American Restaurants in the UK??

Someone now needs to tell me about Cincy Chili please...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_chili

It's definitely an acquired taste. I grew up in Cleveland and therefore exposed to lots of Ohio 'stuff" but I never got on board with Cincy style chili. It wasn't the style it was served in but rather the chili itself that I've never enjoyed. I like to serve Texas-style chili over spaghetti with lots of cheese, in fact. (And I know all the Texans are now fainting in horror over that revelation... )

I'm Texan and I promise I won't faint. I love Texas chili over rice and topped with cheese. The rice and cheese help cut the heat.

Lol, I actually don't mind chain restaurants - but that being said, fine dining in my hometown was Red Lobster and all it's fancy courses I guess not a whole lot of restaurant entrepreneurs want to brave 6+ months of hellish cold and snow!  We're a meat and potatoes kinda place anyway.

My British husband also loves chains - he's a fan of the portion sizes!  He's a skinny guy, but he likes to have hot, tasty food and a lot of it!

I agree that Italian restaurants in the UK are far superior to the ones where I've been in the States, and the pizza and Carbonara I've had here is amazing.  However, my hubby and I have found the quality of restaurants varies so wildly that you have to either be adventurous (which, sadly, I'm not when it comes to food) or have a good friend's recommendation to test drive it.  Especially pubs.  At home, people went to the good places to eat and didn't eat at the others, so they went out of business!  Only my experiences, though...



ETA: Apparently there is an "American Style" 50s diner near Swadlincote, Derbyshire.  Never been, but here you go:

http://www.the50samericandiner.bravehost.com/ [nofollow]



ETA: Wow, just actually LOOKED at the site - it's super cheesy!!  Love it!

I knew I was staying away from this thread for a reason!  All this talk of diners!  I was telling my BF the other night about how much I missed the diners in New Jersey.  You can't go anywhere in NJ without coming across about 5000 diners.

What I wouldn't do for a stack of pancakes with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon.  I also miss bagel shops and delis where I can get a real sub or an egg and cheese on an everything bagel. 

Now I think I'm going to have to make one tomorrow morning! 

Give me Wawa! A real Sub <faint> that would be AWESOME! Hard roll with butter yummm

My Favorite College Jersey diner thing was fries and gravy late nights...

There used to be a dunkin donuts in piccadilly circus. I was there the other day and the place has been renamed something like "doughnut Co". Does anyone know if this place is still like it used to be?

Give me Wawa! A real Sub <faint> that would be AWESOME! Hard roll with butter yummm

My Favorite College Jersey diner thing was fries and gravy late nights...

I worked in New Jersey for a few months and I seem to remember Wawa had really good coffee. 

There used to be a dunkin donuts in piccadilly circus. I was there the other day and the place has been renamed something like "doughnut Co". Does anyone know if this place is still like it used to be?

Yeah, it's definitely faux Dunk.  I haven't had the heart to try it, because I'm sure to be disappointed.

ETA: Apparently there is an "American Style" 50s diner near Swadlincote, Derbyshire.  Never been, but here you go:

http://www.the50samericandiner.bravehost.com/

ETA: Wow, just actually LOOKED at the site - it's super cheesy!!  Love it!

The OK Diner between Derby & Lichfield on the A38 is WAAAYYY better (and easier to get to as well).

Give me Wawa! A real Sub <faint> that would be AWESOME! Hard roll with butter yummm

My Favorite College Jersey diner thing was fries and gravy late nights...

"Sub"? Surely you mean "Hoagie"?

"Sub"? Surely you mean "Hoagie"?

This all depends on what part of NJ we're talking about.  I think that the farther south/closer to Philly you go, the more you hear "hoagie" whereas the farther north/the closer to NYC you get the more you hear "sub".  Every once in a while you'll hear "hero" as well.  And don't get me started on Connecticut and Rhode Island with their "grinders"! 

Also, not only do I miss Wawa, I also miss QuikChek.  Both have great coffee and sandwiches for convenience stores!

Shrimp po boy, gumbo and jambalaya at Mother's in New Orleans....

This all depends on what part of NJ we're talking about.  I think that the farther south/closer to Philly you go, the more you hear "hoagie" whereas the farther north/the closer to NYC you get the more you hear "sub".  Every once in a while you'll hear "hero" as well.  And don't get me started on Connecticut and Rhode Island with their "grinders"! 

Ah the simpleness of California...they're just sandwiches there 

Cuban....sweet lord help me...

I would kill for a muffaletta.