The Burger Diaries

          Perhaps a particularly gory sentiment, but when a kick-ass new burger joint, founded on the principles that make MEATliquor such a success boasts its very own wall of converted vegetarians, there isn’t really any other way of describing it. MEATmarket, situated in Covent Garden, is remarkably similar to its parent burger joint. Like MEATliquor, it’s tucked out of the way in an unlikely location - an abandoned fast food dining area on the upper deck of Covent Garden’s Jubilee Market Hall (with few directions) is where this little gem calls home. The decoration resembles MEATliquor as well, with toilets again being named ‘chicks’ or ‘dicks’ - no prizes for guessing which is which. The overall sensation of MEATmarket is more relaxed than its predecessor; not that MEATliquor would ever be described as uptight, but the use of self-service drinks machines and counter service make the venue seem more easy going. It’s still not a place you’d want to take young children, but for older teenagers it’s a lot more fun than BK or Maccy D’s.

 Wall of the fallen - converted veggies

          The menu is more limited, but this isn’t a problem. The ‘take-out-quick-fix’ ethos of the place is facilitated by a smaller and simpler selection of food that features staunch MEATliquor favourites such as the Dead Hippie, Double Bubble and Philly Cheese-Steak. There were no onion rings (a shame, considering just how good they are at MEATliquor) but the fries (£3.00) are as good as ever, in perhaps a bigger portion, if that’s even possible. This time, I opted for a Dead Hippie burger (£7.50) - a messy wonder that is utterly rich and satisfying. The quality of the meat is so high that the taste of the patty, its succulent beefiness, is discernible from the rest of the strong tastes that surround this particular burger. Dead Hippie sauce is an infinitely superior version of big mac sauce, which when combined with mustard tastes phenomenal. There isn’t any salad of which to speak, other than lettuce, but this is definitely a case of ‘less is more’ - if anything else was crammed into this poor bun it would probably disintegrate. The bun itself is wonderful: soft bread that somehow manages to hold itself together despite the fact it is covered in sauces and tasty beef juices.

          When I last went to MEATliquor and wrote about the overall experience, I commented that it was a shame that milkshakes were not an option. While I’m not deluded enough to think that they feature at MEATmarket because of the ponderous writings of this food fanatic, I fully welcome their sudden appearance. They’re basic, but then, that is in keeping with the rest of MEATmarket; milkshakes are premade and kept in a fridge, so when you order one it takes literally seconds to get it (the fast food philosophy at work). I chose a ‘Hard’ Beige (£5.00) which as the names suggests is alcoholic. Although not as boozy as the cocktails on offer in MEATliquor, it still packs a noticeable tickle. The Hard Beige is a blend of vanilla ice-cream, maple syrup and bourbon and has an absolutely wonderful taste, something that compensates for the size of thing – probably 33cl. It’s clearly a place designed for a speedy lunch or a convenient take-out meal, and working towards that aim, MEATmarket truly excels. The service is speedy and you pay when you order, allowing you to eat and leave as you choose. If you fancy more of a leisurely burger experience, MEATmarket won’t be the place you’re looking for, though, for a quick and easy bite to eat, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better burger. 

Go to: MEATmarket, The Deck, Jubilee Market Hall, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8BE

          Now, I know I said no ‘chains’ but, to be honest, that’s only because I don’t want anyone questioning my irrational loathing of Gourmet Burger Kitchen (basically, I object to burgers where you are almost expected to use a knife and fork – what the hell is that about?). Byron Burger has a definite vibe about it; the relaxed atmosphere, great menu and friendly staff make for a very comfortable atmosphere. The trick Byron seems to have mastered is creating a sensation of being in your local burger bar, whereas places like Gourmet Burger have a definite feel of chain restaurant about them.

          Sentiments about chain restaurants/burger bars aside, I visited the bar at Cheapside Shopping Centre, a short walk from St. Paul’s underground station. I went with the missus and we both ordered the self-named Byron Burger (£9.25) which comes with dry cured bacon, cheddar cheese and Byron sauce (similar to the MEATliquor ‘Dead Hippie’ sauce and other similar variants). Despite being perhaps one of the more expensive burgers I’ve eaten so far, it is actually incredibly good value. The burgers are a fairly generous size and there’s no skimping on the toppings or salad; even without fries or onion rings, the burger makes for a filling meal by itself. The bacon has a sweet smoky taste that really compliments the strength of the cheddar that Byron uses. When combined with the beautifully creamy Byron sauce, you have an instant winner. The quality of the meat is impressive, something Byron are keen to show off by cooking all their burgers to a medium level. Really though, this quality is to be expected; owner Tom Byng is not only the founder of Byron, but also a ground beef expert who discovered his passion for Burgers while travelling around the states – what can you expect from someone  with that level of experience?

          Moving on from the main event, we arrive at the fries and onion rings, and, thank god, this week the onion rings are actually worth writing about. The fries were good, pretty much what you would expect a portion of fries to resemble and, for £2.95, the size of which was brilliant (however, as this meaty voyage continues, I can’t help but feel that burger touting establishments are gonna have to start pulling some tricks out of the bag for potato to impress me again). The onion rings (also £2.95) were coated in a light crunchy batter that had a soft and fluffy appearance. They held their shape really well and were basically everything you want onion rings to be. My only regret is that I didn’t manage to get hold of some BBQ sauce – the true test of any onion ring.

          My final mention goes to the wonderfully thick and rich chocolate milkshake (£3.95) that accompanied this wonderful burger experience. Like I’ve come to expect with milkshakes, it didn’t just fill the glass but arrived with a considerable amount left over in the metal shaking container. Needless to say, the whole package rendered the thought of dessert unpleasant – I really was that full. Byron manages to make you feel like you’re in a one off despite the fact that it is in fact a growing franchise, something I feel that a lot of brands don’t manage to do. I’ve mentioned before that places not worth going to simply won’t get a mention in The Burger Diaries; Byron is on here because it really is a good place to eat, and I’d really advise checking it out for yourself.

I went to: Byron, 17 Upper Cheapside Passage, One New Change, London, EC2V 6AG       

              Carnaby Burger Co. is tucked away on Foubert’s Place (which is actually a relatively short walk from Kua’ Aina), only five minutes away from Oxford Circus underground station. You can’t actually miss Burger Co, the bright green exterior shines like a beacon in an otherwise grey setting. I’d actually gone with my friend Alex to round off our brief trip into central London – the holiday shop, though unsuccessful, had resulted in the two of us being incredibly hungry. With any opportunity now an excuse to hit up a burger bar, we walked into Burger Co. after perusing the wonderfully extensive menu outside.

          As per the regular criteria, I opted for the Barbeque Beef Burger (£9.25) and a side of fries (£2.20). The Barbeque Beef at Carnaby Burger Co. comes with the usual salad (lettuce, tomato, red onion etc. etc.) but also bacon, cheese, onion rings and barbeque sauce. The barbeque sauce served with this burger is a delight, though comes in a quantity that may be too much for some. If you’re a fan of hunter’s chicken this is definitely for you. The burger is helped by the bun; instead of soft ‘all-American’ style bread, the ciabatta roll really proves itself in the face of all that moisture. The sauce, the juices from the meat and the mayonnaise, don’t even make a dent on the breads ability to stay together. This is obviously a strength, allowing you to eat your burger with your hands (as nature intended) rather than with a knife and fork. The salad is really good as well; the lettuce crunches because it’s just so fresh, you get the feeling that it’s put on the bun at the very last minute to avoid it wilting and the tomato comes in the form of a massive slice of beef tomato, which in terms of perimeter, is almost the same size as the burger itself.  

          The onion rings. I’ve said my piece on onion rings in the past and you know what I expect. While perfectly edible and tasting like onion, they weren’t great. Truthfully, it was a similar situation to that experienced with The Blues Kitchen – what puzzles me is that culinary skill is so obviously apparent in these venues, with burgers that blow you away, the chefs are more than capable of whipping up some brilliant golden rings. The fries at £2.20 were an absolute steal – you get loads of them. It was actually fortunate that Alex and I opted to share a portion; the burgers themselves are so filling that polishing off a portion of fries each would actually have been pretty difficult.  

                The staff at Burger Co. are very attentive, always making sure that we had drinks and dipping sauces. While this is an excellent feature of any venue, perhaps cool it down a bit once my food’s arrived. It might just be me, and don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the sentiment, but I like to be left to ‘get on’ with it. In the same way that I hate walking into any Hollister because I know I’m going to be asked ‘how I am’ a good dozen times before I leave, I would appreciate being left to eat my burger in peace. That being said, if all staff in all restaurants were as accommodating as these guys, there would be fewer customer complaints in the world.

                The Carnaby Burger Co. is definitely worth checking out, especially if you like your food nicely presented. The burgers are inventive and the menu is very extensive, so you’re bound to find something on there that everyone you’ll like, even that token vegetarian that you’re friends with. Despite the minor let down of the onion rings (I know, you’ve heard all this before) the burgers themselves are absolutely wonderful, with no skimping on the toppings, burger size or salad – these meat behemoths will see you full by the end. So, if you fancy something a little more, well, fancy, then go; you won’t be disappointed.  

Go to: Carnaby Burger Co. 112 – 114 Foubert’s Place, London, Greater London, W1F 7PH

           So, walking through Camden recently, I happened across The Blues Kitchen. Stumbling upon this American-diner style venue in the middle of Camden High Street, I was surprised I’d never noticed it before; although considering I hadn’t discovered The Greedy Cow in two years, perhaps it wasn’t so astonishing. As the image and location appeared pretty funky, I decided that the best time to check it out was when I met up with my friend Sophie (a not-quite vegetarian) when she was visiting in London. The initial impression was a good one - the bar area was not only ornate but ridiculously well stocked. I was already a little bit squiffy when I arrived, having been to a few of Camden’s brilliant cocktail bars beforehand. Being a firm believer in the idea that you should start as you mean to go on, I decided I wanted to order a ‘hard shake’. My reasons for choosing the shake were simple. Firstly, it was in keeping with the Pulp Fiction vibe that was eeking its way out of everything from the bar to the leather upholstery (Mia Wallace famously orders a $5.00 shake). The second reason is that I love milkshakes and I love booze. Therefore, an Oreo milkshake that contains a shot of whiskey is a winner for me, the only problem being that it was so expensive. You see, the shake before the additional alcohol costs £5.00. When you make it a hard shake, you are increasing the cost by at least £2.00, resulting in a price tag that would make Vince Vega squirm in his seat. At least he’d be happy about the bourbon. The splurge wasn’t really much of a problem, though it isn’t the nicest discovery I’ve ever made in a burger bar. The quantity and quality of the shake was brilliant. The only other shame was that the whisky came separately in a shot glass, not shaken in the rest of the drink – the customer participation taking something away from the overall presentation.

            The food itself was mostly really good. Mostly. Upon ordering, I obviously chose the Bacon Cheeseburger, (Sophie, being a bit of a vegetable fan, ordered something not worth mentioning) which, at £11.00, is the most expensive burger I’ve ordered in this series. To be honest, it’s probably the most expensive burger I’ve ordered ever. Higher prices are of course to be expected in more popular parts of London, but when even more centrally located establishments (MEATliquor/Kua’ Aina) are more reasonably priced, you have to ask if the expense is perhaps a little excessive. However, the burger was massive and absolutely smothered in cheese and bacon. The salad in the bun was also plentiful, although there was no sauce in the bun. One thing that the more conservative burger connoisseurs out there may frown upon is that the salad was served on top of the meat, not underneath it. After seeing the size of the burger, I was incredibly glad that we shared a portion of fries (£3.00) and a portion of onion rings (£3.00) between the two of us. Again these were slightly more expensive than other places I’ve been too, but I was willing to let that slide. That is, until, we mention the onion rings. Blues Kitchen, what are you playing at? Did you not read last week’s onion ring guide lines? Processed onion rings are NOT acceptable. And don’t try denying it either, I put hundreds of those frozen morsels of disappointment into a freezer on a weekly basis, I could spot one at a hundred miles. I may have continued to eat just over half the portion, but I would have been much more impressed had the onion rings been handmade, which, when I’m paying £3.00 for a portion and £11.00 for a burger, I expect, nay, demand.

              In truth, The Blues Kitchen in Camden is a fun experience; the alcoholic milkshakes and size of the food portions make the extra cost a little more bearable (I saw someone eating what looked like an oil tanker’s worth of fried chicken) but the rough edges, such as shoddy onion rings that were obviously cooked from frozen, really let the side down. The Blues Kitchen is definitely worth a visit, even if just for the burgers they offer, although if you’re low on cash, you might want to consider dining somewhere else.  

Go to: The Blues Kitchen, 111 – 113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN

Factor #1: Onion rings must be crunchy, not wet or sloppy. The onion ring that can hold its own against the variety of sauces, mustards and ketchups that accompany burgers, especially if arriving inside the bun, is a winner in my book. Sloppy and soggy rings tend to suffer from the inevitable situation where the onion inside the batter is pulled out after the initial bite, leaving the diner with a slither of onion and an unappetizing sludge of not-so-crispy coating. Crispy and crunchy are the watchwords for successful onion rings, and should be remembered as such.

Factor #2: This one may seem obvious, but, onion rings must consist of real onion. I have encountered, both at work and while eating, the most disappointing onion rings known to man; sure, they adhere to the first factor, but the content of each ring is some heretical processed mix that resembles a ‘ring of onion’ as much as a steaming pile of dog shit does. There is no excuse for having a processed onion ring. An establishment will never be slated at The Burger Diaries, but should they bring such paltry offerings as those I have just mentioned, they will come with an onion ring warning. Burger bars, if you’re reading this, you do not want one of those.    

Factor #3: Contrary to what your girlfriends may have told you, size does matter. This goes for onion rings doubly so, especially when the rings are served in the bun as a beautiful golden stack. If they’re too small, inside a burger the problem of balance will occur. If appearing as a side dish, small onion rings should be treated with suspicion – you, the consumer, knows what an onion looks like, you know the size of an onion and how big a normal ring is. Small onion rings, when I have encountered them, are often the detestable processed ones which I have mentioned above. If an onion ring isn’t reminding you of one of the rings of Saturn, prepare yourself for a disappointment.

Factor #4: They must be plentiful. I know how much an onion costs, and it’s about the same price as a single potato. Armed with that knowledge, who is going to accept a small portion of onion rings that is the same price as a big portion of chips? No one. If the onion rings are more expensive than they should be, they’ve probably been bought in (suggesting yet again that they might be one of those rubbish processed ones).

Factor #5: Lastly, though by no means completely necessary, a really good onion ring should be well seasoned. I don’t just mean salt and pepper, though basic seasoning is acceptable; I mean cayenne pepper and paprika, maybe even a little bit of ground cumin. Batter or breadcrumb doesn’t make a big difference, but a little bit of extra seasoning goes a long way to making a good portion of onion rings a great one. Later on in this burger voyage, I’ll rank the onion rings that are offered by each burger bar I visit. Should that mean I have to go and sample them all again, I don’t think it will bother me too much. 

Next week I’ll be looking at the Blues Kitchen in Camden, with the review being published on Tuesday as normal - catch you later Burger Fans.

                  So, a few weeks ago I visited a burger restaurant (basically bar, just with steak on the menu) called ‘The Greedy Cow’. Situated just off of Mile End Road, I hadn’t really expected much; the host of questionable chicken shops in the surrounding area does nothing to help Mile End’s food image. This is perhaps one of the greatest lessons of ‘never judging a book by its cover’ that I will ever experience. Ever. Instead of substandard presentation and bad food, The Greedy Cow gives all it can. The options for burgers are extensive; completely customisable, you can choose between chicken, beef and vegetarian and then add any of a multitude of toppings and sauces. I ended up ordering a beef burger (£6.50) with cheese (+£1.15), bacon (+£1.15) and béarnaise sauce (+£0.95), which was incredible. Such is the quality of the beef used in the burgers that the béarnaise sauce goes extremely well with it – the only disappointment was that it wasn’t smothered over the burger but served in a separate pot. I’m a firm believer that a burger should come in a package, much like an easy holiday, so it would have been much preferred for the burger and sauce to come as one. However, once I got over my initial laziness and spread the sauce over the burger, I ended up with a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The salad was pretty good too; a thick slice of beef tomato with iceberg lettuce and a squirt of mayo did its job just fine. Realistically speaking it’s quite hard to get excited about salad ever – if it was possible this might be called the veggie diaries instead, but its not.        

                Now, one of the things that makes me so quick to judge shoddy burgers and crap side dishes is that I happen to work in a burger joint. That’s why if it is obvious that an onion ring or a burger is frozen I will be incredibly scathing; I know how cheap and rubbish they really are (not that I’ll ever publish a bad review – if a place is awful it simply won’t get a mention). The Greedy Cow however has nothing to worry about. If the burger was good then the onion rings were phenomenal. These absolutely huge rings come encased in a batter so crunchy that you can actually snap them in half (true story). One criticism? There were simply not enough in a portion. The same went for the fries too. These two sides were £2.75 and £2.95 respectively, which, considering the portion size, was actually quite expensive. With the fries, for example, there is no mountain of potato like you might expect in another burger bar, but rather a portion of exactly cut chips. Luckily, the burger itself is filling enough to make sure that you leave feeling satisfied, rather than empty.

                One of the things that The Greedy Cow offers that I really, really should have tried was the Wagyu beef burger. For those of you who don’t know what Wagyu beef is, it is, reportedly, the finest beef in the world. Bred in Japan, these cows live the life of luxury in heated barns, drinking beer and being massaged before being served up on a plate. On one website I looked at, they were selling this magical meat for £180.00 per kilo. So, when The Greedy Cow was offering a sample for only £9.95, I almost certainly should have taken it (following my enthusiasm concerning The Greedy Cow, one of my housemates has paid it a visit and subsequently eaten a Wagyu beef burger; to say he loved it is an understatement).    

                The Greedy Cow is probably the best place to eat in Mile End, the only other options being a Nandos or a Wetherspoons. Of the three, The Greedy Cow is the interesting and therefore obvious choice to go for. The seating is perhaps a little bit cramped but the staff are fantastic, so you barely even notice. If you’re ever in the east end you should give it a go, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. 

Go to: The Greedy Cow, 2 Grove Road, London, Greater London, E3 5AX

                Now, as I’m sure you’ve gathered from last week’s review, I appreciate a good burger. I also love Pulp Fiction. So when I discovered a Hawaiian burger joint, with a name that wasn’t a million miles from the infamous ‘Big Kahuna Burger’, I had to go and check it out. Upon arrival at Kua ‘Aina (pronounced ‘Koo-a Eye-na’) you essentially come face to face with a beach shack that has fallen into the middle of central London. Seeing as it is currently supposed to be summer, the beach décor was a nice touch that momentarily made London feel just a little less washed out.  

                The food service is similar to that you would find in a pub; you go in, you find a table, look at the menu and then order at the bar. I don’t begrudge this in the slightest, though I imagine there are those out there who would much prefer a sit down table service. The menu is different in a good way, consisting of an array of grilled sandwiches and burgers. Being a bit of a purist/boring bastard, I opted against the pineapple burger. I’m not against fruit and meat, and again, I am sure there are people who would love to try a good pineapple burger but for me, the relationship between beef and tropical fruit is very much the case of never the twain shall meet. Or is that meat? Anyway, instead, I ordered a bacon cheeseburger (£7.95) and some sweet potato wedges (£2.45). Tom went for the avocado burger (£7.20) with regular fries (£1.95). Milkshakes and onion rings being absent from the menu meant that for this week, those two criteria don’t get a mention. I don’t mind though, Kua ‘Aina clearly has an idea of what it’s about and sticks to the food that it wants to feature, not merely omitting the two of them in a lackadaisical manner. Both burger meals came with a carrot stick garnish – the fresh taste of the carrot was a nice change from the usual taste of pickle. I opted for a coke instead, though thinking about it now, I probably should have gone for a Sprite (being the Pulp Fiction geek that I am).     

                When the food turned up after almost no waiting, I was delighted by the burger size. Kua ‘Aina offers you a choice between a third or half pound burger, I went for the former and was left suitably stuffed. There is no skimping on the salad or burger toppings, and the bun, which is topped with seeds other than just sesame seeds, is delicious. The bread does falter under the strain of the meat slightly, but not to the extreme that bread from Subway disintegrates with contact from absolutely anything.  The burger itself was a classic, especially with the bacon and cheese combination (though here is where I would have normally loved an onion ring; still not complaining though). Tom’s fries were good, nothing to write home about but good. The sweet potato wedges however were not only different but exciting and really tasty. The texture of the sweet potato meant that the inside of the wedges were soft and creamy, instead of fluffy, though the outside was crunchy as normal. The taste was just as good, although I had no idea what to dip them into – tomato sauce wasn’t working the magic it normally does with regular chips.

                I really enjoyed my meal at Kua ‘Aina. If I was going to be one of those critics, I might say that the burger was not as good as that I had at MEATliquor, but that would be a case of excessive nit picking. The food was delicious and the casual atmosphere made the whole experience an enjoyable one. The only thing that I would definitely criticize was the seating; Kua ‘Aina is small and the seating is expectedly cramped. However, the great burger and sweet potato wedges more than made up for this fact. So, if you want to enjoy a burger in a seriously relaxed location, Kua ‘Aina is definitely worth going to.

Go to: 26 Foubert’s Place, City of Westminster, W1F 7PP

               It’s summer time and once again the Great British weather is typically British and not so great. The irony that barbeque (and therefore burger) season coincides with consistent bad weather has finally driven me to seek solace in London’s burger bars. At least that means I won’t get wet waiting for my food. With this in mind, I have decided to write about my numerous visitations to the burger bars that dot London. The rules of each review are thus:

1. Each order must consist of at least a Beef burger, fries and onion rings.
2. The burger bar visited can NOT be from a big chain - sorry GBK.
3. Lastly, where possible one milk shake must be ordered for that iconic Pulp Fiction feel.  

                Hidden away on Welbeck Street is a not-so-secret burger bar, the popularity of which seems to know no bounds. Two things about MEATliquor; firstly, it’s been built up inside a disused car park at the back of Oxford Street and secondly, unless you’re lucky, you will have to queue – potentially for a long time. The website clearly states that they do not take any reservations; it doesn’t matter who you are, if there is a queue, you are politely asked to join the back of it. No exceptions. Still, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – once you’re inside you instantly feel like you’ve been welcomed in to the under belly of burger bar culture. Plus, as it doesn’t stop serving food until eleven pm Monday to Thursday, and one am Friday to Saturday, it’s very unlikely that you won’t get a table.

                 The starters I had were much more like sharers, such is the quantity brought to your table. The Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip (£5.00) seem almost never ending, and if you order with another ‘starter’ could almost certainly be shared between three and four people. The sauce coating the wings is fiery and slightly tart, but combined with the blue cheese dip the end result is brilliant, the deep creaminess of the cheese extinguishing some of the heat of the spice, allowing the flavours to really show themselves off. The Chilli Cheese Fries (also £5.00) are similarly huge. Imagine a seriously tasty plate of nachos with chilli meat sauce but replace the tortilla chips with French fries, and you won’t be far off.  

                Obviously the burgers are the main event and they certainly don’t disappoint. A few months ago I chose the Philly Cheesesteak (£8.00) which was delicious. The shaved steak combined with diced onions, jalapeños and copious amounts of cheese was a fantastic mix – I cannot stress how well all the flavours work together here. My girlfriend, Hollie, has always picked the Dead Hippie (£7.50), which is a double burger with MEATliquor’s Dead Hippie sauce, a creamy concoction that isn’t a million miles away from a 1000 Island dressing. The fact that she’s ordered it three out three times is surely a testament to just how damn tasty this burger is. Although I loved the Philly Cheesesteak, the burger I’ve tried most recently was the Bacon Cheeseburger, which at £7.00 is a steal. Not only is it a classic, it’s rich and filling, leaving you totally satisfied. The burgers are served in fantastic bread which is soft and doughy without being overly floury. The combination of mustard and ketchup in the burgers works brilliantly with meat, keeping it moist and flavoursome. Obviously you can request that they are omitted, but you would be lacking a certain taste punch if you did.

                The liquor element of MEATliquor is similarly exciting, sporting a wide range of cocktails, some of which are served in traditional jam jars. They range from £7.00 - £8.50, with the House Grog being the obvious choice – if you don’t fancy a cocktail, beers and wine are also available, as are soft drinks if you don’t fancy anything alcoholic. One flaw in the MEATliquor menu is that there is not a milkshake in sight – a bewildering exclusion considering how famous a partnership burger bars and milkshakes usually are.

                MEATliquor is a fantastic burger bar, with a niche target audience. The decoration inside is extreme and vibrant, as is the not-so background music, with elements of gore in the form of bright red paint spatters. This is a place for meat fans and probably not for vegetarians. Families with young children will also want to give it a miss, with under 16s not being allowed in after six pm anyway. However, for anyone else it is an absolute dream, a heady mix of burgers and booze, expertly made and brought to you with speedy and attentive service. Definitely worth checking out next time you happen to be in London.

Go to: MEATliquor, 74 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0BA