Established 1965 Food type Jewish City London | Current owner(s) Gaby Elyahou Street address 30 Charing Cross Road | |
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Gaby's Deli is a family Jewish restaurant in London's Charing Cross Road. It is named after the founder, Gaby Elyahou, who still runs it with his family. It was threatened by closure in 2011 but a campaign by its many celebrity customers, including prominent actors and politicians, persuaded the landlord, Lord Salisbury, to grant a further lease.
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Ownership
It was founded in 1965 by an Iraqi refugee, Gaby Elyahou, who took over an existing salt beef bar. The landlord is Lord Salisbury whose property company, Gascoyne Holdings, threatened to close the business by not extending the lease in 2011. Celebrities from theatre and politics campaigned to save it and these included Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Miriam Margolyes and Vanessa Redgrave.
Clientele
The deli is popular with theatrical celebrities because it is in London's Theatreland district and it serves quick and tasty meals. Charlie Chaplin was a regular customer and other stars commemorated by photographs inside the restaurant include Diana Rigg and Matt Damon. The restaurant is also popular with left-wing politicians such as Ken Livingstone because it is near Trafalgar Square, which is often the location of demonstrations and protest marches.
Cuisine
The restaurant already served salt beef when Gaby took over and he thinks this makes the best sandwich. He introduced expresso coffee and many varieties of salad. Mediterranean dishes such as hummus and tahini are served and Gaby claims to have introduced falafels to London. Other dishes include goulash, meatballs and soup.
Reception
Matthew Norman reviewed the restaurant for The Daily Telegraph, giving it a rating of 9 out of 10. The dishes which he praised included bean and barley soup, chicken livers fried with onions, and a spinach salad. His party then ordered more food and he especially praised the salt beef:
Kleftiko with lukewarm chips and Hungarian goulash with excellent saffron rice were fine winter warmers, but the clear highlight was my salt beef in rye bread with sweet and sour pickles. The beef was plentiful, juicy and just as fatty as it should be. Lean salt beef is, as my mother puts it, like having a bath with your socks on. With its bustle, warmth and earthy charm, Gaby’s is our best answer to the great New York delis such as the Carnegie...