E. Pellicci (London's Most Beloved Café)

Recipes and stories from one of London’s most iconic restaurants, where locals and visitors alike have gathered over classic British-Italian comfort food for more than
a century

E. Pellicci is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest family-run restaurants. Established in 1900 by Priamo Pellicci, an Italian immigrant, and now run by his grandchildren, Anna and Nevio, the East London café is more than just a place to dine; it is a community hub where locals and visitors alike gather for hearty, homestyle meals and conversation.

Here, diners order exactly what they want: a full English breakfast with a ladleful of Bolognese sauce on top, once requested by a loyal customer, is now one of their most popular dishes. The café’s interior, with its Art Deco charm and layered history, feels like a second home, and the family’s boundless hospitality, infectious laughter, and endless joking foster a strong sense of belonging.

E. Pellicci: London’s Most Beloved Café is a beautifully illustrated, gloriously nostalgic cookbook celebrating good food enjoyed in good company. Divided into three chapters – Breakfast, Lunch, and Pudding – the recipes showcase more than 60 of the restaurant’s best-loved dishes, including Papa Nevio’s Cheesy Eggs and Tomatoes, No-knead Focaccia, Mamma Maria’s Ragù Bolognese, Penne al Pesto, Cottage Pie, Porchetta, Tiramisu, Jam Tart, and Old School Cake. Gorgeous photography by acclaimed British photographer Andy Sewell captures the dishes in delicious detail, while charming stories and snapshots from the family archive help bring the restaurant’s colorful history
to life.

Featuring a stylish design inspired by the restaurant’s distinctive Art Deco interior, E. Pellicci is an authentic piece of living history, inviting home cooks around the world to pull up a chair and experience one of London’s most beloved dining destinations.