I went to the little-known roadside diner that feels like being in Stranger Things – the food takes you back in time

The Sun

25-07-2025

STEPPING into the diner, a warm glow of burnt oranges, rustic reds and mellow yellows surrounded me, along with 70s-style decor of rattan lampshades with giant globe bulbs.
It really did feel like entering the set of Netflix's hit TV show Stranger Things - yet I was actually in a roadside cafe in the UK.
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Brightside in Exeter, Devon, feels like a retro Little Chef, an iconic motorway cafe chain that sadly stopped trading by the end of 2018.
Even the toilets at Brightside felt like a fun throwback with avocado-coloured sinks set against a mustard yellow tile backdrop.
I often skip past roadside cafes and restaurants for fear that the food will be poor and the prices will be high.
But Brightside wasn't like this.
The menu features an extensive range of options through morning, noon and night.
I opted for the 'Hot Honey Fried Chicken Burger' (£14.95) and my parents opted for the 'Chicken Caesar' pizza (£13.95) and the 'Dirty Brisket Burger' (£16.45).
Whilst we may not have had Eggo waffles (made popular by Stranger Things' Eleven), the dishes we did order hit the spot.
My chicken burger with honey offered a great twist on normal flavours.
And for the brisket burger it was even a winner with my dad who is quite picky when it comes to burgers.
The pizza was a good size as well, and really felt value for money.
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Along with our food we tried out two of the diner's mocktails - 'Strawberry Smash' and 'Pop Goes Summer'.
Both mocktails cost £6 and were made with Ceder's non-alcoholic spirit.
Pop Goes Summer had an extra layer of fun, with popping candy around the rim of the glass.
As for Strawberry Smash, it was a great mix of strawberry, pineapple and lime.
Moving onto dessert, we shared the 'Berry Ice Cream Sandwich' (£6.95) and a 'Banoffee Sundae' (£5.95).
The berry ice cream sandwich was essentially a giant profiterole with soft serve ice cream, berries and meringue.
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Both desserts felt like the ultimate childhood throwbacks.
It might be just me, but I don't see banoffee desserts around much anymore, so this treat really did transport you back in time.
When the bill came I was pleasantly surprised, as all of that came to around £68.
The price was less than I had expected thanks to their Thursday offer that lets you buy a dessert for £1 alongside any adult main meal.
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This wasn't the only great offer the diner had - on Tuesdays, you can buy one pizza get one free after 3pm.
And on Wednesdays, kids eat free after 3pm, making it an affordable option for families needing to take a break on the motorway.
Outside the diner there is also a brightly coloured seating area, with large parasols so you can get some fresh air too.
Dogs are welcome too, and there is plenty to keep the kids entertained with Brightside branded merch to peruse and a number of books available to borrow whilst you sit and eat.
Whilst the diner isn't your typical American-style joint, Brightside definitely mixes the best of British 70s/80s culture with retro American diners.
I personally think Eleven would love it... as well as everyone else in Hawkins.
There are three Brightside diners located across Devon and Cornwall, and a fourth location can be found in Rutland, just under an hour from Leicester.
The diner in Exeter was the first location to open, opposite from Exeter Racecourse, back in 2023.
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