I was honestly not planning on trying another "Jamie Oliver's" and I didn't even know he had a diner as well. Passing along Piccadilly circus and after the disappointing experience at his Italian restaurant next door, I decided to give his meat parlor a try. So tonight I'm having dinner at Jamie Oliver's diner on Piccadilly Circus.
Take the stairs up to the first floor where a big dinosaur welcomes you. Things here are built around the Dino concept. Dinosaur statues, dinosaur posters and even teeth to decorate the menu's main words. Jamie Oliver's diner celebrates diner food with the best of ingredients... at least this is what they state.
Little bites, sides, big bites, happy grilled chicken in a basket, burgers and dogs, super food, house drinks and desserts. I like how the menu is printed in two colors, how titles are in bold, how the important items are drawn to stand out.
Welcoming and attentive staff roam around the tables. We asked for drinks and awaited to be served. The restaurant has an interesting view onto the streets below and is lit with two big led lights attracting attention to passing tourists. Wooden tables, a bar, a parquet floor... a warm atmosphere and enjoyable music.
I ordered for dinner:
- Baby back ribs with barbecue sauce and chili - which didn't make it to the table.
- Reuben sandwich: dark eye, cobble lane salt beef, sauerkraut, gruyère cheese and American mustard.
- Pulled pork bun: 16 hour pulled pork, fried free-range egg, barbecue sauce and spicy jalapeño salsa.
- Jamie's super corn and quinoa salad: quinoa, crispy bacon, avocado, cream corn, feta, mango, tomato, chili, lime and crushed tortilla.
And we waited... we waited exactly like the Italian restaurant. Long minutes for some diner food to be prepared.
PS: today, they don't have mayonnaise... yes, at a diner! They don't have mayonnaise. So now that we received the food, let's eat. Sandwiches and burgers served on metallic trays and salad served in a tiny little cereal bowl.
- The smallest salad I've ever seen, a tiny little portion of quinoa and some fruit with chunks of tomatoes. Tasteless, zero, no taste at all. Is that Jamie Oliver's standard?
- The pulled pork bun comes with an egg, spicy and tender pork meat with a light sweetness. Even though I had better, it's good enough!
- The Ruben sandwich is dire! Chef, you have to visit New York! You really have to visit Katz in New York and understand what a Ruben sandwich is. Tonight's dinner has a tiny little layer of meat, a load of cabbage and some sauce. Where is the meat? The generosity? Life?! An unacceptable sandwich priced at £18!
- And I challenge you to mange to eat the carrot salad that comes with the plates! More of a dry lemon salad with crunchy carrots.
One good thing happened: our waiter was outstanding, professional and attentive. Unfortunately we heard he's leaving... probably to a restaurant where the food is good at least!
Bad! Below average Italian and very bad diner! I left London very disappointed by the Jamie Oliver chain of restaurants.
