Day 8: Corned Beef Sandwich
Where: Carnegie Deli (Food Village and South Plaza)
Cost: $14
No disrespect to the hard-working cooks turning out tournament-specific grub in every nook and cranny of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but—along with its neighboring Food Village newbie Hill Country (also headquartered across the East River)—the best food on the grounds just might come from this venerable Manhattan import that's doing its deceptively simple thing with little fanfare. First opened in 1937, the Carnegie Deli is a New York City institution that has been immortalized in countless ways, including serving as the setting for the stand-up comics who narrate Woody Allen's black-and-white gem Broadway Danny Rose. Sandwiches here—in addition to corned beef, turkey and the Carnegie's legendary pastrami are also available—are served with cole slaw and a pickle. Just as the best players let their racquets do the talking, there's nothing new or gimmicky about the bill of fare here, just some of the best meats around, unceremoniously served up on rye bread, the perfect example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and the quintessential New York City sandwich.
Click here for more Dishes of the Day from the 2013 U.S. Open.
In addition to his duties as an editor at-large for TENNIS, Andrew Friedman writes about food, chefs, and the restaurant industry. He has written or co-written more than 25 chef-focused books and cookbooks and chronicles his travels in the culinary world on his website, Toqueland.