Lunch break downtown and I happen upon a quaint deli. The lead cook was kind enough to make recommendations, too. I ordered a Shawarma plate with a side of spicy fries and an Israeli mango juice. The meal was a lot more than I could eat in one sitting and well seasoned. The chicken shawarma was tender and cooked well. The hummus with the Israeli salad on top was bright and an unexpected delight. I'm gonna have to return for the lamb burger! The only "drawback" for me is that there's a lot to choose from on the menu! read more

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Located near the Duval County Courthouse and Jacksonville Symphony, we've visited twice and the wonderful staff were welcoming. It was around after lunch rush hour so the restaurant is a little quieter. On our recent visit, I had the Lamb Kabob in Pita. It was wonderful, great seasoning, lamb cooked well with the fresh Israeli salad and hummus. Plentiful and filling! In the last visit, I had the Shawarma Platter with Chicken -- which was also wonderful. Fries were crispy and fried well. read more

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Excellent hummus, also loved the Moroccan platter. Finished the meal with a slice of cake,"nemesis". So happy To have found this place after browsing Chamblin Uptown Bookstore waiting for late flight out of Jacksonville read more

Gili's Kitchen is a great local restaurant right in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is clean, wood table and black accents, Jacksonville themed murals on the walls and just a great vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was excellent and everything we ordered was too notch. I ordered the Cuban, my wife a shawarma pita and both were excellent. The sweet potato fries may be the best I've had. Beer is available and all types of drinks via bottles, cans or from the soda fountain. The fact that they have so many vegan and kosher options is just a bonus. I'm sure we'll be returning and I highly suggest you give them a try. read more

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Their catering is out of this world!! Fresh, clean, flavorful, colorful, moist, simply the best. Guests went for seconds and thirds. Any dietary requests they made possible and tasty read more

Gili's Kitchen - Asian salad, pasta salad, Mediterranean salad - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Always happy to try a place new to us that is close by in downtown Jax and open on Sunday! We went for a later lunch and had a great meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean and bright space with tables and window seating available.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered fountain drinks and waters, sweet potato fries to share, a Cuban and shawarma in a pita. Service was great, with refills offered often for both our waters and coke zeros, including to-go cups before we left. The Cuban was pressed and had great flavor. The sweet potato fries were so crispy on the outside and sweet and delicious on the inside. My shawarma in a pita was overflowing with chicken, vegetables and spices and tasted fantastic. Any wait to return and try some of the many other options on the menu. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Perhaps it was because I was there on a Sunday evening, but this place felt less than fresh and a bit warmed over.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Felt like perhaps the microwave was getting a bit too much usage today. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place just seems like it needs a bit of an upgrade, both in the kitchen, the staff, and the decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Maybe at one time this was a better restaurant than the experience I had today. Fair/mediocre is probably the best rating I could give it. Not a place to which I would return. read more

We stopped by Gili's Kitchen for lunch while exploring downtown Jacksonville. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The location is convenient, and the interior is spacious with some interesting artwork on the walls.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]As we walked in, the specials were displayed on a big chalkboard, which added a nice touch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were seated quickly and handed menus. I had read online that the prices were on the lower side, but they were higher than I anticipated. That said, the menu offered a good variety, and everything looked fresh and thoughtfully prepared. I was torn between getting a burger or some shawarma, but the NY Style Pastrami caught my eye, so I went with that, paired with fries. My friend ordered the Reuben burger and was surprised it came with vegan cheese, but I wasn't, as Gili's is a strictly kosher restaurant. One downside was that the fountain drink machine wasn't working, so we had to buy bottled drinks from the cooler. For someone like me who drinks more than I eat, having to ration my Coke Zero was a bit of a letdown. The food itself was a highlight. My pastrami sandwich was delicious, with tender, flavorful meat that you could tell was prepared with care. The portion size was solid, and the fries were a satisfying side. My friend also enjoyed the Reuben burger despite the cheese surprise. That said, I came in expecting to spend $10-$20 but ended up closer to $30 each for myself and my friend. While it's a bit more than I'd typically budget for lunch, the quality was undeniable. It's a rare occasion I'd come back, but it was great for what it was! read more

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Small restaurant on Adams Street. I went there while serving jury duty. The server was very nice I looked at the menu and had sticker shock from how expensive this little place is. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nothing about the ambience to write home about, but then again I care more about the quality of the food than the place anyway[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. I ordered a pastrami sandwich. It came with sauerkraut on the side, which is usually on it in many places anyway, and two small pickle slices. The sandwich was ordinary. Not as much meat as you would expect for $18.00--without a side. I ordered cole slaw as a side for an extra $ 4.00. The sandwich was okay, the slaw ok. Is it a NY type of deli? Not close. It is ok and way overpriced. Go to Jersey Mike's or European Street instead. read more

Worst pastrami sandwich we have ever had. Not much meat for the price & never have I had pastrami I couldn't chew. It was loaded with fat & what meat there was, was tough! The sweet potato fries were excellent!!!!! read more

When in town for a conference we decided to take a group of 20 to Gili's. Although the place was small, they were happy to accommodate us and treated us like family. The chef was excited to cook for us and I asked the server what she suggested and she gave me a lot of options. We started with a plethora of apps that were amazing. The mushroom hummus and Naan was a standout. For my main course I had the Lamb Kabobs and I was not disappointed. Look at the picture and you will see for yourselves. This was a great escape from the corporate restaurants that are everywhere you go. If you are looking for some great Israeli food, this is the place. Say hi to the chef while you are there. Taste: 9/10 Quality vs cost: 10/10 Presentation: 10/10 ( based on the setting) Atmosphere and ambience 9/10 (very fitting for a small diner) Service: 10/10 Total: 48/50 = 4.8 = 5 star read more

Gili's Kitchen - Lamb Kabobs - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I have to say this is probably one of the more tougher reviews for me to write. Our server and I wish I had her name was phenomenal, she was very pleasant kind and professional. She demonstrated compassion and a true liking of her job. That would be five stars. Regarding the food; my father had the New York pastrami sandwich (over $20) so he had very high expectations. I personally did not try it so I can only go by what he told me and he said the meat was very tough, some of it It difficult to chew. I had the chicken pita and I have to say there was not very much chicken in it in fact I thought they had forgotten about it until I found a small paper thin piece. Did not have much flavor so I was I will admit a little disappointed. Again our waitress was phenomenal I wish I had her name but here comes the most challenging part - as I was eating the fries I found a bug in the plate. Too big to be a flea and it did not have wings so therefore was not a net but it was a black bug that was crawling on the plate. I put my finger near it to make sure that it wasn't a crumb of some sort and it started to run. The owner said that though he did not see the bug he basically trusted me and he did discount our ticket. The challenge was the quality of the pastrami the lack of chicken but they have great service. This is why I had a hard time writing this review because if I were to do it solely on the waitress it would be a five if I was to do it totally on the food it would be two. After some time I may give it a try again. read more

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Had Tanya as a server. Service was great. Had the NY style Pastrami! Was very good And a healthy size sandwich read more

The onion rings were overcooked. The reuben had no cheese or sauerkraut on it. Overall, the meal was overpriced and generally of fair quality. I won't be back. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]A very quiet place and high quality food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The employees are helpful and friendly. Parking is a challenge, especially during the week, but it is worth it. read more

Went directly from airport to Gili's based on their reputation. So much to choose from off the menu AND THEN there were about 5 yummy looking specials! We chose a pastrami burger and one of the specials, flank in pita, fries and Cole slaw, and a Yuengling from the beer cooler (they also have a soda cooler). Waiting on our food now, will get back to you. Wish I could say I loved it, definitely liked it well enough to come back if I'm ever in town again. The positives include that the space is nice; indoor seating includes counter space, tables ranging from 2-4 tops and 1 large table for groups and there are a couple of small outdoor tables, the staff is friendly, no wait, fairly extensive menu, food came fast and it was good. Negatives are, though the cashier is friendly, I couldn't always understand what she was trying to say (could be me) and she told us she'd bring us silverware and never did. The pastrami burger while excellent tasting was majorly messy, the fries were ok, the Cole slaw is very vinegary, the special sandwich was good- I was expecting more hummus & Israeli salad in it, but I suppose that might make it too messy for me so I suppose that's actually a good thing! read more

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Their falafel pita is spot on!!! The Israeli salad and hummus mixture and huge pita is a full meal and quite tasty!!!! This town if full of wonderful falafel spots and Gili's is not one to miss. read more

It gives me no joy to write this disappointing review. A little background. I grew up in Baltimore going to Corn-Beef Row once a week. I lived in NYC- dined at the old Carnegie Deli, Katz's and Zabars. Lived in LA for over 30 years going to Langers, Factors, Art's, Brent's and all the great Israeli cafes like Aroma and Tel-Aviv Grill-- so on a trip down here from Savannah I was thrilled to see what seemed like an authentic Kosher Deli/Israeli Cafe and to check it ou! We came on Sunday July 27th and I brought 5 friends who have never been to a DELI or an Israeli restauant so I assured them they were in for a TREAT... instead it was kind of a nightmare. [[HIGHLIGHT]]First-- the AC was out. At one point the Waitress brought out an old fan which she plugged on the other side of the restaurant so it made zero difference.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When we walked in -- we were only one of two tables- A table of two women and then a table of us-- 6- 3 couples. The Waitress apologized and said she was new. She took our orders. We ordered some salads and apps and we made it clear we wanted them first. About 40 minutes later, the apps-- a plate hummus, 6 falafel and a greek salad finally came out. This was after I had to get up and remind the waitress that we had been waiting a long time for those three dishes. We also ordered a chef's salad that they clearly forgot. My friend told them to just forget it-- but a few minutes later after we had finished the other apps, she brought it out and said there was no charge for it.. Okay-- that's nice I guess. And then about 15 minutes later, the entrees came out-- all of them EXCEPT mine. A simple NY Style Pastrami Sandwich. The Waitress didn't say anything this time and once again, I had to go to the front desk and ask where my food was. Was told they were very short staffed. Whatever. Finally AFTER my friends were all finished with their food, my sandwich came out-- but it was the wrong one-- it was the 15 dollar smaller version not the 23 dollar version I ordered. I pointed this out and she again apologized and said she can have it remade and I told her I had already waited a long time so she said she would just bring me a plate with some extra pastrami. I said that would be fine and she brought some more over.... We finished our food and then waited a LONG TIME for the checks to come-- which never did-- cause the table check device was broken--- Great! So we then all paid our checks-- I was last- I noticed she had charged me for the large sandwich instead of the smaller one that I got. She told me I said it was okay if she brought me the extra pastrami-- I told her I thought she was just being nice because they had forgotten to bring out my sandwich in the first place-- she said no-- she had to charge me for the extra. Eight bucks for a couple slices of pastrami which I'm sure was probably just a Boar's Head from Publix-- cause you know what-- after all this-- if the food was great- I would have minded-- but it was all just MEH. Nothing special. Fun fact- my wife got the Hummus with Mushrooms and promptly got food poisoning so that happened to. And now my friends hate Jewish and Israeli food- so thanks for that Gili. Oh-- and even with that I tried my best to be friendly and said "Shalom" the the grumpy slobby "chef" who grumbled something back. No- "Sorry". No please forgive the bad service. Nothing. Sooo never coming back. I tried my best to support my people but Jesus-- what a crappy experience all around. Like no one cares. Ps. I don't know how many times we had to ask for simple things like plates... HARD PASS! read more

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I wish I remembered how much I like Gili's when I'm downtown so I can visit more often. A perfect spot at ArtWalk for delicious food! Friendly staff, clean and fun background music! read more

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Gili's Kosher Restaurant is in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. We went there for lunch on Christmas Eve and they were offering a Chinese menu, as well as their standard menu, this seems to be a tradition for Gili's. We ordered 3 dishes. They do have a large selection of vegan options and they cook to order so everything is customizable. Our server, Riki, was very pleasant and attentive. Pricing is a bit expensive, I am sure the cost of rent and the fact that it is kosher food has something to do with this. We sat outside, they have two small tables and 4 chairs total. Gili's also has takeout and offers catering. The panhandlers kept approaching our table asking for money. This made for an uncomfortable lunch. I would probably go back and eat inside after the pandemic. read more

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I come here for lunch whenever I'm in the area. Gili does middle eastern food the right way. Full of flavor and cooked to perfection. I've had their shawarma & falafel several times and have never been disappointed. My favorite is their burger selection. The burgers are always juicy and perfect. The people that own this place are extremely nice. They will make sure your food is cooked to perfection and served with a smile . read more

Best place in Jax! I've never had a bad experience. The staff is super welcoming, it feels like a little family when you visit. The food is also some of the best I've ever had! It's not your typical New York style Kosher spot. It's Israeli style food! The pricing is also amazing! If your debating it just do it, it's so good! read more

Tonya makes sure you feel right at home and she provides service with a smile. The Pita Shawarma is so flavorful and the portion is very filling! This is a great spot in downtown Jacksonville for a hot, quick, delicious meal. read more

This was my first time visiting Gilis, I will be back! The Philly Cheesesteak was delicious. Tonya provided great service from ordering to the table service. read more

The food and the service is amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very nice atmosphere as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The restaurant and restroom is very clean. read more

Gili's Kitchen - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I found Gili's while running an errand, and decided to try it (after looking at its Yelp rating, of course!). It was after lunch, and so not crowded at all. It's very clean and tidy, with perhaps a dozen tables as well as some window seats. Other than me, only one other customer wore a mask. I decided on the Lamb Kabob in Pita (it's also available as a platter). It came out quickly, hot and juicy. Like, literally dripping juice. It's generous, and takes two hands to eat (or convert to knife and fork). The fresh-tasting arugula and other vegetables were well balanced with the meat, which was in the form of basically meatballs. To be honest, it was good, but not great, for $14. The fourth star is for the extra clean space and friendly staff at the counter. I'd definitely try it again if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Gili's Kitchen - Lamb kabob in pita, with extra tahini on the side. - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Tasty food! Had shawarma (gyro) in pita and the meat was plentiful and delicious, hummus was tasty too. Good sweet potato fries also, and friendly service. Open on Sundays! read more

After a long day of sitting in court proceedings, I was HANGRY and needed to get something in my gut. I was initially disappointed because I just knew there wouldn't be anyplace open after 2:00 pm for a hot meal. I then remembered Gili's. I have visited their establishment once and had an amazing burger, so I knew that was at least one option. Today, I chose the Flank Meat in Pita. The pita was loaded with flavorful flank steak, arugula, tomatoes, red onions, pickles and topped with tahini sauce and came with fries. A huge mound of steak was perfectly stuffed in the pita allowing you to eat it without the sloppiness that comes along with that kind of sandwich. I was instantly satisfied after the first bite. I chose the sweet potato fries as my side, and they were perfectly fried and salted. Just amazing. I cannot believe I have not dined at this gem more than twice, but that will be changing after today's visit. The next menu item I will try is their Shawarma plate. If you work in the Downtown area and need something different for lunch, you must check out Gili's. I can totally see it being pretty packed during the lunch hour since the space is a bit small. However, if you take an early or late lunch, you should be fine. I arrived at 2:45 today and there were still a few patrons enjoying their meals, but it was not packed. Should you decide to treat yourself and run in to me, say hi! read more

Gili's Kitchen - Flank Steak Sandwich. Just wow! - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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The only kosher restaurant in Jacksonville area. Located in the downtown area. Many Israeli options, like shawarma and falafel sandwiches. They have a full menu of hamburgers. Let's not forget the usual deli sandwiches as-well, pastrami, roast beef and turkey. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak sandwich with a side of fries. Just to be clear-- this restaurant serves no dairy items. So any cheese items that you see on the menu is non-dairy. It was a pretty good sandwich. I took it to go. They wrapped it properly. So I was able to eat it in the car. They serve beer and wine. Plenty of street parking out front. read more

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Gili's Kitchen is where we always order to be sure our Kosher team member always has a properly prepared meal. Having said that you do not have to be Kosher to love the food. The food is fresh, kindly prepared and sooooo delicious. read more

Gili's promises to cook with only fresh and quality ingredients and I believe them. My branzino fish with rice bowl was a simple yet healthy meal served with bright green veggies that had a satisfying crunch when I bit into them. Some extra soy sauce on top takes this dish from good to pretty tasty. I do wish the serving of fish was a little larger considering the price of $16. But it tasted good nonetheless. My only other disappointment is that their website menu is slightly different from what they had on their restaurant menu. Unless lunch is different than dinner time, in which case I'll have to come back to try their Vietnamese chicken! read more

Gili's Kitchen - Branzino fish with rice and mixed greens - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Interesting kosher establishment with different cuisine choices. The menu offers hot sandwiches, burgers, some curry dishes, and salads. Order at the counter and pay in advance. Came to try the classic burger and was very pleased. Hearty burger and opted to top it with their non-dairy cheese. The sweet potato fries are fire! So good! Really enjoyed my lunch here and chill vibes inside. Would definitely come back for a burger if in the area. read more

Gili's Kitchen - Classic burger with non-dairy cheese - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Gili's is an absolute joy to dine at and from. I spent two weeks in Jacksonville. True, I had limited Kosher options -- but that doesn't make me blind to the quality a restaurant provides. Time and time again, Gili's knocked it out of the park. Whether it was delivery to my client's office (mostly the uber-delicious Banh Mi sandwich with beef), one of the indulgent​ Dirty Burgers, or the highly-anticipated Shawarma Days -- Gili's never disappointed​. As impressive as the food was, the folks working there were just fantastic. I always felt welcome​ and was received warmly. Also, my to-go orders always included plasticware, napkins, and a plastic serving of ketchup. I couldn't ask for anything more. Gili's lists itself as a bakery, ​and it doesn't disappoint on the baked goods. The brownies are rich and fudgy​, the chocolate chip cookies are massive and chewy, and the flourless chocolate Nemesis cake is decadent. They also have both savory and sweet specials; the tiramisu was about as good as I've ever tasted. There's enough variety on the menu to keep your options interesting. Also, don't assume that you know what something is. Numerous time the kind folks at Gili's would tell me about a dish​ and its preparation didn't sound anything like how I'd envisioned it. This always meant they had gone above and beyond the description to make the preparation more interesting than I had initially thought. I found the lamb kabob pita to be outstanding, but wouldn't have pictured it as they presented it. read more

Gili's Kitchen - Banh Mi sandwich at Gili's - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

It was absolutely amazing!! Loved it all. Wish I lived closer I would go every day. I had a burger with pastrami and vegan cheese! It was yum yum yummy! read more

Fried rice is not supposed to be so wet. But this was not bad at all. My wife had the Lamb Burger and THAT was amazing!!!!!!!!! I truly give 3.5 Gold Spoons read more

Gili's Kitchen - Vietnamese vegan Fried Rice - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Just celebrated a milestone in learning with family and friends. The shawarma is next level!! . I had the chicken Ceasar salad which was a really nice portion and stuffed with chicken.... I was so tempted to have the Hamburger again, but the salad won the tossup. I love the atmosphere and staff. It's a real treat and one I will be happy to revisit Eliyahu Rosenthal read more

Gili's Kitchen - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I ordered a lamb Bob Peter I explained that I'm allergic to tomatoes I've been offered to get Israeli salad inside of Peter that contain tomatoes I explained again that I am allergic and I did receive my order with tomatoes , having me calling in and asking to get a refund on the sandwich but I cannot eat I've been told that I need to drive all the way back to the store and bring the sandwich to the counter back in order to get a refund , I really don't know if I buy a TV that I need to return or a sandwich ?!?! ‍‍‍ Confused ?? Me also Never ever again going to be a costumer . read more

I liked the inside of the building. With couch chairs you can sit on you can be pretty comfortable while eating your meal. What makes this review four stars instead of five is that the kids burger was not fully cooked in the middle. I hope this review is informative about what can make this place better for customers to enjoy. read more

I love this place now. I'll be back. I work a few blocks away and kept meaning to try it out! Glad I did. The roast beef was smothered in delicious onions and the sweet potato fries were PERFECT. Only thing I would suggest is a side of aus jus for the sandwich. 10/10 read more

Gili's Kitchen - Roast Beef Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries - Caterers Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

The food is extremely great and fresh. My only complaint is that it is pretty expensive.