Bell's Diner

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £13.50 (lunch)
   £13.50 (evening meal)
• House wine: £9.95 per bottle

• Hitlisted
• High point: Mushrooms on toast - it shouldn't work, but it does
• Low point: Turn down that hot air blower!
• Food served: Sun-Fri 6-10.15pm; Sat noon-10.15pm
• Open since: 1972
• Also offers: Childrens portions, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

A low curtain shields the interior of this high-ceilinged, low-lit room from the eyes of passers-by. Inside, however, a slightly raised timber floor allows diners to look into the street. It's a clever touch that makes guests feel slightly superior to those schlepping along the Stockbridge pavements - a feeling that's also engendered by responsive, unintrusive service and quality ingredients. The menu is simple, with only side salads and an omelette breaking the grip of burgers and steaks for main course. All entrées come with salad and French fries. Mustard, pepper, garlic and Roquefort toppings are available with the chicken fillet burger, beef burger, nut burger or a deliciously tender, well-hung, char-grilled steak (all beef is sourced locally). In addition, you can have steak in Provençal sauce, or add a wedge of lemon to a pepper steak. Burgers also include bacon, egg and hard cheese permutations. While the classic wooden furniture says 'New Town', it's the milkshakes, condiments and desserts that bring home the New York feel. Green pepper, tomato and sweetcorn relishes, home-made coleslaw and blue cheese dressing can accompany dishes, and pancakes, pecan pie and ice-cream sundaes are there for those who remain unsated.