American restaurant in UK

I second the desire for a really good brunch--it really is what I miss the most.  English breakfast is fantastic, but my California roots make me yearn for it.  (I ended up solving the Mexican problem myself and I just started a business making Mexican cheese).   Oh, and I would break laws to get my mitts on a good cheesesteak sandwich!!  LOL!!   

In London at least, there has been a hamburger explosion as well as an increase in BBQ.   There have been some attempts at "the diner" but nothing that seems to meet the mark.  I too think it would be cool to have an approach of rotating regional specialities.

All the posts remind me just how big the USA is and just how our food loves are so influenced by our immigrant backgrounds and regional specialities!  Really kind of wonderful!

what's that?

American chop suey is more Italian than Chinese. Macaroni mixed with tomato soup and a can of stewed tomatoes, chopped up onions, green peppers and celery sauteed with hamburger all mooshed up together. My mother added a spoon full of relish. Even better warmed up the next day 

I second the desire for a really good brunch--it really is what I miss the most.  English breakfast is fantastic, but my California roots make me yearn for it.

In London at least, there has been a hamburger explosion as well as an increase in BBQ.   There have been some attempts at "the diner" but nothing that seems to meet the mark.

If you are in London, The Breakfast Club has great brunch. And I really like Bodean's BBQ - apparently it is owned by Americans! 

American chop suey is more Italian than Chinese. Macaroni mixed with tomato soup and a can of stewed tomatoes, chopped up onions, green peppers and celery sauteed with hamburger all mooshed up together. My mother added a spoon full of relish. Even better warmed up the next day 

Thanks for the description.
Sounds awful to me, though!  Different strokes, eh?!  (i hate cooked tomatoes, cooked celery and green peppers.)

Not sure the type of restaurant you are planning, but I wish you the very best of luck and success.  

My mom cooked mostly Italian food but for American food what I miss the most (or what I don't think the UK gets 'quite right') are all kinds of fantastic salads, cheesesteaks, hoagies (can you tell where I'm from?), pumpkin pie, pumpkin ravioli (don't know if that is American ), collard greens, veggie-rific anything (as I just don't see a big variety on menus here), cornbread, baby spareribs, club sandwiches, chili, apple pie, crabcakes, GOOD baked beans, turkey potpie, coleslaw, potato salad, real baked macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, bagel sandwiches, mmmm.... I'm hungry!

I've been craving a good steak and cheese lately or a steak bomb! I love me some baked macaroni and cheese and pasta salad.

BostonDiner, I'm with you on the American Chop Suey. I also agree with those who say they would like a good brunch.

I would also like to add an italian sub to the mix. I know they have them at Subway here, but (sorry to those who like it) I think Subway is gross and they make it with different meats. On the South Shore of Massachusetts I always had it like this:

Sweet capicola
Salami
Mortadella
Provolone
Diced pickles and onion
Lettuce
Oregano
Olive oil
*Some people ordered it with tomatoes and "hots." I'm not sure what the "hots" were comprised of though.

My mouth is watering. 

I'd have killed a man for decent fried chicken and some collards when I was in Scotland.

I'd also third brunch. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing!

Also, I've never in my life heard of American chop suey! Is it a New England thing?

Also, I've never in my life heard of American chop suey! Is it a New England thing?

Must be cause I grew up eating it too (one of my Dad's favorites in fact)

Iced tea, milkshakes, coffee with free refills, etc.

yes

American chop suey is more Italian than Chinese. Macaroni mixed with tomato soup and a can of stewed tomatoes, chopped up onions, green peppers and celery sauteed with hamburger all mooshed up together. My mother added a spoon full of relish. Even better warmed up the next day 

We ate that all the time and I'm from PA, so it's not a New England thing. I would never in one million years order that if I saw it in a restaurant. I think it was my least favorite thing that my mom would make for us. It's so boring!

We ate that all the time and I'm from PA, so it's not a New England thing. I would never in one million years order that if I saw it in a restaurant. I think it was my least favorite thing that my mom would make for us. It's so boring!

It was one of my mother's least boring meals! She thought Chef Boy-ar-dee was really an adventure! (Sorry Ma  )

I would vote for strawberry shortcake -- made with biscuit and not cake please. And lemonade made from lemons and not the fizzy pop.

Chicken fingers - with buffalo wing flavors and blue cheese dressing for dipping
Mexican - like chicken fajitas & nachos
Mac & Cheese, but it has to be really nice

I've been craving a good steak and cheese lately or a steak bomb! I love me some baked macaroni and cheese and pasta salad.

BostonDiner, I'm with you on the American Chop Suey. I also agree with those who say they would like a good brunch.

I would also like to add an italian sub to the mix. I know they have them at Subway here, but (sorry to those who like it) I think Subway is gross and they make it with different meats. On the South Shore of Massachusetts I always had it like this:

Sweet capicola
Salami
Mortadella
Provolone
Diced pickles and onion
Lettuce
Oregano
Olive oil
*Some people ordered it with tomatoes and "hots." I'm not sure what the "hots" were comprised of though.

My mouth is watering. 

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes and
Yes.

I order my Italian hoagie exactly the same way, except I ask for extra pickles.
"Hots" are hot peppers, I believe.

Must be cause I grew up eating it too (one of my Dad's favorites in fact)

Yep i think it is too cos I'm born n bred Masshole here.. lived there all my live till I come to Scotland in 99 ...

I would add regional chili to that. Iced tea, milkshakes, coffee with free refills, etc.

It might go without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway 

By chilli, we mean the concoction that is made with chilli puree, not tinned tomatoes.

And by milkshakes, we mean blended and just-barely-pourable ice cream. 

Also, I've never in my life heard of American chop suey! Is it a New England thing?

They served this for school lunches in my school in Mass, though from my recollection it was just bolognese with elbow macaroni (probably using the day before's leftover bolognese sauce). Not a vegetable in sight if you don't count the sauce. And man, was it salty.

A good chopped salad wouldn't go amiss. And if it's an American restaurant, you can't not put a few fancy burgers on the menu. Can I recommend using Hawaiian sweet buns? Yum!

Re brunch - it's fairly prolific now in London (another recommendation: Kentish Canteen!). But if you are going to do it, put a short stack of pancakes in the menu. What I wouldn't do to have an american style pancake every once in a while. And a good, old fashioned American breakfast: 2 eggs any style, (streaky) bacon, toast and home fries. Oh, and a bloody mary bar.