THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD PASTRAMI (This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef)

My search for the best corned beef/pastrami in New York continues….

SADLY, THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD ROAST BEEF IS NOW CLOSED.

I was torn about whether I should include This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef in my official corned beef/pastrami search. First off, this is an Italian owned sandwich shop (from the owners of Artichoke Basille), but Jewish deli meats aren’t really what Italians do best. Secondly, they don’t serve any corned beef. It’s just pastrami (and lots of roast beef) here.

Still, I came here to try Time Out’s list item, which is an Italian roast beef sandwich, and figured I may as well get a taste of the pastrami sandwich as well. It’s called The Other Thing (the two roast beef sandwiches are referred to as This Way and That Way).

It’s a simple sandwich of pastrami, cole slaw, and brown mustard. Pretty standard ingredients to a perfect deli sandwich, except it was served on a roll instead of on rye bread. Maybe that was my fault for not specifying, but I’d think rye would be the default.

Surprisingly, the pastrami itself had a complex meaty flavor and was sliced thick (like Katz’s or Mile End). It was extra tender with the right level of spices coming out. It was absolutely delicious. And quite large, although as I got the specimen closer to my mouth, it turns out that the seeded bun comprised most of the sandwich’s girth. There wasn’t as much meat as I had expected.

It’s not up to par with the best of the Jewish deli combos (this is a different beast), but the meat itself is luscious and worth the trip. I hope the piggy gets to try this sandwich too.

Is This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef the best corned beef/pastrami in NY? Unfortunately they can’t compete in the corned beef contest, but the pastrami itself was full of flavor. I’d just like a little rethinking on the presentation. Still, an 8 out of 10.