John Lennon's Last Meal Was Reportedly From An Iconic NYC Deli - Tasting Table

"According to Dickerson, John Lennon's final meal was reportedly from an iconic NYC spot: Stage Deli. Citing manager Gill Kashkin, Dickerson writes that Lennon ordered a corned beef (not to be confused with roast beef) sandwich and a hot tea during a late lunch on December 8, 1980. Later that night, he was fatally shot outside his residence on the Upper West Side."

"According to reporting by Smithsonian Magazine, after spending the evening at the Record Plant working on the song "Walking on Thin Ice", Lennon and Yoko Ono discussed going to the Stage Deli - which would have been on their way home - for a late dinner but chose instead to go home to check on their young son, Sean."

"Founded in 1937, Stage Deli was known for its gargantuan sandwiches (and a rivalry with nearby Carnegie Deli). Its fans, besides Lennon, included the likes of Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, Adam Sandler, Donnie Wahlberg, Milton Berle, and others. The Stage Deli closed its doors for good in 2012, after 75 years in business."

Public fascination exists with celebrities' last meals. One account reports John Lennon ordered a corned beef sandwich and a hot tea at Stage Deli during a late lunch on December 8, 1980, and he was fatally shot later that night outside his Upper West Side residence. Stage Deli opened in 1937, gained fame for gargantuan sandwiches and a rivalry with Carnegie Deli, counted many famous patrons, and closed in 2012 after 75 years. Other accounts describe a day that included work at the Record Plant, a photo shoot, and a radio interview; Lennon and Yoko Ono debated going to Stage Deli but reportedly went home to check on their son Sean. Some sources place their morning at Café La Fortuna, a nearby neighborhood café the couple frequented.

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