Go There, Eat That: Butcher's Diner, Cheeseburger with House Bacon

In a hotbed of burger shops with cult followings (8bit, Huxtaburger, Ziggy’s) lies an unassuming shop in Melbourne's CBD, Butcher’s Diner. It’s 24 hour, cash only (but there’s an ATM right outside) and has a fresh, simple decor. Perfect.

True to its name, the back of the shop has fridges packed with meat hanging by the hook. In those fridges lies meat which is sent off to some of Melbourne’s best restaurants. This very same meat is used in their burgers, which I’m calling it - are Melbourne’s best.

If burgers aren’t your thing, perhaps their tongue skewers, toasties, salmon cutlets or japanese fried chicken would suit you.

Onto the burger. Let’s set a criteria for what a good burger is. Mine is: balance. Regardless of the burger, everything has to come together perfectly, with the right ratios. And geez, this burger pulls through in a big way.

The milk bun is toasted, so it’s perfectly soft, but doesn’t go soggy and fall apart. The lettuce, tomato and onion are all there. Fresh, crunchy and vibrant. And in the perfect ratio. The pickle is a long, thin slice which courses through the middle of the burger. A unique touch. The bacon is cooked just right, so it’s crispy but not teeth-shatteringly crunchy.

And the star of the show - the beef patty. It’s satisfyingly meaty, but perfectly fatty. It’s cooked so that there’s a nice crust formed on the outside, but left medium inside so as to leave the meat moist.

It’s the kind of burger that you when you finish it, you get a little sad that it’s all over.

In the realm of impractical, expensive freak burgers, Butcher’s Diner gives the good people of Melbourne what they really want. Good ingredients, simplicity, fairly priced ($15) - and most importantly: always open.

Butchers Diner: 10 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butchersdiner