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First Look: Handmade Burger Co.
The rare-breed burger chain opens at The Courthouse, Deansgate
DEANSGATE isn’t devoid of burger joints. Manchester’s dirty food phenomenon has made sure of that.
Handmade Burger Co's creations are plenty. Most come classic, some come stuffed, some come in threes and some come without a bun, and all are said to have been hand-pressed from scratch
These days everyone can find a burger pattie within a stone’s throw of their city centre office, and test their stomach on a myriad of experimental burgers topped with crisps, dripping in beer, covered in sugar and squished between a donut.
New to Manchester, Handmade Burger Co doesn’t feel ‘dirty’ in a similar vein. Taking over The Courthouse building on Hardman St, the Birmingham chain has gone for simplicity in its decor with whitewashed walls, dangling orb light fittings and minimal decoration.
Handmade Burger Co
Yet much to the current trend, the 40-burger strong menu is still the calorie laden gorge-fest that we've become accustomed too. Most come classic, some come stuffed, some come in threes and some come without a bun, and all are said to have been hand-pressed from scratch.
The restaurant champions ‘rare-breed’ burgers and works with BBC's Jimmy Doherty, of programmes Jimmy’s Farm & Jimmy’s Food Factory, to create a menu that includes free-range beef that has been marbled & slowly matured for at least three weeks.
A bit like Nandos, Handmade Burger Co takes a 'get up and serve yourself' approach with free refils of its fizzy drinks. Also like the chicken chain, diners burn a few a calories by walking to the till to order 'peri-chips' (£3.25).
Prices are reasonable too. The burgers, from beef to chicken to veggie, range around the £8 mark. There's a vast range of extra toppings to choose from and the desserts are available to share American style.
Take a look at the gallery below:
Handmade Burger Co, The Courthouse, Deansgate, Manchester
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Simple in decor
American Cheese (£8.25)
Halloumi salad (£5.70)
Stuffed Cheddar and Chilli on brioche (£8.25)
For the veggies: Three Cheese and Baby Leek (£7.15)
Brownie and Waffle Sundae (£3.95 single)
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Oh God. It's mince. for the love of God, its bloody mince. The stuff that butchers have been trying to get rid of for the past 100 years. You can no-more tell if it's come from rare breeds than you can tell what oilwell plastic bags come from. You muppets. IT'S MINCED BEEF PONCED UP. Groan. what a waste of a great spot. AAAAAAAGGGHHHH
its about £8 not bad for a meal and if it tastes nice...
Do go on Anon.
Hmmm more burgers, just what we need, not. I give it 6 months top
No it'll do well, they're already a strong chain and have a range of veggie options that are often missing in these places.
By the way, that other minced beef seller up the street thats come up from down south who thought Mancunia was ripe for the taking have never been full when I have walked past, whats happening with that lot?
Take it you are talking about Byron Burgers. Its the worst performing outlet of the lot. They used a team from London to do the marketing and chose a PR company who don't have a clue about F&B. Love their fries mind you.
Do they do normal buns as well as brioche? that stuff is just wrong.
Almost Famous are far superior to Byron and Manchester knows it.
@Anon Thanks for that Mr Myers.
Almost Famous is poor on all levels. Food is average and don't get me started on the **** service....
So GBK didn't really close then, they just changed their name and moved across Spinningfields. It's like being back in the last decade.
Ha, when I saw the top photo I thought it was a Mancon p*** take because there's so many burger outlets in the city. Sadly it's not the case and as Henry V said, it's just minced beef.
I was thinking of opening "Geoffrey's panda burger emporium" in the city centre. Nobody else has thought of it. Might go down well on Dragons' Den... Ok.. they didn't like my idea for "scratch 'n sniff" girlie mags last time, but I'll give them another chance.
More burgers? I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Bill's restaurant yet bills-website.co.uk/…
Erm, they have thanks
I assume you work for them as you've said this on the last few threads I've read.
Hey! Did someone mention Bill's? Just passed it. Opening soon. Mmmm... Can't wait.
I already dislike this Bill's place thanks to these cretinous comments. Thanks for extinguishing any of the typical curiosity I have for trying a new place.
Yea whoever is doing this is becoming very annoying. All future such Bill nonsense comments will be removed.
That might be biting the hand that feeds though Jonathan www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/…/Interview-With-Bill-Collison…
Ah yes but we don't want some bored, foolish bloggers accusing us of underhand promotional tactics would we?
And which bored, foolish bloggers have accused you of underhand promotional tactics Jonno?
Good Gobble took issue with the fact advertorials originally weren't marked as such. ManCon have now started marking them.
Ahhh I see, seems a little (to use one of Jonnos favourite words) cowardly to come on here and call them bored and foolish when ManCon haven't delivered the response they promised.
A bit silly, certainly.
Is there no end to this constant Americanization of our food scene? Take your 'pulled pork', 'beef patties' and man v food wannabee pillocks and do one.
Agreed. No wonder everyone is getting so fat. Bored of all this crap.
Too right, bring back some proper British grub! Boiled beef, jellied eels and tripe all round! Er... maybe not.
Americanisation? That's nothing. Check out the new TGI Friday that's opening soon in the NQ www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/…/cane-grain-opening-thomas-street-7333849…
No, you're right Gimboid, lets all sit back and marvel at the culinary genius of putting Monster Munch on a burger, stacking 8 burgers on one bun and drinking 'bitch juice' ooooo, how cutting edge.
'Fast-casual' -restaurant prices, fewer staff overheads, lower service from a less demanding customer and a max 45 minute table turnaround. It's a burger. Stupid.
The food looks a bit cold, bland and pale.
I agree this looks old and tired. Can't wait for the review of Wahu...the posh supermarket salad bar.
what is that WAHU stuff all about? walked in and walked out, baffled
WAHU is the new "thing" to come to the city, healthy eating with a hefty price! 3 protein pancakes for £5 with a limited choice of toppings? Nah thanks, I can make my own batch at home
it's for people who can't cut up vegetables.
People are queuing out of the building most days at lunch for it. It looks cool and funky and will be the place for the "models" of Manchester to be seen with their oversized sunglasses eating their overpriced rabbit food.
Ate in the Birmingham one and it was actually really good. I'm not a big burger fan but there is so much choice on the menu, there's something for everybody really. People were queing out the door (it was also a freezing cold November night) so they must have been doing something right.
Are you working for the PR company Digster?
Unfortunately I am in finance - PR would probably be a whole lot more fun/interesting.
Just tried it out and was really nice! Lots of choice, really good location. It certainly isn't anything particularly news but what it does, it does well!
Having been in HMBC's in other cities, they are really nice. Ok so a bit late to the Manchester scene as Sheffield meadow hall branch had been open for a few years but they are different again and I especially say try the stuffed burgers from here (really lovely). I can't say how or why but having eaten in GBK and bryon (I'm too fussy for almost famous) each one does do things slightly differently and it depends on my mood as to where I go, so before you knock them, give them a try.
Eh, Schofield, have you stopped spotting staff/pr peeps ranting? Nice twice on anonymous ? Who's doing their PR?
Wow, that all looks very bland and insipid indeed. Very behind the times in terms of other burger joints in the city
went yesterday on a freebie - food and service were very good, and the portions are massive!
Here we are again, PR!
Is this a joke Helen?
glorified Burger Kings!!! You may as well eat in a Weatherspoons for half the price and a free pint to go with!!
Erm no, Wetherspoon's burgers are terrible.
But the Waterhouse is a great Wetherspoon's. Handy for the two pubs behind it too.
The bacon looks good and not the usual thin crappy stuff they put on top!
Flaccid, Pallid and Emaciated. Mmmmmm......
Sounds like you're talking about your sex life.
Manchester: Get over burgers. This city seems to have an endless hardon for them. You've been mugged off by some slick marketing. Overheard in the Northern Quarter: "there were people from LIVERPOOL in Almost Famous"
Shame that that beautiful building is now a burger joint on the ground floor. Its stunning now on the outside, way too plain and boring for me on the inside. Re Bills above, hilarious - he defo works for them.
Oh another Burger Bar / American Diner style place. Yes we're really short of these. I'm so glad they have seized on this gap in the market. Why don't they open a Tiki Bar too? Yawn Yawn Yawn. Like your man said earlier - no wonder most people you see waddling/walking around are over weight these days. Take your Man Vs Food concept, your pulled pork, mac and cheese, chilli dog, BBQ fries, Honey fries, Boston baked beans, 35 variations of a burger and piss off. Come back when you have something original to offer us. Luckily for these type of 'joints' most consumers are stupid so they'll probably do well.
*applause*
Loreal - bit of a contradiction here. Your words as follows... 'peri-chips' (£3.25). Prices are reasonable too. PHA - are you sure? £3.25 is reasonable for a dozen chips.
Unreasonable to most of the plain people of Manchester I would imagine, although reasonable to those with trust funds and an allowance from Daddy.
I went here today, it was lovely! Fantastic menu, wide variety, big portions. The chips are large portions for two to share, the burgers are excellent quality not greasy unlike almost famous. The general vibe was great and welcoming. I suggest you try before you slate new businesses.
'I suggest you try before you slate new businesses.' I don't need to now, because I've made an informed decision from this Mancon review.
New business? They're a chain with 20 branches. I dare say a few people may have managed to try them before.
New business in the area smart arse!
I wish burger places would offer you a selection of burger buns so you don't have to have brioche! I hate brioche!
Cant agree more!
Byron, Almost Famous, Reds, Handmade Burger Co, Solita. That's a lot of "gourmet" burgers joints. yet I bet McDonald's sells more in a month than all the others put together.
What a pointless remark
Re the obvious Bill's PR team comments above: I know there was a whole big thing about promotional content and moves have been made to make it more transparent, but I do it would also help to open those pieces up to user comments. Why not allow opinion and debate just because it is a paid for promotional piece?
Sorry to appear "pointless" Barry, the point I was trying to make is this, if McDonald's sell more than the gourmet guys, does that mean Mancs have no taste or that the gourmets are overrated?
No it means that they are selling to different markets.
I'm sure in a town with a Bentley and Ferrari showroom, Ford still sell more cars. Like Jim says, completely different markets - ergo pointless observation.
How frightfully diplomatic Jim. However, I do wish my accuser would respond. Come on Barry, tasteless Mancs or overrated gourmet meat sandwiches?
Burgers aside Charles, you've only got to walk onto Parker Street and that large area of land between it and Oldham Street to see the tastless Manc's of this city. Is there a market for gourmet burgers in Prestwich BTW?
It means MacDonald's are cheaper, Charles.
Why is it that anybody who posts a positive comment gets accused of working for them?
I agree Digster. I went this evening and enjoyed it - as far as burger places go. Better chips than most. I deffos don't work for them. Drinks overpriced (they are everywhere)
Instead of another burger joint, can we get a decent sea food restaurant?
We had a decent seafood reataurant. It was called Livebait. It closed down. It's now Red's True BBQ. The market has spoken.
Solita origionally opened as a seafood restaurant too.
do they have buns other than brioche?
Ive eaten there twice. I really liked it. The chips are probably the best in Manchester. As for the wierd ordering system??? Its exactly the same as Nandos. Great that you can have a burger that isn't on brioche. Reservations: having to pay for dips sauce!!?? Miles better than Byron and GBK.
If the only other place you've ever eaten is McDonalds, then the chips are "probably the best in Manchester"
It's really not better than Byron. The "patty" is too overdone at HBC, making it dry. Byron cook it properly every time. Also, try the monthly special at Bryon as it's usually the best thing on the menu. They've also added proper chips to the menu (perhaps since your last visit), so you might find those as good as those at HBC.
Trust me anonymous, there are very few places I haven't eaten in Manchester, McDonalds do fries not chips, guess you might not know the difference ..