Harden's says
Another branch for the expanding 'MEAT' family - which includes Brixton's CHICKENliquor; this branch is inside Queensway's historic ice rink complex.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“The Dead Hippy burger is a dirty, dirty legend” – the best-named burger on British menus and “if not the easiest burger to eat definitely the tastiest” (especially when chased down by a boozy “hard shake”) – at the “cool” chain founded 15 years ago by Scott Collins and Yianni Papoutsis. The expansion of recent years seems to have ground to a halt with the closure of branches in Boxpark Croydon and Clapham Old Town, with a new strategy based around boosting sales via a national network of delivery kitchens launched in 2023. Top Tip – “root beer is available if you want a bit of real Americana!”
Summary
“Dead hippie sauce is a must” at these “very loud” operations, which “remain at the head of the gourmet burger pack” for many fans with “lots of options available”. After 14 years of growth from a food van to a national chain with 10 venues in the capital, they “don’t seem to have lost their way yet”. “The dark and grungy ersatz New Orleans interior vibe” is of the love-it-or-hate-it variety.
Summary
“Glorious burgers and great music in grungy surroundings” – this punk-inspired dirty burger operation “has many imitators now – but it’s still the best” for its diehard devotees. A decade after making the transition from a food van to a permanent site, the chain now has nine venues in the capital. If the excitement of its early years has dimmed a little, its food ratings continue to shine: “Dead Hippie burger, deep-fried mac’n’cheese, salted caramel brownie – is that not a perfect (heart-stopping) indulgent meal?”
Summary
“Irreverent pop-art-meets-punk surrounds” are the hallmark of this cult chain, home of the ‘Dead Hippie’ burger, washed down with ‘Grog’ (“powerful rum cocktails”), showcased by a new West End flagship just off Oxford Circus. “I thought I might be bored with yet another dirty burger-style place, but these are so good” for “when you need a ‘filthy’ treat” that’s “tasty as hell” (and, moreover, “much better than GBK, Byron and so on”).
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at MEATliquor?
Restaurant details
Opening hours
Last orders: 10.30 pm, Fri & Sat 11.30 pm
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