With its charming neon facade and a whole host of deep fried comfort food on offer, the Fifties-style Eds Easy Diner is proving to be the ultimate mood improver.

The Venue
Situated on the ground floor of the Trocadero centre, Eds Easy Diner is a welcome blast from the past. Its neon beacon shines smugly next to the now-defunct Planet Hollywood and its pink and blue glow entices a steady stream of folk inside. The chrome trimmings are as shiny as a Corvette’s rear bumper and the red leatherette seating and Formica table-tops as familiar as the Fonz himself. The small dining area is dominated by a large open kitchen where Fifties-style grill chefs knock out plates of fried food and rolling hotdogs to amused onlookers, all of whom sit salivating around the original Fifties counter. Retro curiosities are scattered around the room from an old-fashioned soda-machine to the chrome-lipped Seeburg speakers which adorn the pale walls.

The Atmosphere
Eds Easy Diner is proving to be one of life’s constants and it hasn’t changed one iota since it opened 25 years ago. The staff are friendly, efficient and all wearing the all-American smile which you can’t help but fall for.

Eds' clientele is seemingly generational. It’s the perfect place for young teens on a first date, shyly sharing a bowl of cheesy fries and a two-strawed milkshake. It’s a stop gap for twentysomethings in for a quick easy burger, and it's fun, yet not naff, enough to attract young families with kids who all love the table-top jukeboxes that play cheesy retro bop.

The Food
There are a couple of recent additions to the menu this year. The new value combo, Best of Eds, is proving to be a real hit in these wallet-squeezing times. No less than a platter of Eds' finest arrives and sates every deep-fried whim. Starting at £7.95 you can have an original burger with a griddled 100 percent prime cut patty, proper American mustard and salad. Alongside it sits a pile of Eds crispiest fries, a pot of coleslaw plus a hoopla of fried onion rings. It’s a right royal feast and a bargain at that.

There are other Best of Eds combos available including the Big Bubba (the Original with American cheese and crispy bacon) and Eds Rarebit with egg and cheese (both at £8.95). The kids can try a smaller version for £4.35, including a burger or hotdog, fries and a glass of fizzy pop. These big burgers will be a feast for any hungry kid.

There’s a gesture of salads on the menu with a Caesar salad and honey mustard chicken version, however here it’s all about the fried stuff. A great selection of fries are on offer including wet fries (chips and gravy), cheesy fries, chilli fries (with chilli con carne slopped on top) and the ultimate in fried heavenliness, Atomic Fries. These fat chips come with an abundance of sauces to dip including chilli, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and red salsa. It’s fabulously piggy for one but if pushed it’s a good sharer.

For dessert, go the whole hog and try the all-American waffle (£4.15). Fresh from the waffle iron, this plate-sized crispy batter comes topped with ice cream, cream and a pot of warm maple syrup to fling all over it. Even if you think you can’t fit it in, it’s so light and tasty before you know it you’ve syrup dripping from your nose from licking the plate clean.

The Drink
Eds is famous for its fabulous shakes. A chilled steel shaker arrives via the Fifties afloat with a creamy ice cream shake. The strawberry is good but the Oreo cookie is better. This creamy, biscuit-flavoured milkshake has a chocolatey aftertaste, heaven through a straw. For grown ups there’s a selection of bottled beers (from £3.25) including Bud and a light Corona both of which work well with the meaty burgers. The wine list consists of one red and one white, both Californian and both a bargain at £9.95 a bottle. The filter coffee includes free refills in the proper essence of an American diner.

The Last Word
For a true taste of Fifties America rock on down to Eds Easy Diner. Its fun retro decor, tasty fried food and easy-going atmosphere makes for a real treat for friends, families and first dates.

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