Kasbah Grill (which is referred to by most everyone by its former name “Deli Kasbah”) has been a staple in the Upper West Side community since 1986. It is known for its burgers, deli sandwiches, steaks and ribs, grilled chicken platters, grilled baguette sandwiches, and many other American dishes and Middle Eastern specialties. If you ask those who have patronized Kasbah throughout the years which are his or her favorite menu items, you’re very likely to hear that “its chicken soup is the best on the planet,” or “the chicken rumaki and onion rings are absolute must haves.”
As any long time Upper West Side resident will tell you, Kasbah’s food has been consistently delicious for decades. Becca Herman wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment, adding that “the “Kasbah staff is so kind and it “is the ONE restaurant my family can all agree on.”
But as we all know too well, what has not remained consistent in recent years is restaurants’ menu prices, which have increased nearly everywhere. While it is evident from a routine supermarket trip that inflation is real, and it is logical that restaurants are not immune from the skyrocketing costs of supplies and labor, people’s pockets have not necessarily become deeper. So, what is a restaurant to do?
Kasbah found itself facing this exact conundrum when it was forced to raise its prices. Upon hearing its customers say that the cost of a meal had simply become too high, Kasbah took action. It is lowering its prices by $4-5 for most menu items, and is offering a five percent discount for those who book a reservation online at least 24 hours before arrival.
Keeping its customers happy, however, is not a new concept for Kasbah. As per longstanding tradition, if you give a dvar Torah to your waiter Kasbah will offer you a free dessert. In fact, it was at Kasbah when I realized with amazement that my nephews were able to give eloquent dvar Torahs on the spot in exchange for chocolate cake. I’ve certainly witnessed restaurants give free dessert to those celebrating special occasions; I know of no other restaurant which offers free dessert in exchange for words of Torah.
This Torah theme goes hand-in-hand with the vibe of the restaurant, the walls of which are adorned with several pictures of the Rebbe. While many of us have been fortunate enough to experience Chabad restaurants at different national and international locations, let’s not forget that we can enjoy a Chabad restaurant experience right here in the heart of Manhattan.
One additional thing on the horizon for Kasbah which many might be happy to hear, is that it is working on obtaining a liquor license.
This might be a topic for an entirely different article, but many might say that the Upper West Side has changed a bit since the pandemic. As one example, there are more empty storefronts on Broadway now than there used to be. I’m confident that the area will return to what it once was, but until that happens it’s comforting to know that fixtures on the Upper West Side such as Kasbah remain and are not going anywhere.
To make a reservation for Kasbah Grill online, visit kasbah-grill.com/reservations.
Judith Falk is the creator of the Upper West Side Shtetl Facebook group and can be found on Instagram @upperwestsideshtetl. She is a lawyer by day and a former legal reporter.
