Steinbeck and Shaw review - The Best Burger in Bristol!
Posted on: 2016-09-30
Our rating:
This was the best burger I have had in Bristol so far, and without doubt the best value for money. If you are looking for a place to spend an evening, grab a drink, or a bite to eat – Steinbeck and Shaw is the place to be.
Students and thrifty Bristolians alike – you can officially stop looking. I have found where you need to be, and it’s been right under our noses since June.
Steinbeck and Shaw is an inspired venue, a place where creative people have clearly come to roost – from its graffiti strewn walls to its bizarre sculptural installations, it’s like walking into an art gallery that also happens to serve up some delicious food.
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One of the main draws of the place may initially be the insane half-price offers that take place every day of the week. Their legendary Happy Hour runs from 5pm – 10pm, and cuts a staggering 50% off all drinks, and you can rest assured that there is no compromise in quality.
My partner and I went down to Steinbeck and Shaw on a Saturday night for this review, and the atmosphere was incredible. The naturally low light levels were complimented by some blue and red lights, which bounced off the vibrant interior design and gave the place a slightly classier nightclub feel. This was also due in part to the pumping music and loud chatter – which can be off-putting but in a place like this just fuels the vibe perfectly. The chairs are either sofas, bar stools… or some kind of bumper cart seemingly ripped from a fairground, and the menus are held up by records of varying sizes. This place could not be any cooler if their heating system broke down.
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To start, we ordered some cocktails. A Pornstar Martini and a Coco Bongo headed our way, dressed beautifully and uniquely and tasting absolutely divine. Both drinks had a sweet edge, with the perfect alcohol ratio that was neither overpowering nor too gentle. One thing Steinbeck and Shaw seem pre-occupied with is their refusal to serve anything in traditional crockery or glassware. Looking around we saw drinks served in anything from café-style slushie cups to what looked like baked bean tins with the labels removed. There were buckets and steins and jam-jars… All of it brilliantly served and adorned with decorative touches that keep the feel professional yet artsy. Drinks on offer include a variety of world and craft beers, some unique cocktails along with all the old favourites, and the venue boasts some extremely well informed bartenders who can pretty much whip up anything.
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After looking at their new and improved food menu, which centres around hot dogs, nachos and burgers – we decided on a Naked Veggie Burger with Sweet Potato Fries and a Bronx Burger with Fat Chips. Arriving in (what else) a hollowed out petrol can – the Veggie was a simple falafel and spinach concoction, absolutely flawlessly seasoned to give it an edge of spice, served in a softly grilled brioche bun. It was distinctly no-nonsense but unquestionably delicious, and the Sweet Potato Fries came in an extremely generous portion. These, too, were seasoned perfectly – long and crispy with soft sweet potato inside. For £7, this was more than enough food and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality – especially considering some high street burger competitors charge far more than this for much less.
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My partner’s Bronx Burger was a huge meaty patty topped with tender pulled pork and BBQ sauce – also served in a brioche bun. From the silence than followed the arrival of our order I would guess it was just as good as my Veggie version, and the Fat Chips were cooked so that a crispy golden case surrounded a soft fluffy interior – exactly how chips should be but so often aren’t. It would be impossible to fault the food or drinks that we were served, and the variation in the menu ensures that everyone will be well fed and possibly a little tipsy by the end of the night.
If you are visiting with a bigger party, they also offer enormous pitchers and food platters that are suitable for sharing with – at a guess – 4 or so people. This was the best burger I have had in Bristol so far, and without doubt the best value for money. If you are looking for a place to spend an evening, grab a drink, or a bite to eat – Steinbeck and Shaw is the place to be.
Article by:
Miri is an English literature student at the University of Bristol who enjoys folk-punk & math-rock music, trailing round art galleries, and playing video games. She is a keen follower of politics and will read any science fiction you throw her way. Having lived in and around Bristol for many years she has developed a keen interest in the Bristol underground music scene and independent restaurants.
