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Somehow, Shoreditch isn’t really somewhere you’d expect to find an American diner; the idea of ‘classic America’ in the heart of one of London’s trendiest areas is a bit of an odd one. But, judging by the number of people tucking into burgers and fries, The Diner is certainly popular with East London’s revellers.

We had to wait for a booth to become available - about 5 minutes - although it took another 5 minutes before that to get the attention of a member of staff. Sadly, this was to set the tone for the rest of the meal; the service was terrible.

The food on the other hand wasn’t bad, although portions weren’t exactly huge. I ordered a hotdog, which came topped with lots of onions, fries and coleslaw (a little heavy on the mayonaise); my dining companion meanwhile tucked into a bacon cheese burger and diner fries (cajun spiced), washed down with a chocolate milk shake (not cheap at £4).

The bill came to about £12 each. Rather predictably, we had to wait a long time to pay it.

5.5/10

Pellicci’s has been around since the turn of the last century and has become somewhat of an institution round the East End.

Inside, it’s small which, along with the original wood panelling, gives it a cosy feel. We went on a Saturday morning for a late breakfast, and as it turns out, a lot of other people had the same idea; it gets busy so be prepared to wait or share a table.

The menu is fairly comprehensive, offering everything from traditional cooked breakfasts to home-made pies to meat and two veg, and the staff are friendly and provide an efficient service.

We both ordered a cooked breakfast – definitely the real deal because it included a ‘fried slice’. It was good value and, although much of it deep fried (including the obligatory processed sausage), tasty and not too greasy. You can tell they’ve been doing this for a while. The coffee was also good and strong, as you would expect from an Italian family-run business.

Although Pellicci’s clientele now seems to be a mixture of young professionals, students and trendies in addition to the genuine Eastenders, it’s still a good place to sample a bit of real East End life and cooking.

Closed Sundays.

8/10

Tutti’s is a small, bustling café situated half-way along Lamb’s Conduit Street. It serves a reasonable selection of salads and sandwiches and a limited choice of hot food, including jacket potatoes (done in the microwave sadly) and soup.

My personal recommendation is the meatball ciabatta - the best meatball sandwich I’ve had in the area (a pretty big deal when you realise the number of sandwich shops nearby!) and not bad for under £3 (eat in). The coffee is also good and reasonably priced.

Inside, it’s bright and friendly, with a limited number of tables and chairs and a comfy sofa (which seems to take up far too much room). If you do decide to ‘eat in’, try to get one of the few seats available upstairs; it’s definitely not so nice sitting in the basement.

7/10