Gaby's Deli, Jewish restaurant in Theatreland district, London, England
Gaby's Deli was a family-run restaurant on Charing Cross Road, in the heart of London's theater district, serving Mediterranean and Jewish dishes. The menu centered on salt beef sandwiches, falafel, hummus, and chopped salads.
The restaurant was opened in 1965 by Gaby Elyahou, an Iraqi Jewish immigrant, and quickly became a fixture in the neighborhood. It closed in 2018 after more than 50 years of continuous service.
The walls were covered with photographs of theater regulars who ate there over the decades. These pictures turned the dining room into an informal record of the neighborhood's creative life.
The restaurant sat on a busy corner of Charing Cross Road, within easy walking distance of several Underground stations. Service was quick and informal, making it a good stop for a fast bite or a longer sit-down meal.
When closure was announced in 2018, regulars and locals launched a public petition to save the restaurant. The campaign drew wide attention and showed how deeply rooted the place was in the memory of the neighborhood.
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