Sometimes a sandwich is just a sandwich– two slices of bread around some sliced meat with some cheese and a few extras. Sometimes, however, a sandwich is a gourmet treat that must reach a high level of expectation. When you live on the east coast, sandwiches are an art form and a crucial part of the culture on that side of the country and any that bore fall to the bottom. When you want that perfect pastrami sandwich, thinly sliced meat piled high on artisan bread, cheese melted perfectly in between with the precise amount of mustard to accent, not overwhelm, you need to know your resources. The intent of this restaurant review is to tell you where you can locate the best mouth-watering pastrami sandwiches, a signature in New Jersey. Some folks would direct you to nearby New York, but New Jersey have some amazing locations within their own borders. Here are some of their favorite joints to score an authentic, delicious pastrami sandwich that will stand out from any other sandwich you’ve ever had in the past.

Town Hall Deli
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Located in South Orange at the corner of First and Academy Street, this local jewel claims to be the home of the original sloppy Joe. The innovation does not end there, as proven by the deli’s line of old-fashioned soda and a unique after hours policy. From 10:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m., Thursday through Saturday, the restaurant delivers from a special menu. Serving delicious pastrami sandwiches since 1927, Town Hall Deli offers lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, along with cole slaw and pickle chips to grace them.

Harold’s New York Deli Restaurant
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Harold’s advertising sends love from New York to the New Jersey location in Edison. Everything on Harold’s menu is huge, including sandwiches designed to feed two to five people.

You may request your sandwiches from nine different kinds of bread, dressed as you like them with a generous amount of cole slaw on the side. Locals recommend getting extra bread to make sandwiches at home because they are so loaded with meat! Contributing to its popularity is Harold’s pickle bar, which claims to be the largest in the world!

The Kibitz Room
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You will find the best corned beef and pastrami sandwich deal in all of Cherry Hill off of Evesham and Springdale Road. The website assures us that size does matter and then taunts us with photos of enormous sandwiches you can almost taste by looking. The Kibitz Room prepares all ingredients on site for maximum freshness. The Courier Post repeatedly names the Kibitz Room as the best deli in South Jersey. The Kibitz Room is also famous for their Great Big Mouth Full challenge which consists of six and a half pounds of meat, six slices of bread, beautifully dressed with cole slaw and Russian dressing. If the challenger can eat it all in 55 minutes or less, it is free of charge. Smart money suggests bringing the $50 to pay for it and a few friends to help finish it if you fail!

Lox, Stock and Deli
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You will find this gem at on Ryders Lane in Milltown. The Lox, Stock & Deli have a make-your-own feature is a plus at this kosher deli offering single, double and triple decker sandwiches to satisfy the hungriest customer. The menu is extensive, offering much more than sandwiches since 1998. They cater everything from kosher baking goods, to small appetizers and h’orderves, to gourmet entrees and sides. Whether it’s dine-in, take-out, or catering you’re looking for, this place will give you that quality only New Jersey deli owners can deliver.

Hobby’s Delicatessen & Restaurant
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Located “just a block from the Rock” in Newark, Hobby’s Delicatessen serves beautifully thin-sliced pastrami with all the fixings you could want on fresh rye. Hobby’s bakes all their bread on site for freshness that cannot be beat. Layers upon layers of pastrami, bread and creamy cole slaw create a kosher treat that will warm your heart. The homemade soups are delicious on the side if there is enough room in your stomach for them!

Of course, a restaurant review can never fully communicate the tasty goodness of mountains of hot pastrami, dripping the juices from melted fat through fresh rye bread smeared with just a touch of hot mustard or Russian dressing. It is best to try them all and decide for yourself! Just be sure to share the results when you find that perfect hot pastrami sandwich next time you’re in New Jersey.