Marching to the beat of a different drummer is part of the atmosphere at Adams St. Deli & Grill.
When Nader Zarou and his wife, Sylvia, bought the established restaurant in 2008, they decided to skip breakfast and specialize in serving only lunch.
“That’s because of the prep time. Everything we serve is made fresh every day,” he said.
Zarou’s first food service experience was almost 40 years ago, when he ran a falafel stand in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The couple moved to Jacksonville 24 years ago and went to work at the Farah and Farah law firm. Sylvia was, and still is, the office manager and Nader was an investigator. She works in the restaurant as well, leaving her desk at the firm to run the cash register while her husband and Cristy Austin prepare sandwiches and entrees at the deli.
Consistent daily specials have proved to be a success, Zarou said.
Monday, it’s a choice between a deli sandwich or grilled chicken salad. Tuesday’s special is a cheeseburger or pulled barbecue sandwich with fries.
Zarou said the Buffalo chicken sandwich that’s the Wednesday special sometimes sells out, as does the smothered beef burrito on Thursday. Friday brings a lot of requests for the grilled chicken Greek salad and shrimp or fried rice with shrimp or chicken.
The daily specials include a soft drink or iced tea.
Philly cheese steak, gyros, veggie wraps and quesadillas also are on the menu every day.
With the restaurant located in the middle of Downtown’s busiest block in terms of dining, Zarou said he sees a lot of familiar faces. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is next door and the deli is near City Hall, the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse and Downtown’s office towers.
“We’re also serving lunch to a lot of jurors since the courthouse moved,” Zarou said.
Adams St. Deli & Grill, 126 W. Adams St., is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 475-1400 for takeout orders.
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