Although I'm not entirely pleased with the food here (more on that later), my main issue is with the terrible service. I used to come here once in a while if I was in the area and had a hankering for some cheese fries, and put up with the long wait times as part of the experience (though obviously, they're not part of an authentic diner experience). However, the last time I was here, service was so appalling I doubt I'll ever return. In addition to being ignored for a good 10 minutes after you walk in the door (which happens every time), we were then placed in the tiniest booth I'd ever seen, even though the restaurant was practically empty. I politely asked if we could sit in a slightly larger booth nearby instead, and the server copped quite an attitude. I guess because of this, she didn't return to take our order for 30 minutes, and that was only after I flagged her down. Her response, said with a sneer, "Oh, were you ready to order?" We then had to wait an hour to actually receive our breakfasts (bearing in mind there were only three other tables full in the entire place), and when we got them, they were cold, and she had forgotten my fries, which didn't arrive until after I'd finished eating everything else. We never received an apology for this incredibly crappy service. So, the food. Coming from an American, I would definitely class this place as a typical British bastardisation of American culture. I've only ever had breakfast here, since I don't eat meat, and don't ever get a hankering for weird vegetarian tacos. The pancakes are particularly disappointing. They are tiny (generally pancakes take up an entire plate, unless specified as silver dollars) and are something I could make much better myself, even just using Bisquick. The French Toast is also not great, though edible. Their milkshakes suffer from the same malady as every milkshake I've had in this country, thin, thin, thin. Do people ever even use actual ice cream in milkshakes here? The only things I really liked here is the cheese fries, mainly because I prefer skinny fries to chips, and they don't use that horrible orange cheese sauce like most places in America, or at Ed's Diner. Ick. I also appreciate that they offer orange soda (other than Fanta), but it's not a great example of its type. They would have been better off going with Stewarts, or even just Orange Crush or something. So to sum up, terrible service, ok food. Maybe if they hire someone who isn't a disinterested hipster, I'll consider coming back, eventually. read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat in London! Fantastic food and shakes.. I can always count on this place for late night comfort food when I'm in London! read more

Not the comfiest of seats and the music was a tad loud for conversation, but great food and generous portion sizes made up for it. I had the veggie hot dog with fries and they were delicious, the hot dog served in a brioche bun. The staff were incredibly nice and prompt, seating us and taking our order within 10 minutes of arrival. They brought us extra sauces and were all around lovely. read more

Carnaby Street: I went there together with my brother, my brother's friend and my boyfriend. I was pretty excited, not having eaten out at an american diner before. I'm making this review out of what I had, which was a pretty simple cheeseburger. But before I start, if you are going to just have a milkshake, they make damn good milkshakes. When we got there the staff was polite, she greeted us and showed us to the table. The music was annoyingly loud. Not really being able to hear the waitress, and her not even being able to hear us either. So, the burger was presented alright, I wasn't impressed nor unimpressed. However, taking a bite the bun was stone hard. It was like the bun had been sitting in a plastic bag for 3 days or something. The burger itself was mediocre. I've had a better burger from a takeaway on justeat. The meat was alright. The burger dressing/sauce was bland, tasteless and the burger was fairly small. I wouldn't go there again. read more

Love, love, love! The food is so amazing it's hard to choose what to get. They have milkshakes to die for (and a rather generous portion at that) and yummy pancakes. read more

The Diner - Hard Shakes!!! - American Near Me - London, XGL

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Pancakes are standard to the good ol' USA. Shakes are great! Pass on the french toast.

Lmao this place definitely has an American feel to it. Looks pretty cool and the menus and decor all around the place is very Americana. I went with a group and we all got a burger of some sort. I ordered the original burger medium rare. It was pretty good. Kinda small and I finished it pretty fast. I love that there isnt any tax it london so you pay what you see on the menu. The fries are a joke however, they are small, dry, and they dont give you alot. We sat in this underground area which was kinda cool. Not sure id come back again though. read more

I like the location of this Diner. Carnaby Street full of bars, restaurants and shops. Service is good. Its always full but you get a table in 5mins. Diner Fries or Cheese Fries is a cool and delicious side. And I always seem to have the Ceaser Salad. All in all, I will keep coming back. read more

Another "American" style bar in London. Except not quite as good as some of the others. I've been a few times because I don't like to judge somewhere on their first attempt only... but it doesn't quite match up. First thing they need to fix are the burgers. Sure, they might be a reasonable price but they really aren't very good. The fries, however are world class. They dress the servers up in old american diner style outfits, but they are usually unfriendly and from eastern europe which sort of kills the vibe you're expecting in this place. There are some good things - it's usually mostly empty so you can get a comfy seat, and they offer alcoholic milkshakes including one genius unlikely sounding combination of bourbon, ice cream and peanut butter. Sounds pretty awful and my friend from Birmingham laughed at me when I ordered it, then tried it and said it might be the best dessert he'd ever tried. So go for that, but if you want food you're better off eating at the Soho Pizzeria down the bottom of Carnaby street. read more

Ive been twice now. HUGE portions, we didnt even finish it all, but gave it a good go! Cool interior, although its an american diner it doesnt feel too tacky or trying to be too cliched. You can eat indoors in booths or outdoors and people watch, of which ive done both. A huge choice of food too, it took ages for us all to decide our order, the waiters/waitress are helpful and friendly. Dont leave without trying one of the alcoholic milkshakes, there are a good view to choose from, or order a regular flavour and add a shot of your choice. I went for the Colonel Parker, with peanut butter and Jack Daniels among other ingredients. Ive had burgers both times, just about finished them, but the chili fries defeated me, as tasty as they were, i was just too full. One of my friends had one of the all day breakfasts and found that delicious. Would visit again, but maybe one of the other locations this time, there are another 2 in London i believe. Good location too, just off Carnaby St. read more

I've been to this restaurant a few times now, and I'm fairly sure they make the best burgers and milkshakes in London. The service sometimes feels a bit slow, but once the food has arrived, it's quickly forgotten. The table falls silent as everyone begins to dine, the silence punctuated only by appreciative "mmms" and "aahhhs". Everyone then congratulates each other for having agreed to go to such a wonderful place. I highly recommend the chocolate milkshake (hard or not) and the Arch Burger... No, the Californian! Nom nom nom! read more

Trendy & friendly staff, speedy service, milkshakes worth the price, tasty food. A very good experience, recommended!

Great food but the service let the experience down. The blonde lady who seated us was lovely, the guy who served us was uninterested, slow and generally shite, I spilt my milkshAke and he waited for me to clean it up myself so he could place my cutlery down no offer of wiping the table down no check back on the food or if we wanted anything else was thoroghly disappointed. Would return of he wasn't working read more

Cheese and chilli fries, friendly service with nice surroundings, great music not too loud, lonestar beer and decently priced. More costly than a mcdonalds but then it should be. A lot of fun. Don't expect Michelin star level food (as some other reviewers seem to have!). If you're in Carnaby Street give it a go after you've sampled the pubs. Excellent. read more

For year's now, I've had the biggest obsession with the 50s & 60s. Film's, Music, Clothes, I loved everything. For quite some time I'd been thinking about going to America as I hear that some of the old diner's are still in business & it would absolutely make my year to visit one! So walking along Carnaby Street (with no intention to eat) & suddenly spotting the bright 'The Diner' sign really did make me incredibly hopeful! ...& hey presto, inside those windows were gorgeous 1960's diner booths & vintage rock music & I was going in! This is a wednesday, so it wasn't packed at all. My eating buddy was a little apprehensive by the fact that there was so few people but this is after lunchtime so there wasn't going to be crowds! We were seated & given these red 'leather' bound menu's & the possibilities were endless. I'm a vegetarian & was impressed to find that there was a vegetarian option under every food heading. There were two type's of vegetarian burger, the spicy bean burger & the mushroom burger & there were many more options - tacos, breakfasts, you name it! There was also a large variety of different milkshakes & hardshakes (with alcohol) & the desserts (although I didn't have one) were all very old fashioned American, think Pecan Pie & Blueberry Peanut Butter Sundae. I ordered the bean burger, some cheese fries & a cherry coke & my eating buddy ordered a non-veg meal. Waiting for the meal, I remember confessing that even if the food wasn't perfect, it was still my favourite restaurant as the atmosphere & 60's theming felt so real. There were little accents, like a hook on the side of our booths, on which you could hang up your coat which I found adorable! Not waiting long at all, the food made an appearance. The cheese fries were fabulous! My fries were COVERED in hot, melting cheese (this was Real Cheese & not that rubber processed stuff or worse still, that ghastly stuff that come's in a can) & you could tell that they had not been stingey at all! The bean burger was lovely too, crispy on the outside & smooth with chunky beans & vegetables on the inside. I ordered some spicy mayo to go with it & when poured on the burger, gave it a cooler spicier touch. The tables all contain Heinz Ketchup, Mustard, Chilli Sauce, Salt & Pepper so there was no 'asking for condiments' required. My eating buddy was thoroughly pleased with their meal. Yes, it's American Fayre & Yes, it's unhealthy but a meal here now & again wouldn't kill you, besides, they also sell salads which I'm sure are top class as well. After the meal, I was full...not stuffed but not hungry - I was happy full. Dessert was tempting but I knew that I could do without! The price was smaller than expected & we left happy. This place was definitely worth a revisit, & I know for sure that it's my favourite eatery in London, if not the World! read more

When I was feeling a little nostalgic for home while abroad a friend of mine took me to The Diner. Let me tell you, it was better than any meatloaf we get over here in the states and they have a burger to die for! As if it couldn't make me feel any closer to home my waitress was from Lynbrook NY, just like me! Can't recommend this enough. I would definitely go back. read more

Disgusting place... Dirty inside, washrooms with no toilet paper; well it was all over the floor. But the topper was our seriously rude server. We walked out after getting her attitude. Menu looked lacking too. read more

This is an over hyped, overpriced, grease-hole with staff who, although quite friendly, seem like they'd rather be elsewhere. The idea is simple enough bring kitsch, old school America to English shores but the greasy food leaves one feeling rather sad, dirty and cheated. The first time I went (ashamed it wasn't my last), and for reasons beyond understanding, I ended up ordering a waffle concoction from their blue plate menu. Unlike normal waffle meals, it was topped with bacon and cream, or some equally disgusting waffle combination, which normal waffles would shun. Needless to say, the rest of the evening was spent feeling rather sad, dirty and cheated. Luckily the portions are so so tiny, there's no risk of any permanent damage. The second time I found myself at this place, I had something Taco (or burrito?) related; so average I'm struggling to remember. On my third and so far final visit, I ordered a cheeseburger. Again, a safe option and very average tasting BUT, who serves burgers without fries?! read more

Appalling service. Stood by the 'please wait here to be seated sign' for ages. We were spotted and ignored by all three staff 'working' in there, none of whom appeared to be doing anything. One even made themselves a cup of tea behind the bar. She stared at us over the rim of the cup as she had a drink. Then she walked off. We got bored of being looked at by the staff and decided not to inconvenience them! Walked around the corner to the Carnaby Burger Co where the service and food was excellent! We suggest you do the same. read more

Went here yesterday. Staff were rude. Gratuity was automatically added. Food was ok, but eggs were peppered before arrival?! £2.20 for a CAN of coke Pretty sure the bad case of vomiting is attributed to this place too seeing as I didn't eat anything else before it set in. Oh well. We tried it. We won't be going back. read more

The food here was delicious with good sized portions and it wasn't too pricy. Will definitely go back. The only downside was that we had to wait ages for a table. read more

Unlike Ed's Diner or TGI Friday, this place is more geared for adults then children and families. Near Carnaby Street, they are open late and serve cocktails (and alcohol spiked milkshakes). The Diner has the usual diner gimmicks and the staff are high energy and friendly. The food is perfect if you've enjoyed a night of booze-all American grease with a side order of fries, very nicely burgers and all day breakfasts. Generous portions but all reasonably priced. read more

As an American, I would not come here if you are looking for a down the street diner food that is good no matter what. Very bad breakfast food (a staple in the USA) and they serve some strange artsy root beer which tastes nothing like the American classic A&W. I was searching for a diner that would rival the one 2 blocks from my apartment in Manhattan and was sorely let down. Their burgers are ok, nothing special, and breakfast terrible. Very displeasing read more

Because of the reviews I have read on the net, I decided to give this a try today. My husband and I ordered the Lumberjack's Breakfast. Overall, should have been okay but the pancakes have a bit of sourness to them which neither I nor my hubby could identify. The pancakes have a texture reminscent of banana cake. I don't know if this is supposed to be authentic American style of pancakes but I find it weird and is not something I would want to have again. The ambience and the service deserve high ratings. The hot chocolate drink is quite good too. There's still possibility of us coming back here though as I'm a big corndog fan. And the huevos rancheros! I'm curious as to what Mexican breakfast tastes like:-) read more

This diner used to be one of my favourite places to go, in spite of the dreadful hipster vibe that hangs over the place and the unnecessarily high drink prices. Sadly, those days are gone the hipster vibe is getting more pronounced, and nowhere is this more evident than in the completely lackadaisical service provided, in exchange for a 12.5% service charge. With that said, if you don't care how your food is served to you, it is pretty good. There's a decent range on offer, and the milkshakes are excellent. Toilet facilities are average, and the place gets busy particularly at weekends, so you might have to wait for a table. The food is probably worth it, but the service isn't. One last thing they do go all out for decorating at Halloween, which is worth a look if you're in the area at the time. read more

So the first review was probably a little premature, because we've since stopped going here. The food is nice, but the staff have so much attitude that it moved from 'London edgy and cool' to 'couldn't-give-a-crap-about-you' which is such a shame as this was a favourite of ours for a while, but we just can't abide the rudeness. read more

Best gourmet burgers in London for me. This place is very down to earth, yet oozes with style and charm in its own relaxed atmosphere. Side dishes are equally awesome and come highly recommended. The staff seem very unique and fun, yet feel they could take lessons in customer service to be honest. Won't stop me going back though - food is superb. read more

I'm a regular here and a big fan of the updated menu and the consistently excellent food. In the last couple of years they changed their meat suppliers and now (in my opinion) their burgers are as good as any of their competitors eg Lucky Chip, Byron, Hache etc. Maybe not lots on offer for vegans but hey, you can't have everything ;-) read more

Brilliant 'real' American breakfast at Soho Diner! Superb service from a smiling, polite and friendly waitress, very clean dining area, especially as the new manager had dismantled the booth seating to thoroughly clean the area! The whole diner is getting a deep clean (Aug 2011). The setting is quite authentic, with a lovely stone wall and traditional booths. A very comprehensive menu and we would definitely return. The food was hot, tasty and looked great - we were very pleased and would recommend it without hesitation. read more

You know when service and food are so terrible that you literally use the establishment's own WiFi to download the Yelp App and write the review while you are sitting waiting... Let me start by saying that I grew up in the food industry and in family owned restaurant businesses I am happy to endorse the places that need to be recognized for their excellent customer service and commitment to food quality, however, this place is not one of them. After spending a few weeks in Istanbul, we were craving a taste of home. So off to the American inspired diner! From start as we walked in, the host couldn't seem to be bothered to show us a table. When we asked to be seated away from the cold door he acted annoyed. So we weren't especially being ingratiated with welcomes or even average rate service. Next we waited...15 mins. When the waiter finally came to our table, we found out they were out of the items we came for, but no worries we informed them of my dairy allergy anyway. After we ordered, the waiter came back three times to ask questions about my simple order of two eggs, an English muffin with peanut butter, a sausage patty, and some tater tots. The waiter said the cook wouldn't clean the area where they fry the sausage and that they would have cross contamination for the tater tots. I assured them that I could have the tater tots. Then we waited...again. 25 mins. We asked for drinks--water and milkshakes for the children. They brought two waters for our party of four. We had to ask for the other two waters and they seemed annoyed. This wasn't a high volume time but a 2 pm lunch. The restaurant was empty--only three other covers. Thirty minutes later we got out food: a plate of three eggs, an insipid gluten free muffin, and a side of tahini. When I asked about my order they seemed confused. Then the wait staff, who didn't have anything else to do, hovered near our table and used foul language (the f word, etc) near our 7 & 9 year old. Then we finished/picked at our disappointing food (no taste of home here), and asked for the check. And we waited... Again. I can see the waiter and host and bartender are sitting together just talking about nothing. So after another ten minutes we asked again. No apologies or anything were offered. Do not eat here. There are so many unique and amazing restaurants in London. This not our usual go-to but we thought it would be fun to take in a more tacky/campy place but this wasn't it. read more