It is somewhat easy to forget MEATmarket with all the fuss around both MEATliquor and MEATmission, but while both of those are still destination restaurants with, as we recently discovered at the mission, evolving menus, the market offers burgers for those on the go, and sometimes that is just what you need. With less than half an hour ahead of an appointment in Covent Garden, we had insufficient time for a proper sit down meal and we remembered MEATmarket was nearby and it became an obvious choice, the real advantage being the turnaround time. Choose what you want from the board, order and pay, and while there's a few minutes wait for the food to be cooked, there's no fussing and as soon as you finish, it's waste in the bin and off you go. The turnaround time offers a valuable string to the bow then, and late on a mid week lunch time, we found not only no queue, but a relatively empty restaurant also.
Foodwise, most readers of this blog will know what to expect from the group. A Chili-Dog was exceptional, the quality of the chili surprisingly good, certainly many steps above what you'd normally find at this price point and in a fast turnaround restaurant, but this of course is the secret to the group's success, the food is born of love and care. The Dead Hippie too was MEATgroup on top form with bun, patty and toppings deliciously meting into a well judged singularity. But what I think I love most about MEATmarket is the milkshakes. Today it was a 'Hard Beige', which against what I assume is a vanilla base, they add maple syrup and Woodford Reserve Bourbon which leads to something magical, just a shame they don't supersize it.
MEATmission is our closest, for MEATliquer there's always a soft spot, but for MEATmarket, a venue within walking distance of so many places you might reasonably find yourself, the ability to be well fed, quickly, for not much money is rare and wonderful thing. In that sense, and within London, MEATmarket brings something important and uncommon to the table. We loved it all over again.
Foodwise, most readers of this blog will know what to expect from the group. A Chili-Dog was exceptional, the quality of the chili surprisingly good, certainly many steps above what you'd normally find at this price point and in a fast turnaround restaurant, but this of course is the secret to the group's success, the food is born of love and care. The Dead Hippie too was MEATgroup on top form with bun, patty and toppings deliciously meting into a well judged singularity. But what I think I love most about MEATmarket is the milkshakes. Today it was a 'Hard Beige', which against what I assume is a vanilla base, they add maple syrup and Woodford Reserve Bourbon which leads to something magical, just a shame they don't supersize it.
MEATmission is our closest, for MEATliquer there's always a soft spot, but for MEATmarket, a venue within walking distance of so many places you might reasonably find yourself, the ability to be well fed, quickly, for not much money is rare and wonderful thing. In that sense, and within London, MEATmarket brings something important and uncommon to the table. We loved it all over again.