For more info, visit: http://grandunionbars.com. Check out pics from our recent visit below! 

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Well, it’s legendary status in New York has understandably peaked the interest of ex-pats and burger lovers, despite coming into an arena already heaving with every kind of burger outlet you can think of. So if you’re after a meal that will trump some of the finest in town and absolutely blow your mind, you won’t quite get that here. However, what you will get is pretty darn good meal that prides itself on freshness, in fanciful surroundings (gotta love Covent Garden!) and presented with a neatness that adds to the novelty of a fast food-cum-bougie burger bar.

The Shack Burger is a simple, compact sandwich that can come as a double and is served with the softest bun we’ve ever tasted – so a definite  thumbs up for that. But we preferred the super tasty Shack-cago dog, and it’s lavish dressing of relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard.

Add to that a side of awesome crinkle fries washed down with a shake-made lemonade and you can see why Shake Shack’s quite a fun visit as they do what they do well. But If the mains don’t woo you, the frozen custards probably will, coming plain and simple or in a range of creative flavours that change every month.

Much has been said about the pricing at Shake Shack (which is a tad steepish for what you get), but the trade-off is a uniquely American experience with a pretty cool menu that’ll save you the plane ticket abroad.

For more info, visit: www.shakeshack.co.uk

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Sticking up a middle finger to its former tenants ( a Christian mission), the venue’s subversive  theme goes in hard from the jump; the lighting’s incredibly low,  the “inbread” part of the menu is pitched at “sinners”, skeletons are depicted in the stained-glass ceiling breaking bread Last-Supper style – and of course, there’s an all-seeing eye thrown in. It’s a bold statement as even the menu offers a few gags (Bingo Wings, badoom-ching! And you may not want to know the colloquial meaning of “Monkey Fingers“), but it was hard to laugh off the bright red cocktail called, er, Time Of The Month (!?). Still, the Donkey Punch cocktail (ahem) made with  lime juice, ginger beer and absinthe and the fruity Tipping The Velvet (double-ahem), were thankfully, quality Plan Bs, even if their names leave much to be desired.

First impressions aside, the food itself had some impressive highlights. For starters, those monkey fingers and chilli cheese fries are an absolute-must – and while we were less wooed by the fried pickles (tempura-style, nothing remarkable), the currywurst served over fries was also a great choice.  As for mains, the red chilli burger and cheeseburger  were cool and just what you’d expect  (although a friend was slightly overwhelmed by the spiciness of the green chilli burger), but my hat goes off to the delicious brilliance that is the roast beef sundae.  It looks deceptively sweet, but this creation is simply garlic mash and gravy with roast beef, horseradish cream, topped with a cherry tomato.

Considering there are other burger outlets that are more notorious for their food (Patty & Bun, Lucky Chip and Honest Burgers),  time will tell if MEATMission‘s restaurant credentials can match the hipness of their brand. But it seems like the sort of venue that’ll make a killing on the weekends as it’s near the heart of most of the Shoreditch action, it’s not too pricey, the music’s good, there’s yummy cocktails and it  has the right kind of starters for grazing – what more could a food-loving coolhunter ask for?

For more info, visit: www.meatmission.com

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There’s a decent variety of burgers to choose from, but we went for the ‘Lambshank Redemption’ burger (£8) with its nice chilli kick and the ‘Hot chic’ Chicken burger (£7.50) – that had a twist of tarragon that took the flavour up a notch  – plus a side of rosemary fries (£2.50)  we could have eaten twice over. But be warned: we queued over 70 minutes (!) to get into this hotspot on a Wednesday evening, and they like to move people in and out quickly   – but we can safely say, we tried some of the best burgers we’ve had for a while.  They don’t take reservations so visit late lunch time or early evening to beat the rush – and top off your meal with a choc ice (we were too full to try!).

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Speakeasy bars, of course, are nothing new, taking inspiration from the 1920s and 30s US prohibition laws, where  people were forced to head to clandestine back room bars in search of a little tipple. These days, speakeasies can be found in every major city in the world. Flat P is as genuine as you can get, and basks in candlelit darkness like an unattended, but gorgeously furnished, film set. Seating is sparse, with a choice of velvet benches or  bar seats, and the music runs towards 1930s war tunes rather than the latest top 10. In the halflight, the cocktail menu can be tricky to make out, but this is where the bartenders come into their own – they’re infinitely knowledgeable and give them a few keywords and watch them weave their magic. (Words: Charlotte Lydia) 

For more info about Dach & Sons, visit www.dachandsons.com

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The world renowned kitchen staff have joined the new trend in meaty hedonism and opened a burger pop-up, round the back of the Pizza East and Chicken Shop in Kentish Town.  Naturally, there is no greasy overweight man serving it up. The guys behind this are all straight out of the famous kitchens: tattooed, bespectacled (in that geeky, Heston-scientist way) and brimming with enthusiasm for their food. The burgers are, thick, juicy and came with all the trimmings (think aged beef patty, lettuce, tomato, french mustard and a baked bun). Chips are retro crinkle cut and the onion rings have a peppery heat that elevate them well above their boring dirty counterparts.

On Wednesday, August 22nd, this spot will be open to the public – so we’re counting down the hours  until we can next indulge in our dirty little secret! (Words: Laura Thornley)

Dirty Burger opens to the public tomorrow at Highgate Studios, Kentish Town. NW5 1PB. Follow@dirtyburger on Twitter for further info. 

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