Often with American diner style restaurants, you kind of feel like once you’ve visited one, you’ve kind of visited them all. It’s a rarity to find one that offers something a little different, especially if it’s a chain. However, luckily – this kind of place does exist – and it’s called Coast to Coast. A popular choice for their vast and varied menu, we headed there before watching Michael McIntyre (which was AMAZING, in case you were wondering) – since their Wembley branch was just a short stroll away. I wasn’t expecting to love the food as much as I did, but right from the word go (and after the introduction of these incredible cocktails), I was impressed.
The decor of the restaurant is very understated, with a mix of wood panels, glass and foliage. The branch was large but the booths which filled the venue made each table feel intimate and individual. The service was impeccable throughout and assisted dairy-free (fussy) me through my options.
As I said before, the menu itself is very varied – I may have counted about ten pages (brimmed with tempting options), meaning that every taste, dietary requirement and preference is well and truly catered for. It’s often claimed that having too much choice can be a bad thing, however as lovers of food (and rather hungry, having not eaten all day), the selection was amazing. So much so, we pretty much went for everything.
Starter wise, we chose the filled potato skins which temptingly oozed their toppings and crisped up at the edges – followed by the salted pretzels and garlic dipping sauce. I couldn’t eat either, however I was saving myself for the main feast.
My choice was probably the best meal I’ve had in a very long time, simple – but incredibly well done – grilled and slightly spiced chicken and pepper skewers, sitting atop of a mountain of sweet potato fries. If I had to describe my perfect meal – this would certainly be it. Sweet potato fries can be a bit samey (and sometimes dry) but these were crispy, with a soft centre and just the right (hint) of salt.
In addition to my platter, a number of other dishes started filling up the table – including a deep pan pizza (a Chicago special apparently – and one which looked incredible) and a large steak. (*insert heart eye emoji).
Having made the fatal mistake of ordering far too much food (I always do this when hungry – my eyes are bigger than my stomach), we couldn’t quite fit in a dessert – however the offerings (when we return) looked very tempting indeed.
If you’re in the market for some amazing American food, in a relaxed setting – I’d definitely recommend finding your nearest Coast to Coast. Nothing felt greasy or mass produced (because it wasn’t) and everything was really affordable, yet great quality. I don’t often rave about chains – but this one is worth shouting about.
Have you ever visited Coast to Coast before? What did you think of the food?
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