Stein’s Market and Deli: A Taste of New York in New Orleans

When I first moved to New Orleans, all of my kitchen stuff spent a couple weeks packed snugly in boxes. I had driven to New Orleans in a moving van and knew the first stop on my moving tour would be a temporary one.

That means I lived for a couple weeks without kitchen supplies, plates, silverware, or my French press. Looking back, I envy that girl who was forced into an opportunity to explore the city’s finest food and drink.

In turn, I discovered Stein’s Market and Deli. And by discovered, I mean I went there four times a week.

Garden District Deli

Stein’s is a Jewish and Italian deli right on Magazine Street in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. Their traditional (yet not-so-traditional) sandwich menu is a mile long.

I normally ordered by asking the guy working the counter what I wanted to eat that day, because I don’t like to wade through a menu. The sandwich names are just that: names. You’ll find a Dan, Kelly, Jeff Berger, Shaggy Joe, etc.

Stein’s isn’t just a lunch place. They serve breakfast sandwiches on H&H bagels from New York City all day. They also sell meats and cheeses from around the world. They have a little bit of retail too– really high quality oils and vinegars, salts and seasonings, tea and coffee. Their coolers are jam packed with hundreds of beers and sodas that you won’t find anywhere else. You can make your own sixer.

Mingle While You Eat

Stein’s seating is high-top picnic tables outside, and long tables inside. You’re going to be sitting with people you don’t know, which is just fine by me. In fact, I don’t know that I’ve ever gone to Stein’s in tandem, but I’ve always had an interesting conversation. Something about this city brings out the Miss Congeniality in all of us.

My go-to sandwich is the Rachel, the thinly sliced hot pastrami sister of the Reuben, which is also killer. Both delicious, three napkin sort of sandwiches. The side car is the home-made pickle.

Blue Monday

Fair warning, they’re not open on Mondays. They even put up a little sign in the window that says, “We’re closed on Monday. Yes, it’s Monday,” just to remind you that they’re smarter than you and can make better sandwiches than you. It’s true.

You can find them from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday – Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekend. Prepare yourself to wait a couple well-worth-it minutes in line.

This is no po-boy, it’s a sandwich. Where do you get your favorite sandwich in New Orleans?

Stein’s Market and Deli
2207 Magazine Street
(504) 527-0771

Tagged as: lower garden district, Magazine Street, New Orleans, Stein's Market and Deli