Abe Lebewohl, 2nd Avenue Deli's original proprietor, was a strong political voice of the Lower East Side, most notably, a primary benefactor to the Yiddish theatre, as he was to many charitable organizations in town. Abe Lebewohl's work was his life, which ended in senseless murder three years ago on a routine trip to the bank. It, along with a major deli renovation, fulfills Abe's own dreams for his work. Chopped liver is liver chopped, no hardboiled eggs. It is so unadulterated, it might even broach the objectionable.
Whitefish salad contains pureed fish, no onion, no pickles.
Pastrami and corned beef lay by themselves on rye. Mostly the food stands well enough alone, if only because there's no stomach room left for anything else. The deli's portions are expectantly huge. Chopped liver takes the shape of a small hill. Sandwiches strain under the weight of their fillings.