The establishments of Manchester have merged two of the greatest things in world – Burgers and Christmas – and I’ve tried enough of them over the last couple of weeks to pick my favourite 5…
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The Christmas Burger @ The Pen & Pencil
I went down this week to Pen & Pencil and couldn’t really resist the temptation to try their Christmas Burger which is essentially a full Turkey dinner sandwiched between a couple of brioche buns. They get a massive handful of turkey mince, mix it with some sage and onion stuffing and make it into a thick patty, which is then topped with streaky bacon, carrots, sprouts and cranberry sauce. They then pour a load of gravy on it and leave you to enjoy yourself. Which you will.
The Pen And Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
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Brace Your Elfs @ Black Dog Ballroom (and Dog Bowl)
I’ve always been a big fan of the burgers at Black Dog Ballroom – they’re always juicy and always excellent – and their Christmas burger, thankfully, continues this trend. With 2 big turkey burgers topped with all the trimmings, there’s also the obligatory pigs in blankets, cheese, stuffing and cranberry sauce in there – this thing is MASSIVE. Finishing it made me actually feel like it was Christmas Day and all I wanted to do was to have some Buck’s Fizz and fall asleep watching the Queen’s Speech.
Black Dog Ballroom
52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW
11-13 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP
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Wipe Your Face Jesus Is Coming @ Almost Famous
Never ones to shy away from shoving a load of mental shit into a burger, Almost Famous have of course, come up with a rather impressive Christmas offering. It’s a double cheeseburger, which they then put some of the best turkey I’ve ever had on top. But they don’t finish there. To this they then add a couple of pigs in blankets, some amazing crispy onions and tater tots, and then smother it all in gravy that’s thicker and richer than Donald Trump. They also do Christmas Fries too. Have them as well.
Almost Famous,
100-102 High St, Manchester M4 1HP
Unit 2, Great Northern, Peter St, Manchester M3 4EN
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The Christmas Burger @ Solita
Every year Solita make a mental Christmas burger and every year it defeats me when I try to finish it all. This year is a biggie again, but it’s also a rather creative one, with buttermilk fried turkey, some roast ham, deep fried chestnut stuffing, deep fried Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. They then add a figurative cherry on top with an additional candied pig in blanket on top to create something that defeated me once again. Top class.
Solita NQ, Turner St, Manchester M4 1DW
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Sleigh My Name, Sleigh My Name @ Big Grillie Style
The placing of this burger as Numero Uno will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever tasted a burger from Big Grillie Style – they’re by far the best in the city. Of course that’s just my humble opinion, but if you think you can find a better one then buy it and bring it to me NOW. Grillie have 2 Christmas offerings this year, there’s a Turkey and Sage & Onion one with pulled turkey, brie, gravy and pigs in blankets and their brilliant veggie offering – a potato patty that comes complete with a ‘Gravy Bomb’. It’s basically the Christmas Vada Pav and it’s magnificent.
Big Grillie Style, 106 Princess St, Manchester M1 6NG
www.biggrilliestyle.com/
