The original Barney Greengrass deli is on Amsterdam Avenue between 86th and 87th Street right across the from where my mother has lived since 1980. When my father was alive, his morning ritual included breakfast at Barney’s. A bialy with farmer cheese, lox, onion, lettuce and tomato, a cup of coffee and the New York Times. For an Atheist who was raised a New England Yankee Protestant, he really knew how to be a Jew. Last week I was visiting with my mother and while she took a nap I went down to grab a bite. The guy at the register is the great grandson of the guy who was at the register when I was 17. The men at the counter still talk about my father, they still call me sweetheart and go out of their way to get me the best Nova on the warmest bagel, and make sure my coffee is always from a fresh pot.
Barneys and New York. History and humanity in one hot bowl of Matzo Ball soup.
1 comment:
Do you think they would deliver a fish platter to a bris in Rome?
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