Pastrami in this city runs through one address more than any other, but the search for a good deli sandwich in Central Ohio does not stop at German Village. Downtown counters, cross-cuisine delis, and neighborhood sub shops all have a claim on the meat case. This guide sorts the real pastrami and corned beef from the sandwich shops that just happen to sell something close.
German Village & the Brewery District $$
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A straightforward sandwich counter in Columbus built around the basics done correctly: sliced meats stacked to order, simple bread, no theatrics. It reads as a workday lunch spot rather than an occasion room, the kind of place regulars name by their usual order rather than by dish description. Price and portion matter more here than provenance.
What to orderdeli sandwich, roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich
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The pastrami and corned beef reference point for the whole metro, running since 1984 out of German Village with a pickle barrel by the register and a deli case that draws comparisons to New York on sight. The menu runs long, with a vegan section alongside the classic reubens, and the room fills fast on weekends. The corned beef sandwich is the one to order.
What to ordercorned beef sandwich, pastrami sandwich, pickles
№ 03
Cornerstone Deli & Cafe
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A Columbus lunch counter that hedges its bets: a Reuben sits on the same menu as shrimp pad thai and sushi rolls, and the shrimp pad thai has built its own following independent of the sandwich case. The build is bigger inside than the storefront suggests. Worth a visit for the range alone, though the Reuben itself plays it straight rather than showy.
What to orderReuben sandwich, shrimp pad thai, rice bowls
№ 04
W.g. Grinders
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Known around Columbus more for the Stromboli and baked subs than for pastrami specifically, but the deli case turns out a competent corned beef and a macaroni salad regulars buy by the pound to take home. The sandwiches lean toward baked, hearty builds rather than the classic cold deli stack. A neighborhood standby with several locations across the metro.
What to orderStromboli, baked subs, macaroni salad
№ 05
Wario's Beef & Pork
$$
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A counter-service sandwich shop in Columbus organized around a short, confident menu: the Cold Cut, the meatball, the roast beef. It runs on quick turnover, with online ordering keeping the line moving even when the counter backs up. Hours run tighter than some expect, closing early some evenings, so calling ahead beats a wasted trip.
What to orderCold Cut, Meatball, Roast Beef
№ 06
Deli-Licious
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A downtown Columbus lunch counter built for the workday crowd, with sandwiches made to order and a chicken Philly that has become the house favorite: soft bread, fresh-sliced meat, cheese in the right proportion. Roast beef and turkey round out the case. Small operation, fast line, the kind of spot that earns repeat weekday visits rather than special trips.
What to orderchicken Philly, roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich
Frequently asked
Where is the best pastrami near me in Columbus?
It depends which part of the metro is closest. Katzinger's Delicatessen in German Village is the most established pastrami and corned beef counter in the city proper, while Cornerstone Deli & Cafe, W.G. Grinders, and Deli-Licious cover other parts of Columbus with their own deli cases. None of these restaurants pay to be listed; placement follows the Insider Score.
What is the Insider Score and how is it calculated for this guide?
The Insider Score is this site's rating, built from the public review record for each restaurant rather than any paid placement. It reflects consistency and reputation over time, not a single visit or a promotional relationship with the business.
Is Katzinger's Delicatessen actually in German Village, and is that part of Columbus?
Yes to both. German Village is a neighborhood inside the city of Columbus, not a separate suburb, and Katzinger's has operated there since 1984 with its pickle barrel and deli case as neighborhood fixtures.
Do any of these delis serve more than sandwiches?
Cornerstone Deli & Cafe is the outlier, running rice bowls, sushi, and Thai dishes like shrimp pad thai alongside its Reuben and other sandwiches. The rest of this list, including Katzinger's, W.G. Grinders, Wario's Beef & Pork, and Deli-Licious, stay closer to a traditional deli and sandwich menu.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Ruth Ackermann
Staff Writer · Top of Columbus
Ruth Ackermann is the Food Editor at Top of Columbus. Raised in Merion Village in a family from the old German south side, she worked pastry and the line in two Short North kitchens before moving to the notebook. She covers the institutions, the chef-driven rooms, and every dining room where the occasion matters.
