The Diner heads West | The Diner, 105 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4SS

Old school gym floor on the walls… Only at The Diner © Photograph Paul Winch-Furness

The Diner has headed West and come over all Southern. The cosy new branch at Gloucester Road (conveniently just across the road from the tube) has the same favourites as the other branches, but with a few southern-inspired dishes.

I feel like chicken tonight… And every night if it tastes like this

At the preview we were overwhelmed with delights such as The DCB Diner chicken burger – buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, blue cheese, coleslaw and pickles £9. Ade didn’t want it to end… The salty bacon added a boost to the fried chicken and the twang of blue cheese was the icing on the cake – or should that be the pickle in the burger?

There were a few new cocktails on the menu too, the Sours section had a Midori (melon liquor), and Chambord option, both £7.50. The Amaretto sour continues to be Ade’s first choice and he still can’t find one to beat it. As with the other Diners, there’s a great choice of beer, in fact there are plenty of choices of everything – a staggeringly large menu that we will never ever get through.

How ever it’s photographed, it’ll never look good!

The dish I was most excited about trying from the breakfast menu, possibly from watching too many episodes of True Blood, was Biscuits and Gravy £7 – a popular US breakfast dish of savoury scones covered in creamy sausage gravy. I think I’d hyped it so much in my head over the years, the reality wasn’t as exciting. Other new additions sounded amazing, such as Eggs Piglet – pulled pork, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce £8.

Chicken was beginning to bore Beans with all her waffle!

I was excited to order buttermilk fried chicken waffles, beans and gravy £11, as I’d recently fallen in love with this sweet and savoury combo in LA. The beans added another dimension especially when mixed with the maple syrup – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

Lamba slammer ding dong

Tater tots got the lot

Crispy lamb slammers with root beer sauce £6.50 went down very well with the boys, a genius idea for a sauce, I ended up dipping everything into it. Bacon jalapeno tater tots with cheese £5 were another winner, and luckily for me the cheese was on the side. The jalapeño kick wasn’t too overbearing, these two portions disappeared way too fast.

These fries take some beating!

We couldn’t resist one of my favourite dishes in the world – the wet fries £2.90, it’s just chips and gravy but so good. Most importantly, there is always an equal amount of wet and dry chips.

Shake it up

Our knowledgeable waiter wisely advised us not to have a hard shake before our meal, wise words. The Piña Colada – coconut ice cream, pineapple & rum £8 was enough for two people – holiday in a glass. The boys went for the more masculine Choconaut – spiced rum, dark chocolate liqueur and chocolate ice cream £8 – and the Snickers shake £5.50.

And that’s the way the cookie crumbles…

Apple chimichangas – yes really!

We always leave room for dessert, even if it’s just a teeny tiny space. The chocolate and peanut butter cookie, peanut butter ice cream and caramel sauce £6 somehow managed to not be too rich, in fact we all ended up fighting over it, especially the peanut butter ice cream. I don’t even like peanut butter.

We were told the apple chimichangas with whipped cream £5 were a must – heavy going after all we’d eaten but great all the same.

There’s relief in knowing there’s a Diner on all sides of town. Well, almost, you need to come South next please guys!

Mon to Thurs: 0930-2330
Fri and Sat: 0930 – 0000
Sun: 0930-2300
Email: info@thedinerglosroad.com
Telephone: 0207 2447666

Follow the Diner on Twitter
Follow the Diner Covent Garden on Twitter
Like them on Facebook

Nearest tube: Gloucester Road

Love a bit of neon…