| Stage Deli | |
|---|---|
 Stage Deli seen in 2007 | |
 Interactive map of Stage Deli | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1937 (1937) |
| Closed | November 29, 2012; 13 years ago (2012-11-29) |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Location | 8347th Avenue,Manhattan, New York City, New York, 10019, United States |
| Website | Official site (archive) |
TheStage Deli, located onSeventh Avenue just two blocks fromCarnegie Hall, was a well-known New York Citydelicatessen, patronized by numerous celebrities. It was first opened in 1937 by Russian-Jewish immigrant Max Asnas.[1][2] The deli was known forBroadway-themed dishes including the "Mamma Mia!" sandwich.[3] It had other menu items named for the celebrities who had dined there,[1] includingSarah Ferguson,Conan O' Brien,Adam Sandler,Dolly Parton,[4]Martin Short,[5] andRon Blomberg.[6]
In addition to serving regular meals, Stage Deli held special events including theMatzoh Bowl to determine the bestmatzoh ball soup.[7]
The Stage Deli had a longstanding rivalry with the nearbyCarnegie Deli. At one point, the rivals quarreled over which had the bestpastrami, with the Stage Deli pointing out that the Carnegie Deli's pastrami was made withwater fromNew Jersey, and the Carnegie Deli responding that the Stage Deli's pastrami, while made with New York water, was bought from a vendor instead of home-made. Thus, New Yorkers could get the same pastrami from any deli supplied by the same vendor.[8]
A 1950 comedy album,The corned-beef Confucius, featuring Asnas "with some of Broadway's greatest comedians", was recorded at the deli.[9]
Yankees teammatesMickey Mantle,Hank Bauer andJohnny Hopp shared an apartment above the deli in the early 1950s,[10] and its baseball ties reached out of town toPete Rose, who once complained of not having a sandwich in his honor.[11]
The Stage Deli appeared in an episode ofLate Night with Conan O'Brien in 2001, in which Conan visited the restaurant to see the order which they named after him. He assumed that he was named after a sandwich, but instead learned his order was a choice of a soup and small salad.[12]
The Stage Deli appeared in an episode of the sitcomCaroline in the City called "Caroline and the Sandwich". In the episode, the deli renames a sandwich (previously named afterJo Anne Worley) to name it after the main character in Caroline's cartoon strip,Caroline in the City. This leads to a backlash against her. Jo Anne and Caroline stage a feud to maximise the publicity.[13]
The Stage Deli closed on November 29, 2012.[14] The owners cited a downturn in business, coupled with rising rent as the reasons for the closing. The Stage Deli previously found in the Forum Shops ofCaesars Palace inLas Vegas, Nevada closed in June 2008.[15][16]
40°45′48.35″N73°58′54.64″W / 40.7634306°N 73.9818444°W /40.7634306; -73.9818444
