Since 1984
Terri and Paul opened it. Grace runs the kitchen now.
43rd Street Deli has been a Gainesville staple since 1984. It was built to be more than a place to eat, a welcoming space for families, college students and longtime locals alike, and forty years later it still is. This is the short version of how it got here.
Chapter one, 1984
A true mom-and-pop shop.
Founded by Terri and Paul Cakmis, 43rd Street Deli was created as a spot where everyone feels at home, whether you are grabbing breakfast after class, sharing a meal with family, or catching up with old friends. For decades it served traditional breakfast favorites, daily specials, and New York style sandwiches, offering something for everyone.
It became a safe haven for families and a cornerstone of the Gainesville community, the kind of room where a college student and a longtime local end up at neighboring tables on the same Tuesday morning.
The room
A spot where everyone feels at home.
This true mom-and-pop shop became a safe haven for families and a cornerstone of the Gainesville community. Everything is fresh, made to order, and done with intention. We are not just another diner or deli. We are an institution, and we genuinely love creating delicious food and making people happy.
Chapter three, today
Grace kept the traditions and took the classics further.
Today the legacy continues with Terri and Paul's daughter, Grace Cakmis, at the helm as proprietor and chef. Grace honors the traditions that made 43rd Street Deli what it is, while pushing classic breakfast dishes somewhere new: fresh-pressed juices, creative cold foams, and over-the-top weekend specials that still feel familiar underneath the invention.
At the heart of it all is the team, a staff with unmatched teamwork and pride in every plate that leaves the kitchen. And when the South Gainesville location on Williston Road closed its doors in August 2026, Grace brought its best-known dish, the Cakmis Catfish Platter, onto the main menu here rather than let it go. It has been on the board ever since.
“Outstanding breakfast and excellent service. We're very picky about breakfast and this place is excellent. Highly recommended!”