Lunch review at 1950s American diner Big Moe’s in Ilford

After an exhausting but enthralling morning of catching pickpockets with undercover police in Ilford town centre, I needed some lunch.

I fancied something hearty and filling but didn’t want to travel far – and I soon found Big Moe’s Diner.

I stepped inside and a smile shot across my face immediately – it was like I had walked into a new world.

The red and white leather seats, the old school silver bar, the neon signs everywhere – I couldn’t believe I was still in London.

I couldn’t believe I was in in London (Image: Gianni Cirillo) I was shown to my seat, a booth all to myself, and handed a menu which listed exactly what I was expecting to find – burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, BBQ meats and more.

I deliberated for a while before embracing the all-American occasion and settled for a starter of BBQ chicken wings with a ranch dip and a classic American cheeseburger with fries for my main course.

I opted for a coke as a drink which came out swiftly and ice cold – a perfect refreshment.

As I waited for my wings to arrive, I was able to take in my surroundings properly.

The Chevrolet designed booth reminded me of Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Pulp Fiction (Image: Gianni Cirillo) The interior was so bright and colourful – the designer had cut no corners.

What really caught my eye was the booth in front of me in the shape of a glistening red and white Chevrolet – it looked like something straight out of Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Pulp Fiction.

I also noticed the ongoing playlist packed full of quintessential American tunes from Elvis Presley to Bill Haley to Chuck Berry.

My chicken wings arrived and they were delicious and cooked perfectly. 

The BBQ sauce coating was tangy and sweet without tasting artificial and the cool ranch dip was a perfect off-set for the sweetness of the BBQ.

Often wings can end up rubbery and chewy but these were hot to the touch and tender whilst being cooked through – just as they should be!

The BBQ sauce on the chicken wings was tangy and sweet (Image: Gianni Cirillo) The short interval between starter and main allowed me to continue scanning my fascinating surroundings.

Everywhere I looked, something interesting appeared like a retro red pool table or a vibrant ‘Welcome to the 50s’ sign on the back wall.

As I had hoped, my classic American cheeseburger was faultless.

Although it was nothing revolutionary and potentially not even the best burger I’ve ever had, it delivered on each level and left me highly satisfied.

The burger patty was, for me, the perfect thickness – not quite a smash burger but not a huge chunk of mince either.

The cheeseburger was faultless (Image: Gianni Cirillo) The cheese was also, in my opinion, exactly how it should be on a burger – ‘classic American’ – and the lettuce, tomato and pickle were all fresh and packed a nice crunch.

The fries were equally faultless – crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and put great use to the leftover ranch I had from my starter.

As enticing as the “creamy and thick” milkshakes sounded, I simply couldn’t fit in any more.

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch at Big Moe’s and honestly forgot I was in Ilford at all.

I’d recommend the spot to anyone who’s looking for a new and unique dining experience and certainly to any classic American film fans.