Some sandwiches are so tall you have to stop and plan your first bite. At Reuben’s Deli in downtown Atlanta, that happens a lot.
This small shop serves piled-high pastrami, corned beef, and rye with the loud, friendly spirit of a New York deli. If you love a good lunch, or just want to know where locals go for a real sandwich, keep reading.
A New York Deli on Broad Street
Tucked into a busy block at 57 Broad St NW, Reuben’s Deli doesn’t look like much from the sidewalk. I almost walked right past it on my first visit.
That would have been a big mistake.
Google lists it simply as a sandwich shop, but the description tells the real story: overstuffed sandwiches, breakfast bites, and a coffee bar, all served in a NYC-style deli setting. Hot and cold sandwiches are the main event here, and they come in sizes that make people laugh out loud.
The numbers back up the buzz. Reuben’s holds a 4.6-star rating from nearly a thousand reviews, which is impressive for a small downtown counter.
When that many people agree, I pay attention.
Downtown Roots Near Olympic Park
Location matters, and this deli sits right where hungry people pass by. Visitors mention stumbling onto it while searching for lunch a few blocks from Olympic Park.
Others found it with a quick online search and walked over from their downtown hotels.
That mix gives the place a fun crowd. Office workers grab lunch on a break, tourists pop in between sights, and former college students come back years later.
One regular said they used to eat here constantly in college and found it just as good after a long gap.
I like a spot that feeds everyone the same way. Nobody gets fancy treatment here, and nobody needs it.
You walk in, you order, and you leave full.
Pastrami Worth the Trip
Let me start with the meat that brought me in. The pastrami here gets serious praise, with reviewers describing it as tender, smoky, and nicely spiced.
It’s sliced not too thick and not too thin, then stacked generously on the bread.
One detailed review called it juicy without being greasy, with just enough fat to melt in your mouth. A smear of spicy brown mustard adds tang.
Swiss cheese and sauerkraut are available if you want extras, but plenty of people say the sandwich stands strong on its own.
Here’s the part that made me grin. A visitor who had just eaten at Katz’s in New York said they actually enjoyed their sandwich more at Reuben’s.
Their tip: get the pastrami Reuben with Thousand Island and spicy mustard.
The Namesake Reuben
With a name like Reuben’s, you’d expect the signature sandwich to shine. It does.
The Reuben is the most talked-about item by far, mentioned in reviews more than any other dish.
Fans recommend pastrami and cheese with Thousand Island on toasted rye. One visitor said it had them on cloud nine, calling it juicy and flavorful and the best they had ever tried.
A family visiting downtown called it the most amazing Reuben they’d ever shared.
You can also go with corned beef, which leads us right into the next section. Either way, this is the order I’d point a first-timer toward.
It’s the sandwich that explains why the shop exists.
Corned Beef and a House Recipe
Corned beef fans, you have a home here. According to one visitor, the corned beef is made from a special recipe and sliced thin before it’s piled onto the bread.
Another reviewer simply called it great good corned beef, which made me smile.
The Eastsider gets love from people who want both pastrami and corned beef in one go. An office group that orders regularly said both meats on the Reuben and Eastsider were excellent.
Not every bite wins everyone over, though. One diner felt the two meats were cut so thin they blended together and lost their separate flavors.
Even so, that same person said it’s the closest they’ve found to a true New York deli in Georgia.
Sandwiches Built Too Big to Finish
Picture a sandwich so tall a cartoon character would approve. One first-timer compared their turkey club to the towering creations Shaggy builds on Scooby-Doo.
They’d never had a sandwich that big.
Size comes up again and again. A guest picked up a couple of sandwiches and said they lasted two full days.
A local held up just half of theirs and admitted they couldn’t finish it.
Then there’s the champion. One customer finished an entire sandwich, then a cheesecake and chips, and the owner replied that they had also eaten an Atlanta Dog.
Killed it all, he said. I respect that kind of ambition, but I took half mine home.
A Menu With Plenty of Room to Roam
Beyond pastrami, the choices keep going. The menu offers pre-built meat and cheese combinations, and you pick the bread.
Toppings can be changed to your liking, and there’s a build-your-own option too.
Reviewers name a long list of favorites. The Godfather and the American both earned raves, even through delivery.
The Club wins praise for its razor-thin turkey and ham, and one regular orders it on sourdough with heavy mayo and banana peppers.
Vegetarians aren’t left out. A staff member introduced one guest to the Black Bean Burger on onion bread, and that person now orders it weekly.
They later called the veggie sandwich on marble bread a showstopper, and the owner chimed in suggesting the Greek or house-made mayo.
Rye, Pickles, and the Little Extras
Great bread can save a sandwich, and bad bread can sink one. Rye shows up often in reviews, described as fresh with a slightly crisp crust and soft center.
If you want it toasted, just say so.
The pickles deserve their own fan club. Guests call them crisp, fantastic, and a welcome bonus, with a sharp crunch that cuts through rich meat.
They’re small, but they make the plate feel complete.
Sides add even more. One visitor paired a roast beef sandwich with an Italian pasta salad they described as delightful and full of flavor.
Chips are also on hand if you need something salty.
Brownies, Cheesecake, and Morning Bagels
Save a little room. I know, that’s hard here.
But the brownies have a loyal following, with one guest calling them addicting and another saying they love everything right down to the brownie.
Cheesecake makes an appearance too, and it seems to be the go-to finish for people who somehow still have space. It fits the New York theme nicely.
Mornings bring their own treats. Reuben’s serves breakfast fare and has a coffee bar, and doors open at 8 AM on weekdays.
One visitor had a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, called it delicious, and then took a Reuben to go for lunch. That’s what I call planning ahead.
Order Loud, Laugh Often
Know what you want and say it loud. That’s the advice one regular gives, and it sums up the vibe perfectly.
A first-time guest said yelling out their toppings was half the fun.
The staff are a huge part of the show. People describe them as funny, quick, and clearly enjoying each other’s company.
One visitor said they were only inside ten minutes and still had a blast picking up lunch.
The owner gets special mention for chatting with guests like old friends. A family recalled being greeted at the door by the register worker, who also shared tips for their time in the city.
Workers even greet people on the way in and out, which feels rare these days.
Cozy Seats and a Dining Hall Across the Street
Space is snug, but you do have options. Inside seating is available, and one reviewer pointed out an extra dining hall across the street, located below street level.
Good to know on a busy weekday.
Visitors describe the room as cozy and inviting, with a classic, no-nonsense New York feel. If you come during a quiet stretch, it gets pretty relaxed.
One guest who arrived around 2 PM found ordering easy and calm.
To be fair, not every report is spotless. One diner mentioned napkins sticking to the table, though they still said the food was worth it.
I’d call it a lived-in deli, not a polished cafe.
Who Will Love It, and Who Might Not
Hungry office crews seem to adore this place. One team orders through Uber Eats for meetings and says everyone ends up happy, which is no small feat.
They replaced another sandwich shop that left people still hungry.
Travelers, students, and pastrami lovers will feel right at home too. If you enjoy banter and a bit of noise, you’ll fit in.
Still, it’s not for everyone. One unhappy guest felt staff were too busy joking around to pay attention, and said closing times didn’t always match posted hours.
Another found catering tricky, since the shop doesn’t deliver itself or take phone orders, relying on services like DoorDash and EZ Cater. The owner noted they handle many large catering orders daily.
Hours, Prices, and Parking Tips
Timing is everything with a lunch spot. Reuben’s opens Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, and Saturday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM.
It’s closed on Sundays, so plan your craving accordingly.
As for cost, one reviewer paid about $12.83 for a hot pastrami sandwich. They said it isn’t the cheapest lunch around but felt the quality and size made it worth it.
They also noted there’s no military discount.
Parking is the big headache, with that same visitor calling it terrible. Walking from a nearby hotel or office is your best bet.
For questions, call +1 404-589-9800 or check reubensdeliatlanta.com.
My Take on a Downtown Classic
Walking out with a heavy paper bag and a full stomach, I understood the hype. Reuben’s Deli isn’t trying to be fancy.
It wants to feed you well and make you laugh while it does.
Is it perfect? No spot is.
Some folks wish for thicker cuts, steadier hours, or easier parking, and those are fair points.
But the stacked pastrami, the beloved Reuben, the crunchy pickles, and the cheerful crew add up to something special in downtown Atlanta. If you’re nearby on a weekday, I’d say go hungry, order loud, and maybe bring a friend to split the leftovers.
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