Gili's Kitchen Catering and Bakery

We stopped by Gili's Kitchen for lunch while exploring downtown Jacksonville. The location is convenient, and the interior is spacious with some interesting artwork on the walls. As we walked in, the specials were displayed on a big chalkboard, which added a nice touch. 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!

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.

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

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!

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 .

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.

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.

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: 9/10Quality vs cost: 10/10Presentation: 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

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.

The food and the service is amazing. Very nice atmosphere as well. The restaurant and restroom is very clean.