DANNY Dyer is practically a national treasure these days.
So when the born and bred Londoner revealed that his ‘London secret’ was M. Manze in Bermondsey, south London, I headed over to check it out.
Caroline McGuireI tried out Danny Dyer’s favourite London restaurant – and I’m a fan[/caption]
Caroline McGuireThe shop has been serving pies since 1891[/caption]
Caroline McGuireThe liquor sauce didn’t taste bad at all[/caption]
The pie, mash and eel shop on Tower Bridge Rd has been running since 1891, and is the oldest pie and mash shop in the UK.
Danny told ES Magazine: “It’s a beautiful pie and mash shop which has been there a long time.
“My order? Two pie, two mash, smothered in liquor and laced with chilli vinegar, washed down with a Dr Pepper.”
When I visited the flagship shop, one of three stores owned by the family business which is now in its 4th generation, I was surprised at how busy it was for a Tuesday lunchtime.
There was a constant queue of locals waiting for their takeaway and every table was also taken.
The interior of the restaurant was like being taken back in time, with original fixtures of beautiful green Victorian tiling, original marble-topped tables and old wooden pews.
It turns out that Danny Dyer isn’t the only celebrity fan, with pictures of visits from the likes of Victoria Beckham and Roy Orbison, plus an EastEnders scene featured Peggy and Phil Mitchell.
Getting lunch felt like taking part in a bit of London’s history – with one previous visitor commenting that it: “brought back childhood memories of visiting my nan.”
Caroline McGuireI tried out the classic dish and it was a very generous portion[/caption]
Caroline McGuireMy very generous portion of a vegetarian pie and mash with a Dr Pepper was incredibly well priced at £6.80[/caption]
The menu is simple, mash with the option of one or two meat or veggie/ vegan pies, gravy or parsley liquor and jellied or stewed eels.
I recreated Dyer’s recommendation as best as I could, given I don’t eat meat.
My very generous portion of a vegetarian pie and mash with liquor sauce, chilli vinegar and a Dr Pepper was incredibly well priced at £6.80.
The mash was tasty, as was the pie, the parsley liquor didn’t taste bad – it was more than I didn’t really find it tasted of anything at all.
The pie and mash shop was established back in 1891 by Robert Cook before it changed hands to Michele Manze in 1902, when it was renamed M. Manze.
By 1930, Manze, who, by 1930 had 14 shops under his name, and they haven’t changed their recipes over the century that followed.
Sun Online Travel also visited a British pub owned by a Hollywood A-Lister – and was left very surprised.
Don’t worry if you’re short on time – you can get it to go tooCaroline McGuire Read More