seeing clearly on the reciept what I was saying was true. I told her I gave enough of my time thinking this was a simple error and that I would be posting my experience on Google to warn other customers. At that point, she asked me to not put my review up in exchange for 2 free sandwiches next time I visit and while I understand businesses go through learning experiences too, bad customer service is still bad customer service. Why am I spending 30 mins to explain how to use your register properly so as to not overcharge your guests?! Plus, I feel like she was just offering me the sandwich after I made my comment about putting up a review and didn't want the possibility of a spiteful spit sandwich. I gave them two stars because the food was okay and Ana was polite even if...

I am hesitant to write this review because the more reviews Pastrami Grill gets, the higher the likelihood that the lines are going to be even longer than they are now. Simply put, this is the best secret restaurant in the entire NY area. A few weeks ago, when looking at Google Maps to see the traffic to get to Katz's this place popped up and I clicked on the link. I saw some of the reviews and how absurd they were. As good as Katz's and at half the price? And no congestion pricing? Yeah, right.

Well let me tell you folks something shocking. It is absolutely as good as Katz's, the price is half that of Katz's and there is no congestion pricing to get there. There is though some congestion in two places, one is the parking lot because this strip mall is LOADED with unbelievable stores so parking is a challenge, and the other is what I said earlier, the line to order your food is literally out the door. The setup is exactly like Katz's with 4 or 5 cutters taking your order and hand cutting the Pastrami, Corned Beef, turkey, brisket, etc, rights in front of you. They even have the tip cups to take care of the guys making these exquisite sandwiches. The fries? Katz's! The pickles? Katz's. The only thing missing is the ticket that Katz's writes for you to present to the cashier when you are leaving. Here, you get your food, step about 10 feet to the right and pay for it right away. The only downside, and I mean the ONLY downside is their lack of Dr. Brown's Diet Cream, mandatory in my book for this heavenly meal.

Look folks, I was a skeptic but I have now been there 6 times in 6 weeks. Their food is consistent, on par with Katz's WITHOUT QUESTION, and truth be told, underpriced.

I hope no one reads my review because it is going to make those lines even longer but the truth must be told, this very long time Katz's fanboy is shocked, amazed and stunned at what Pastrami Grill has accomplished. It's...

In an effort to be transparent, I nearly started writing this review when my wife handed me the bag with our sandwiches.

My wife went inside, so I have no real idea about the service or atmosphere, but she didn't conplain, so it must've been pretty good. The weight and the aroma of the sandwiches alone almost had me sold, but I had to bite into my sandwich to offer you an honest review.

With that out of the way, I generally used to use either the Carnegie Deli; too bad they didn't make it, or Katz's as my benchmark, but I am just not willing to cross the Hudson to stand on a line that extends up the block and then be overcharged for a sandwich.

Now that I've found this place, I don't even have to drive 15 minutes for the pleasure...!

Two pastrami on provolone with spicy mustard, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and some expectedly great pickles (no food coloring or weird chemicals and you can just tell that these were once cucumbers that are finished in a flavorful brine) ran us about $40 and I want none of it back...!

Some people might even be tempted to bring Harold's into this discussion and I am telling you, NO...!!!

It is one thing to be inundated by the volume of meat you are offered. It is quite another to more thoroughly enjoy the flavor and texture of the meat you are served

Katz's is the closest approximation of what I've received from the Pastrami Grille Bistro and considering the fact that my car barely got warmed up by the time we arrived there, I am all the more pleased.

Tender, tasty pastrami with just enough fat; let's call it marbling since that sounds more sophisticated, to be made light work of by my gingerly chewing. The sandwich was not only the right size and weight, but of the right pedigree for a session of aggravated reckless fat azzery, as displayed in my pictures.

As you can tell, I like these folks. Give 'em a try. I think you just...