‘The Last Human Restaurant in New York’ | Sandwich City | NYT Cooking
Under one name or another, this old-school lunch counter has been frying eggs and frothing egg creams on the same site, across from the Flatiron Building, since 1928. We went behind the scenes at S & P Lunch, a Depression-era luncheonette long occupied by Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop, where generations of New Yorkers have dined.
Of the three or four dozen things to eat at S & P Lunch, most are sandwiches. The classic sandwiches on the menu — like the tuna melt, of which they make as many as 400 a day — look as iconic as S & P itself. Almost everything is served simply, with a pickle on the plate or between the bread.
“It’s not that simple, inexpensive lunch places don’t exist anymore,” Pete Wells wrote in 2022. “They do, but they tend to be chains, and they almost never offer the particular urban experience that you can get at S & P. There and at a few other surviving relics, you can sit down and rub elbows with strangers, ask one of them to pass the ketchup. You’re somebody, because you’re at the counter, but you’re anonymous. You can join the conversation or eavesdrop, depending on your mood.” Read his full review: https://nyti.ms/44D1Z41
Now craving a tuna melt? Here’s how to make one at home: https://nyti.ms/4eDLN8E
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29 Comments
I used to eat there all the time in the 2010's when it was still called Eisenberg's and I worked nearby. I'm not even a big tunafish sandwich guy but I always used to get it here because it's fantastic. I recommend a smear of mustard on it. Also a lime rickey to wash it down is a must. Glad it's still thriving.
'last human restaurant' gave me some pause.
Oh I love this series
OMG there is soo much love in there!! need to go there!
Love it when women make us men a sandwich! It's one of their main purposes.
Very good. I first learned to make tuna melts in 1980 at a small diner. My first breakfast and grill job. Nostalgia. I love the care they are taking, I was taught the same things. Make sure the tuna is dry. No big chunks. Now, I make mine with a bit more ingredients but it's the care, the beautifully browned bread. Yep. I still make tuna melts about every 4-5 months or so. We love them. There is nothing better with a cup of creamy tomato basil soup when it's cold.
That pastrami on rye is a clear winner. Yum.
Enjoy while you can… before the "Mayor" wipes you out… 🙁
I love a good tuna melt – very easy to do at home, too. Genova tuna is available anywhere – I live in southern IL and I've been buying it for years. Love this old NYC deli!
Not a tuna melt. Just hot tuna out of a stupid sandwich press.
Such a great story! So nice places like this are still out there.
I have never tasted Human. Did they consider that title?
174 Fifth Avenue between 22nd and 23rd on the west side across from the Flatiron Building
Incredible documentary – I felt like I was in NYC for 12 minutes!
I just go there to speak to jodi and tell her about my art work.
Duke's. No other mayo exists. I love this series!
I wish we had one in my city, best wishes from Ontario, Canada.
Love this place…I lived in NYC for many years and though I only ate here a couple times the food and the atmosphere were wonderful…I love old diners.
this is a crazy great deli. I go there every time I'm in NYC. It is everything the video claims and more. Get counter service. Get the Pastrami at half the cost of Katz;s. Egg cream and knish are perfect.
Human restaurant appealed to my gallow's humour. I thought it may be Dahmer's Deli. Darkly joking aside though, it's good to see a nice Yiddishe deli serving yummy nosh. Simple fare at good prices cannot be beaten. 👍
I use to work a few blocks away in the early 2000s, went there with coworker and sat at the counter, saw a roach across the counter and never went back.
I remember when cooks used to smoke while cooking.
affordable and the sandwich is 18 dollars xD
$17 small sandwich is not affordable or "depression" era sandwhich lol
My next trip to NYC is going to be sandwich-based thanks to this series.
They don’t put any minced onions, pickles, capers, celery, lemon, parsley, mustard , or pepper in their tuna and they charge $18? No thanks
Ahem, we need to talk.
They serve human?
I LOVE that you make your tuna salad like I do. My mom was an onion and celery person but I agree it's perfect plain! I can't believe y'all use Dukes?! I grew up in NJ where we used Hellman's but I'm in SC now, Dukes is the Southern mayo here!