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Rob Reiner remembered by owner of NYC deli where iconic ‘When Harry Met Sally’ orgasm scene set
Reiner was a ‘friend of Katz’s Deli in so many ways’, said Jake Dell
December 19, 2025 15:25
Reiner was a ‘friend of Katz’s Deli in so many ways’, said Jake Dell
December 19, 2025 15:25The owner of the Jewish New York deli that served as the setting of one of modern cinema’s most memorable scenes has paid tribute to the Jewish filmmaker Rob Reiner, who was found dead alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, on Sunday in their LA home.
Reiner, whose career as a director, producer, writer and actor spanned almost six decades, was famed for working on acclaimed films including The Princess Bride, Stand By Me and A Few Good Men.
It was his 1989 hit, When Harry Met Sally, starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, though that featured the immortal line, “I’ll have what she’s having”, uttered by a fellow diner – played by Reiner’s mother, Estelle Reiner – after Ryan’s character loudly fakes an orgasm in a crowded deli.
That restaurant, Katz’s Deli, in New York City, has been owned by the same family for five generations, and Rob Reiner was a frequent visitor.
Owner Jake Dell has spoken fondly of Reiner, describing him as a “friend of Katz’s Deli in so many ways”.
“The staff and everyone at Katz’s, we all just remember him very fondly and have all these amazing memories,” Dell told US industry publication The Hollywood Reporter.
“He was a regular customer who would come in whenever he was in town – a Brooklyn guy who would come and grab a sandwich.”
Dell stressed that Katz’s had been well-known for a century before When Harry Met Sally was released, but expressed delight that the scene from the romantic comedy continues remains a talking point decades later.
“It’s amazing that we’re still talking about it nearly 40 years later … That’s incredible, in and of itself. There aren’t that many movies that stand the test of time like that. So, for this movie and this one particular scene to still be relevant and still hold weight for so many people is special for the creators of the movie. We’re just lucky to be a part of that.”
Reiner died aged 78 and Singer Reiner was 70. A report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office cited their cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries.”
The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, 32, appeared in court in Los Angeles on Wednesday accused of their murders. Reiner, who did not enter a plea, stands charged of two counts of first-degree murder. His next hearing will be on January 7.
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