Wael spoke last month about how he would feed anyone who had fallen on hard times, or were working, or away from their families, on Christmas Day.
This is the second year Middle Feast has opened its doors after Andra first said they needed to do something for the homeless people she said she’d seen in York.
Last year, the Lebanese restaurant provided about 500 people with a hot meal free of charge.
Today, there was a constant flow of people queuing at the door, patiently waiting for a freshly-made shawarma wrap from the grill, with a mince pie and a hot drink on offer.
Some of the seats in nearby St Helen’s Square were occupied by people unfurling the foil and sipping on a coffee from the premises a hundred metres away.
The owner shared a WhatApp message from a member of a team of workers doing a Christmas Day shift who were planning to come in and he spent most of his time outside marshaling staff and taking orders.
He estimated that by 12.45pm they’d already given away 35kg of chicken inside the wraps.
Wael said: “We advertised that we would be open from noon but people started coming at 10 o’clock.
“We’ve got our third chicken on the grill already and there is plenty more.
“I don’t want anything for it, I do it from my heart.
“It’s nice to hear people say thank you but I just do it because of what’s inside me.”
Andra said: “Some of our old customers have donated money towards the cost of the food this year, and all those donations have gone to I am Reusable Foodbank.
“I just respect how Wael has looked after the people of York out of his own pocket.”
Wael was dashing between another of his restaurants, The Marrakesh in Low Ousegate, where final preparations were being made to a special meal he’d invited the staff to afterward as a token of his appreciation.
Andra said: “All six nominated themselves, to say they were going to set up, prepare and serve here.
“Afterwards, we’re inviting them to a Christmas dinner by Wael just as a thank you.”
Wael said: “I’ve lived in York for than 15 years now and I’m never moving again.
“I am here, I feel like I ‘feel’ the city.
“I would like to do some more good.”
