New Piccadilly

I agree with Katherine, no trip into London is the same now with that wonderful cafe gone. My Dad introduced me to The New Piccadilly back in the 1960's and I never ate anywhere else - every trip into London ended up in Denman Street for a good feed at a very good price. The staff were fabulous (I hope they are all keeping well) I also look longingly down Denman St now and wonder why they have to redevelop that area.(Thank you Ken I think it was your idea) What is wrong with the old buildings. Where else in the centre of town can you get cheese omlette chips and peas with bread and butter and a frothy coffee in a glass cup with sugar lumps (if required) for about six quid. To be eaten at a yellow formica table surounded with posters and plastic flowers and a wonderful atmosphere?
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 13, 2009

My god I am missing this superb cafe so much. the atmosphere the chat the good quality cheep but well made food. From time to time you will still find me walking down the street and stopping and staring at the boards where the cafe used to be. It was a comfort to read the messages of fare well and expressions of regret that this icon of London eating has gone. The cruel thing being these have now been painted over.

It was my habit to dine here about once a week at least. My favourite dish being the steak pie with pots and veg with a little mustard on the side. It was simply and splendidley wholesome, gosh I can almost taste it now.

My heart sank the first time I rounded the corner to find it was no longer there.

Surely there was a case for the Musium of London to preserve this place like a treasured master piece of fifties and sixties art.

God bless Lorenzo and thank you for the memory.
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Katherine Kennedy-Johnson.
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, February 07, 2009

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