Gabys

What a disappointment! After reading previous reviews I was looking forward to my visit to Gaby’s, and so were my companions, but we were sadly let down. At first sight things looked promising. The restaurant is conveniently located in Charing Cross Road, just across from Leicester Sq Tube, the food on display at the counter looked interesting and the restaurant’s décor was quite attractive. The dining area is very clean and neat, and the theatre posters and stars’ photos on the wall are a nice touch. Matt Damon is up there and a signed photo of Diana Rigg attested to the quality of the coffee and strudel. We sat down in a happy frame of mind.

Sadly from then on everything went downhill. The staff were taciturn to the point of rudeness, however, they seemed to liven up considerably when three or four of them got together behind the counter… Although the place was almost empty the service was so slow that we thought that we had been forgotten, the food arrived at different times for each of us at the table, and when one dish was sent back to be heated it took an age to pop it into the microwave. The food itself was very ordinary, for example their speciality, salt beef, was just processed meat in very stale bread. And if you go to Gaby’s with an appetite make sure that you order plenty, as the portions are pretty small! We finished off with coffee and pastries and Dame Diana was right: that was tasty. What a pity that the rest of the meal was not up to the same standard. You could say that you get what you pay for, but Gaby’s is not particularly cheap, there are dozens of eating places in the vicinity offering better value. Based on my experience Gaby’s needs to try harder.
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Jim - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Saturday, March 22, 2008

A very disappointing experience! After reading the previous reviews I was expecting much more. At first sight all seemed OK - nice location, in Charing Cross Road within sight of Leicester Sq tube, the food on display looked interesting (deli style) and I liked the no nonsense decor. The restaurant is very clean and neat and nicely decorated with photos and posters of shows - the restaurant is situated between the Garrick and Wyndham's theatres. I liked the photos of Matt Damon and the signed poster of Diana Rigg praising Gaby's coffee and pastries. From then on it all went downhill! The staff were very offhand, hardly uttering a word and despite there being only two other tables occupied, the four staff on duty were so slow we thought that they had forgotten all about us. Eventually the three of us were served, not at the same time, and when we asked for one of the dishes to be heated it took an age for them to pop it into the microwave! The food itself was very ordinary - don't expect beef off a joint - this is processed meat in stale bread. And if you have an appetite be sure to order plenty as the portions are not too generous. And the prices are not too attractive either. I finished off with a coffee and a pastry and Diana was right, it was pretty nice, shame about the rest of the meal. There are a dozen or more restaurants nearby offering better value (and service). I eat out frequently in the area, have done for many years and am not a demanding customer. Gaby's needs to try harder.
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Jim - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Friday, March 21, 2008

This is my absolute favourite place to eat in London! I'm at odds over telling people how good it is, so that it doesn't get any more busy than it already is. The salt beef sandwich is perfect, certainly better than the overpriced Selfridges variety. The falafels are also divine. The daily specials are very good home cooked style dishes and there is a large selection of fresh salads. The baklava is also particularly scrummy. The service is sometimes gruff, and it has never pretended to be fine dining, so don't go there if those things don't appeal to you, but the place has a special atmosphere of it's own. I hope nothing ever changes there!
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Shannon
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 03, 2008

This is the tastiest food i have had in London.you can not get a nicer , more homely atmosphere in the west end. what great falafels....
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michelle bass
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 11, 2007

This is my favourite place in town - I've been going there for lunch for years, always ordering the same thing - falafel and fries. The service is great and the waitresses are truly lovely. They serve Maccabee beer too.

Rob
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Rob Collins
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 01, 2007

The people were friendly and the foos was very tasty indeed. There was lots of variety ezpecially for veggies and I would def go back again - it was fab.
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Nicola
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Interesting to see the comments below about how Gaby's has held its own for decades - I can see why. It's a straightforward deli-style diner that excels in serving fresh, tasty fare, including top-notch salt beef. A juicy, full-to-bursting salt beef sandwich with salad, potato salad and pickles is a bargain and absolutely delicious. I'm sure the quality and reliability of this place, together with the friendly service, are the reasons it's endured.
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Backdrifter
Monday, November 21, 2005