Five Guys

I'm a little late to the party, I know, but I finally made it to Five Guys. After a very disappointing experience at Floridita (the three tiniest bowls of 'tapas' for £9), we were still ravenous and had our sights on losing this particular burger virginity.

You know the story - rock up to the bar, order from a relatively short but sweet menu and add as many topping as you want for free. We started with a cheeseburger then loaded up with tomato, fried onions, relish, mustard, mayo, lettuce and pickles and took it away in its brown paper bag to devour greedily.

This is obviously not your high-end high-brow food establishment and it's not about to win a Michelin star but it does fast food well and it doesn't break the bank. Yes, it's a few more pennies than your McDonald's Saver Menu but the brown paper bag looks ever so slightly more chic on the post-night out bus ride home.

The Breakfast Club and The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

It seems a shame to start 2015 with a bad review but it also seems a shame to have seen out 2014 with such a bad experience. M leaves for Australia in a couple of weeks and he'd decided to have one last fling at The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. A hidden bar beneath blogger favourite, The Breakfast Club in Spitalfields, you have to ask 'to see the Mayor' before being shown to the bar through a SMEG fridge. Kitsch yes, but that's why people come, isn't it?

So we showed up on a Tuesday night, hovered at the edge of The Breakfast Club's less-than-a-quarter-full restaurant and waited for about ten minutes until a waitress came over to say hello. There was an hour wait for a spot downstairs in Scaredy Cat Town but our pals' names were already on the list, so would we like some food? Sure. An espresso martini each, a mountain of nachos with sad-looking shop brought guacamole, a portion of bizarrely sweet macaroni cheese and £54 later, we checked whether we could head downstairs yet. Half an hour later the host came back, gestured vaguely in the direction of the refrigerator and carried on chatting to colleagues. Hmm.

Down stairs that promise 'Thrills' and into a small speakeasy space with good posters, wacky taxidermy and unfriendly barmen. We were told to wait at the bar as our table wasn't ready (hmm) and then told we couldn't wait at the bar because 'people may need to sit there'. People like us, you mean? I said we'd been waiting an hour and a half for a table - the barman then essentially told me I was lying. Ouch.

Eventually we were shown to a table and got to the drinks. A nice-ish menu, even if half the seasonal drinks all tasted the same, and relatively reasonably priced around the £9 mark - the stand-out must order favourite is definitely the Peat-nut Butter Cup (Four Roses bourbon, advocaat, dark chocolate, liqueur 43, peanut butter and Laphroaig spray). But, similar to the waitresses upstairs save for an absolute babe called Colette, service was slow and seemed a chore.

The Breakfast Club constantly has people lining up around the block to get a seat inside its sunshine yellow walls. After a disappointing hard shake in its Soho branch once, I've never understood the hype and after this visit to the Spitalfields outpost, I doubt I'll go back. Whether it's the curse of popularity and the steady stream of customers means the staff don't particularly care about the quality of the service they provide, I'm not sure but I certainly won't be asking for citizenship.

Le Bun at The Three Compasses

Burgers burgers, everywhere. London's love affair with all things Americana shows no sign of slowing down any time soon and it seems that every corner you turn, you'll find a rib shack, burger bar or BBQ rustling up buns of varying degrees of success. The Burger Awakening only struck me a year or so ago so I'm a little slow on the uptake of the various outlets but the only one on my list worth writing home about (and revisiting) is MeatMission. Until now.

Le Bun is stealing the show. Fresh from winning Sky and Samsung's Launching People and a two month residency at the Old Bengal Bar, Le Bun have taken over Dalston Pub The Three Compasses to offer fast food French-style. Last night was their launch party, and with the promise of great food, 50% off and killer tunes, it was suitably rammed.

With no time to lose, we did what four sensible people do when offered six options - order one of each and dive right in. I kicked off with the Le Bourguignon Bun (I was swayed by the promise of bacon salt, champagne slaw and truffle mayo) and practically inhaled it, it was so good. The slow-cooked meat was deliciously melt in the mouth with a great depth of flavour from the glaze; crunchy cabbage slaw added that bit of tang and the saltiness from the bacon and truffle rounded everything off. The rest of the team didn't even get a look in.

Le Duck Frites Bun was equally as sumptuous with crispy straw fries packed straight into the bun, whilst Le Chevre managed to serve up a whole wedge of oozing goats cheese, topped with that biting crunchy slaw for good measure. Le Royale With Cheese sold out pretty sharpish and passed the boys' meat test (ie. plenty of it) and this time, I was the one who missed out.

We didn't stop there. After catching up with the brains behind Le Bun (Tim Talbot and Andy Taylor) we just couldn't resist even more food. So out came three sliders and Le French Onion Dog - the first three were 'down in one' affairs (see the boys about to get stuck in) and the dog we shared, all grinning beatifically. Also, who fries parsley? It's genius!

These guys have got the burger thing down, I'm a total convert. They're sticking with The Three Compasses for a while and are also running Taco Tuesdays (self explanatory, right?), Steak Frites nights on Wednesdays complete with Red Wine Roulette and a toasty winter garden to wrap up in. Whilst you're out there, try one of the crazily moreish winter warmers from Kamm & Sons - I fell in love with the Hot Roots so have one for me.

Le Bun, I salute you. Cinq out of cinq. Bravo.

The Chicago Rib Shack

You could say The Chicago Rib Shack's the godfather. The came before. The one with history. Originally opened in 1982, it paved the way for the all-American restaurants that are a dime a dozen in the city at the moment. It's had its moments, though, with the original site in Knightsbridge gone but not forgotten, instead operating across three food courts and a new opening in Clapham.

The Try This For team were invited to come down and check it out. For the meat obsessives in the team, this was a total no-brainer. Me, I was intrigued - I'm not a big wings and ribs fan but wanted to see what men, women and children the world over write home about so made the trek to no man's land (read: Clapham) to sample some Stateside wares.

Tucked beneath the Overground, it's positively shiny with newness - it's only been open since Monday after all. A few lime green booths and some tall tables line one wall with a chrome fitted bar down the other. The kitchen pass and bathrooms are towards the back and the place buzzes with activity.

We kicked off with cocktails, naturally. On the recommendation of the loveliest waiter I've ever been served by (a serious accolade right there for you, Stef), I went for the watermelon and ginger martini - a syrupy smooth Skyy vodka delight with a fresh kick from the ginger. This was then swiftly followed by another recommendation - the Mr Martinez. A flirty little number, this was one cocktail that was not short on flavour; combining Opihr (an oriental spiced gin), Luxardo maraschino, Dubonnet and orange bitters.

Then onto the food. We started with deep fried mac and cheese bites which was total and utter gluttony but melt in the mouth good, especially accompanied by a classic tomato salsa. The rest of the team also shared chicken wings (both BBQ and spicy) with blue cheese sauce, and the pulled pork scotch egg which wasn't so great a choice - the moistness of the meat meant the egg had essentially boiled inside rather than having that rich, gooey yolk that Pieminister has perfected.

Then came serious meat. Two huge racks of ribs - one the Baby Back (all I could think about was that scene in Austin Powers) and the other the Beef. As someone who steers clear of ribs normally, I was admittedly impressed to see these enormous portions served up on a wooden board with meat that fell from the bone without being sticky. Chinese restaurants, take note. We also ordered the Spicy Kiss Burger; a towering behemoth of meat and bun that came speared with a steak knife, brimmed with pickles and cheese and was far too big to fit into one's mouth without some serious slippage consequences.  I chose the Po'Boy Sandwich purely because I'd burgered myself out at MeatMission on Tuesday so fancied something less heavy - served as an open sandwich, the breaded cod, calamari and prawn looked good on the menu but lacked any real flavour on the plate. You win some, you lose some.

Where The Chicago Rib Shack really came into its own was the sides: we chose the onion loaf which was essentially a deep fried heart attack and exactly how it sounds; manslaw - a beefed up version of coleslaw with the added bite from jalapenos that totally needs to be served everywhere as a much better alternative of its bland cousin; fries, naturally; and truffled mac and cheese that won the award for dish of the day. Cheesy staple, yes, but with truffle oil folded through, it was something that I would gladly eat every single day. Who cares about calories?

We finished with Twinkles (prosecco, vodka and elderflower) and espresso martinis over the vanilla cheesecake (bland), chocolate brownie (brilliantly chewy) and the key lime pie (warm). Having a pastry chef amongst the team, we were never going to be the most appreciative of pudding testers but there's definitely room for improvement here.

All in all, this place comes out on a positive. The atmosphere was good (the music was excellent), the staff were above and beyond brilliant and that mac and cheese... Would I go back? I'm not sure - but my uncertainty's only because I'm not completely sold on ribs. Yet.

Spuntino (again)

Break-ups and move-outs aren't always bad, it seems. Okay, heartache is not something I'd wish on anyone and having to find a new housemate isn't always that easy, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that and I'm loving how the change in our living situation is breathing a bit of life into old friendships.

I think we could all agree that Mondays are fairly rubbish. Especially wet ones that show no remorse. But when dinner at Spuntino's on the cards, who cares about umbrellas anyway?

Having been to Spuntino before, I was keen to go back. It's about four doors down from my (soon to be old) office so it seemed like the perfect time to say goodbye. Part of the Polpo/Polpetto/Mishkin's family, it brings a bit of gritty New York to London. Think lots of cracked subway tiles, tarnished gold, a handful of seats around a bar and a red velvet curtain to take you away from the world outside. Small, but expertly formed, with some of the friendliest bar staff I've ever encountered, I have a lot of love for this place.

Sophie and I were early so, whilst waiting for a bench (Spuntino doesn't do tables), we shared some deep fried anchovy-stuffed olives. Totally moreish and deceptively hot, I washed mine down with a half pint of Camden Hells (don't try and go for a pint, they only offer cans as an alternative and £4.50 is a trifle steep...) When Ash arrived, we'd had some time to go over the menu (and devour the popcorn with chilli salt) and ordered a few things to share. I'm a total fiend for small plates - being able to dip in and out of the dishes gets a huge thumbs up for me.

So we opted for the four sliders - beef and bone marrow, pulled pork and pickled cucumber, lamb and pickled apple, and the prawn po' boy. A little tricky to split into three (don't even try), we essentially had a bite or two of each and declared them all very good. There's not a great deal else going on with the burgers - the focus is the meat - so don't expect your bacons, your cheeses, your several different types of lettuce, just embrace that carnivorous dream. We also chose the burrata (I'm a sucker for burrata) and chicory crostini that was perfectly creamy and garlicky and possibly my favourite dish of the entire night. Trying to get our 'seven a day' we went for the blood orange, ricotta and hazelnut salad and the Spuntino slaw (cucumber, cabbage, apple) as sides and polished off the skillet of mac and cheese - which still remains the crumbliest I've ever tasted and isn't a patch on Mishkin's.

The menu changes regularly depending on what's in season but the firm favourites stand the test of time. Other big draws for me are the barmen (friendly and helpful), the crockery and the infectious atmosphere complete with Jimi Hendrix tunes. Prices are fairly reasonable for a Soho spot and, of course, can escalate if you're feeling peckish. It's one of the better 'informal' places to eat in Soho but naturally, no bookings so grab a stool at the bar as and when you can for a four out of five bit of fun.

& other places: The Big Easy, Psychic Burger, Soho House

The Big Easy
Veteran Chelsea crabshack, The Big Easy, opened up its second venue in Covent Garden this week. Channelling All-American steakhouses, this place is built for volume. The alcoholic slushies are to die for (go for the two-in-one Miami Vice if you're feeling flush) and the bottled-to-the-brim bar is friendly and attentive. The staff here are smiley and knowledgeable but we didn't get our drinks til after our mains arrived which was a little disappointing. There's a lot to offer - from steak to ribs, shrimp to lobster - but the night we went, they didn't have everything available - not so good for an opening night. We went for the Lobster Festival (£20 for a whole lobster, chunky chips, salad and a slushie) which was very reasonably priced but smaller (and drier) than its Burger & Lobster counterpart. The mac & cheese had a decent crumb but stick some proper cheese in there, please! Good for a tourist-land stop but I don't think I'll be going back.

Psychic Burger
The newest resident at Dalston's Birthdays, Psychic Burger has got the burger thing going on. Spoilt for choice, we gave the eponymous offering (beef, Psychic sauce, pickles, American cheese on a brioche bun) and the Lamb Franko (toasted almond & spiced lamb patty, smoked pomegranate yoghurt, aji, coriander on a brioche bun) a go. We'd toyed with the horse burger (yes, really) but our morals got the best of us so stacked up with croquettes and stilton chipotle dip, and chilli cheese fries for that all American dream. A little bit messy but totally moreish, we devoured everything, as well as several of the Bagheeras (Vanilla Stoli, ginger, Gomme, basil, lemon and ginger ale). We didn't stay for the afterparty but we'll definitely be back. 

Soho House
Tucked off Greek Street and sitting pretty over Soho, Soho House is a members-only with a difference. No stuffiness here (the Shoreditch contingent has a rooftop swimming pool), everything's quite casual as you wind your way up the stairs and settle in the devilishly comfortable leather sofas. We were here for drinks more than anything else - the Grey Goose Fizz was my total favourite - but couldn't help ordering some of the small plates to share. Spicy chicken wings? Not bad. Padron peppers? Gone in a flash. Chipolatas with honey and mustard? Yes please. And the smoked cod roe with toasts? Keep it coming! After our meeting was over, we wandered upstairs to the top floor where the conservatory gives out onto a little roof terrace where, just for a second, you both forget and remember that you don't actually live here. A girl can dream though, right?

Feeling punny

In the run up to Christmas, everything gets really busy - the streets, the shops, work life, home life... But there's always time for romcoms - like the other weekend when I somehow watched four Hugh Grant films in a row. I don't even like Hugh Grant but it all started (naturally) with the hankering for Love Actually. Other things there always time for is burgers.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an idea of doing something different and grabbed tickets to The Pun Run, Britain's only pun-based comedy night. Before we strategically chose our seats (ie. nowhere near the front), we realised we needed some food. Fast. And so, we headed to every burger lovers fave, MeatLiquor, and managed to skip the queue.

Diving straight in to a Vedett (me) and a coke float (M), we opted for the Dead Hippie burger (brilliantly dirty, as always) and the XXXmas Dog which was some mountainous creation that looked dubious but tasted good, apparently? We also shared some monstrous onion rings - divine but devilishly difficult to finish - and called it good whilst trying not to drop anything on each other.

From there, we headed over to The Pun Run, grabbed a mulled wine (naturally) and managed to bag the comfy banquettes at the back that removed the innate audience member vs comedian fear. Apparently, 'a groan's as good as a laugh' and with eight comedians across two halves there was a hell of a lot of groaning, sighing and 'that was utterly ridiculous' - but that's part of the fun, right? Puns may not have the highest of comedic kudos but as one chap managed to successfully pull off a 'punny' set with European countries, you can't quite knock it just yet. In the interval, audience members were given the chance to tweet their best puns around the theme of New Year, with the winner earning a free drink. We tried and failed miserably compared to the winning, 'Last New Year I said I would buy a new camera and take lots of long distance photos. Turns out it didn't have the resolution...'

If you fancy your chances at pun-based world domination, the night's every six weeks and returns in the New Year. After some of the most ridiculous one-liners and the longest set up for a joke ever, we left vowing to leave it to the experts and headed over to Social Eating House where my first drink - aptly - was the Cereal Killer. If you can't beat them, join them, right?

Jackson + Rye

As mentioned countless times before, working in Soho is great. From our perfect office location we get to people watch (whilst working, of course) and also keep an eye on what's popping up here and then. So when I spotted the restaurant across from us being refurbished and adorned with the name Jackson + Rye, I just had to get in touch. But they pre-empted me too and sent out an invitation to the office to come join them on one of their soft opening days before the big launch.

So we headed over on Friday lunch - the perfect end to a busy week. We were greeted by really friendly staff who, as we were shown to our table in the window, explained that we had to choose two courses plus two sides from the menu, which would be free. All we had to pay for was drinks. Great start.

Like something out of the prohibition era, Jackson + Rye is all chrome fittings and tarnished mirrors, huge ceiling fans and a well-stocked bar that stretched round for what seemed like miles. Whilst there's quite a few places cashing in on the 1920s feel, this is a place that's getting it right and doing it well.

The menu, illustrated, folds out into four or so pages of food and drinks with a range of about eight cocktails to start - all reasonably priced between £6 and £8. Whilst tempted, we went for a Vedett each which came over in double time and then as we were browsing the menu, another member of the team came over to give us an idea of the specials (pork belly) and explain some of the dishes (especially grits - which apparently is a little like polenta but made from the ear of wheat). The menu itself is fantastic with a range of bar food such as cheeseburgers, shrimp roll and buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, starters of truffled mac and cheese and beef carpaccio, before next up a number of steaks and even grilled lobster. Trying to choose what to eat was nigh impossible.

In the end, colleague Joe started with the chopped raw tuna with smoked paprika and creme fraiche, whilst I went for the squid with chipotle mayo. Then we moved onto the reuben sandwich (salt beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on a caraway bloomer) which was declared damn good, and the panfried seabass with grilled baby gem and a caper sauce. It was divine. Coupled with regular fries and the skinniest shoestring fries I've ever seen, we devoured every last scrap whilst the staff were the perfect level of attentive.

Prices were surprisingly reasonable and portion sizes were perfect. Our bill would have come to just under £50 for two courses, sides and a drink. Open seven days a week from breakfast until late, this little place might just be what Soho's been missing and I have a funny feeling we'll be making quite a few repeat appearances. Five out of five.

This or That: MeatMission vs BRGR

Oh, I just can't stop myself. A little late to the party (I wasn't that bothered before) but I've caught the burger bug and seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about (and eating) burgers. This week, I've wolfed down burgers two nights in a row and could quite happily go for a run of three today. (But I won't, as it's cheese and wine night at home for J's birthday and I'm baking camemberts. That's enough carbs for one day).

Repeat offenders both, I revisited MeatMission (check out my first and second impressions) on Tuesday and ended up at BRGR last night. Whilst essentially offering the same food, they (and like many other burger joints) are wildly different. As you may remember, I wasn't the biggest fan of BRGR the first time because of the service, but after a failed attempt to get into Byron (empty tables but still a wait) and a two-and-a-half-hour wait time for Honest, we thought we'd give BRGR another go. But MeatMission just has the edge.

Menu wise, how much differentiation can there be? A lot. MeatMission's all trash-talk and nastily-named but it works, and the variety of what's on offer is great. I seem to be going for the Dead Hippie burger - because one patty just isn't enough, obviously - and the fried pickles (which they were devastatingly out of this week) but there's Monkey Fingers, pastrami dogs and currywurst on offer. Not to mention something called the Garbage Plate, the cocktail list and the beers in jugs and jars. BRGR's a little more civilised in name and offering - a lot less to choose from but you can make it your own with the selection of sides (great onion rings by the way).

Atmosphere? BRGR's in Central London so a real mix of friends, family and first dates. MeatMission just feels a little deliberately down and dirty with Jimi Hendrix or Phil Collins blaring out over the din, and everyone digging in to share.

The eating. MeatMission serves everything up on large silver trays, decked out with striped burger paper. Dive straight in, get messy and wipe yourself up with the rolls of kitchen paper dotted around the tables. BRGR's predictably more civilised with cutlery if you need it, the similar striped paper and the ability to put in or take out what you do and don't want between your buns.

And what about the price? BRGR starts at around £6.95 for a burger and increases depending on the quality of the cut. Cheese, bacon, onions etc are extra and do stack up a bit if you're feeling a little naughty. MeatMission's offerings start at around £6.50 all in with sides around the £3 mark, but there's a definite absence of macaroni cheese (another obsession), which should obviously be served unlimited and completely free, of course.

It's tricky. BRGR and MeatMission are doing different things in different ways. A burger's a burger's a burger - but when a burger's so good you go back three times willingly, I think you're onto a winner.

Spuntino Player found in Coal Vaults

Living in London, there's never an excuse not to grab drinks or dinner after work. There's no train to hare back to Waterloo for (unless it's a Friday and I'm heading home for the weekend) and there's definitely no shortage of choice.

photo by Rosie

After discovering that Milk & Honey was strictly members or reservations only, they pointed us in the direction of their sister bar, The Player. The Player's a lounge bar through and through, a throwback to the 70s with swirling wallpaper, orange-toned wood and a huge brown velour sofa. It feels a little bit disco, a little bit dingy - and in the heart of Soho, next to Agent Provacateur and a stone's throw away from ol' Raymond's strippers strip, you'd be hard-pressed to believe it's only been going since 1998.

We found the cocktail menu a little limiting, and in the end I asked for an off-the-list mojito which was quickly rustled up, and admittedly delicious. T went for the Anejo highball - a concoction of rum, curacao, lime juice, ginger beer and angostura. We cast an eye over the beer and boilermaker choices - a 'classic combination of beer and a shot' (who knew?!) and saw Rosie (from The Londoner) being served a teamwork (to share) creation in a disco ball. We were left a little cold so paid the £20-for-two-cocktails-tab and headed on to our dinner destination...

A pal of mine has raved about Spuntino for a couple of years, and despite working about four doors away from it for the past 18 months, I hadn't made the trip. Until last night. Part of the Polpo/Polpetto/Mishkin's crew, Spuntino is a laidback 'diner' squeezed round three sides of a bar and a popcorn machine. As with most places in London these days, there's no reservations so come as you are - and hope you get a seat! We waited for about an hour (the barman who'd promised us ten minutes was very apologetic and gave us a mug of pale each on the house) and sipped at a Negroni (for T), and a Clover Club (for me).

When we grabbed a seat, we were given a cup of hot and fresh popcorn, with a shaker of chilli salt. We dove straight into the ordering and didn't have long to wait before our choice of four Spuntino sliders (for £18) appeared. Doing the noble thing, we each ate half of each - ground beef & pickle, pulled pork & apple, lamb & beetroot, and the prawn po' boy. I honestly couldn't choose a favourite, each were the right side of succulent and terribly moreish. We also shared the macaroni cheese - bubbling away in a skillet, it was very tasty but didn't quite match up to Mishkin's sister serving of salt beef and triple cheese. But what macaroni cheese really can?!

photo from the Coal Vaults website

From there, we gave newly opened Coal Vaults a try for one last drink before home. As the name suggests, it's underground and all exposed brickwork and alcoves (hmm, is London losing its originality?). Small plates are matched to the cocktail list (a nice touch) and we saw sliders aplenty, sitting happily alongside antipasti, and even pulled rabbit. The menu changes frequently but the cup of free chilli popcorn doesn't - and it was much more flavoursome than it's earlier counterpart - to keep you ticking over before your cocktails arrive. I went for the Naxi Classic - Remy VSOP, fresh szechuan pepper, sugar and prosecco with a grapefruit twist - which brought the right amount of fizz, zing and citrus as a new take on something sparkling.  The prices look good and the staff friendly but we were originally told we could only sit at the bar as 'the tables are booked' - fair enough, but they stayed empty until gone 10 so we must have been in the company of ghosts. I definitely want to head back and sample the potted crab. Oh, and the homemade pasta. And the antipasti from i camisa. Hell, I want to go try it all.

Meat Mission: round II

Sometimes all you really need in life is a really dirty burger. There's no shortage of places promising them these days, but once bitten by the Meat Mission bug, it's hard to shake.

I went in the summer - read about it here - ordering the Green Chili Cheeseburger with moreish tangy slaw and fries. This time I went for something else. Namely The Dead Hippie burger. 2 mustard-fried beef patties, dead hippie sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and minced white onions. In the trusty soft white bun, on the trademark red-and-white burger paper.

As mentioned before, Meat Mission burgers are two hands, messy, dripping, needing-that-roll-of-kitchen-paper affairs. But that's the fun. It was an evening to catch up with uni friends so none of us ever need to stand on ceremony, instead reaching across trays and tables to swipe fries and dip sauces. This time round, I also ordered the fried pickles - which I'm still thinking about today. The perfectly crunchy, sweet yet sour side that scream out for the accompanying blue cheese dip.

We washed our food down with the 3 pint jugs of Vedett, a blonde beer, and a Tipped Velvet cocktail (a concoction of red wine, cognac and some other fruity delights that perfectly complemented the red wine I'd been drinking earlier - just how did he know?!)

I always say it but I am meaning to venture out and consume my bodyweight in burgers elsewhere. But for now, the hype machine is still working its magic and Meat Mission round two was another success. A slightly better experience than last time I went - those fried pickles just do it for me - these badboy burgers get a four out of five.

Mishkin's

The original Mishkin's was established way back in 1931. Its current format is a little younger, having been regenerated as part of the Polpo family in 2011. The premise is the same and it's described as 'a kind-of Jewish deli with cocktails' that serves up the 'Jewish comfort food we all love eating'. It was my first foray into Jewish food (late night Brick Lane beigels don't count) and it didn't disappoint.

As it was a work thing and we were keeping it casual, we decided to order several plates and share. We opted for the reuben on toasted rye (pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss and Russian dressing), the Brick Lane salt beef sandiwch with Colman's and pickles, the salt beef and Colman's triple cheese macaroni, lamb and minted yoghurt sliders (we went for the smaller to share, as the large just doubles the patty), beetroot and feta slider with cumin salsa, and sides of half and half (chips and onion rings) and the summer radish slaw. A veritable feast with everything a mix of crunchy pickle and gloriously salted beef flavours - we just kept coming back for more.

The atmosphere was laid back, the staff friendly and attentive and the food quick to arrive. We didn't try any of the daily or seasonal specials but if you're nipping in for something sweet, go for the baked cheesecake of the day - ours was maple and pecan and to die for. We had a booth but sit at the New York deli-style bar and revel in the classic brickwork and chrome combination.

For a brilliant introduction to Jewish-style food, Mishkin's gets a moreish four out of five.

Jamie Oliver's Diner & Doghouse

Sometimes, Friday calls for an office lunch, out of the office. It was a relatively sunny day and the end to a good week so we fancied something to kick off the (in my case) long weekend. We were tempted by The Endurance's pop-up-of-the-week When Mac Met Cheese (can you guess what they serve?) but then decided that something a little more varied would be appropriate. So we tried out Jamie Oliver's newest addition to his ever-growing empire, the Diner.

Advertised as 'for a limited time only' but in fact with a three year lease, the Diner replaces an old steak/rib joint and a tired pizza-per-slice place on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the heart of touristy Piccadilly. Downstairs is a hot dog to go walk-in walk-out affair but we were in the mood for something more substantial so headed upstairs to be greeted by multi-colour dinosaurs towering over the tables.

The menu reminded me of those tray inserts from fast food places, and were equally as garish and confusing (we joked that we should offer to redesign it to help make it easier to understand). There's no real logical feel to the menu and it's difficult to navigate through, leaving it feeling a bit of a mish-mash. We ordered drinks and starters to help us make up our mind - and were told that two of the things we wanted were not available. Great start. Instead, we settled on sticky chicken wings, a sweet potato quesadilla, and tortilla chips with guacamole to share.

Having indulged in MeatMission the night before, I was in no mood for another burger so opted for one of the less inspiring options - a salad. Ringed with angel halos (indicating the healthy option), I went for the My Big Fat Greek Salad which came as a massive bowl with lots of vinegary dressing. A fairly poor representation of Oliver's healthy meals, I've made nicer Greek salads at home. Everyone's burgers seemed to go down well, along with sides of shoestring fries, crinkle cut chips and avocado fries (underwhelming), but the lack of atmosphere was telling. Whilst staff were friendly, if a little slow and forgetful, they were no competition to the great experiences I've had at (the Guildford branch of) Jamie's Italian. 

We finally worked out that the prehistoric decor was a play on 'diner/dino' - 'dinersaur', get it? A little stretched, it probably would have been a more successful venture to deck it out in traditional ol' American diner get-up. Given that there's so many diner/burger joints all over the city (as previously mentioned here) Jamie Oliver's Diner is not one I'd bother returning to. It feels too insincere and the quality just isn't there, I give this place a two out of five. 

MeatMission

Everyone and their cat has been to MeatLiquor or its East London ssister venue MeatMission. Everyone and their cat apart from me, it seemed. Not so, anymore. Last night took my Meat virginity as I joined the sinners and their gluttonous indulgence.

MeatMission is tucked off Hoxton Square in an old mission hall, grungily resplendent with stained glass ceilings and winding staircases, and is constantly busy. We had half an hour's wait so sat at the industrial bar with a 2/3 pint of beer and a Hoxton Fizz (something involving strawberry, pear, vodka and champagne) whilst the 'burgerettes' bustled around us, bussing groaning platters of burgers to the braying masses.

Menus are hymn books professing dinners of 'Garbage Plates', 'Monkey Fingers' and 'The Dead Hippie'. I went for the Green Chili Cheeseburger - beef patty, cheese, chili butter, red onions, pickles, lettuce, mustard and ketchup - and it came deliciously rare, accompanied by tangy slaw and fries. This is no place to stand on ceremony - cutlery is few and far between and you're encouraged to get stuck in and cover yourself in grease.

The burger itself was great, but exceedingly messy, with half of it sliding onto the tray despite my well-meaning attempts to get it actually in my mouth. The tanginess of the chili and pickles were a welcome flavour and as mentioned above, my request for rare was met perfectly (they're normally served medium rare). We washed it down with a demi-john of Vedett beer and a side of accomplishment.

Service was good despite the bustle and the prices were reasonable - £7.50 for my burger. The Meat family began as one of those pop-up successes, doing one thing and doing it well. It's another place that's capitalising on the favoured industrial-dark decor, but it suits its purpose. For taking me over to the dark side, I give MeatMission a three out of five.

BRGR CO

Everyone knows that Thursdays are the new Fridays and there's definitely no exception when in the heart of work-hard play-hard Soho. Last night, we caught up with a colleague who had moved to pastures new back in November, and after a few drinks at the local, The Lyric, where we sampled Patron for the first time, we struck out in search of some food.

Trying to find a place to eat in Soho can be a bit of a monopoly - on my road alone, we've got Busaba, Wahaca, Banana Tree, Satsuma, Pho, Imli, Hummus Bros, Floridita, Princi and Inamo, to name but a few. And not to mention any of the incredible other places that are just around the corner and a stone's throw away. Spoilt for choice but still have to queue...

After some quick deliberation, we decided to venture to the new burger joint on our street, BRGR CO. Now, London's no stranger to burgers; with pop-ups and posh street food on the scene, there's a lot of competition and a lot to live up to. We were there around half nine and the place was buzzing - we were seated at the bar in the window to wait for our table, given a drink each and the opportunity to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen.

We were sat in about ten minutes...and then abandoned. None of the (admittedly quite busy) staff noticed that we hadn't even seen menus, let alone ordered. The menu itself is relatively basic - starters and sides draw the eye first and then the burgers follow on the right. I was tempted by the Old Fashioned Mac'n'Cheese (seemingly a popular choice on the London circuit) but dived straight into building my own burger. Served as either 4, 6 or 8 oz cuts, we were a little unimpressed with the descriptions but each went for the 6oz Tender Blend. I added cheese, caramelised onions and bacon (before realising that the last two were a bit over-the-top) from the chargeable extras, a horseradish mustard dip (non-chargeable) and we shared a portion of fries and cheese fries. Watching your waistline? This place is not for you.

The burgers arrived shortly, which was impressive. With accompaniments served separately, you can choose to stack it yourself - take out that gherkin or ditch the lettuce, if you prefer. I loaded up, threw in some Tabasco and some mustard and dived straight in. Admittedly, the burger patty looked slightly anaemic but when you're used to some bigger beauties from the markets or Burger & Lobster, can you really be one to judge? We polished ours off double-time and got the bill which came to about £15 each (including the beer and a tip) - not bad.

No photos as no phone battery, but the couple next to me definitely made up for it even though their starter salad of lettuce (and just lettuce) did seem a bit of a bizarre one for Instagram...

Would I go back? I'm not sure. It was good but I've heard a lot about rival Patty & Bun, and as mentioned above, there's a plethora of burger joints (and not-so burger joints) to sink your teeth into. A three out of five, I'd say.

Burger & Lobster: round ii

As a company, we get to go to some great places for post-work playtime - Paramount, Sophie's, the W, Hakkasan...to name but a few. Last night, we decided to make a return trip to everyone's favourite lobster shack. Our last visit was in July and we felt it was time for a much-needed bit of summer.

'Single-serving' pop-ups and restaurants are very much the rage these days, and Burger & Lobster is no exception. As you might imagine, Burger & Lobster serve two things done three ways: a big burger with bacon, cheese, onions, gherkins and relish all served in a brioche bun, a whole lobster steamed (and grilled) with garlic butter, or a lobster roll - lobster meat in Japanese-inspired mayonnaise stuffed into brioche. All come served with string fries and a dressed salad. And a bib. For £20.

We went early, straight from work, to avoid the no-bookings debacle that a lot of London restaurants seem to have. With a quick drink at the bar (mine was a Mint Collins), and even quicker table service, the four of us stayed considerably crustacean. My lobster, as always, was great - lots of juicy meat to work for - and just the right amount of everything else. We toyed with the idea of getting bigger ones to share - 'Big Boys' weights and prices are listed on a catch of the day board. Yesterday's haul saw a whopping 8lb-er available for £120. 

Afterwards we indulged in both of the puddings on offer - a vanilla cheesecake topped with orange liqueur, and a chocolate mousse topped with crunchy flakes - which come served in old school tubs like the ones you used to get at the cinema. 

By the time we left, predictably, the place was heaving and the queue jostling. There's something about lobster that shouts of summer and holidays, and so it seemed fitting to follow the nicest day of the year so far with something a little decadent.