Burgers and milkshakes galore in a bustling ‘50s style diner.

The Venue
Eds Easy Diner is a tiny restaurant on the corner of Old Compton Street. It’s so small, in fact, that there are only two tables – the rest of the seating consists of high stools around a tall, U-shaped counter. In front of every two places or so is a small jukebox which is a nice, authentic touch. Bright colours and flashes of neon are invitingly retro, and the swirling stools, high counter and bottles of ketchup and mustard emphasise that it’s more about fun than fine dining.

The Atmosphere
Chuck Berry and Elvis blast from the stereo along with a host of other vintage rockers and Motown girl groups, but luckily the seats are close together enough so that conversation isn’t a problem – for couples, anyway, since groups of more than two could prove a bit awkward unless you manage to snag one of the two tables. Service is fantastic, whip-crackingly quick and always smiling – staff are genuinely friendly, from the cheerful waitress right down to the doorman who keeps the queues organised.

Which is, unfortunately, Eds only problem – the venue is simply too popular, especially on a Friday night, to seat everyone who wants to eat, and the queues build up fast. Whilst the servers will never once hurry you off your stool, the eyes on your back as you eat your burger mean that you’ll try to choke it down as fast as possible to give someone else a chance at dinner. Best to stick to less popular times if you want to eat without a line-up of hungry Londoners looking over your shoulder.

The Food
Burgers, burgers and more burgers – what else would you expect for an American style restaurant firmly from the ‘50s? For those that don’t like burgers, this probably isn’t the best place for you, but there are a couple of veggie friendly options and even hot dogs, should the non-burger mood strike you. For something a bit different, you can upgrade any of their burgers to buffalo meat (much leaner than regular beef) for just £1.50.

One of their best value options is the Best of Eds combo, which offers a burger, fries, onion rings and coleslaw for about £8. Unlike many fast food restaurants, Eds ask you how you’d like your burger cooked, which is always a good sign, and it comes out perfectly, which is even better. The burger is massive, with a big floury bun, and the accompaniments are amply portioned too, with a big pile of crisp fries and crunchy onion rings. The coleslaw is more than just an afterthought, like it is with most burger places – it tastes fresh and sharp, a good alternative to the meat eating frenzy. An amusingly named Big Bubba combo is the same as the Best of Eds, with the extra addition of bacon and cheese.

Sides include big bowls of chilli fries, wet fries (fries with gravy), and fries covered with cheese. Desserts are pure Americana – the gooey, warm pecan pie could come straight from a South Carolina diner.

The Drink
If you don’t fancy a slice of pie, Eds famous milkshakes more than make up for a pudding. They’re proper American ice cream milkshakes, not the watery versions that you usually find, made with just plain milk. The chocolate one is fantastic, thick, creamy and indulgent, and there are also alcoholic choices available if you want something a bit more grown-up. Try the Baileys and Oreo milkshake, with big chunks of the cookie mixed through.

The Last Word
Eds Easy Diner is a great spot for a late night burger. Although the staff are much more welcoming than at your typical fast food joint, be prepared to eat and run so the next lot of burger junkies can get their fix.

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