Remember when Forrest Gump said he didn’t recall what he got for Christmas, he didn’t remember when he went on his first outdoor picnic, but he did remember that first time he heard the sweetest voice (of Jenny)? That sort of relates to my experience at Langer’s. I don’t remember when I rode my first bike, I don’t recall putting on my first pair of shoes, but I’ll always remember that time I sunk my teeth into my first #19 at Langer’s.
Everyone apparently knows the best pastrami or corned beef sandwich there is. I’ve been engrossed in back and forth’s of personal bias over which deli makes the best sandwich several times with people. When I went to LA, I heard that Langer’s is to L.A. what Schwartz’s is to Montreal, and even though I found that Schwartz’s has produced a couple lackluster smoked meat sandwiches recently, it is still the most famous institution in the city that people from all over the world have tried and it’s been around for decades. The good thing about Schwartz’s is that when the meat is cooked properly and you get it the way you ordered it, it’s one hell of a sandwich. I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary from Langer’s, only because I had some pretty great sandwiches in Montreal at Smoked Meat Pete’s and Snowdon Deli recently, so I wasn’t sure how much better I could find.
Langer’s is quite a large deli; if you were to put the best delis in Montreal together, Langer’s would be as big. As I was walking towards the restaurant, I noticed an outdoor waiting section with ropes, which means that the line extends outside often. Luckily I came in a little bit before noon on a Tuesday, so I didn’t have to wait. Regardless, a big line ended up forming after my appetizer came so I knew I was in for something special.
I started off with a classic deli staple; matzo ball soup. It was a very comforting chicken broth that could have passed as home made. I found the balls a bit too airy for my liking, so if you like them light and fluffy then you’ll love this soup. I prefer them to be more dense and chewy, however I still really enjoyed it.
Then finally it came, what I later found out was featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, #19, Langer’s most popular sandwich; steaming hot pastrami, cole slaw, Swiss cheese, and an killer Russian dressing sitting between two fresh pieces of rye bread. The tender, succulent and perfectly seasoned juicy pieces of thickly cut meat piled high, not as much as Carnegie but there was still a great amount. The cole slaw is an original addition, and crucial in making this legendary sandwich, as well as that dressing, that perfect dressing that really just completes everything. I’m not even sure if I noticed the cheese, as there was so much taste from everything else that was going on. When you have pastrami that’s as juicy as steak, it’s no wonder.
This 2001 James Beard Award winner has been serving the world’s best pastrami since 1947, and I hope that goes past 2047. If their sandwiches keep on tasting as good as this one, then it will.
Langer’s Delicatessen:
704 South Alvarado Street Los Angeles, C.A. 90057, United States T:(213)483-8050
http://www.langersdeli.com
JarredReviews is my personal weblog. The opinions and experiences represent my own. If you read that I didn’t particularly enjoy a meal or restaurant, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try it and see for yourself. Restaurants can have an off day, people make mistakes, we’re all human. My writing is mainly so that you can find out about great restaurants that you may have not heard about, and also to give you an idea of what I enjoyed that you can experience for yourself. Food reviewing is very subjective and you must take this into account and use your discretion when reading any review; If I have had a bad experience somewhere, do not let that stop you to try the restaurant for yourself.
