Oowee Diner – takeaway review

While the rest of Picton Street sleeps on a cold Tuesday night, there’s one place that remains a hive of activity.

Although small, Oowee Diner is bustling with hungry customers. A line of people waiting anxiously for their takeaway burgers and fries huddle by the door in an attempt to keep warm.

A couple, lucky enough to have bagged themselves two of the few seats that line the diner’s windows, tuck into their beautifully messy burgers. All inhibitions gone, the pair are enjoying the feast too much to care about the baconnaise that is smeared all over their faces. 

Behind the counter, chefs Charlie Watson and Verity Foss work busily in their tiny kitchen which leaves little space to manoeuvre.

Instead of numbered tickets, Charlie and Verity call out customers’ names when their food is ready, giving a warm, personal edge to the diner. 

The two, who live next door, are the original founders of Oowee. It was Charlie who initially came up with the idea because of his love for food.

“I didn’t have experience before this, I just loved it,” Charlie tells me once the queue has died down.

“Me and my friends would go out for dinner almost every night so I thought I’d make something out of it.”

Before the Oowee Diner, he created the mouthwatering Bristol Food Porn Instagram account, while Verity had set up the Gourmet Sandwich Club, so this was the next step in their culinary journeys.  

In keeping with its name, which was inspired by Snoop Dogg, the food at Oowee is typically American. Mainly serving burgers, dirty fries and grilled sandwiches, it isn’t the place for salad-loving types.

All of the burgers are layered with cheese and even the most simple burger, The Single (£5) is topped with cheese pickles, mustard and Oowee relish.

I opt for The Saucy Bird burger (£6.50) and on Verity’s recommendation, the Shrimp dirty fries (£7). 

The burger is amazingly succulent. They use thighs instead of breasts here so the chicken doesn’t dry out. Flavours of American Swiss cheese, onion and baconnaise work perfectly together and the whole thing makes for a greasy treat.

I’m sceptical about the shrimp fries when they arrive. French fries covered with cheese are topped with fried shrimp, Louisiana remoulade and avocado sour cream. But the combination tastes a lot better than expected.

The avocado sour cream balances out the tangy Louisiana remoulade, although it does make the shrimp slightly soggy rather than crisp. 

As I leave, more customers squeeze through the door. It’s evident that the staff will be busy into the night, but this doesn’t seem to phase them at this gem that is hidden no more.

Oowee Diner, 54a Picton Street, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5QA
www.facebook.com/ooweepuddings

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