If I’m an expert on anything, it is, without doubt, late-night binge eating.
And I am proud to say that after almost 3 years in this neighborhood, I now have the whole cycle – from hunt, to purchase, to consumption – down to a speedy science. The secret: ZIAD’S.
Ziad’s, an unassuming deli on Smith street between Bergen and Dean [map], is the Gobblettes’ favorite post-party pit stop for many reasons. Here are just a few off the top of my head:
1. They’re open 24/7 (almost). I think they might be closed from 430am-530am on weekdays or something, but it’s never posed a real problem. (At 4am, everyone should really be making an executive decision to either continue partying, or start eating.)
2. The owner dude (Ziad?? maybe??) of ambiguous Eastern Euro origin is kind of a badass! He’s stocky and tough, definitely works out, definitely capable of fucking someone up if they were causing trouble (so things stay pretty peaceful in-store). And he’s generally very nice. Once he did get really pissed at me for being drunk and eating my self-curated coleslaw and macaroni sandwich (???) at the cash register but that, I think we could all agree, was a considerable provocation. Also, he’s usually there in the mornings and sometimes calls me “sweetheart” or “hon” so it’s nice to start the day with that.
3. There’s a cute 18-year-old cashier who looks like Drake. We are each other’s “boos.”
4. FINALLY : THE FOOD!
Ziad’s has, by far, the best options for potato chips, packaged cookies (Berry Milanos! believe it!), soda, iced confections, and misc. ‘fresh’ foodstuffs (cold cuts; cheese; etc). (Their beer selection is as lacking as any other bodega in the BoCoCa area – but so be it.)
One highlight: their breakfast fare. Unlike most delis, they make a pretty decent, hearty breakfast sandwich for a reasonable price (usually less than $4). My favorite: toasted everything bagel with cheddar cheese, sausage, egg, tomato, hot sauce and ketchup – ask them to wrap the halves separately for optimum pre- and post-commute gnoshing. And their normal sandwiches are pretty legit as well (my picks – roast beef or meatball on a hero).
Another highlight: the deli chefs. Everyone I’ve ever ordered a sandwich from has been friendly, quick, and down with some serious sammy experimentation. My coleslaw & macaroni “creation” was probably not the best of ideas, but the deli bros served it up happily to me, without batting an eye. They even commended my ingenuity! I really respect and appreciate that. No one should shame you for the shitty food choices you’re making at 3am. Except for maybe yourself. Nah, not even yourself! Eat more shit, live a little, who cares! [artery bursts]
And last but not least: THE JAMAICAN BEEF PATTY. These can be found at food carts all around the city; this I know. but the ones at Ziad’s taste fresher than the others I’ve had. Maybe I’m biased, I can’t be sure. All I know is that between the hours of 1 and 4am, there is nothing, literally nothing, that can satisfy my hunger the way a Ziad’s beef patty with cheese (and hot sauce, obv) can. It is God’s gift to drunk Asian bloggers.
So there you have it! The Gobble Hill tip of the day. Please use it wisely! Hooray for Ziad’s.
- Christine
