As a family, we have our go-to favourites when it comes to eating out. And there are not many surprises because we’re talking Wagamama, Five Guys and Nando’s.
They win as their appeal perfectly straddles the generations, with something for all tastes always available.
But we’re always on the lookout for new places. And after a tense look around Cribbs sofa shopping it was to Mollie’s we headed. We’d been to the OG Mollie’s near Oxford a few years ago and loved it, so were keen to see what the latest outpost had to offer.
We visited on a Sunday and found the room packed with families getting a US-style alternative to a Sunday lunch. Decked out in American diner style, the room is all open kitchen, chequerboard floor and soft wood. Easy on the eye and certainly conjures the traditional US diner.
After a top tip from a friend, we started with the pepperoni fried olives. It sounds like nothing special but my, these mouthfuls packed a punch and immediately got me planning how I could replicate at home.
I went for the New Yorker, two burgers with chimichurri mayo, pickles relish and a side serving of steak sauce to dip the chip in. This proved a mouthful, but a delicious one and the sauce on the side was spot on for dredging the burger through.
My wife had the plant burger, a patty with vegan cheese, burger sauce mayo and more. An expert on the meat-free options available, this one got a resounding thumbs up. Texture can often be the issue with meat alternative, but not in this case.
My 11-year-old went for the chicken bun – buttermilk fried chicken, jalapeno mayo and pickles – calling it ‘sensational’. The chilli mayo was a particular hit. He also had a massive drink.
My 13-year-old daughter had the flat-iron chicken – a vast piece of meat with smoky chipotle and slaw. She loved it but struggled to polish it off. Obviously, it was my duty as a father to step in here. It was juicy with just the right amount of heat. The surprise hit was the slaw, so often boring and bland, but hear full of crunch and flavour.
The chips options were skinny or crinkle-cut – we had both. The winners being the crinkle-cut, with just the right crunch to pillowy softness ratio.
The atmosphere was lively with chat echoing round the noisy room and a constant stream of people arriving. It might feel a bit tucked away but it’s certainly not keeping the fans away.
We were too full for pudding but for those with bigger stomachs than us, the options include a choc-chip cookie, knickerbocker glory, cherry and apple pie and more.
After lunch we waddled back over to Cribbs for a look around the shops before heading home. We thought we’d love Mollie’s and it didn’t disappoint. Looks like it’s another to add to the family faves list!