Very much an Oxford institute, it is wise never to leave it too long to visit Atomic Burger or Diner. The menu is regularly tweaked, and there is a monthly special that will often be an inspired, madcap genius. My second visit saw me have my favourite burger, The Garfield, whose topping was lasagne (culinary heaven for me). So it only felt right to wander to the end of Cowley Road and see how Atomic Diner is doing.

One of the most distinctive qualities of the Atomic duo is the décor inside, a sort of Cave of Wonders for comic book nerds and pop culture geeks. There are a wealth of classic toys on the wall, the bar is made up of VHS cassettes, crisp 80s cheese plays through the speakers, and the men's toilets are bedecked in Thunderbird wallpaper and pages from comic books. But with all the pop culture that surrounds you, what makes Atomic so good are the approachable staff members. They are friendly, helpful, and treat every diner with a care and consideration that gives the restaurant such a warm atmosphere.

The other stand-out element is the menu, serving a range of burgers, pizzas and other teen-movie-like meals. Atomic Diner is the kind of restaurant with meals that come under the name the Dixie Chick, the Dead Elvis, and the Gaga. Each is broken down into what toppings and fillings you'll be getting, while there is a helpful guide to the kind of bun and meat each burger is suitable for. Fair warning: while there may be freakshakes and sugar-packed cocktails, the restaurant does not serve wine. This shocked a member of a party when I previously attended the Diner. But as any teen film will show you, wine is rarely the drink of the day.

Speaking of freakshakes, this is what my partner went for, and it was amusing to watch her and my daughter battle over the sweets and ice cream that come with the overflowing drink. I went for a cookie monster milkshake, which felt much simpler. In terms of food, my choice was the Johnny B Bad burger, a heady mix of USA cheese, BBQ onions, cajun bacon, hash browns and buffalo sauce. My partner chose to make her own pizza, with Atomic Diner giving you the choice to pick a burger or pizza combo that works for you. Her pizza ended up being a calzone filled with chicken, pepperoni, peppers, olives and mushrooms.

Our order came speedily, with a burger that hit the spot for me. A sloppy delight that always felt seconds away from collapsing in my hands, the burgers at Atomic always pack a terrific flavour punch and reside in the very top tier of burgers in Oxford. It is sad then that the pizza proves to be just fine, lacking the same impact of flavour that my meal did. Maybe it was the rosemary and garlic chips that my partner ordered as a side, or maybe it is just that the pizzas can never quite match the burgers. Nevertheless, our daughter appreciated her children's ham and mushroom pizza, so maybe it just works for different taste buds.

If it feels like I haven't talked about the food at Atomic Diner as much as with other restaurants, that's because the impact of the dining experience comes from the complete package. The food, décor, atmosphere and staff all work together to create a fun time for all. If you have never been to an Atomic venue, you simply must. You'll discover a cave of wonders to fit any diner's needs.