A lawsuit was filed on Monday by popular restaurant Med Deli after a new competitor arrived under a suspiciously similar name: Mid Deli. The name of the restaurant as well as several of its signature dishes are alleged to be direct copies of Med Deli’s, except slightly worse. 

Owner Id Gaf says he never intended to steal any part of Med Deli’s menu or marketing style.

“I think the name just accurately reflects the service we provide,” Gaf said. “We never intended to steal business. We’re not really the competitive type.” 

But the general manager of Med Deli said Gaf’s chill and nonchalant attitude only made him more angry. 

Gaf did try to amicably settle the dispute outside of court, proposing the idea of renaming his business to “Meh Deli.” The two business owners went out to dinner in an attempt to make peace last Friday.

But after three minutes of texting about it under the table while trying to hold a conversation with their wives, an agreement couldn’t be reached. A court date will be set within the next couple weeks.

This isn’t Gaf’s first run-in with trademark lawsuits, having previous cases with the management of Mod Pizza for opening a competing chain called “Moderate Pizza.”

Recently, the owner of Cosmic Cantina took to social media in protest of a sprouting business next to the popular late-night spot called “Adequate Cantina.”

“It’s not even clever,” said a local intellectual property lawyer. “I think that’s the most enraging part of all of this–this guy’s not even trying.” 

According to Gaf, this is far from the truth: Mid Deli is a “minimalist design” with “emphasis on sustainability.”

For example, Gaf said Mid Deli is one of few businesses to fray from the fountain-drink style, having only a single spigot from which customers can enjoy lukewarm tap water. He proudly boasts the addition of an ice tray that puts out three cubes per use at an additional cost of 50 cents. 

Gaf also recently acquired a heat lamp set up, serving tin foil-wrapped hot dogs that occasionally smell of gasoline.

“I’m grateful to have been behind the right BP at the right time,” Gaf said.