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Mollie's Motel and Diner review: A Happy Days vibe with Soho House style and elegance

As part of our Eat This series, Isobel Dickinson paid a visit to Mollie's Motel and Diner, on the A420, near Buckland, Oxfordshire. She was mightily impressed with the uber-cool reimagining of the classic roadside cafe

[Mollie's Motel and Diner is a roadside cafe done the Soho House way]

Mollie's Motel and Diner is a roadside cafe done the Soho House way(Image: Mollie's Motel and Diner)

Good golly Mollie's - motorway diners have certainly come a long way since the days of soggy pancakes at a Little Chef.

But thats what happens when the trendy Soho House empire help revamp the roadside cafe.

Stepping into this uber-cool eaterie on an A road near the village of Buckland is like walking onto the set of TV show Happy Days.

Rows of slick booths with Cadillac-style seats and chrome edged tables topped with huge sundaes transported me straight to the 1950s.

And judging by the queues of car-weary commuters, well heeled couples and families jostling side by side for a table, when it comes to a diner do-over, Mollies is clearly cutting the mustard.

It's modelled on the classic American diner, with inviting big red neon signs and serving up all the favourites: burgers, rotisserie chicken, ribs and shakes but here everything is made with the highest-quality ingredients. Theres not a hint of grease anywhere, either on my plate or in the form of The Fonz.

[The food is a modern twist on classic diner dishes]

The food is a modern twist on classic diner dishes(Image: Mollie's Motel and Diner)

Appetisers of huge melt-in-the-mouth mozzarella sticks that looked like they were on steroids put any Ive had in the past to shame.

Then tangy hot wings with blue cheese sauce and top-notch nachos to nibble on paved the way for a cracking chicken burger - a juicy buttermilk battered breast on a brioche bun.

Sizzling racks of ribs and double burgers made their way out of the bustling open kitchen to wide eyed diners.

CEO Darren Sweetlands modern makeover of this vintage American concept also includes vegan options such as plant based burgers and sweet corn fritters.

There are also menus for kids - if they can fit in any solids after guzzling down giant Oreo or chocolate milkshakes. For the grown ups there's wine, beers and cracking cocktails - my margarita was top notch.

[Breakfast did not disappoint]

Breakfast did not disappoint(Image: Isobel Dickinson)

Lip-smacking sundaes seemed to be the dessert of choice in this joint and we couldn't resist trying a blondie, featuring chunks of a sort of caramel version of a brownie, which did not disappoint.

The breakfast menu promising stacks of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and blueberries and the recently added eggs Benedict gave the perfect excuse to make a night of it and stay over.

Their gorgeous scandi-style rooms are a steal price wise with high-tech finishing's throughout.

[The rooms are sleek and modern]

The rooms are sleek and modern(Image: Mollie's Motel and Diner)

Download the app to bypass check in and head straight to your room - you can use your phone as a key and even control the TV through it.

Sleek bathrooms have Cowshed products and Mollies are fitting Dyson hairdryers and GHD straighteners as standard.

With motel prices starting at 71, Mollies makes the perfect pit stop. Book a table or stay at Mollies.com

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