Reviews Meat And Shake

Now who doesn’t love a good American BBQ place? There are some brilliant ones in London, Bodeans has always been one of our faves. This weekend we tried out a new local one, which we’d been meaning to check out for a while – Meat & Shake. The name pretty much does what it says on the tin – meat and milkshakes!

Oh my goodness what a treat I heard about this place from a friend and she raved about it so had to try. The dirty fries were delicious chilli con carne cheese covered naughtiness and the meat was fantastic only problem with the who dish was the bread straight out a plastic packet if only it was fresh baked or at least rustic. The desert of deep fried Oreos and caramel sauce and we asked for honey two. Killed me diet out the window with no regrets after that. Funny story of the night our waiter took a liking to my boyfriend and literally pushed his arse cheek into his face nearly sitting on his shoulder my boyfriend was no pleased the say the least so beware potential attack of the face via the butt 😄

Travelled from North London for this. Nice burgers, nice milkshakes and good service. Downside - can't reserve a table. Lovely dine out experience. I would go again if I lived in South London but I wouldn't drive there again especially

Meat & Shake is the relatively new kid on Tooting’s block (opened August 2013), taking over the site where an Indian restaurant stood before, and another before that. It’s a clever location - I believe the next closest burger joint might be in Clapham (Byron - “opening soon” said the board last time I was there). More importantly, they know their market - the menu is fully halal. I suspect the local Muslim community welcomed with open arms a new place to eat that wasn’t Nando’s or food from the Indian sub-cont

I came here not so long ago, perhaps sometime last month. When we arrived we were EXTRA hungry! I drove there in about 45 minutes and almost missed it as it was a discreet looking place on the main road. When we walked up near the enterance we took a glance through the window to see if we could taste the food with our eyes. The place was empty but we made the brave decision to go inside. In fairness, it was a weekday at half three during the school run time. Once inside we were greeted and sat down. I ordered the "Smoking Bandit" burger and "Dirty Fries". The food was on our table fairly quickly and within ten minutes or so.

When the burger was served, I took off the cover and out came a whole load of smoke. Which was quite amusing as a rattle would be to a baby. The burger consited of a Beef patty, cheddar, fried onions, mayo, tomato, lettuce and Turkey bacon. I really did enjoy the burger and was able to taste every flavour within. The Dirty Fries were smothered in chilli concarne, cheese and Jalapenos. I just couldn't finish the fries! The food was great. The price of the burger was average-ish costing £9.80. However, it felt wrong to pay £5.80 for fries that were just a well decorated XL portion.

Some constructive critcism: Perhaps the menu should have stated that the "Dirty Fries" was an XL portion or to share between two. That would make sense with the price and portion.

The Halal: Meat and Shake serves all quality halal produce. The beef is dry aged by 35 days and sourced from Macken bros of Selfridges London. No alcohol or pork is served on the premises.

The Place: They say their burgers are bonafide.. And they’re not wrong. It’s a bit of a trek all the way to Tooting but definitely worth the journey. I’d heard a lot about Meat and Shake and was so happy to hear it’s halal. You can tell that the staff are very passionate about burgers. The interior is styled like an American diner: leather booths and wooden furniture. There is an impressive light installation on an exposed brick wall giving the place a cool retro vibe. Service is friendly and efficient. The waiters use iPads to transmit order information to the kitchen which means there is no delay in receiving your meal.

The Food: The menu is impressive to say the least. There are more than a dozen burgers; mainly beef but there are also lamb, chicken and veggie! And remember everything is halal! (Sigh) Burger heaven. There are also some very impressive looking loaded hot dogs but we were pumped about the burgers so gave these a miss on this occasion.

The burgers are themed: the American ‘Joe Shmoe’, the truffle burger, the von Longhorn with turkey bacon, and Stanton sauce, the ‘Johnny’ with Swiss cheese and creamy mushrooms.

The ‘Luchador’ was a Mexican-inspired burger with nachos, guacamole, jalapeños and sour cream. The burger was an immense pile-on of ingredients and very tasty though the tortillas did not add much to the mix.

The ‘Smokin bandit’ burger was a special treat. The burger contains smoked bacon and smokey chipotle and the entire burger comes within a smoking glass cloche! There was an intense smokey flavour and the spectacle was a unique experience for sure!

The sliders or mini-burgers came in a cute trio. Each one with a different cheese or flavour: Stanton, smokey and blue cheese.

The burger patties are all cooked pink or medium unless you ask for them to be cooked differently. Unfortunately the ribs and pulled rib burgers were not available on the day we visited which was a real shame. Sides like rosemary fries and sweet potato fries were perfect accompaniments.

The milkshakes were pure gluttony! They came in large ice cold glasses containing nearly a litre of Shake. These really should come with a health warning! Some interesting flavours to choose from like the creme brûlée infused with basil and this is flamed at the table. Apple pie, rhubarb and custard, peanut butter, banana and brownie are just a few other liquid surprises!

There is also an extensive list of non-alcoholic beers and wines if you’re looking for a more refined experience.

The Price: When you consider the amount of food you’re getting, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised when the bill arrives. These are high end burgers and for a full meal you’re looking at around £15-20 per person.

The Verdict: Meat and Shake is burger perfection. I really cannot say anymore. I was hugely impressed and would recommend it to everyone!

If you're planning to come here book a table in advance. The food was really good and worth the wait (I waited an hour, it was that busy!!). The staff are friendly and welcoming, its got a nice busy atmosphere little bit tight for space. They have a smokey burger which I didn't order but it has that wow factor when they bring it to you.

“The burger is omnipotent and irresistible, it can never be weakened.”

A bit god-like, is that. But the rousing burger-inspired quotes on the Meat & Shake website aren’t far wrong. Burgers are still here. This meaty tide has yet to subside. Perhaps - along with cockroaches - they would be the only things left after a nuclear war; the bloody things just won’t die.

“If everything else fails, the burger will still stand”.

I don’t doubt it.

It’s just as well I quite like them, then. Meat & Shake is the relatively new kid on Tooting’s block (opened August 2013), taking over the site where an Indian restaurant stood before, and another before that.

It’s a clever location - I believe the next closest burger joint might be in Clapham (Byron - “opening soon” said the board last time I was there, and Haché). More importantly, they know their market - the menu is fully halal. I suspect the local Muslim community welcomed with open arms a new place to eat that wasn’t Nando’s or food from the Indian sub-continent.

It’s not a huge place, and I know how busy Tooting (Bec) can get. They also don’t take reservations, so I suspect any qualms will be around waiting for a table. Go a little either side of the usual eating times - 2pm on a Saturday and there were two tables free on arrival, it quietened down soon after.

They’ve gone for a casual American diner feel with leather booths and a sign illuminated with bare light bulbs. But there’s also a little refinement found in the large and heavy menus (for a burger place), and the addition of edible flowers and chefy slashes of sauce with your meal. The latter is entirely superfluous, but I appreciate the effort to be a little different.

The sourcing is solid. All the meat is free range and from Macken Brothers. Beef is dry-aged for a minimum of 35 days, ground daily and made into patties to order. And the meat offerings stretch far beyond what you can find between a bun - think lafayette wings, steak, slow-cooked sticky ribs and dogs.

Wave the hint of truffle under my nose and I will order it, even if it comes on a Spontex J-cloth. There is always the risk though, that ordering something with white truffle mayo and a honey and truffle glaze can be too potent.

But the Truffle Shuffle (“hey you guys!”) was spot on, with melted Gruyère to boot. Patty pink in the middle with juices escaping as I cut, the whole assembly as sloppy as you like - my burger preference. The brioche bun - shiny, plump and fluffy - provided a perfect medium to mop up the mayo and dark sticky glaze; there are few things worse than bun left over with nothing for it to do (£7.90).

How I am with truffle, the other half is with blue cheese; “There’s proper blue cheese in this - I just got a bit of wheel rind” - a good sign. The Pepé Le Pew, also with aioli, red onions, walnuts and soft caramelised pear, was better than a similar offering he’d had at a much more well-known burger joint in town, he said (£8.50).

Dirty Fries (enough for two) looked like a toddler had gone mental in a Little Chef, but they were good. Chips topped with chilli con carne with nice fat kidney beans, sour cream, a stringy mess of melted cheese, slashes of mustard and generous helpings of jalapenos, which is always nice to see. I’d put them on a different plate though - it looks too busy (£5.50).

The coleslaw was a little disappointing and mostly left - too watery. Thicken up the mayo dressing and add a bit of Dijon would be my advice (£2.50). The side of gherkins were three fat piquant whoppers, so that was good (£1.90).

Shakes take up a whole page, with flavour combinations enticing enough to draw me back alone - fig and cinnamon, coconut and mango, stem ginger with lemon and honey, peanut butter with banana and brownies. But salted caramel was there and we all know how impossible that is to ignore. So it was ordered, delivered in a frozen metal vessel, and very much enjoyed (£5).

In an effort to boost my calorie credit before gorging, I walked over 2 miles to get to Meat & Shake from my house; I likely would again. A solid Tooting eatery and great to see on my local dining scene. I hear they have plans to expand - if I were them, I’d stick to neighbourhoods crying out for good burgers, rather than trying to compete with the well-established heavyweights up town.

Keep a hungry eye on these guys.

Liked lots: burger sloppy-ness, shakes, it's local to me
Likes less: coleslaw
Good for: good burgers that you don't have to go in town for, getting adventurous with the shakes, halal-seekers

My rating: 3.5/5

What: Burger Joint

Where: near Tooting Broadway St

Value: £25pp
Review: The latest restaurant to hit the gourmet burger craze is Meat and Shake.
The decor aims to please a younger crowd by including bespoke pieces and that to rival that in soho.
The drinks menu includes super thick american-style milkshakes ( which are difficult to finish) and non-alcoholic beer.
Theres a wide range of novelty burgers, including a smoking burger complete with smoke under a glass cover, and an all-in-one decadent burger, with a little bit of everything. To complete the american diner experience, hot dogs and sticky ribs are available. However, although the burger is complemented with salad and fries, the burger is a little on the small side ( american style, should be american portioning?).
Location Review: The restaurant is situated amongst a busy road full of takeaways, however nothing similar to this. The interior has a american young vibe with its alternate interior decor. 

Positives: you like trying out the latest craze, good burgers, thick shakes
Negatives: no dessert, expensive


3 words: trendy, americanised, indulgent

Visited here on Sunday afternoon, it was relatively quiet with a few other families already seated. We came in and were immediately shown to our table, we had not booked in advance. There were 6 of us and we were given a booth which was comfortable enough for all of us to sit. Menus were already on the table and after a short while we had decided on what we wanted and ordered our meals. Turn around time was actually quicker than I was expecting. They first served the starters we had ordered and then within a few minutes everyone had their meals on the table. Food presentation was excellent, everything looked fresh and smelt delicious. Without question, the food was delicious. Tasty and flavorful meat, good portion sizes and delivered to the table on wooden boards which added to the authenticity of the place. We ordered two meals from the kids menu, two from the lunch menu and two burgers. Additionally we ordered a sharing starter and a side of battered onion rings. We also ordered churros for dessert. Total cost for 6 of us to eat to our fill and possibly more was about £64. Just over £10 per head. There are a couple of reasons I have dropped a star. Firstly, there is a problem with the front door, it doesn't shut properly unless you really push it closed. Because of this, there is always a draft of cold air running through. The staff were always trying to close the door but as delivery drivers and customers came and went, the door would inevitably be left ajar. Finally, I dropped a star because the churros did not taste as good as they should have. They were quite hard, even on the inside which was a bit of a disappointment after such great food. But we will chalk this to a one off. Other than that, cannot fault the place. Good staff, good food, good service. Well done!

One of the best burgers I’ve had. The patties really bring out the flavour of the meat. Juicy, and not over cooked or dry. I always say that burger buns can make or break a burger, and the buns here were perfect. The quality of food is really great and the portion sizes are so generous, it's definitely my best spot for burgers and for steak. I also noticed the hygiene and cleanliness was amazing, which is also a huge factor for me. I met the owner, who is so lovely and the service was super super friendly which I loved. Overall, 10/10 and a must try: rib and cheese burger!

I have been coming to this restaurant for many years and have always been impressed with the food and service. I normally order either the rib and cheese burger or the steak filet with a large shake. If there’s one thing you must try go for the shakes. Prices compared to other places are very reasonable and the manager Roger is easy going and sorts out any problems with a smile. Only criticism some items in the menu are always out of stock.

Love this place and always try to stop by when in South London. High quality ingredients, well priced & loads of great burger options but recommend the smoking bandit. Ribs are also tiptop, v friendly staff + they do a good value lunch. Get yourselves there!!

My 1st visit and I was very impressed. The service was great and we were easily accommodated. A Brillliant menu. Yummy Link sausages, and my burger and fries were delicious. Real proper beef and hot crispy fries. Will definitely be attending again to try one of the varied items on the menu. The food was lovely.

The place looks nice and decorated to look like an American establishment. We had the wings as a starter, portions were huge! We got the six wings no knowing that wings here are the full sized ones, they were just cooked and I would prefer a strong spice on the wing. The rib was lovely and so was the dirty fries, the steak was decent, a bit on the dry side and was cooked more than I asked. The waitress was nice but the place is pricey more than it deserves

Lovely and welcoming, especially as we had 2 prams and accommodated us really well. Excellent portions, fantastic food (milkshake was one of the best Ive had very thick, burger was lovely and well garnished and the seasoned chips were very tasty), exceptional service and overall a lovely experience 👌