M. Manze's Pie and Mash 

Manze's (say "manzie's") pie and mash is one of the surviving old school food establishments which serves the traditional East London fare of pies, mash and jellied eels. I have been to London several times but never found the time to patronize a pie and mash shop even though I am a pie fan. This is because my research showed that no pie and mash shops are sited conveniently near a tube station. However, during my latest trip I made the effort to find the time in the London heat to go eat at one (the week after I left, London was to have the highest temperatures ever recorded in that city).
 

M. Manze
87, Tower Bridge Road,
London SE1 4TW

This establishment in Bermondsey claims to be the oldest pie and mash house (see plaque in the 3rd pic down), having first opened in 1892. To get there by public transport from north of the Thames, take the tube to Elephant & Castle station and then hop onto a 188 Bus (North Greenwich) outside it at Bus Stand E; alight at the Brick Layer's Arms stop on Tower Bridge Road a few minutes away.

 

The back of this signboard provides helpful hints on how to make your first order and how to eat pie and mash
 

This place retains the look and furnishings of the typical traditional pie and mash shop with wall tiles, wooden furniture and marble-topped tables
 

One is helped in ordering by options and their prices well marked on a board. One can dine-in or take-away
 

Pie and mash with liquor. The pie is beef, the mash is of the drier and chunkier variety, and the liquor is a sauce made with parsley and traditionally, the soup from cooking eels although not necessarily. You are provided with two kinds of vinegar (one with chilli) to splosh on (douse heavily, said the server) your pie and mash. It is eaten with a fork and spoon (not a knife). One is supposed to flip the pie over before digging in.

One more traditional London food checked off the list.