G Kelly — Restaurant in London

I've been coming to Kelly's in Roman Road since I was tiny when my Nan used to bring me. I remember going in and sitting on the same tables, sliding down the benches with the big railing things at the back and watching the people come in from the market and the man come from the back, holding a tray of pies above his head or a massive pot of mash or liquor and shouting 'mind your backs!' - not that there was any space to move because it was always packed! Then watching the people eating their jellied eels or pie and mash - looking in awe at the ones that were brave enough to use the chilli vinegar! There is nowhere like it in the world and very few that have remained so unspoilt over all those years. The food, the welcome, it's all the same that it's always been - just as you'd want it to be. On a cold day, you almost feel like the place is giving you a hug - it's just an incredible place.

It's difficult to explain to anyone that isn't from the area and, to an extent, you just have to trust me when I say that it works. The deal is you get a pie (or two - two's better!) which is a really good beef mince pie with brilliant pastry, mash (or double mash - double mash is better!) which is proper mash freshly made, liquor (I don't know if you can get double liquor - I've never asked - but I don't see how that'd fit on the plate!) which is a sort of parsley sauce which doesn't taste like other parsley sauces and you then put salt and vinegar on it. To me, it needs to be washed down with an orange squash that you get in a plastic sealed cup (I've had it that way for almost 40 years and you ain't changing me now!).

It is simply the best thing you're ever going to eat.

I see from the menu that they now do things like chicken pie and even a vegetarian pie. Now, I don't really approve of that kind of modern malarky but I suppose if it keeps the vegetarians and the chicketarians happy, then so be it. They also do desserts - which I'm sure are good but (1) how could you fit in a dessert after double pie and double mash and (2) they didn't do it in my day so I can't! Sorry! But I've been increasingly thinking that I need to try the crumble and custard... maybe next time! They also do cans of fizzy drinks - but it's still the cup of squash for me!

The other traditional food they do is jellied eels - and actually Kelly's started out as a jellied eel place. Until recently, I'd not tried eel - jellied or otherwise - and the bottom line is that, while I would probably have them here, the problem for me is that I couldn't not have the pie and mash - so I can't!

There are other places that do pie and mash. So I'm told... actually I went in one in Romford once. It was alright, I suppose, but it wasn't proper pie and mash and it wasn't from Kelly's in Roman Road.

Anyway, in addition to having the best food, they also have the nicest people working there - consistently over the past almost 40 years. Sometimes you see the same faces, sometimes new and the thing they have in common is a smile (even when it's busy and hot) and, if you get a chance to chat, an acknowledgement that they're working somewhere really quite special - somewhere that means a lot more to people than 'just' a plate of pie and mash or eels.

My round trip to Kelly's used to be 430 miles. It's now over 1500 miles but I wouldn't begrudge a minute of it! I can't remember a single trip to London that I've made that hasn't had a trip to Kelly's shoehorned into the schedule somehow. And I can't imagine that I will ever not go there. I hope it never changes...

...I'm...

Second visit now, the first time was good young girl served us very polite and friendly so that's why we came back because the staff were really nice, but today there was a black wonen working there, when we entered, there was no hello or even a slight smile, we was about to order but the looks and the unwelcome greeting, the look on her face put me off we sat down and I really was looking forward to my pie and mash with stewd ells but I just couldn't eat from her plus she's taking the payments and doing other things and not washing her hands as she picks up the pies, I notice everything and im very particular, the first fact is she looks as if she doesn't like the people, I was a bit shocked because our last visit was so much nicer the young lady who served us last time was so nice, I mean to be fare everyone else that works in there are polite and friendly, but this women really put me off and the energy that serves you food has to be good energy otherwise I an eating and I really think if you are handling other things apart from food younshould be washing your hands before touching the pies, this why I don't eat out much, but yeah I been eating pie and mash since I was old enough to start eating it our tridtion, First things first you really should at least make an effort and at least smile at customers before you about to serve them food that will go in their body, this is why I waited before I ordered and then I observed her touching so many things including payment then not washing her hands, I wouldn't of noticed that if she had made use feel welcome when we entered, hope the manager sees this review,...

I’m been keen on good food for all of my life! Most of the people that know me will state that I’m a bit of a foodie. I won’t deny this. I love all kinds of food from all over the world including cod and chips from here home, where I’ve lived for all of my 60years. Now I love jellied eels and hot eels. And use to go Barney’s and sometimes cricks in billingsgate . I first had pie mash on broadway market in the 80s and wasn’t impressed at all ! Years later a friend told me that they were no good there. And I should try the shop in Bethnel Green. Still I didn’t think it was very palatable. Poor pastry that’s too hard . Needs some butter or veg oil. Filling of poor quality mince meat with gristle and an ever so thin watery gravy, that’s so bland! Needs a little more pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Now in 2024 October I tried G Kelley on Roman road ! For One last time to give my best friend Lee the benefit of the doubt. By God to me it’s the same awful cooking with the green tasteless liquid or liquer as it’s called! Awful food in my opinion! If this food was any good I’m sure it wouldn’t be dying a death ! The customers are mostly over 60s ! And the odd gentrification posing in an east end shop doing selfies! I say good riddance it’s poor people’s food from the Victorian era to stop them starving! Nothing more it’s just sustaining food with poor quality ingredients and poor seasoning! Just look at some of the public photos here ! Even the pie crusts are burnt black ! And Had it been any good I’m sure the great chefs would be banging it out in the...