E Pellici

'Careful boy, this is Kray country...' says nobody at E Pellici. But, they could. Get a proper East-End fry up or a lasagne.

Pellicci's is a slice of East End history where locals, including the Kray brothers, have been coming for years. Breakfasts are classic greasy fry-ups served with fat chips, eggs, bacon and beans. For lunch the homemade steak pie and 'Italian Ribena' will keep you going till tea time.

A proper East End caf’

Is there anything worse than hearing people constantly bemoaning how everything used to be better? How London isn’t what it used to be, how this has been gentrified and that’s been ruined? Certainly, all this is true to an extent but moaning about it doesn’t change it and really, change has produced plenty for Londoners to like. Just be thankful that we still have the likes of E. Pellici, an institution – and we don’t say that lightly – in Bethnal Green.

A proper East End caf’, Peclicci’s is old school, it’s the F. Cooke pie and mash shop of greasy spoons. It may not have rare breed pork sausage, mashed avocado or sour dough (all very nice) but it does do the full English with a large dose of nostalgia on the side. Whether it’s nostalgia for a London you knew or one you wish you knew, doesn’t matter. It’s there. Drink it up with that builder’s tea as you look at the famous faces in the photographs that adorn the walls.

As a self-respecting café, Pellici’s doesn’t just serve your classic breakfasts, you’ll also find the likes of lasagne, lamb chops and ham, egg and chips on the Italian slanted menu. It’s a prime example of how to stay true to your roots and to comfortably accept that you’re slowly becoming a tourist draw. People visit E. Pellici from all over to see a little bit of old school London. While plenty of these types have disappeared (Lorelai, anyone?) we should make the most of what we have.

Reviewed by T.A.O anonymously
Published on Dec 20, 2015

---

Great places to enjoy breakfast in London

It's the most important meal of the day, so they say, so why not make it a ruddy good one?

The Kray twins used to pop in here for a cuppa; in the years since the area has become one of London’s most fashionable districts, attracting extra custom. More importantly, they’re one of All in London’s <a href="http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/blogs/showblog.php?post=2079">favourite places for a fry-up</a>.

Chow-down on London's best fry-ups

Things are about to get greasy

Word got out long ago about the hearty fry-ups at this Columbia Road caff, so there are queues to get in on Saturdays (it's closed on Sundays). It's easy to see why, breakfast is well-priced and the staff are disarmingly friendly.