THE doors closed on one of Ealing’s favourite restaurants this weekend.

Lisa’s on Pitshanger Lane opened in 1991, serving thousands of customers in that time.

Owned by Lisa Barbaric, 57, and her husband Milan, the traditional dining room shut its doors for the last time on Sunday, January 14.

The pair have lived in Ealing for 32 years and are planning to use their extra time wisely.

Lisa said: “Time to retire, spend time with the grandkids, travel and relax.

“I’ll miss being really busy, but there now needs to be more time for other things in life.

“We’ll miss the lane, it has a great community feel, it’s like a little village in the middle of London.”

Lisa’s had many regular customers who will be disappointed to lose the eatery.

Chef Milan talked personal assistant Lisa into joining him in opening the restaurant more than 26 years ago by agreeing to name it after her. 

“It’s time for us to take a step back and sit on the other side of the table occasionally,” said Lisa.

Thank you cards were draped from the bar, and there seemed to be more flowers than Lisa knew what to do with.

One of Lisa's many loyal customers, Elizabeth Sheridan, said it was a sad day for Pitshanger Lane.

"We've celebrated many momentous family occasions at Lisa's over the years," said Elizabeth, who was brought up in Ealing and attended Notting Hill and Ealing School.

Visiting her family, who live just a few minutes’ walk from Lisa's, this week they paid their customary visit to the restaurant.

"Whenever we visit my family we always go to Lisa's," she said.

"They love the service, the properly laid tables and the traditional menu.

"It seems hard to believe we won't be visiting there again — it’s truly the end of an era."

The tables were always set properly and of late carried a touching message from Lisa and Milan thanking people for their custom and telling of the closure.

Ealing Times:

Lisa’s is a stalwart of the lane, with Lisa being the treasurer of the Pitshanger Village Traders Association when the road was crowned London’s best high street.

Lisa said: “It was absolutely fantastic to win. It was only through the support of the local community that we managed it.”

Lisa couldn’t say what is next in store for the location, except that a renovation is likely.