I have been visiting Herbie’s American Diner in Swavesey for as long as I can remember. In fact, this will be my third review of the restaurant because I have kept coming back so consistently with the kids over the years.

I used to take my eldest here for an after school treat all the time and now he is a teenager he still wants to come back – this is why I included it in my Best Places for Children. Now that Eds Easy Diner has closed, it is only one of two American diners in Cambridgeshire (with the other being Arbuckle’s in Ely).

Herbies has a real cult following with the locals, and no wonder! Every time I post about it, I am swamped with love and affection for this quirky and fun establishment.   It is genuinely brilliant to see a small independent doing well and being so popular especially after the hard time it had during the A14 upgrade.

The Atmosphere

The moment you walk in, you are immediately transported to an enthusiastic tribute to the good ol US of A. It is absolutely spotless, vibrant, and packed with genuine Americana. I’m a sucker for the retro pinball table and the 1950s jukebox, and the charming red booths really pull the whole look together. Combined with the classic rock music playing in the background, it has a great vibe.

What I really love is that it never feels like a restaurant with a forced gimmick. Because of its location, it feels exactly like the sort of place you’d pull into while driving down Route 66. It has that authentic, “roadside pitstop” energy that you just can’t manufacture. Access is a little different now that the A14 has changed; you can no longer just pull off the road, and you have to weave through the roundabout, but the trade-off is a much safer junction for getting in and out. If you are staying at the local Travelodge, this is a complete no-brainer for dinner. Plus, there is plenty of parking, which is always a bonus.

The Menu

The menu here has some unique items that you just don’t see anywhere else in the area, like their American-style hot dogs and the pizza sub but obviously expect all the usual classics too, like pancakes, burgers, waffles, and ribs.

Chicken Wings

The hot wings were absolutely amazing. They were thick, meaty, and slathered in enough sauce to make them a proper, messy, finger-licking good time. And despite being mostly aimed at families they still had a real fiery kick to them, which is exactly what I want from a proper wing.

The Honk Tonk Burger

I started with the Honk Tonk burger, which includes two smash patties, BBQ pulled pork, crispy bacon, crispy onions, and American cheese. It was huge, fun, and unapologetically trashy. While the pulled pork didn’t really stand out on its own, it combined with the beef patties into an incredibly juicy and gooey mess. This is a burger to really sink your teeth into!

The only recurring issue I have with Herbie’s burgers is that they always seem to fail the structural integrity test – they just love to load them up so much that they always collapse! While this one held together better than the chilli con carne version I have had in the past, I think sourcing some stronger buns would elevate this into a top-tier Cambridgeshire burger.

Price-wise, you are looking at £14 for a classic cheeseburger and fries, running all the way up to £21 for their biggest double-stack beasts. Given the portion sizes and the fact that house fries come as standard, it feels fair for the quality you’re getting – especially since this is pretty much the only place you can get this sort of grub in the area.

Pizza Subs

The pizza subs here deserve way more love than they get. If you are in a bit of a burger rut then I recommend giving these a try. It’s basically a pizza in the form of a sub sandwich, and yes, it is as good as it sounds.

We went for the BBQ Chicken pizza sub which came with an abundance of sweet corn, and it was brilliant – it is soft, gooey, and huge. The chicken really stood out against the rich BBQ sauce, and the best part? Pulling it apart led to that long, stringy cheese pull we all hope for!

Milkshakes – American style

No trip to Herbie’s is complete without washing it all down with an American-style milkshake. You are given a full selection of American classics, like Oreo, blue bubblegum, and Reese’s peanut butter- I couldn’t resist the Reese’s. The layer of cream on top was so thick you could scoop it out with your straw; it was unbelievable. It is a proper sugar-fix that hits the spot every time.

USA, USA!

Herbie’s Diner has become a genuine institution for us. In a region where dining out can sometimes feel a bit samey, Herbie’s offers something that feels unique – a place that is as much about the theatre of the experience as it is the food. It’s consistent, it’s loud, and it knows exactly what it is.

My boy absolutely loves it here, and I can easily see him bringing his own family here one day, just like we do now. It’s that rare kind of spot that manages to bridge the gap between a quick, practical pitstop and a place you actually want to spend your afternoon. If you’re looking for a meal that puts a smile on your face and doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place. It’s an absolute credit to the local area, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit to see what other unapologetic delights they have on the menu.

Thanks for reading!