For those who lived on the Island during the 90s, you’ll have no doubt frequented Route 66.
Route 66 was an American diner, the first of its kind on the Rock, and served up the most incredible diner grub, including their mouth-watering, PROPER burgers, coke-floats, and the ULTIMATE lattice fries.
Butch & Wendy Buttery saw the opportunity for a good ol’ burger bar in Easter of ‘91, and opened the original Route 66 on Victoria Street as a take-away. Following its success, the Buttery clan went on to open the Route 66 diner on Duke Street, in July 1993.
Their children Chris, Rachel and Charlotte waited on after school, Wendy ran front of house, and Butch ran the kitchen, the ‘man behind the meat’, if you will.
We had a quick chat with Chris about his memories of the diner…
‘I used to help my Dad make up the burgers to cook, and did a bit of cleaning and waiting on at the tables after school and on Saturdays. It was honestly the best childhood! I got to meet so many different people at those tables, who all spoke to me and inspired me in one way or another, it’s mad! The whole experience really molded me into who I am today’
So what made you turn your classic 90s diner into a pop-up?
‘So many people still talk about Route and have such fond memories of the place, I felt it needed to make a comeback! I have always had a love for real food, probably from growing up in the diner…and who doesn’t love a good burger?! So with a bit of help from my Dad, we’ve created the ‘Pop Up Route 66’
With the pop-up, we’re able to cook the most incredible handmade burgers using locally sourced produce, to any party, any venue, anywhere!’
Do you have some of the original 90s Route classics on the menu?!
‘All of the burgers on the new menu are taken from the old one…they’re classics!’
Which is your Route burger of choice?
‘My favourite would have to be the Afterburner, an all rounder cheese burger, with hot chilli sauce. But it’s a difficult choice.’
Where will you be popping-up this summer?
‘We’ve got a few events on the books, which I can’t reveal the full details of just yet…but keep an eye on our Facebook page @PopUpRoute66 to keep up to date!’
