On May 19, Katz’s Deli, the 140-year-old Lower East Side institution famous for its legendary sandwiches (thanks in part to Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally), opened The Ludlow Room, a restored dining room that had been closed to the public since 1949.
“For decades, this space helped support the demand that made Katz’s what it is today, but very few people ever got to see it,” said Jake Dell, a fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen. “Bringing it back to life is a way of honoring the generations before us while creating something new for the generations still to come.”
Nearly eight decades ago, the room was converted into a huge walk-in refrigerator to support the growing demand for deli meat (particularly pastrami, corned beef, and brisket) during the postwar boom. Over time, the space disappeared from public view and became part of the behind-the-scenes operations of Katz’s.
Now painstakingly restored, The Ludlow Room, which seats just under 70 people, blends modern elements with preserved architectural details, like original tin ceilings and period-inspired lighting. The reopening marks one of the most significant physical transformations in Katz’s modern history, and returns a long-forgotten part of the deli to public life for the first time since the Truman administration.
Not only does this add 68 additional seats for customers during Katz’s busiest hours, the space will also be available for private events and gatherings with a dedicated on-site meatcutter who will hand-slice pastrami, corned beef, and brisket to order for guests in the dining room. It’s worth noting that each pound of meat served at Katz’s between 1949 and 2026 was weighed on the same freight scale still found in the space.
“We’ve always said Katz’s is more than a deli—it’s a living piece of New York history,” added Dell. “Reopening this room feels like uncovering a forgotten chapter of our own story.”
Visit Katz’s Delicatessen Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., midnight to midnight on Saturday. 205 E. Houston St., Lower East Side, katzsdelicatessen.com
