Taste of America at new Basildon diner (From Southend Standard)
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Taste of America at new Basildon diner
8:00am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Echo News By Gina Marden
Taste of America at new Basildon diner
IF you have ever fancied a peanut butter or meat ball burger then there is a new place in town where you can grab one!
Businessman Paul Croucher, 59, from Rawreth, has spent three months revamping the former Cafe Manhattan on the A127 and renamed the venue The Roadhouse Diner and brought in new American themed menu.
The eaterie, on the corner of Hovefields Avenue, which has been popular with bikers for years has now seen lots more families coming through the door which has pleased the new owners.
Paul is running the venture with his partner Sandi Cooper and they used to be customers at the venue years before they decided to enter the restaurant business themselves.
He said: “We have spent about £10,000 revamping the interior of the restaurant and I am really pleased to say things are going really well.
“We have put in a new milkshake bar which has proved very popular with the children and someone even commented on the internet that they were the best milkshakes this side of the Atlantic!
“The new menu has been a real hit and the whole American theme is working out great, we now have over 30 burgers on the menu and customers are loving it.
“We have got some quirky dishes including peanut butter burgers which are lovely and a meat ball burger, they are all 8oz and so will be a bit of a challenge for anyone.”
The venue came with a bit of a reputation because a former owner when it was called Porkies was jailed for drugs offences a few years ago.
Paul explained although it did put him off a bit it wasn’t enough to stop him wanting to invest in the venue.
He said: “It did have a bit of a bad reputation and is known in the area but we have not had any trouble and are having a great time running the business. It didn’t faze me opening the in recession and we are going from strength to strength.”
Paul is now organising a Man v Food challenge to boost the eaterie’s profile and show off some of the new dishes on the menu.
The challenge is taking place on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 and challenge meals are £30 and if the contestant can eat all the food they will get it for free and their name will be put up on the wall.
Each person taking part in the challenge will be given 45 minutes to conquer one of three dishes- the Brooklyn Bridge Burger Challenge, the Rocky Mountain Ribs Challenge or the Manhattan Meatball Challenge.
If you would like to book to reserve your place call the restaurant on 01268 728 809.
Comments(28)
waveydavey
says...
9:44am Thu 3 Jan 13
J_blond
says...
10:40am Thu 3 Jan 13
So how many new owners has this 'diner' now had? From being the 127 Diner, to Porkies, was it called the Manhatten? Don't remember that but if so that makes it four, since Little Chef closed down!
The problem is - as Steve H puts it, (although without the libel) the place is a transport cafe, or biker cafe. When it was the 127 Diner it was advertised a place to meet for bikers, and needs to shake off that image. Being by the side of a major road, it's more a place you need to visit, rather than want to. That's the problem they need to overturn. Still, I hope the place now takes card payments!
Russ13
says...
10:41am Thu 3 Jan 13
Carnabackable wrote:A fewof years back I visited it a couple of times......
Russ13 wrote:Apart from being correct, what part of hole don't you understandSteve H wrote: This place is an utter sh!thole, a glorified transport cafe, only good for hairy arsed lorry drivers or biker meets.Would you like to qualify you libelous comments with some facts about the last time you visited it, when this was and exactly what was wrong with it?
I found it to be clean, the staff were great and the food was lovely.
There was a large group of us (15-20 people) and we all had the same experience there.
So either one of two things has happened..... The place has gone rapidly downhill since or Steve H is talking out of his "hole"
Either way, someone is trying to make a going concern of the place in a tough economic climate, unless the accusations of it being a "hole" can be substantiated then it's a little unfair.
Eric Whim
says...
10:47am Thu 3 Jan 13
J_blond wrote:It also fairly recently known as the 8 Ball Diner
Bloody hell my 7 year old daughter writes better than this! And, and, and, and... ever heard of a comma or full stop?
So how many new owners has this 'diner' now had? From being the 127 Diner, to Porkies, was it called the Manhatten? Don't remember that but if so that makes it four, since Little Chef closed down!
The problem is - as Steve H puts it, (although without the libel) the place is a transport cafe, or biker cafe. When it was the 127 Diner it was advertised a place to meet for bikers, and needs to shake off that image. Being by the side of a major road, it's more a place you need to visit, rather than want to. That's the problem they need to overturn. Still, I hope the place now takes card payments!
Max 269
says...
10:54am Thu 3 Jan 13
Carnabackable
says...
10:58am Thu 3 Jan 13
Eric Whim wrote:That wasn't even on this road......
J_blond wrote:It also fairly recently known as the 8 Ball Diner
Bloody hell my 7 year old daughter writes better than this! And, and, and, and... ever heard of a comma or full stop?
So how many new owners has this 'diner' now had? From being the 127 Diner, to Porkies, was it called the Manhatten? Don't remember that but if so that makes it four, since Little Chef closed down!
The problem is - as Steve H puts it, (although without the libel) the place is a transport cafe, or biker cafe. When it was the 127 Diner it was advertised a place to meet for bikers, and needs to shake off that image. Being by the side of a major road, it's more a place you need to visit, rather than want to. That's the problem they need to overturn. Still, I hope the place now takes card payments!
Carnabackable
says...
11:01am Thu 3 Jan 13
Eric Whim
says...
11:06am Thu 3 Jan 13
Max 269 wrote:that one closed too then did it?
8 Ball Diner was on the A12 this has closed.
Reading reports about the one that used to be on the A127 on several car enthusiast message boards it seems the one on the A127 wasn't particularly popular thanks to both the small car park capacity and the quality of the nosh
JessyJar
says...
1:02pm Thu 3 Jan 13
waveydavey wrote:it'll make the already sexy slim locals look even better..... oh wait.
Huge American style burgers will be a big hit in Basildon.
Max 269
says...
1:26pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Good luck to the new chap. Is the tank in the carpark to keep the bikers out
Exiledwasp
says...
4:06pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Alan Jacobs
says...
5:46pm Thu 3 Jan 13
.......
LibbyJ
says...
6:49pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Steve H
says...
7:59pm Thu 3 Jan 13
I don't see how this can be a family restaurant though, I am well aware of it's past and it's location, it would be just like going to a Motorway service station for a family meal!
I wish the new owners well, good luck to them.
Rich"Carol
says...
10:07am Fri 4 Jan 13
Rich"Carol
says...
10:08am Fri 4 Jan 13
Rich"Carol wrote:Sorry Maine is spelt like this, apologies
As you all know one of my daughters lives in Main and the other in California and we have been to many US states and Ive never seen food like this. What one of the 50 states serves this food ?
Jose El Mezclador
says...
1:47pm Fri 4 Jan 13
No wonder half the population are going around on wheels
hesmrknowitall
says...
2:13pm Fri 4 Jan 13
If its not your cup of tea, then don't go there, simple.
In this climate I take my hat off to anyone who's willing to put their money where their mouth is, good luck to the chap and perhaps those making comment on the state of the place/food should at least sample it themselves before critising behind the wall of their computer screen.
I wish the guy luck
Letmetryagain
says...
5:06pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Carnabackable wrote:You can say that again. That looks like an obesity special !!
Looks healthy, hope there's a Defibrillator on site........
Letmetryagain
says...
5:11pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Don't they do proper food ?
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
7:55pm Fri 4 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
7:57pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Rich"Carol wrote:You never seen fries and burgers in the US..??,watch diners drive'ins and dives..or man V food
As you all know one of my daughters lives in Main and the other in California and we have been to many US states and Ive never seen food like this. What one of the 50 states serves this food ?
Carnabackable
says...
11:50pm Fri 4 Jan 13
hesmrknowitall wrote:He's gonna need more than just luck.
What a miserable bunch of arseholes you lot are. What would you prefer, another empty eyesore on the side of the road, ready for someone to flytip in the car park?
If its not your cup of tea, then don't go there, simple.
In this climate I take my hat off to anyone who's willing to put their money where their mouth is, good luck to the chap and perhaps those making comment on the state of the place/food should at least sample it themselves before critising behind the wall of their computer screen.
I wish the guy luck
hesmrknowitall
says...
12:04pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Carnabackable wrote:Especially with slanderous, spiteful shytes like yourself ;)
hesmrknowitall wrote:He's gonna need more than just luck.
What a miserable bunch of arseholes you lot are. What would you prefer, another empty eyesore on the side of the road, ready for someone to flytip in the car park?
If its not your cup of tea, then don't go there, simple.
In this climate I take my hat off to anyone who's willing to put their money where their mouth is, good luck to the chap and perhaps those making comment on the state of the place/food should at least sample it themselves before critising behind the wall of their computer screen.
I wish the guy luck
Carnabackable
says...
11:42pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Carnabackable
says...
11:46pm Mon 7 Jan 13
hesmrknowitall wrote:Hope you got shares in this, as your gonna regret your investment, that food shown isn't fit for human consumption, your defence seems as if your the owner...
Carnabackable wrote:Especially with slanderous, spiteful shytes like yourself ;)
hesmrknowitall wrote:He's gonna need more than just luck.
What a miserable bunch of arseholes you lot are. What would you prefer, another empty eyesore on the side of the road, ready for someone to flytip in the car park?
If its not your cup of tea, then don't go there, simple.
In this climate I take my hat off to anyone who's willing to put their money where their mouth is, good luck to the chap and perhaps those making comment on the state of the place/food should at least sample it themselves before critising behind the wall of their computer screen.
I wish the guy luck
hesmrknowitall
says...
11:08am Tue 8 Jan 13
I just find it funny that you feel the need to comment on food simply by looking at a picture! For gawds sake the guy is in the car par having a picture taken so its hardly going to be fresh on the plate.
My point was to merely back someone who is trying to make an honest living, whereas the majority on here seem hell bent on just making negative comments just for the sake of it.
Why not go there and sample the food and do a proper review for the benefit of the community, as you seem to eager to give your view on everything
Carnabackable says...
8:04am Thu 3 Jan 13