The London Review of Breakfasts

"You must be joking. I never eat breakfast. Did you sleep well?" (Jack Carter)

Monday, January 09, 2006

E Pellicci, Bethnal Green

E Pellicci
332 Bethnal Green Rd
Bethnal Green
E2 0AG
020 7739 4873

by Blake Pudding

I woke up in the heart of London's fashionable East End with a pretty Oriental lady and I thought what better way to continue the romance of the night before than by treating her to a slap up meal at Pellicci's. Those of you who have never been here before are in for a treat. The outside is done in an elegant 1940's style in pastel colours with leaded windows. But it is on the inside that you begin to understand why this place is so famous. The first thing to hit you is the heat, the second is the welcome from the staff with their incredible Cockney/Italian accents, but the most remarkable thing is the wood panelling. The whole interior is decked out in a dazzling Art Deco wood veneer. The effect is rather like finding a miniature Chrysler building on Bethnal Green Road.

My companion ordered the steak pie which was excellent, with tender meat and exquisite short crust pastry (though why they have to smother the whole thing in Bisto is beyond me). I ordered the breakfast and it pains me to say this but it was awful. All breakfast crime boxes had been ticked: everything deep-fried everything of the worst quality imaginable. I won't dwell on it because I think this place is rather wonderful and everyone around me seemed to be enjoying themselves so much. So readers, come to Pellicci's, marvel at the welcome, marvel at the interior, try the steak pie, try the lasagne but, for God's sake, avoid the breakfast.

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

June 9, 2007
I really love Pellicci's, go there often but I'm afraid I have to agree about the breakfasts

3:37 PM, June 10, 2007  
Anonymous Inkspot said...

..and one of the best places in east london for coffee.

7:01 PM, July 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't agree about their breakfasts. The couple I've had there have been very good.
The sausage is usual greasy spoon fare but the bacon is pretty good and they can cook black pudding (it's not supposed to cremated - bloody southerners).
The people, both patrons and particuarly staff, make Pellicci's special. Even more than the exquisite interior.
High Recommended.

12:43 AM, August 05, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The atmosphere in there is amazing, and the food good, wholesome and cheap!

2:28 PM, January 07, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you say "pretty oriental" do you mean a pretty girl who was also oriental? or a girl who was, you know, "pretty oriental"?

1:33 PM, January 22, 2008  
Anonymous Blake Pudding said...

Do you mean pretty oriental as in quite oriental or pretty damn oriental? The lady in question is half-chinese and rather attractive so she is pretty and pretty oriental.

I hope that clears it up. I know that my writing can lack precision.

1:57 PM, January 22, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rapid response Blake, I like it. Shows a certain care, both for your prose and its reader

9:09 PM, January 22, 2008  
Blogger Joe Burke said...

Also had a dreadful breakfast here - ridiculously overpriced too no tea and toast with my breakfast??

11:32 AM, July 05, 2009  

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