London: Tea Time in Wonderland

You’re spending the day with your kids.

Time for lunch. You’re happily wondering what to go for:eja: sushi, indian, wonton, fusion food…? In your dreams! They have their mind set on a Mc Donald’s.

Now, there’s a compromise to find. Make it a happy time for you too – go to Ed’s diner.

Retro deco, bar stool, neon colours, very 50ies, mini jukebox (20p only for a song). You feel you have stepped in one of these old American series – Surely Fonzie will be here in a minute?

Hamburgers are well worth a Big Mac. They may not be the best in town, but they’re satisfying enough and it’s clear to the palate the ingredients are fresh. Why mot customise your own? Guacamole? Onion? You’d rather choose whether to put cheddar, emmental or american cheese?

Amazing choice of fries: cheese, chilli, bacon… Wet fries!

Milkshakes are just excellent – served in a tall glass verre with extra on the side. £3.55 but there’s enough for too. Thick and creamy. You will not regret the Oreo cookies or my favourite: banana and peanut butter, which I drank straight, almost in a breath.

Classic American deserts too: Missipi mud pie… Pecan Pie… Malt waffles… Too bad – the food is so filling, you will not even get there.

More expensive than a Mc Do (remember the usual12.5% service charge will be added to your food, fastfood or not), but the Rock’n'roll atmosphere is such a nice chance. Very friendly service too, the waiter checked several times whether everything was ok and was great with our 4 year old daughter.

Note to parents: I can’t see how to fit a buggy in there! However kids’ menus are available with games on the reverse. The mini-milkshakes are just the right size and ideal for small hands.

Ed’s Diner
12 Moor Street
Old Compton St
Soho
London
W1D 5NG

(2 other addresses on the site)

Love American goodies?

- Avoid the chain the Diner. I gave their Shoreditch and Soho locations a try and swear never to go near again. Service was horribly slow, fries tasteless. I got an already melting coke float and had the time to finish it and wait some more before getting my hamburger and cheese fries. No apologies. Not even a smile. Barely a thank you and good-bye in either place. 12.5% service charge? What a laugh: were was the service apart from putting something on my table? It would have been quicker to get it from the kitchen myself.

- At The Hop (61 Beauchamp Place, close to Harrod’s) you can enjoy Tenessee Toffee pies… Oreo sundays… cheese popcorn…Filling milkshakes flavoured with your favourite chooclate bar… You’ll even find American cereals, Mountain Dew…

- Are you a sucker for import sweets? Then you’ll find your HQ @ Cybercandy in Covent Garden. That’s where I get my poptarts from (they even have smore ones)!

- I shop for American products at Partridge’s too – mmmm, corn bread…

- If you ever stop in Bristol, you just have to stop @ Rocadillos, the best diner in the country...

6 Responses to “Fancy some fries with that? ”