New Piccadilly

Another part of London's ongoing, living history gets consigned to the dustbin in the developers' pursuit of money. The New Piccadilly was an oasis of genuine fifties and sixties almosphere amongst the phoney, mass-produced coffee, burger and pizza joints. The staff were always friendly and pristine in their white clothes, the music good (Classic FM), the host - Lorenzo Marioni - as affable and welcoming as an old friend, quaffing a freshly opened Chianti or arguing politics with the established abnd bullish regulars. And the food ! Regardless of how cheap it was - where else in London can you get a dinner, dessert, and a drink and still get change from a tenner ? - the food was good, no nonsense, honest-to-goodness grub. Roasted chicken with creamy mushrooms; lasagna served insteel plates; the truly lovely Holstein escalopes with egg and anchovy. My only regret, apart from the fact the the cafe is now gone forever, is that I never managed to try the ginger sponge. Every time I asked, they were always out of it. I guess it's something I'll have to leave to the imagination, my Godot or perfect rose; something that existed but never passed through my lips.

Goodbye my friends.
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Craig Hampton
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 15, 2007

RIP New Piccadilly. The loss of an old friend hits hard, especially when you guiltily recall that you didn't go to see them much recently and now they're gone forever. In 1998-2000 I went regularly, and put on much weight, with my good friends and colleagues Adam Pearce and Celia Kirwan and others, when we were all working at Piccadilly Circus. Adam 'found' the New Piccadilly and we just loved it. Had our photos taken by the oh-so courteous guys in white suits outside the restaurant and everything. After I moved jobs in 2000 I went much less but I will also always remember it as where I was that lunchtime on September 11, 2001. The BBC news was on in the corner as ever, no mention of the planes - they didn't know yet - and the Escalope Holstein was as good as ever. A little bit of London has died with the passing of the Piccadilly - you were awesome and thank you.

Martin Pierce
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Martin Pierce
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I was very disappointed while hearing that the New Piccadilly Cafe will close this year. Even that I was not visting it on a regular base due to the fact that I am living in Germany it was a must for me to be there every time when visting London. The food was - even thta it is run by an Italian family - so typically British, the service was just smart and the atmosphere best you can get. Like travelling through time back to the sixties. I always felt a little bit like in the "The Who" movie "Quadrophenia".
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Thorsten
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 19, 2007

Cannot add more than has been written except to say this hugely emotional landmark (for many people) is to close its doors this September.

Do yourself a favour and be part of its history before then. The other reviews on this page are exactly what this place is and is about. There is nowhere in the West End like it. Get a taste of how London used to be when it was individual, had character and was great.

It's a real piece of history and very soon, it really will be literally just that.
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claire
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Finally managed to go to the New Piccadilly this weekend, having dragged my boyfriend halfway across London especially. We all had sausage, egg and chips - as yummy as it looked and so reasonable at £4.50! The coffee went down nicely and pudding was also had. Apple pie drowned in custard, banana split and milkshake - all wonderful. A lovely piece of history to sit and enjoy traditional food, without a rip-off price.
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Kathryn
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 06, 2006

I agree with the other reviewers that this place should be patronised more often because where else can you get a cup of tea in the west end for under 60p? The desserts are generous and very reasonably priced. And the decor is something else to be savoured while having a true British "cafe experience". Another plus point is that they often play classical music in here, a great sanctuary from some of the awful nearby Soho coffee bars that blare out Radio 1 at customers. The waiters are friendly and chatty, and this place is so quiet on a Sunday afternoon. Perfect for a rendezvous. The food is average cafe fare (but very cheap), but the ambience is unbeatable.
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JW
Tuesday, October 11, 2005

The New Piccadilly (located near Piccadilly, not Tottenham Court Road) opened in the early 1950s and is still run by the same Italian family. It is one of the very few remaining original West End caffs, and it should be preserved as a piece of London history. There is a suitably period menu offering basic old-school cafe grub (egg and chips and beans etc) and "builders tea" at rock bottom prices. The food is admittedly pretty basic, but the real reasons to go here are to marvel at the wonderful original fittings, with Festival of Britain-style formica tabletops and vinyl-covered banquette seating; to enjoy the genial service and to support the fact that this place offers a now all-roo-rare alternative to modern-day chainstore coffee shops. Catch it before the sadly inevitable march of redevelopment.
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Eager Beaver - View all reviews by this user
Monday, October 03, 2005

Honoured to be writing the first ever review of this place on here.

Firstly, where else can you get a filling 2 course meal for 2 in the West End for under a fiver? Secondly, in a landscape dominated by faceless coffee chains, the New Piccadilly really offers some real character and definition as to what London is truly all about. It is situated right next to Tottenham Court Road Station and is a living historical document of the classic cafes that used to dominate Britain's post-war cafe culture. I don't pretend to be an expert on this at all, but I direct you to http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/ which is a fantastic resource and takes the preservation of these places seriously.

As for the generously portioned food (which tastes of England featuring things like spotted dick and custard, spaghetti bolognaise, roast chicken and 2 veg)is not fancy and is home cooking with an Italian bent.. I spied fellow diners having an amazing looking steak pie with peas and chips which came in a great gravy. The clientele range from actors dropping in for a plate of egg and chips, geeky hipsters and those in the know, graphic designers and various luvvies right down to the more elderly after a taste of nostalgia.

Its all tied in with the ambience of the place which is all retro formica, period details including a ringing cash register and the excellent and friendly proprieter who has some amazing stories about London underground history.

Real cappuccino is 60p with a meal and less than a quid without, I've ordered apple pie and custard, banana split. Find this place, eat here, become a regular and keep it in business and long may the New Piccadilly reign.
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C. Johnstone
Thursday, September 01, 2005