please empty your brain below
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I intend to make my farewell visit to the New Piccadilly Cafe this Saturday 22nd.
I have been looking into the place about once or twice a week in the past 2 months, and have been surprised that it has not been very busy. Especially since a few weeks ago it was on TV news.
Seems that most people do not want cheap and cheerful good food but will pay exorbitant prices in coffee house chains.
I know of traditional cafes in most areas of London and I use them when in their areas.
I will be sorry to see this part of Soho knocked down, -wonder if the now closed Regent Palace Hotel will be demolished as well?
John | 21.09.07 - 8:14 a.m. | #
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You can still get spotted dick and treacle sponge at teh Wimpy.
Debster | 21.09.07 - 8:53 a.m. | #
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Sorry but I disagree totally - the place is well past its sell by date and has been getting away with 'murder in the kitchen' for far too long.
It wouldn't have survived 5 seconds in New York.
Cheer the forces of Schumpeterian creative destruction!
gwplf | 21.09.07 - 9:17 a.m. | #
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Cheap and cheerful, yes. Good? Questionable. Good value for the location perhaps, but it wouldn't have survived in many other parts of the city for long.
It's a style icon, though; so I'm still sad to see it go.
Chz | Homepage | 21.09.07 - 10:08 a.m. | #
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Not convinced about British cafs and sugar cubes. It was something I noticed as different from home, here sugar for tea came in granulated form in a metal pot using the same spoon encrusted with crystal from the last time sombeody had used it to stir the drink in their cup before replacing it wet in the pot. France had sugar cubes neatly wrapped up in paper with prints on it. No canards for English children.
stroppycow | Homepage | 21.09.07 - 10:09 a.m. | #
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Now, I wonder what the connection is between the subject of this post and yesterday's? 
Blue Witch | Homepage | 21.09.07 - 10:52 a.m. | #
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Maybe it's only a few of us still appreciate "cheap and cheerful", but I shall miss the choice and opportunity that cafes like the New Piccadilly afford.
We don't all want our "value" dining choice limited to Starbucks, a Chinese restaurant or grabbed sandwiches from a Sainsbury's local, thanks.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 21.09.07 - 1:24 p.m. | #
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So sad. The NP had a real soul. In an ideal world the Museum Of London would have moved it lock stock and barrel, and recreated it as their cafe.
Adrian Zmed | 21.09.07 - 3:27 p.m. | #
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What was the fabulous greasy spoon on St. Anne's Court in Soho that closed down a few years ago. Had famously grumpy waitresses who were all in their late 50s as far as I tell.
They even had posters on the wall with a photo of one of them bearing the legend: "We're too cheap to be cheerful"
Chris | 21.09.07 - 9:27 p.m. | #
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I think that one was a favourite of Marc Almond.
gwplf | 22.09.07 - 12:05 p.m. | #
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Lorenzo made me cry once after berating me for trying to order a tuna melt. I'm not kidding! It's not my fault I'm a yank and that would've been on menu in a diner in my country in the 50s! Show some compassion you're a foreigner too Lorenzo!
Anyway gorgeous looking restaurant but the beratement always left a bad taste in my mouth and speaking of taste I never thought the food was all that. I guess not being British I haven't developed a sufficiently strong appreciation for spotted dick and salad cream.
Will be missed for its style but for me personally it won't be missed for much else.
mj | 22.09.07 - 6:05 p.m. | #
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Oh no! As I've been on nights and finish tomorrow morning, I was going to make a special journey tomorrow (Sunday) from Doncaster to visit The New Piccadilly.
I've just called them and they say they close tonight 
Lee | Homepage | 22.09.07 - 6:11 p.m. | #
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Yes I was there late Saturday afternoon, A queue was outside for a while.Cafe very busy,(I ate Dans Cow pie -named from comic character Desperate Dan). Lorenzo said he would closedown as soon as he ran out of food. So maybe he had an early early night!
John | 22.09.07 - 10:32 p.m. | #
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I walked past at 11:50 yesterday morning and there was a queue there already.
More a party than a wake it was nice to see people with bottles of wine and odd to watch people walking around with video cameras to capture those last moments. Most of the staff were run off their feet but I don't think it really mattered. I was just happy so see the money going into the till. It really is sad to see this go - another tie to the London I remember from my childhood. I can't see kids today getting misty eyed remembering Starbucks or McDonalds.
Let's hope Lorenzo has a long and happy retirement.
Mark | Homepage | 23.09.07 - 12:50 p.m. | #
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