Meat Liquor, Marylebone

I must admit I felt pretty cool and smug arriving at Meat Liquor, the restaurant of the moment, which only weeks after opening already has a cult following. A queue on the street will now become a familiar sight for locals, a 'begging for burgers' look in their eyes.

Owner Yianni Papoutsis brings us the best burgers in town. Originating from a van, to a pop-up in New Cross and now a restaurant in Marylebone, he has certainly upped the steaks (!!). This dark dive is located beneath a hellish multi-storey car park, animal head murals are painted beautifully on the walls, lighting is very minimal, cables hang precariously and there is a mysterious red neon glow cast over the restaurant. It mimics the hip New York diners, and with the drawl of the Johnny Cash soundtrack is certainly all American inside.

Meat Liquor serves two of my favourite things: cocktails and burgers, and I savoured every mouthful. Keeping the menu simple they truly produce the best of both. A few starters including Deep fried Pickles with Blue Cheese dip and Buffalo Wings. There are two token “rabbit food” options, for those poor vegetarians who have come along with their meat hungry friends. And the main event: nine burgers are on offer, we chose:

DEAD HIPPIE – 2x Patty, sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions

MUSHROOM SWISS – 2x Patty, Swiss, Cheese, Shrooms etc

BACON CHEESEBURGER – Bacon. Cheese. Meat. Bread.

The burgers are extreme and delicious, the type of food you want to gobble in one go. They are so perfectly compiled that there is no need for extra seasoning, ketchup, mayo, it is just right as it is. Silence fell over our table as we devoured ours. The bun, which I often leave, is thin, soft and light. The meat, all cooked medium-well (unless you specify otherwise) is juicy and flavoursome. Topped with squares of cheese that is gooey and yummy, with vinegary pickles adding a kick.

Chips are not dissimilar to the McDonalds variety - extra thin, crispy and salted, seriously moreish and in a word, divine. Onion rings are light and airy, crisp and crunchy, sweet and delicious. Food is served on lined trays for easy eating and quick clearing; large kitchen rolls are placed on the tables for mopping greasy hands and mouths.

The cocktail list is intriguing and inventive. The drinks are made by hip barman who shouts across the restaurant when service is needed: “LIQUOR!” We couldn’t help but giggle each time. I tried the Silver Angel, a vodka based cocktail with peach and passion fruit, served straight up with a little fizz, it was fruity and delicious. My friends tried Henrietta Fizz which is served in a jam jar and has a real citrusy twist and St Thomas which is sweet and sour made with Bombay Sapphire gin, fresh lime, pink grapefruit and Aperol sugar.

When is the food is so good, expectations are high, and the service could have been better. Waitresses are lovely enough, though slope around in a cool manner, perhaps not as efficient as they could be. We had to wait nearly an hour for our food after ordering… we didn’t mind too much, the speculation and excitement for what was to come only increased, but a rather smarter couple behind us, enquired furiously about why they STILL didn’t have their food after a 25 minute wait. I felt too lucky, actually to be inside with a table, to complain.

You will have to queue, when we left at 3pm on a Saturday, the long queue was snaking right round the building. And be warned Meat Liquor is open only Tuesday – Saturday 12-2, no reservations. It cost us £18 each for a burger, side and cocktail. Amazing.

MEAT LIQUOR website here.

Bistro du Vin - the best burger in London?

While in New York I spent some time in search of the best burger in town. They varied in price and style enormously, with all kinds of toppings and accompaniments. I came back with an enriched understanding of this popular fast food. However, if I was asked about the best burger in London I wouldn’t know where to start, what establishment to nominate. Black and Blue does exceptionally well rounded burger courses; Chiswick farmer's market do the freshest juiciest lamb burger ever, and Opera Tavern conjure up the yummiest mini burgers - a divine mix of Iberico pork and foie gras. The winner would depend on your preferences: how you like it cooked, the importance of the chip quality, which burger fillings you consider to be essential.

I was offered the chance to assess the burgers at Bistro du Vin, where they pride themselves on offering guests a cooking preference for their burgers which will keep the Food Standards Agency content, but without detracting from the great taste and dining experience. We each ordered one each, mine was cooked medium-well and my friend opted for medium-rare.

Delivered to us on rustic wooden boards, with an adorable little copper pan of mild chilli dressing they certainly looked like posh, high calibre burgers: stacked high with a combination of delicious components (bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion) and kept together with a cocktail stick. You could immediately tell that the Donald Russell sourced beef is of exceptionally high quality. The chips are majestically presented in a golden cone, which slots into a groove on the board showing that this burger experience has certainly been well thought through.

Bistro du Vin use a Josper Grill which allows them to cook their meat to perfection, and we found that the colour and tenderness exactly met each of our requests: mine was firm with a slightly charred edge but still juicy, with only a hint of red. The medium-rare was more crumbly round the outside with a deep pink and flavoursome interior. The brioche bun was nicely toasted to prevent any unwanted sogginess and the textures were perfectly balanced with the crispest crunchiest lettuce and onion and a sweet red tomato slice.

Priced at £14.50, it seems quite expensive for a burger, but considering that for that you also receive a large portion of chips and a separate dish of dipping sauce, I feel it is justified.

Apparently officially the Bistro burger is rated 8th best in London, though from my experience I would rate it much higher. This is a burger that not only exceeds expectations in all the necessary criteria but one that succeeds in suiting any requirement, cooked to perfection every time.

Visit the Bistro du Vin website here.

Opera Tavern Restaurant

Tapas is a tricky style of cooking to get right. I rarely feel satisfied by it, too greasy, or bland, and little variation. However I must congratulate ‘Opera Tavern’ for cracking the problem with their supreme menu of delightful dishes. The restaurant is located in Covent Garden amongst the theatres, and opened in January, only a few months ago. They already have a keen following and are fully booked most nights. Get there early to snatch one of the first-come-first-served bar places, which is how I managed to eat here a few nights ago.

The mini Iberico pork and fois gras burger seems to be the most enticing treat on the menu - I’ve read reviews that only talk about this signature dish! It is absolutely sensational, arranged in a little toasted bun with sweet onions, a lettuce leaf and a touch of creamy aioli... I devoured it within seconds. It is always best to have too little, and be left wanting more - Opera Tavern’s mini burgers left me wanting so much more I had to order another after finishing the main course.

Other divine dishes include: chargrilled chicken with chorizo, curly kale and Jerusalem artichokes... a delicious mix of fresh ingredients, stacked in sizzling red chorizo jus. Spring green vegetables with ricotta gnocchi, wild garlic pesto and pinenuts is a healthy accompaniment that is packed full of flavour and contrasting textures. We also enjoyed the fried young artichokes with poached egg and a smoked garlic and shallot vinaigrette. Each plate is small, and costs about £5/6 so you can have as few or many as you want. Be warned, you WILL get serious food envy as you watch other choices being delivered to adjacent diners.

I was quite full after our selection of savouries, but too tempted by the dessert menu to resist so my companion and I shared the pannacotta with Clementine sorbet and blood orange granita. It was without doubt the best dessert I have ever tasted (I have tasted a LOT of desserts). Beautifully presented in a glass with curly, icing sugar dusted biscuits to accompany. The silky homemade pannacotta is flavoured lightly with vanilla pod and is creamy without feeling to heavy and rich. On top sits a delicate ball of melting pale orange sorbet, sweet with a touch of citrus, shards of brighter red granita sparkling through, a unique and exceptional combination.

When we left at 7.30 the sun was still shining bright, so we strolled back to the car and reminisced about the perfect evening. I absolutely loved everything about Opera Tavern, I think it might just become my new pre-theatre hang out.

Visit website and book here.

Chain Restaurants in London - Black and Blue and Del'Aziz

Inside Del'Aziz

Sometimes you just want comfort food... but where to go?

On the rare occasion I feel like eating somewhere other than my beloved Pizza Express, I turn to good London chains such as Black and Blue and Del'Aziz.

On Saturday stood in front of Kensington Church Street's top burger joint, my brother and I pondered for a while why Black and Blue's facade was not designed in black and blue but instead, annoyingly, green and silver. This restaurant is a simple but classic burger chain, with six branches across London it has quickly grown in popularity. The menu is clear with a select choice of burgers and a few salads, all you need from such a place. (It irritates me when I am offered a million different dishes at a burger restaurant, if you want a good burger go somewhere that has little else on the menu.)

The ingredients are fresh and the meat high quality. The chips are, I would say about a 7 out of 10 (a high rating considering the perfect chip is almost impossible to find!) I had a delicious bacon & cheese burger and for dessert four of us shared one portion of the peach and champagne sorbet - delicious and palate-freshening after the rich meal.

Another chain I recently discovered, at Westfield is Del'Aziz which advertises itself as an Eastern Mediterranean deli and restaurant. They serve light, flavoursome food with great sharing plates. The best thing about the restaurant is the fabulous entertainment they put on every night. A resident belly dancer dances amongst diners and sometimes they have folk musicians or flamenco to get you in the Med mood.