Today was a burger kind of day. Mind you, every day is a burger kind of day if you ask me. But today was rainy and cold and I was feeling the need for a little burger therapy, and Meat District Co at King Street Wharf proved to be just what the doctor ordered.
I must start by mentioning that not only does this place serve up brilliant burgers, ribs and steaks, but the place rocks the kind of inviting atmosphere and friendly service that would warm even the chilliest soul. I was really happy to find out that Meat District Co really cares about what they put on the plate. They work with some of Australia’s most sustainable producers and believe that beef should come from a farm and not a factory.
I came to try out their new kids’ menu, and you know how I usually feel about those, but I have to say I was blown away by just how good this one is. The kids’ menu is not one of those boring kids’ menus chock full of nuggets made from imaginary chickens and tasteless burger patties. This stuff was the real deal, premium eats shrunk to size for little bellies. But mine is anything but, so I ate my way through three of the kids’ meals. Just for you all, of course. You can thank me later.
The kids’ meals, served every day of the week, are a bargain at just $12.95 for a meal, chips and dessert, especially when you consider the quality of the produce being used.
First up were the chicken strips. Served up with chips, these were no over processed chicken pretenders. In fact, they were exactly as advertised, beautifully moist and tender and nothing but chicken!
The cheeseburger was served up on a soft fluffy bun, with a decent sized 100% beef pattie, dripping cheese and tomato sauce. This too was served with delicious crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside chips smattered with flakes of salt. I can’t fault the flavour.
By this stage I had warmed up nicely, and I was getting thirsty, so I ordered a fresh and fruity Chill Out Charm.
It was a yummy mix of orange juice, strawberry purée, mango purée and lime and topped with fresh fruit and mint. It was an absolutely winner of a mocktail and I’d go back just for another one of these. Oh, who am I kidding, you know I’d have to stuff my face with all the other deliciousness on the menu too.
The third kid’s meal I sampled was pulled lamb on a soft bun.
The lamb was soft, moist and packed with flavour, and perfectly complemented by a hit of sweet barbecue sauce and some crispy cucumber spears and leafy greens.
I can’t speak for other kids, but I could happily eat any of these all day every day.
But wait there’s more! You see, my mum, not being a kid, ordered off the a la carte menu, that looked just like a cleaver, and while she ummed and aahed over a juicy steak or some of the epic looking ribs, she too was in a burger state of mind.
Her Surf and Turf burger was a thing of prawn and beef packed beauty. There was a grass-fed beef pattie that was at least an inch thick, plus marinated prawns, mixed leafy greens, tomato and the most addictively delicious lemon caper aioli which I would happily eat by the jarful.
This burger has such a great combination of flavours and was so, so good! I know because my mum only managed a few bites before it mysteriously fell into my face. Whoops! I have no idea how that could have happened. But happen it did. And I absolutely vouch for getting your parents to order one of these, so you can nick it while they’re not looking. Oh, I mean so you can accidentally eat it.
While I was pretty much four meals and as many serves of chips in by now, I kicked my dessert stomach on for some silky vanilla ice cream served with berries; which was part of the kid’s meal deal. I mean, it couldn’t go to waste could it!
Reviewed by Raffles – Aged 10
Meat District Co
11 Lime Street
King Street Wharf, Sydney
P: 02 9299 9762
Disclosure: Raffles was a guest of Meat District Co. but all opinions, burger-coveting and over-ordering are, as always, his own.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Aleney de Winter was fresh from school when she first set off to explore the far reaches of Australia with a two-man tent and a beaten-up Kingswood for company. Three decades, and two kids later, and she's still on the go, with her itchy-footed offspring in tow. 