New York cuisine comes to town
Yemen native opens new deli; Mayor cuts ribbon at grand opening
Odai Yafai may have left New York City for the Bay Area years ago, but, apparently, his passion for the famous deli style and taste never waned.
So, a decade after planting himself in Vallejo, the 30-yearold Yemen native opened NY Deli & Grill, offering the trademark cheesesteak, classic Reuben, and edible items that make Brooklyn natives drool.
The eatery at 605 Tennessee St. was all red, white and blue Monday with the official Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting, as Mayor Robert McConnell did the honors.
It was McConnell’s “fourth or fifth” ribbon cutting since securing the mayor’s seat in December.
“If I could go to one a day, I’d be really happy,” McConnell said, thrilled that a new business “puts people to work, gives us tax dollars, and adds a dimension to the city we don’t otherwise have.”
McConnell said every business that opens in Vallejo “is tremendously important. How can it not be?”
The NY Deli & Grill is a welcome addition, the mayor added, “because we don’t have one to my knowledge. And everyone who likes a deli seems to love a New York deli. It must be the rye bread.”
McConnell praised Yafai for the work it takes to just get the deli open — especially during COVID-19 — and the work it takes to make it work.
“It’s very tedious. You have to stick to it, have a business plan, be well-capitalized, need to understand tax reporting, and marketing is extremely important,” McConnell said. “Most importantly is perseverance. It’s a business you’re going to be married to. You’re going to be here every day.”
Yafai said he’s ready for the challenge, thrilled that relatives from San Francisco, Oakland and Daly City supported him since he announced he wanted to open a deli here five years ago.
“I had been to New York a couple years and used to work in a deli there,” Yafai said. “The reason I opened the deli is that I lived here
10 years and tried a lot of different restaurants.”
Yafai said he did his best to replicate the meats and the taste of New York City, adding to the ambiance with the back wall of a New York skyline and Statue of Liberty.
It’s all about “trying our best to giving the best quality food at reasonable prices,” said Yafai, ready for Monday’s ribbon-cutting after a “soft-opening” in February.
Perhaps the toughest critics — native New Yorkers — have stopped in for a sandwich “and so far, so good,” Yafai said. “We try our best to make everything like New York.”
Beyond the iconic New York-centric fare, customers
can create their own sandwiches, the owner emphasized, adding a few items from the Middle East like the shwarma wrap.
“I want to make it a ‘onestop shop.’ If you’re tired of sandwiches, have a burger. If you’re tired of burgers, have a sandwich,” Yafai said.
Yafai has big-time support from his uncle, Antar Rawa, owner of Krispy Krunchy Chicken up the road at 1655 Tennessee St.
Rawa, a 17-year Vallejoan, said the NY Deli “is a great opportunity in Vallejo,” believing his nephew is bound for success “because of hard work, good customer service and great food.”
Because Yafai has been in the neighborhood a decade,
“I pretty much know everyone. They’re like family to me,” he said.
Though it’s not a sitdown restaurant, there will be 12 available seats once COVID-19 subsides, Yafai said, adding that he hopes to build the business and eventually open NY Deli & Grill No. 2.
“I love Vallejo,” said Yafai.
“It’s not too hot, not too cold. And I love the people. It’s not like in the big city where you don’t know anybody.”
NY Deli & Grill is at 605 Tennessee St.
For more information, call (707) 980-7744.