IF you have ever fancied a peanut butter or meat ball burger then there is a new place in town where you can grab one!

Businessman Paul Croucher, 59, from Rawreth, has spent three months revamping the former Cafe Manhattan on the A127 and renamed the venue The Roadhouse Diner and brought in new American themed menu.

The eaterie, on the corner of Hovefields Avenue, which has been popular with bikers for years has now seen lots more families coming through the door which has pleased the new owners.

Paul is running the venture with his partner Sandi Cooper and they used to be customers at the venue years before they decided to enter the restaurant business themselves.

He said: “We have spent about £10,000 revamping the interior of the restaurant and I am really pleased to say things are going really well.
 

“We have put in a new milkshake bar which has proved very popular with the children and someone even commented on the internet that they were the best milkshakes this side of the Atlantic!

“The new menu has been a real hit and the whole American theme is working out great, we now have over 30 burgers on the menu and customers are loving it.

“We have got some quirky dishes including peanut butter burgers which are lovely and a meat ball burger, they are all 8oz and so will be a bit of a challenge for anyone.”

The venue came with a bit of a reputation because a former owner when it was called Porkies was jailed for drugs offences a few years ago.

Paul explained although it did put him off a bit it wasn’t enough to stop him wanting to invest in the venue.

He said: “It did have a bit of a bad reputation and is known in the area but we have not had any trouble and are having a great time running the business. It didn’t faze me opening the in recession and we are going from strength to strength.”

Paul is now organising a Man v Food challenge to boost the eaterie’s profile and show off some of the new dishes on the menu.

The challenge is taking place on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 and challenge meals are £30 and if the contestant can eat all the food they will get it for free and their name will be put up on the wall.

Each person taking part in the challenge will be given 45 minutes to conquer one of three dishes- the Brooklyn Bridge Burger Challenge, the Rocky Mountain Ribs Challenge or the Manhattan Meatball Challenge.

If you would like to book to reserve your place call the restaurant on 01268 728 809.