Inspired by the delis of Noo Yoik, Zobler’s is one of nine restaurants set within the cavernous former banking hall of The Ned, the swanky hotel and members’ club at the old Midland Bank Building. And while marble and pastrami might sound like a weird mix (lots of marble in this banking hall) there’s something rather fun about queuing up for a sarnie where your grandpa might have queued to cash a cheque. And yes you will have to queue; in true deli style you have to order at the counter.
Zobler’s does a short, sweet menu of kosher-style classics and one of the better things on it is the reuben sandwich. A pile of salt beef, 'kraut and half-melted Swiss cheese on toasted rye, the contrast between the juicy beef and warm cheese can’t fail to please. One thing, though: they’d overdone it with a mayo-heavy take on a Russian dressing which left the bread unpleasantly wet. The soggy bottom problems continue with Classic pastrami on rye, and, most tragically, with a wonderfully salty-sweet cheesecake that, but for its over-soft base, would have been actual dessert nirvana. It’s still pretty good though, and textural nit-picks aside, Zobler’s is a solid spot to grab a deli-licious lunch.