- - Owner of Katz’s Deli, Where “When Harry Met Sally ”Scene Was Filmed, Remembers ‘Bubbly, Charismatic’ Director Rob Reiner (Exclusive)

Erin ClementsDecember 17, 2025 at 8:44 AM

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Katz's Deli/Instagram

Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner at Katz's Deli -

Katz's Deli shared a tribute remembering Rob Reiner, who directed the famous When Harry Met Sally scene filmed at the restaurant

Katz's owner Jake Dell also shared memories of Reiner with PEOPLE, calling the filmmaker "a great New York guy"

Reiner and his wife Michele were killed in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14

Katz's Deli is mourning Rob Reiner, who directed one of his most unforgettable movie scenes at the famed New York City eatery.

“Remembering the great Rob Reiner on this tragic day,” began the caption on a carousel of images that showed the acclaimed filmmaker at the restaurant.

“Rob Reiner was a quintessential New Yorker and creative giant who brought Katz’s to millions of people by showing the magic of our store in his masterpiece ‘When Harry Met Sally,’” the post went on.

The tribute concluded, “Forever changing Katz’s history with that simple line: ‘I’ll have what she’s having!’ Our hearts go out to his family. Sending infinite love. ❤️❤️❤️”

Katz's owner Jake Dell also shared his memories of Reiner, telling PEOPLE, "He was a great New York guy, fun, bubbly, charismatic, a real schmoozer."

"He would talk with any employee or any customer that wanted to talk to him," Dell continued. "Big appetite, loved the food."

Dell reflected on When Harry Met Sally's impact on the deli, decades after its 1989 release.

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"Here we are nearly 40 years later, still talking about this movie and this one scene," he says. "Who would've thought that? How many movies, how many scenes in the history of cinema are remembered that many years later? So we're grateful for that, for his ability to storytell."

Dell says the deli would ship Reiner orders of its famous sandwiches, and when he was in town, he'd pop in for a meal.

"We got to see him a lot over the years," he adds.Dell says the news of Reiner's death has been "a little jarring" for staff members, some of who've recently had photo memories of visits from the director surface on their phones.

In the classic Katz's scene from When Harry Met Sally, Harry (Billy Crystal) says he doesn’t believe any of the women he’s slept with have ever faked an orgasm and Sally (Meg Ryan) proceeds to offer a convincing demonstration in the middle of the deli.

Katz's Deli/Instagram

Rob Reiner at Katz's Deli

“I’ll have what she’s having,” deadpans a fellow diner, played by Reiner's mother, Estelle, who delivers the much-quote line in a cameo.

Crystal and Ryan reunited at Katz’s in December 2024 to shoot a commercial for Hellmann’s that aired during the 2025 Super Bowl.

Both stars shared their memories of filming the beloved movie, written by the late Nora Ephron, in an interview with PEOPLE ahead of the ad’s premiere.

Ryan remembered the shoot for the original Katz’s scene lasting “all day,” during which she experienced “a lot of trepidation and nerves.”

“Initially, it was like, ‘Oh, what are these sounds going to be?’ All the levels. I don't know if I'm going to get help,” she recalled at the time.

Fortunately, Reiner offered her plenty of guidance. “Rob had so many significant and interesting sounds to inspire me with,” Ryan says.

Crystal added, “He did one and he took me aside and he said, ‘Oh, I shouldn't have done that. I just had an orgasm in front of my mother.”

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in 'When Harry Met Sally'

Reiner and his wife, Michele, were killed in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Sources tell PEOPLE that the couple were found by their daughter Romy, according to sources who spoke to family members.

The couple’s son Nick is suspected of murder and is being held without bail at Men's Central Jail. Prior to his arrest, Nick was questioned by the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division.

The couple had three children together, including Nick, who previously has spoken openly about struggles with addiction, beginning in his teens.

Reiner was the director of a number of films, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me, The Princess Bride (1987), and A Few Good Men (1992), among others.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”