More Food & Drink: Franco & Gino's - Marie's Cafe

Franco & Gino's Sandwich Bar

close to the Duchess Theater and Theatre Royal Drury Lane
5 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JZ

Covent Garden, Strand
Sadly they seem to have permanently closed... but if you find them in some other location please let me know!
Kitchen: simple sandwiches + hot food varying from Italian to Curry's
Price range: ££

an excellent tiny little sandwich shop, right around the corner from my favorite West End hotel... extremely convenient for a quick sandwich and a cup of tea, excellent chance of spotting an actor who is performing in one of the nearby theaters. there is practically no room inside, sandwiches are freshly made, simple but effective. I've never tried their hot food, but the regulars seem to enjoy it so I'm betting it's good, and cheap as chips!

excerpt from a fitting Yelp review:
"'Gino's', as it is affectionately known by its regulars, is a fantastic café. It may not win any culinary awards but you are always sure to be given enough food to feed an army for a very reasonable price.

The staff, lead by the charismatic Gino and the straight talking Leo, are always happy to accommodate any special menu requests and there is always an upbeat attitude regardless.

The fact that Gino's is such a great environment to have a cup of tea and a sandwich is highlighted by the fact that it has regulars that have been eating there for over a decade."

***

Marie's Cafe

close to The Old Vic Theater, reasonably close to the National Theater

90 Lower MarshWaterloo
London, SE1

OPENING HOURS:
Monday - Friday:7:00-22:30
Saturday:7:00-16:00, 17:00-22:30
Sunday:Closed

Kitchen: Brit greasy spoon by day - Thai by night
Price range: £

Found this on Yelp when visiting The Old Vic for the first time. Do not make the mistake I made in exiting Waterloo Station on the wrong side, it was a long walk before I discovered there was no way to get down to the street where I wanted to go and had to walk all the way back to get to the lower streets (you'll understand when you see it).

Marie's was an experience!... apparently it's an english caff by day, thai mom&pop place by night, I went there for dinner before my play at the Old Vic so got the thai menu... this is by no means a fancy place, a little dive of a place really, in all aspects, but packed with people, to me always a good sign. I managed to get a table, and gained a few table mates soon enough when the owner ran out of space and just plonked people at my table. I didn't mind, they obviously had been there before so I could learn from their choices.

the food was good, I've never been to Thailand, no idea if it was remotely authentic, but I liked it. the service was a little abrupt but it didn't bother me. Prices were excellent, will definitely come back when in the area.

***

from: wearewaterloo.co.uk

Marie’s is, quite simply, a Waterloo institution. But how best to describe it?

Is it a traditional English café with a Thai food sideline, or is it a Thai restaurant with a penchant for sausage sandwiches and fried eggs with brown sauce?

Whatever it is, we love it for its perfect hangover fry ups (probably among the cheapest in London), its sweet basil chilli chicken and for Sue – an ever-smiling host with an almost photographic memory for how her guests like their toast.

Other reasons to visit Marie’s include its money-saving bring-your-own-booze policy in the evenings, its bargain take away Spaghetti Bolognese (£3.10 – a steal!) and to catch up on the latest Lower Marsh gossip.