Another LA landmark restaurant that has managed to evade me since I have lived here is Canter’s Deli, located at Fairfax and 3rd Street. Canter’s is a good old-fashioned Jewish-style deli, heavy on meat and character.

Their menu is immense, but the best way I know to judge a Jewish deli is the pastrami. As goes the pastrami, so goes the deli. Canter’s offers a hot pastrami sandwich, which I promptly ordered after the waitress told me it was simply pastrami and rye, without any wasted add-ons.

While my friend and I waited, the waitress brought out pickles, which I dared not touch, but my friend seemed to enjoy. Despite my hatred for all things pickled, I am glad that Canter’s chooses to serve the pickles separate from the real food, ensuring that they don’t pollute the pristine meat sandwiches.

When my sandwich came, it was just as I had hoped. Mounds upon mounds of meat between bread. The pastrami was quite good – not too fatty, while still being comfortably juicy. It didn’t take too long to finish and once I was done, all I wanted was more. I had actually expected the sandwich to be more filling and failed to order any sort of soup or side. Next time I’ll be sure to remedy that. The price was a bit high, but who can really put a price on great pastrami?