Perfect pancakes near Roman Road
Whether you prefer sweet or savoury, American or crêpes, we’ve got something to satisfy everyone on the Roman this pancake day.
Pancake day might be the only day of the year when it is acceptable to eat the same meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It falls a little later than usual this year, and we can feel the anticipation rising for our favourite day of indulgence. If you want to avoid a flipping disaster that leaves your kitchen plastered in pancakes from floor to ceiling, then take a look at our list of perfect pancakes near Roman Road. So go on … it’s not everyday that you can indulge in dessert for dinner.
Cafe Creme
566 Roman Rd, E3 5ES

Beside the Bow Library, you’ll find the charming Cafe Creme on the corner. Whether you’re up for a light snack or a hearty meal, they can help. On Shrove Tuesday the friendly family-run business will be serving up several homemade pancakes with strawberries, blueberries and banana. They have several choices, there’s a pancake with maple syrup, lemon and sugar, Nutella and banana, or a pancake with bacon and maple syrup. All of them are served with a scoop of ice cream and flavoured drizzle on top.
Mae + Harvey
414 Roman Rd, E3 2RZ

Mae + Harvey on the Roman go all out on Pancake day. The pancake day menu will feature the classic lemon and sugar and the favourite chocolate ganache and hazelnut with banana. They’ll also have some creative savoury twists like portobello mushroom and gruyere cheese, as well as hot smoked salmon with creme fraiche and dill. Their pancake mix is a recipe inspired by chef Oliver Rowe, a regular at the cafe, who showed them his ‘puff pancake’ recipe from his latest cook book. The result? They’re deliciously light and fluffy.
Loafing
407 Roman Rd, E3 5QS

Roman Road’s Loafing, which reopened in March 2019, is a key pancake day stop, offering delicate, mouth-watering crêpes. Loafing’s owner, Susie McDuell, explains how their most popular dish is a vegan option: a thin buckwheat flour galette filled with homemade sun-dried tomato pesto, mushrooms, onions and spinach. Susie’s topping of choice is Nutella and ice cream, which also features on their menu. And what’s her secret? ‘You’ll need fresh ingredients and the right technique to create the perfect crêpe: thin, colourful and beautiful’, Susie says.
Cafe East
426 Roman Rd, E3 5LU

Cafe East is one of the most popular stops on Roman Road. With their daily queue outside becoming a feature of the pavement, you know they’re doing something right. While you can get a whole full English with your pancakes here, as well as just dessert pancakes, all the options are served with pleasing-to-the-eye exotic fruits. They’d recommend the popular ‘Lost in London’, which does two pancakes, scrambled eggs, streaky bacon, Cumberland sausage, two hash browns and beans.
Gölzemes at Artisan Bakery
67 Usher Rd, Bow, E3 2HA

Nestled inside Niyazi Usta Artisan Bakery, next to Akdeniz Supermarket, you can find Gözlemes made on demand, for a very affordable price. Not strictly a pancake, a Gözleme is a savoury Turkish stuffed turnover. This bakery, which is owned by their neighbours Akdeniz, sell a range of produce including Turkish pastries, baked fresh every day. Inside the bakery, a lady wearing traditional Turkish dress makes golden, buttery Gözlemes that are cheap as chips. You can choose from minced meat, spinach and cheese, and potato fillings.
Sweet Talkers
633 Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 2RN

If you walk all the way to the eastern end of Roman Road market, you’ll find Sweet Talkers Desserts. Their crepes are a permanent fixture on the menu, promising the most indulgent spot for a sweet treat this pancake day. Choose from a variety of flavours and toppings, from Strawberry & Mango to Ferrero & Nutella. Don’t be fooled by the simple sounding Cinnamon Crepe, this creation is served with butterscotch sauce, a scoop of pistachio ice cream, chocolate shavings and crispy wafers, all topped off with a swirl of whipped cream.
If you liked this, you might be interested in the best brunch spots and best places to have tea along Roman Road.