We've been hearing for a while that Jamie Oliver was going to be launching a hot dog diner and it's finally arrived out of nowhere. Jamie Oliver's Diner has just opened its doors at Piccadilly Circus.
Jamie says they'll be "making and smoking our very own hot dogs, to dry-aging steaks and serving amazing ketchups, BBQ sauce, mustards and house pickles". The Exec Chef is Arthur Potts Dawson, who had set up Acorn House and Water House (and was previously at River Cafe, Petersham and Fifteen) - so there's an emphasis on serving British, sustainable produce. They'll also have a “Piccadilly” piccalilli, made exclusively by Rubies in the Rubble, a small charity-run project that only uses ingredients thrown out by Covent Garden market.
The Diner will serve "classic dishes, grilled chicken and steaks, main salads, burgers, sides, savoury waffles and desserts". Daily fish specials are also promised. Since the plan for the diner was revealed, Jamie did come under some criticism from a health point of view, but they're at pains to point out that 30% of the menu (apart from desserts) will be healthy options - and every burger and dog will come with a salad. As for the dogs themselves, Jamie says "We’ll be making all our own pork and beef dogs ourselves and then smoking them over oak, buddying them up with a soft whole-wheat and flour bun. Every single dog will come with a complimentary 10-veg shredded rainbow slaw on the side and there’ll be a range of veggie dogs coming up too.”
Drinks wise, there will be local craft beers, milkshakes (including frozen yoghurt milkshakes) and home made cordials too.
The restaurant is a long-term pop-up, probably lasting around two years and everything is constructed from recycled furniture as a result. There's a specific focus on keeping kids entertained, from a Top Trumps menu teaching them about the menu's provenance to a dinosaur theme to the decor, courtesy of artist Jay Jay Burridge.
Jamie Oliver's Diner is open now at Piccadilly Circus - 19-23 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7HA
