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.

Theater and Food & Drink go hand in hand - Mishkin's and Gaby's Deli

When enjoying a Theater trip it's always an excellent opportunity to find interesting eating places.

Before the era of mobile internet and smartphones (how quickly I became dependent on mine!) I had fun researching food guides, then extensive internet research before I left for the trip... bringing along lots of lists and map directions. These days I rely on a Google search, Yelp or Tripadvisor during the trip, researching where to go the night before, breakfast places, lunch places, dinner, late night places for after theater... many places end up on my 'to try' lists, many remain on that list as one can only eat so many meals a day.

I love the top X lists in the Time Out guides... they are hit or miss with me but at the very least they give me inspiration on where to go and to avoid the big food chains.
Yelp and Tripadvisor are great as well, they allow for filtering on things like budget and type of food, and generally I'd take personal recommendations over professional ones... as tastes differ, these also are hit or miss, but it's mostly fun trying to find the little gems.

For me, on any trip, be it my theater trips, business trips or other, I'm always on the lookout for hidden gems, local recommendations, small mom&pop places, little dives of places that you'd think twice of going into if you had not read or heard about them, or would walk straight passed, never even noticing they were there. I visit the big chains every now and then, go for the big names or fancy places if the mood swings that way, but the occasional find of a hidden gem is what sticks with me, they will make me go back and discovering one of them gone on a return trip makes me a little sad.

A few places worth visiting when in London (UK):

Mishkin's

close to the Duchess Theater and Theatre Royal Drury Lane
25 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS
Monday to Saturday: Noon – 11.30pm
Sunday & Bank Holidays: Noon – 10.30pm

Kitchen: Jewish deli type

Price range: ££

I'm not Jewish, but I like to try out different cultural kitchens. I loved Mishkin's for it's Chopped Chicken Liver and Pickled Herring and Beets Tartar. I loved the ambiance, and, big plus, has decent kitchen hours.

***

excerpt restaurant website: 

The boundaries in Mishkin's origins are as ambiguous as the menu's influences. Mishkin's is not Kosher (and neither, incidentally, is Katz's Deli in New York - perhaps the most famous Jewish restaurant in the world) and the dishes are based very loosely on the sort of Jewish comfort food we all love eating. Where possible we have used amazing local producers and where appropriate we have lightened recipes, refined traditional stodginess and, most of all, been playful.

*** 

excerpt from Jay Rayner's Observer restaurant review: 

"You don't have to be Jewish to like Mishkin's, but it probably helps. It gives you the right to kvetch about all the things that aren't as you think they should be. Though, of course, you need to be the right kind of Jew, which is to say only Jew-ish. Mishkin's, the latest venture from the sassy team behind Polpo and Spuntino among others, bills itself as a "kind of Jewish deli with cocktails". Given that my brethren are famous non-drinkers – I am such a bad Jew – this is a little like setting up a lingerie concession in a nunnery. Actually, it's nothing like that, but you get my point. If you're searching for something echt, to satisfy the frummers, you've come to the wrong place. This is a Jewish deli by way of New York, as imagined by a bunch of non-Jews. Kosher it ain't."

***

Gaby's Deli

Next door to Wyndham's Theater
30 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0DB Covent Garden, StrandMonday-Saturday 9.00-midnight
Sunday 11.00 am-10.00pm
Kitchen: MiddleEastern
Price range: ££

One of my favorite post play places... Gaby's is in the heart of West End, right next door to the Wyndhams, few doors from the Garrick and down the alley from the Noel Coward, their Falafal is famous, plenty of other good stuff on the menu. 

Good food for very reasonable prices. This place is visited by actors as well so you might get lucky.

Its storefront is tiny, don't blink or you'll have passed it. It's not fancy, but it's a gem!




Gaby's has had to struggle to survive, their landlord wanted to sell the place, no doubt so some chain store or restaurant could move in, there was a big media offensive so far it worked, Gaby's is still there, hopefully for many years to come!

***

Vanessa Thorpe, The Observer, sunday 11 December 2011

Stars unite to save the falafels that fueled theatreland

A Small independent cafe in London's West End, frequented by actors since 1965, is facing closure. Now it has become the subject of an A-list campaign to save it - and a focus for growing discontent over the homogenisation of the high street.

Gaby Elyahou outside Gaby's Deli in the West End. 

Photograph: Alex Lentati/Evening Standard

From first-night parties to snacks grabbed on the way to rehearsal, one small cafe has served the actors, dancers and musicians of London's theatreland for nearly five decades with reliable congeniality. Hit shows have come and gone, stars risen and fallen, but the falafels at Gaby's Deli have remained a crowd-pleaser. Until this Christmas, however, when the future suddenly looked bleak for the West End institution, as a planning application was passed for its redevelopment as a chain restaurant.

The Charing Cross Road deli appeared to be facing the prospect of "going dark" for good, until its theatrical neighbours stepped in to attempt a rescue, transforming it overnight – panto-style – into the hottest fringe venue in town.

This weekend many of the country's best-known performers and writers, including Simon Callow, Vanessa Redgrave, Miriam Margolyes, musician Alex James from Blur and director Mike Leigh, are queuing up for the chance to support the deli by appearing in a series of impromptu cabaret nights.

This campaign to save a popular, independent business comes as retail adviser and TV presenter Mary Portas prepares to release her report on the decline of high streets this week. The report is expected to criticise the impact of chain stores and franchise food outlets in creating "clone towns" in the UK, and while Gaby's has an unusually high amount of celebrity support, its backers believe that the battle to restrain the influence of franchises has a nationwide relevance.

On Thursday evening, Henry Goodman, the West End and Broadway star of shows such as Duet for One, Fiddler on the Roof and The Producers, entertained a packed house of diners with a satirical song written especially for the occasion by Alistair Beaton, author of political dramasFeelgood and A Very Social Secretary. "At Gaby's we love life and food and we love the theatre," Goodman told the crowd, emphasising the appeal of the cuisine in a lyric adapted from All Things Bright and Beautiful ("each tasty chickpea salad, the chilli sauce that kills") and decrying the advance of franchise food in the West End.

"I didn't expect anything," said the owner, 71-year-old Gaby Elyahou, this weekend. "I don't know what these actors are going to do each night. They just decided, and it breaks my heart to see all these people who say they will have nowhere to go if we close." 

Callow, who has eaten at the deli since it opened, said it is "everything a West End snackeria should be – tasty, individual, fast, fun". For Leigh, too, Gaby's is "one of the great institutions of the West End". "To allow it to be destroyed would be deeply irresponsible," he added.

Gascoyne Holdings, landlord of the building where Elyahou has sold salad, salt beef, soup and falafels since 1965, is still hoping to sell to a corporate buyer, but the growing, starry campaign to save Gaby's isspreading fast across Facebook, with around 3,000 supporters, and has become a broader protest against the demise of independent restaurants and shops. "They have offered me three months to go, and that is not much after nearly 50 years. I have been a good tenant, too," said Elyahou, who makes the bold claim that it was he who introduced falafels to London.

"What has upset me is that small businesses have no power to keep going. These big landlords know they could get you out tomorrow, yet if you go to Paris you see small shops and cafes of different kinds. As a result, these bistro chains have no chance there. But if I walk from Oxford Circus to my deli what do I see? Only big shops and chains all selling the same thing."

Elyahou was born near Baghdad, but moved to Israel as a teenager. "I have only bad memories of Iraq. Every Jewish child of my age has bad memories of that time. I didn't go to school, as they did not want Jews. As a young child I didn't understand, but I could see the fear in my brothers' and sisters' faces."

After living on a kibbutz and serving in the Israeli army, Elyahou arrived in England and set up his business. He married his wife, Levana, two years later and they had three children. "It has been fantastic working in London," he said. "I have never missed one day of work because I enjoy it. I enjoy the people. We had some hard times at the beginning, but slowly, slowly, people came around if you were friendly. I don't really know all the celebrities who come here. I don't recognise them because they want to be normal and sit in a corner. Vanessa Redgrave, Peter O'Toole and Ursula Andress used to like it here a lot, though. When Charlie Chaplin used to come in, I didn't realise at first because he was so old."

Elyahou hopes that the fashion for chain restaurants will fade. He has seen it happen before with Wimpy burger bars and Golden Egg cafe chains. "What I sell will always stay in fashion," he said. "If I could carry on the tradition around here, that would be good." 

This week Gaby's will host a performance by the master juggler and comedian Mat Ricardo, and the new year will see a reading from Callow and a specially commissioned short play by novelist Roma Tearne.

Boeing Boeing - Chicago july 2013 part 6

Sunday I had a double feature planned: the Steppenwolf matinee of Slowgirl (see earlier post on that - and the reason I was there again) which had a perfect scheduled time to run over to Oakbrook and see the farce Boeing Boeing at Drury Lane Theatre which had a curtain of 6 pm.

Normally Chicago's suburbs are outside my theater scope on trips like this, lots of things to choose from in the City itself and getting there on public transport is often a hassle. But I was lucky to get a ride from friends who were willing to pick me up from Steppenwolf Theater with roaring engines to make it in time to Drury Lane Theatre.

When I told a friend a few days before I would see Slowgirl on Sunday, he invited me to get together after the show, I had to decline because I had plans to see Boeing Boeing after he looked at me thinking he heard wrong... "you are seeing two shows back to back?"... LOL yes! I love theater, what can I say...

One of the main reasons I went all the way out to Oakbrook though was because my good friend Dennis Zacek directed Boeing Boeing and we were going to see it together. I've never had so much fun at a Farce before... it's not a favorite type of theater for me, but I go on occasion, and sitting next to the person that directed it was a wonderful bonus.

The show itself was very funny, a bit dated of course since the main plot relies on fixed airline schedules in a time that apparently airlines made their time slots much better than they did now. Uncomplicated light and fluffy was nice for a change. The cast was excellent, well tuned to each other and obviously comfortable in their roles. Drury Lane Theater is huge (they often host the big musicals) and for a performance with an awkward curtain time of 6 pm there were a lot of people there, close to sold out!  Judging from reactions around me all had a great time.

"you know that you will see a Farce when you enter a theater and the set has many doors" 

this is so true, and as the genre is mostly predictable in storyline, the production has to make up for that in cast performances and the odd surprising (subtle) added touch. This production had it all, thanks my dear friends for coming with me (and making sure we made it in time) and thanks D for the added dimension...

The Three Fiancees for our convenience in blue, yellow and red.

 Photos: Brett Beiner


from the Broadwayworld announcement:

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival version of the hit comedy BOEING-BOEING, previewing June 13, opening Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m., and running through August 4, 2013. BOEING-BOEING stars Saturday Night Live alum Nora Dunn as"Berthe" (Dunn was Meryl Streep's co-star in the Nancy Meyers film It's Complicated; her TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Private Practice, Psych and Franklin & Bash; and she recently starred in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's play Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago).

The cast also features Jeff Award winner Stef Tovar as "Bernard" (Ragtime and Sugar at Drury Lane Theatre, South Pacific at Marriott Theatre, A Twist of Water at Mercury Theater Chicago, and the Steven Soderbergh filmContagion); Daniel Cantor as "Robert" (National Tour of Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Fish Men and Rabbit Hole at Goodman Theatre, and The Comedy of Errors at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Jeff Award nominee Dina DiCostanzo as "Gabriella" (Hairspray at Drury Lane Theatre and My One and Only at Marriott Theatre); Jeff Award nominee Katherine Keberlein as "Gretchen" (Fifty Words at Profiles Theatre) and Kara Zediker as "Gloria" (A Summer Remembered at Steppenwolf Theater, the Steven Soderbergh film Contagion, and the John Hughes film Uncle Buck). Dennis Zacek (former Artistic Director at Victory Gardens Theater and recipient of the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre) will direct the production.

BOEING-BOEING was hailed as "Pure pleasure and unconditional bliss!" by The New York Times; named one of "The funniest plays to hit Broadway in ages!" by The Wall Street Journal and called "The funniest show on the London stage!" by The Daily Telegraph. The production, written by French playwright Marc Camoletti and adapted by Beverley Cross, originally opened in London in 1962, followed by the Broadway premiere in 1965. In 1991, BOEING-BOEING was included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most performed French play throughout the world. There has since been a London revival in 2007, a successful seven-year run in the West End, and a Tony Award-winning Broadway revival in 2008, which was adapted by Francis Evans.

Set in Paris in the 1960's, this comedy follows the the flighty tale of Bernard, a jet-setting architect who is juggling three flight attendant fiancées with the help of his reluctant housekeeper. When his old pal, Robert, arrives at his swanky bachelor pad, Bernard proudly unveils his ingenious scheme. Despite his clever arrangement, Bernard's life starts to unravel when a new turbo-charged Boeing is introduced. In a hysterical whirlwind of mayhem, Bernard finds out that one woman is all he can handle.

The lavish set, featuring an opulent Parisian ballroom, is designed by Sam Ball (Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University whose credits include the Broadway premiere of Ride the Winds; more than 100 productions at venues including the Lyric Opera, The Seattle Repertory Theatre and The Orlando Shakespeare Festival; and the American premiere of Sir Michael Tippet's opera, The Knot Garden). The City of Light is brought to vibrant life by Jeff Award-winning Lighting Designer Jesse Klug (Gypsy, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd and Spamalot at Drury Lane Theatre and The Screwtape Letters National Tour). Chic retro costumes are by Christine Pascual (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Victory Gardens Theater). Sound Design is by Lindsay Jones (Drama Desk nomination for Wild With Happy at The Public Theatre). Props Design is by Nick Heggestad, Resident Properties Designer at Drury Lane Productions.

Review blurbs:

Chicago Tribune- Somewhat Recommended

"...The script is funny, and that's enough for some good summer laughs, and there is an elegant (although weirdly roofed) set from Sam Ball, along with glamorously retro uniforms designed by Christine Pascual. But my, could this show use an injection of ... well, let's see. Paris. Stewardesses. Bedrooms. A handsome playboy. The frolic of the jet-set life in 1962. You don't need to be a fan of "Coffee, Tea or Me" to figure out that the necessary jet fuel here is sexual energy. And that needs everyone in the same room."
Read Full Review 

Chris Jones

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Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended

"...‘Boeing-Boeing,” now in an aptly zany and breathless revival at Oakbrook’s Drury Lane Theatre, is pure cotton candy — an ideal escapist entertainment for the dog days of summer."
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Hedy Weiss

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NewCity Chicago- Somewhat Recommended

"...The acting company deftly manipulates the seven doors at their disposal. Zacek has tightly staged the entrances and exits-the impetus of all farcical conflict, really-so that a door opens just as another one closes, almost never for good as the famous aphorism might suggest. When the wrong-colored bag is left on the settee or the revolving photograph isn't tuned to the right gal, the Drury Lane audience churns with anticipation, but the antics never get people as revved up as they could. Though the spoken sexuality of the script is innocuous, allowing that element to take a backseat to all things sugary is detrimental. The most important tenet to remember in a farce like "Boeing Boeing" is that sex is everyone's problem as well as everyone's solution."
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Johnny Oleksinski

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ShowBizChicago- Highly Recommended

"...The Drury Lane production of “Boeing Boeing” proves to live up to its timeless reputation. Set in Paris during the 1960’s, this comedy follows the story of Bernard, who is an American businessman who makes his home in Paris. Bernard has a groovy bachelor pad, a maid, and three flight attendant fiancées who he manages to juggle to satisfy his needs. Bernard seems to have everything under control with his fiancés visits by managing their flight schedules and interchanging their photos on his desk. When the various airlines decide to introduce a new turbo-charged Boeing to improve their service, Bernard’s fool proof plan becomes complicated. This change alters the stewardess’ flight schedules and Bernard’s control. Bernard’s extremely confident, cocky attitude is altered when his excellent arrangement ends up crashing and burning. By today’s standards the plot is very sexist. However, during the 1960’s this story line was exciting and routine. Most men strived to be Bernard. In fact, some men may still like his lifestyle. However, I don’t know many of today’s women who would tolerate being juggled with other women, or any man’s jet-setting behavior or life style."
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Russell Goeltenbod

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ChicagoCritic- Recommended

"...The result is a manic whirlwind of mayhem that produces many laughs and constantly keeps us guessing as to what will happen next. The writing is scrip, smart and clever. The cast is wonderful with their timing as each character exhibits their own peculiar traits that makes them unique and empathetic. We cheer for Bernard as Stef Tovar exudes as a nice-guy even as he is a bit of a rascal. Nora Dunn steals some scenes with her awesome comic timing. Each of the ladies have their moments but this farce is really Daniel Cantor’s show. As the nerdy Robert, Cantor has the tough task of helping cover up and explain away much of the decitiful antics that Bernard’s plans necessitates. He is instrumental in saving Bernard from embarrassment while also gaining some love experiences. He is a hoot in this show! All the players learn lessons from the romp. We enjoy this well-oiled comic machine as the laughs keep coming. Director Dennis Zacek keeps the action tight and the flow brisk. It is delightful to see such a fine cast putting everything them have into the material. The result is a comic treat."
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Tom Williams

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Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended

"...Pulling off a “farce” is one of the hardest tasks of any acting company and its director. Over the years, we have been treated to many such comic tales where timing is of course the essential and many doors are used to “work the room” ( so to speak). Drury Lane Theatre, known for its wonderful musicl productions, each year, brings us one comedy, non-musical and for this season’s non-musical, they are reviving the “revival version” of “Boeing-Boeing”, written by Marc Camoletti ( translations by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans) and directed to perfection by Dennis Zacek ( one of our town’s finest)."
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Alan Bresloff

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Chicago Theatre Review- Recommended

"...Dennis Zacek's production moves with the clockwork precision necessary for well-executed farces. In the first act, Zacek carefully introduces his characters, lays out the improbable situation and supplies all the necessary exposition, allowing his audience to learn what they need to know to enjoy the rest of the play. Then he ratchets up the energy and continues launching hell-bent into unavoidable conflicts that become frenzied and provoke unstoppable laughter. But this director understands when it's time to apply the brakes and allow his audience a few quieter moments in which to savor a finale where (unbelievably) all loose ends are tied up and conflicts are happily resolved."
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Colin Douglas

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Chicagoland Theater Reviews- Somewhat Recommended

"..."Boeing-Boeing" has been criticized on political correctness grounds, especially in the treatment of the three young women as gullible sexpots easily manipulated by the horny Bernard. But the play has no social agenda. It set itself out to be a slightly risque romp intended to disarm the viewer by the sheer velocity and complexity of its narrative twists and turns. In a perfect theatrical world, that should suffice to send the customers into consistent fits of giggles and belly laughs. But if the show doesn't work as break neck comedy, it has little to fall back on in terms of eloquent language or depth of character. It's all or nothing, and this production regrettably descends too close to nothing."
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Dan Zeff