This Ohio Deli’s Sandwiches Have Earned Legendary Local Status
There is a deli in Columbus, Ohio, where the sandwiches are so good that people drive across town, plan lunch stops on road trips, and come back at least once a month just to work their way through the menu. The bread is fresh, the meat is generous, and the pickles are free.
Ohio has no shortage of great lunch spots, but this one operates on a different level entirely. I visited on a busy afternoon, managed to snag a table, and walked away with serious opinions about corned beef, pastrami, and the underrated power of a well-stocked pickle barrel.
If you have ever wondered what a truly legendary neighborhood deli looks like in the heart of the Midwest, keep reading, because this place delivers the full picture.
A Columbus Institution With Deep Roots
Some restaurants earn their reputation over years of consistency, and this deli has had plenty of time to do exactly that.
Katzinger’s Delicatessen has been a fixture in Columbus’s German Village neighborhood for decades, drawing locals, road-trippers, and out-of-towners who have heard the buzz and needed to see it for themselves.
German Village is one of the most charming pockets of Columbus, Ohio, full of brick streets, restored homes, and a neighborhood energy that feels genuinely lived-in. The deli sits right in the middle of it all at 475 S. 3rd Street, Columbus, OH 43215, tucked into a spot that feels like it has always been there.
From the moment you arrive, the place signals that it takes its food seriously without taking itself too seriously. The vibe is relaxed, the counter is busy, and the menu board is long enough to cause a moment of very pleasant decision paralysis.
The Reuben That People Talk About
The Reuben at Katzinger’s is the kind of sandwich that earns its own fan club. The corned beef is tender and flavorful, the house-made sauerkraut adds a bright, tangy contrast, and the bread has exactly the right amount of chew without falling apart under the pressure of all those fillings.
Menu item number one is the classic corned beef Reuben, and it is the sandwich most first-timers reach for. The balance between the meat, the kraut, and the dressing is the kind of thing that makes you slow down mid-bite just to appreciate what is happening.
There is also a pastrami Reuben for those who want a slightly smokier, bolder profile. I tried both on separate visits and found myself genuinely torn about which one deserved the top spot.
Honest answer: both do. Come hungry and prepared to make a difficult but deeply satisfying call at the counter.
A Menu Long Enough to Keep You Coming Back
The menu at Katzinger’s is not short. It is not even medium-length.
It is the kind of menu that rewards loyal customers who return again and again, each time trying something new and discovering another favorite they did not know they needed.
There are well over 70 numbered sandwiches, each with its own name and personality. The Phil Katzinger’s Club, number 41, features homemade chicken salad, crispy bacon, and Honeycup mustard, and it has developed a devoted following among regulars who order it without even glancing at the board.
The number 79, called Todd Is My Co-Pilot, layers grilled marinated chicken with applewood smoked bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and homemade ranch dressing on soft farm bread. There are also tuna salad options, smoked fish selections, and creative combos with homemade mozzarella and pesto.
The hardest part of every visit is not eating the food. It is choosing the food.
The Famous Free Pickle Barrels
Few things at Katzinger’s generate as much genuine excitement as the pickle barrels, and yes, they are exactly what they sound like. Two big barrels sit right in the middle of the dining room, one filled with garlic pickles and one with dill, and every customer is welcome to help themselves.
It is a self-serve setup, and you can grab a pickle on a plastic tray or take one to go. The pickles are fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor, which makes them feel like a bonus course rather than an afterthought.
I have eaten a lot of deli pickles in my life, and these hold up. The garlic version is assertive without being overwhelming, and the dill is clean and classic.
More than one person has mentioned the pickle barrels as a highlight of their visit, and honestly, that makes complete sense. Free, good, and fun is a combination that is very hard to beat.
Soups and Sides Worth Ordering
The sandwiches get most of the attention at Katzinger’s, but the sides and soups are not along for the ride. They are genuine contributors to a great meal, and skipping them would be a mistake I am glad I did not make.
The matzo ball soup is a menu staple, made with a homemade broth that carries real warmth. The chicken noodle option uses the same base broth, and both are available as part of a soup-and-half-sandwich combo that is one of the better lunch deals in the neighborhood.
On the cold side, the macaroni salad and Greek salad are consistently praised by regulars, and the pasta salad has its own fans who mention it alongside the sandwiches as a reason to return.
The fresh fruit salad, loaded with tangerines, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, and honeydew, is a bright, refreshing option that does not feel like an afterthought.
Every side I tried felt made with care rather than just assembled.
The Atmosphere Inside the Deli
The inside of Katzinger’s has a personality that is entirely its own. It is not trying to be trendy or minimalist or anything other than a real, working deli that has been feeding people for a long time.
The atmosphere is comfortable, unpretentious, and full of the kind of low-level buzz that tells you the food is good before you even order.
Tables are simple, the space is not huge, and on busy afternoons the place fills up fast. That energy, the packed room and the counter moving steadily, is part of what makes the experience feel authentic rather than manufactured.
There is nothing fancy about the setup, and that is completely the point. The focus is on the food and the people eating it.
Staff members move with the kind of practiced ease that comes from knowing the menu inside and out, and the overall vibe is warm without being performative. It feels like a neighborhood place because it genuinely is one.
Service That Regulars Swear By
Good food can carry a restaurant a long way, but the staff at Katzinger’s adds something extra that keeps people loyal. Multiple regulars mention the friendliness of the team as a specific reason they return, and that kind of consistent praise is not accidental.
The ordering process is counter service, which means you place your order, find a seat, and the food comes to you. It is a system that works well when the team is on point, and at Katzinger’s, they generally are.
The pace is brisk without feeling rushed, and the staff handles a packed house with a calm that is genuinely impressive.
One memorable detail from a regular visitor: the team gave out free bagels near closing time just because the shift was winding down. That kind of spontaneous generosity is not something you can train directly.
It comes from a workplace culture that actually values the people walking through the door, and it shows in every interaction at the counter.
Standout Sandwiches Beyond the Classics
Once you move past the Reuben, the menu opens up into a wide and genuinely exciting range of options. The Franklin’s Kibbetz, number 57, features homemade mozzarella and pesto and takes on a completely different character when turkey is added.
It is the kind of sandwich that surprises you with how well the flavors work together.
Mimi’s Melody, number 5, brings homemade tuna salad to grilled rye bread in a combination that sounds simple but lands as something much more considered. The tuna salad is made in-house, which makes a noticeable difference in both texture and flavor compared to the pre-made versions found at chain spots.
Ari’s Open Door, number 3, stacks pastrami, salami, and cream cheese into a bold and slightly unconventional combination that works surprisingly well. The salmon and cream cheese sandwich on fresh bread is another option that has drawn real praise.
There is a level of creativity running through this menu that rewards the adventurous eater.
Practical Tips for Your First Visit
A few things are worth knowing before your first trip to Katzinger’s so that the experience goes as smoothly as possible. Parking in German Village can be a real challenge, especially on weekends.
The deli does have spots directly behind the building, accessible from City Park Avenue heading south, so that is the best place to start before circling the surrounding streets.
Hours run from 10 AM to 6 PM every day of the week, which makes it a strong option for lunch or an early dinner. The lunch rush gets busy, and wait times can stretch during peak hours, so arriving early or planning for a slightly relaxed pace is a smart move.
Ordering at the counter is straightforward, but the menu is long, so browsing online before you arrive genuinely helps. Prices sit in the moderate range for a quality deli, and the portions are generous enough that most people find a single sandwich more than satisfying.
The phone number is 614-228-3354 if you have questions ahead of time.
Why This Deli Has Earned Its Legend
Not every restaurant earns the word legendary, but Katzinger’s has built that reputation one sandwich at a time over many years in one of Columbus’s most beloved neighborhoods.
The combination of a massive, creative menu, fresh ingredients, house-made staples, and a staff that genuinely enjoys the work adds up to something that is hard to replicate.
Road-trippers stop here and compare it favorably to great delis on the East Coast. Locals build monthly rituals around it.
First-timers leave already planning their return visit and their next sandwich choice. That kind of response does not happen by accident.
Ohio has a strong and growing food culture, and places like Katzinger’s are a big part of why Columbus keeps earning attention from food lovers across the country. If you are anywhere near German Village and have even a passing interest in a truly great sandwich, this deli is not optional.
It is essential.