I was born in the Bronx and have eaten at all the great NYC deli's. Not the touristy ones...the real deli's. When I came out to Arizona, people suggested Chompie's and a couple other places (one person suggested Einstein's Bagels for "real New York deli food" so I stabbed them). And by accident, I found Goldman's.
Outside NYC, people think I'm strange for ordering a turkey with chopped liver, red onion and mustard on rye with a pickle and square knish. The lady at Goldman's has never laughed...to my face. The counter case is filled with all sorts of top notch deli. There are no bad choices and it is always perfect.
So, if you're a New Yorker trapped west of Eight Ave. and you want REAL deli, stab someone for suggesting the Jack in the Box Pastrami Melt is just as good as them N.Y. deli's and head to Goldman's.
Tell 'em "Stabby Finkelstein sent you."