Taste Of America

Starvin’ Marvins
BP Station
Central Parade
Western Avenue
Greenford
UB6

Star rating: 6

‘An American Diner in a BP station?’ My mother looked very confused as I tried to explain where I’d eaten that evening. Thankfully though, you don’t have to munch on your burgers whilst watching people fill their cars with petrol!
Starvin Marvin’s is actually based on the court of the petrol station but there is a quite large car park in between them both.
The diner has a lot of potential. It looks exactly like a classic 50s/60s American food haunt. I was particularly impressed with how honed into detail they were. There were white and black tiles, an old juke box tucked away in the corner, booths, tall chairs at the counter, low hanging lights. Even where it's based, just off the A30, when you pull off the busy road and up to the diner it's as though you're in some old movie set in New York.
It reminded me of an Uncle Sams or a poor man's TGI Fridays. For a Friday night it wasn’t particularly busy but I guessed it was down to where it was positioned. Had it been situated in a bustling city centre I guess it would have made all the difference but maybe at the same time lost its authenticity.
I ordered an Hawaiian Burger and curly fries and was surprised to find that for only £6.75 my plate was piled high and that I couldn’t get through the meal.
There’s not really much more to say about Starvin Marvin’s – the food is like any other burger joint, but the best bit was definitely the building. There aren't many actual diner buildings where you can pull up outside that I know of.
It’s great for a family outing as it’s cheap and cheerful and you’re left anything but starving.