The special relationship has never been stronger between the United States and the United Kingdom. There are an increasing number of American football games being played in London every year. Soccer is an ever-growing sport in the United States, thanks to mega-sports stars like David Beckham.
Unfortunately, American diners in London on the other hand have been declining in numbers since the pandemic in 2020. In this article, we will take a look at my top 3 suggestions for the best American diners in London.
1. The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch
1950s glam
If you are looking for elevated American diners-style food, this is the place to be. The decor will immediately catch your attention. It used to be a bar music hall and was subsequently converted into a Victorian warehouse. Although your typical American diner wouldn’t have such impressive, ornate tiling features, the 1950s vibe recalls the boom period of American diners in the States.
Music for the Soul
They have live music every night of the week, with different offers each day. There are £6 margaritas on Mondays and £6 cocktails on Wednesdays with live jazz thrown in for good measure. In particular, their Hip Hop orchestra brunch on Saturdays is hugely popular, as well as their 2-4-1 offer on burgers on Sundays before 6 pm.
Food for thought
They deliver the classic American diners-style dishes but in an elevated manner. The ever-popular hot spinach and artichoke dip was delectably cheesy. There is a Mexican slant in some of the dishes with the likes of tuna tostada and smashed avocado tostada. The mains had something for everyone. If you are a health goddess, you can aim for their taco bowl filled with nutritious goodness like iceberg lettuce, hispi cabbage and beans. Whilst those looking for indulgent, comfort food, can sink their claws into a taste of the Deep South with the fried chicken and gravy. Their version rivals the best I’ve tried in the States. A perfectly crunchy exterior helped to maintain the moisture in the soft, tender interior.
Click here to visit their website.
2. All Star Lanes Holborn
The home of London bowling
All-Star Lanes has been a staple of the London hospitality scene since 2006. When you want to go bowling with friends, this is the company that will immediately spring to mind. They’ve expanded to four locations now, with branches in Holborn, Brick Lane, Stratford, and White City. Being the most central location, the Holborn branch has always been my go-to venue for bowling. They have a VIP area with a hunting lodge design, which is particularly suited for celebrations and work get-togethers.
American Diner classics served with aplomb.
Whilst their bowling facilities are well-known, their restaurants are more of a hidden gem. They serve up a drink, dine & bowl package at £32 per person, which is served up every day of the week. It is a very reasonable offer and means you can stick with one venue to spend your whole afternoon or evening. The menu is unsurprisingly strong on burgers, hot dogs and tacos. You can savour authentic American diner classics like Philly cheesesteak and BBQ beef brisket bites.
However, they have adapted their menu to cater for modern-day London tastes. Vegans are well-catered for with their use of Redefine Meat™ and vegan cheese sauce. For those looking for healthier options, they have the “No Bun Hun” section like the Mambonito black rice salad. Given the popularity of Korean food these days, it was no surprise to see Korean BBQ pork ribs and chicken wings on their menu.
They have a bar and lane menu for those who crave some tasty bites whilst enjoying their game of bowling. Unsurprisingly, you won’t see burgers and hot dogs on that menu but more shareable options like pizzas and tacos. Cocktail-wise, they have all the classics like espresso martini and negroni.
Click here to visit their website.
3. Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
You will find the ultimate American diner at Passyunk Avenue. The name comes from a Native-American word meaning “place between the hills”. It also happens to be the main street that runs through the heart of South Philadelphia. They have branches in Fitzrovia, Waterloo and Battersea.
All-American decor
Their authentic, tongue-in-cheek, busy decor will keep your senses busy throughout your meal. You won’t miss the dozens of one-dollar bills stuck on their walls, often with hand-written notes from their American visitors. There are neon signs, and memorabilia from MLB, NFL and other sports. Giant plasma screens adorn their walls with non-stop coverage of American sports. You could easily have mistaken yourself for being in an American diner in Philadelphia.
Savour the authentic Philly experience
Their expansive menu has many unusual Philly classics, and they’ve had to explain some of the dishes on their menu. Hoagie is the prime example. They’ve explained it as “a Philly word describing an overstuffed typically cold sandwich – derived from Hog Island Italian labourers who ate ‘’Hoggies’’ back in the day”. When I was still confused when ordering the hoagie dog, their staff helpfully explained it is a hot dog that comes with a salad. You will be impressed with their selection when you see they have eight different types of hot dogs and can substitute any of them with a vegan sausage.
Portions are on the generous side of things. They’ve even written on their menu that their Italian meatball starter is “Two Nick Foles-sized BIG homemade meatballs in our own marinara sauce”. This is one venue where you won’t be returning home requiring top-up snacks from your emergency snack drawer. They also have classics like the spinach and artichoke dip.
If you are a lover of wings, they have some great offers for you. You can either opt for the £20 per person all-you-can-eat wings offer or choose to pay just £1 per wing all night.
For the competitive sports fans
They offer plenty of immersive sporting experiences for those wishing to burn off a few calories after their generously-portioned meals. They have partnered with the MLB to offer their batting cage experience. Their batting cages, pitching machine and ball-tracking telemetry are the same as those used in high schools, colleges and baseball professionals in the States where they can track their performance.
Their newly-opened play area in Waterloo also includes shuffleboard, which is always a great team-bonding experience when you play it with a group of friends or work colleagues. There is also ping-pong for those looking for a fast-paced sport or beer-pong for those looking for a game of accuracy and an excuse to drink more beer.
Click here to visit their website.
The number of American diners might have declined since the pandemic in 2020, but as you can see from the above, what we have been left with are very strong options if you are looking for American diner cuisine. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, do consider these venues to celebrate this holiday season.
Why not check out my article on the top 3 most popular London shuffleboard bars, click here to read the article.
