damnlines for iPhoneLive lines & push alerts — freeGetdamnlines.comA storied NYC kosher deli known for pastrami, corned beef, and matzo ball soup, operating walk-ins-only with no reservations at its Murray Hill location.
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 (Murray Hill, Manhattan, between Lexington & 3rd Ave)
No camera at 2nd Ave Deli yet — these are the closest live lines we cover.
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at 2nd Ave Deli yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
2nd Ave Deli (despite the name, now on E 33rd St in Murray Hill) is one of New York's classic kosher delicatessens, with over 1,500 Yelp reviews reflecting a large, loyal following built on old-school deli fare like pastrami and matzo ball soup. It's a walk-ins-only operation — no reservations — which is the main structural reason a line or wait can form when it's busy.
Because it doesn't take bookings, the practical reality is first-come-first-served seating any time the dining room fills up. Our single search didn't turn up specific reported wait-time numbers, so treat any wait as variable rather than a fixed figure — the safest bet is calling ahead or checking Yelp's live status before you go, especially around typical lunch and dinner rush hours.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: The Murray Hill/Midtown East dining room only accepts walk-ins - per the venue's official site, which states "Unfortunately, the 2nd Ave Deli only accepts walk-ins" (a separate 2nd Floor space handles reservations/private events).
Walk-ins: Main dine-in area is walk-in only, per the venue's official site; no wait-time details are given.
Open daily 11am-8pm for dine-in, delivery, pickup and takeout, per the venue's official site.
What we do know: it's a walk-ins-only kosher deli (no reservations) with a large, long-running Yelp following (1,500+ reviews), and classic-deli spots like this typically see their heaviest crowding at peak lunch and dinner hours. Call ahead at (212) 689-9000 or check Yelp's live busyness indicator for the most current read. (No live damnlines camera here yet — this is reported guidance, not a live count.)
No — it operates on a walk-ins-only basis, so there's no way to book ahead; you show up and wait for a table if it's busy.
It's listed as open daily, roughly 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and pickup. Always confirm on Yelp or the restaurant's own site before heading over, since hours can shift.
It's one of New York's storied kosher delicatessens, known for pastrami, corned beef, and matzo ball soup — the kind of old-school NYC deli menu that draws a steady, loyal crowd.
We don't have live wait data for this location yet. As a general rule for no-reservation delis, arriving well before or after traditional lunch (12-2pm) and dinner (6-8pm) windows tends to mean a shorter wait, per common patterns reviewers describe for similar walk-in delis.
Yes, walk-ins are the only way into the main dining room, per the venue's official site.
Sources: Yelp — 2nd Ave Deli (162 E 33rd St) · 2nd Ave Deli — Locations page