The Ultimate Full English Breakfast at London’s Oldest Italian Cafe | Family Food

Developed in 1900, E Pellicci– a charming, family-owned Italian restaurant in London's East End– has actually seen off two World Wars, a global pandemic, and 125 years of flux in the city's most disorderly community. We paid a visit to satisfy its present custodian Nevio Pellicci and the rest of his clan, who served us up some delicious Italian cuisine and an eyebrow-raising lesson in the art of staying alive when all around you dining establishments are going to the wall. From their famous complete English breakfast to genuine cannelloni, there are plenty of factors individuals have been going back to E Pellicci for generations.

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60 Comments

    1. If Ronnie O’Sullivan finally dealt with his demons and relaxed a bit!

    1. Places like this are going extinct slowly but surely. You can either have this or international finance capitalism, but you can’t have both.

    2. @I-do-not-read-repliesNot really Starbucks’ fault. Commercial leases nowadays are getting so pricey that new businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Eventually, once those small businesses close shop, and the big companies take over since they can actually afford the rent.

      Obviously it’s a generalized take, but it goes to show that there’s some nuance to this whole kerfuffle .

    1. The word ‘innit’ is part of an urban London dialect amongst the working classes, particularly immigrants, of the late 20th century.

    1. It’s just because it’s London tbh. Theres such population density loads of basic food businesses get by. Would go out of business in 5 minutes anywhere else; this guy would be peddling his inane patter down the bankruptcy courts.

    2. @sammyb1651 believe me, I lived in New York, Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia and all those have places like this.

  1. He has such a cockney accent and then when he mentions Italian food he goes into full 🇮🇹🤌

    1. yeaah it’s like he got two different personalities at once lmao xD

    2. @paulmcdonough1093What are you on about? It’s put on that his Italian is good?

    3. Him and his sister… it’s like a snap of the fingers and it’s a complete different dialect

  2. Cafes like this prosper because they serve excellent food at affordable prices in a good atmosphere

    1. The prices are nowhere near affordable. It’s a tourist trap cause the Crays frequented it, so they can honestly charge whatever they like.
      Its quality stuff but you’re paying airport prices.

    2. ​@DeathCrunchthey are entitled to make a comfortable living. Long as the quality is not compromised

    3. @MarkL-we8uk They serve tea and toast not Michellen star gear. Next you’ll tell me amazon deserve not to pay tax because they provied an essential service.

  3. This place is incredible – sometimes I come in after a night shift, get sat with a regular, have a chat and enjoy the show. Nev talks to everyone that comes through the door. He is the real deal

    1. Cafes are dying out here in the US – too many fast food and restaurants chains. Cafe food is the best.

  4. Love these type of old school cafes serving proper food…many modern cafes focusing more on how the food looks than taste

  5. This place is a real London GEM. i eat here every time im in London and love talking to Nev.
    He says that he remembers you but i mean i vist like every 2 years, so he cant can he? love the family and the place.

  6. I felt warm from just watching….it is special because it is authentic and the warmth is not due to ill intentions, a hidden agenda or making money but just pure and genuine Mediterranian warmth. I have never seen an east ender who speaks Italian and switches so fluently between cockney and Italian accents with such ease despite their very different intonations and sounds.

  7. This place to me is what London is all about. Popped in one day for a quick bite (no tables free of course) and Tony knocked me up a lovely ham & tomato molto pronto and sent me on my way for 4 quid including a tea… I don’t know of any other places like this left but they were everywhere at one time. Lunga vita Pellicci’s…Innit!?

  8. One thing not mentioned is the incredible class and memory of this wonderful man’s father. My own father used to have breakfast here in the ‘70s when he was starting out in the East End. Thirty years later, after moving away, he brought his two sons to relive the old days. This man’s dad dutifully took my and my brother’s orders but skipped my dad. After he left the table, my dad asked if he could order as well. The man simply replied, “I assumed you would have the usual,” remembering my dad’s order after nearly 30 years. It was an amazing thing to witness and taught me so much about how food is so much more than just the items on your plate. It remains the most memorable breakfast I have ever had.

  9. Proud to say I’m a friend of Nev and Anna – used to be a regular when I lived in Bethnal Green in the 90’s. They work so hard but the awesome thing was (I don’t know if it’s still the case) the place would be shut for the whole of August and the whole family would disappear to Italy for a rest. Legends.

    1. The Italian chip shop on the Perth Rd Dundee was like that, close for a month for a family holiday. Nice innit 😂❤

  10. Reminds me so much of Italian-American, just Italian-Cockney. I love how they keep their heritage.

  11. I came back for a breakfast after a year in Greece in 1985 and old Mr. Pellici greeted me with the words ‘Been away ‘ave e we sir?’

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