Emma Mykytyn E Pellicci Full English Breakfast Review, Bethnal Green
E Pellicci is one of those London cafés that feels like a destination in its own right. Located on Bethnal Green Road, this family-run East End institution dates back to 1900 and is known for its distinctive Grade II-listed interior, Italian heritage and traditional café food.
We visited to try the famous full English breakfast and experience the atmosphere of this much-loved London caff.
A proper East End welcome
The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the atmosphere.
Pellicci is lively, busy and packed with personality. The beautiful wood-panelled interior, closely arranged tables and constant chatter make it feel very different from the polished brunch restaurants found elsewhere in London.
The staff were welcoming, friendly and full of character. There was plenty of conversation and good-natured banter, creating the feeling that we had stepped into a neighbourhood café rather than a tourist attraction.
Even when the café is busy, the team keeps everything moving while still taking time to speak to customers. It is easy to understand why so many people return for the warm welcome and unmistakable East End atmosphere.
The full English breakfast
We ordered the full English, one with bubble added hoping for a breakfast that would live up to the café’s considerable reputation,
It was certainly a generous and filling plate, offering all the familiar elements expected from a traditional fry-up. Unfortunately, while there was plenty of food, we felt the overall quality did not quite match the fame surrounding Pellicci.
Some parts of the breakfast were perfectly acceptable, but the ingredients felt fairly standard and the plate had too many beans and mushrooms which seemed to be used to fill up the plate and make it look like it was value for money. Nothing was particularly bad, but equally, there was little that stood out or made us eager to order it again.
With such a historic setting and a strong reputation, we had expected better-quality ingredients and more flavour. Instead, the breakfast felt functional rather than memorable.
Is E Pellicci worth visiting?
Pellicci is still worth experiencing, particularly for anyone interested in London’s traditional cafés and East End history.
The interior is beautiful, the atmosphere is wonderfully energetic and the staff are a major part of the appeal. It is the sort of place where the people, conversations and surroundings may stay in your memory longer than the meal itself.
However, judged purely on the full English breakfast, we were left a little disappointed. The portions were substantial, but the quality did not live up to our expectations or the café’s legendary status.
We would return for the atmosphere, the friendly welcome and perhaps to explore some of the Italian dishes on the menu. For the full English alone, though, there are stronger breakfasts to be found elsewhere in London.
E Pellicci delivers character, history and genuine East End hospitality in abundance. The full English may not have been the best we have tried, but the café itself remains a memorable slice of London life.
Where is E Pelilicci?
E Pellicci 332 Bethnal Green Road London E2 OAG
Looking for more breakfast suggestions? Click here or the image below for our London Greasy Spoon Guide
