Gigi's Deli brings 'sense of community' to vibrant San Antonio spot
Pop-ups can be a useful way for chefs to flex their culinary muscles at various venues around town, introducing them to new customers from different scenes. One popular San Antonio pop-up has returned after a brief hiatus, and this time around, the concept is planting roots in a growing neighborhood close to downtown.
Gigi's Deli is indeed back after more than a year off, and the East Coast sandwich concept is partnering with El Tigre Coffee Roasters for a permanent residency inside the coffee shop. Customers can visit the St. Paul Square cafe from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday to try the ongoing pop-up's lineup of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. MySA spoke to chef Matt Garcia to learn more about the pop-up's current engagement at El Tigre.
"I was definitely a customer of El Tigre first. I love the vibe. I love what it brings to St. Paul Square," Garcia told MySA during an interview. "I think sandwiches and the coffee shop creates this nice little deli vibe that you don't really get in St. Paul Square at the moment."
Gigi's Deli earned much of its following with a residency at Little Death, where Garcia operated the pop-up between 2021 and 2022 before finding its way to a number of locales in the San Antonio area. Some folks might also be familiar with Garcia's work with the Fajita Lounge, another pop-up that draws in big crowds for its free fajitas. The chef said that turning his focus back to Gigi's after a short break has lent itself to the sandwich concept's latest phase.
"We're trying to create a sense of community around food. This should be a place for the people who live and work around the area to feel welcome and feel excited to come meet the people who make their food," Garcia said.
In terms of sandwiches, Gigi's Deli offers a handful of staples with a twist, like the pastrami, egg and cheese ($12), which comes topped with apple butter and Swiss cheese for a mix of sweet and savory flavors. The Italian Disco ($15) is a loaded lunch offering that packs on the meats, veggies, pepper relish and a house vinaigrette. Diners can pair their sandwich with a beverage from El Tigre's espresso menu, or opt for a matcha or iced tea to complete the order.
"I just hope people come and experience El Tigre. It's just such a cool coffee shop and to piggyback onto that, and create a partnership that we hope to expand to other locations in and around San Antonio and other places, is the goal," Garcia said.
