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.
14 November 2013
11 October 2013
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.
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.
14 June 2013
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.
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.
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