Can Jon Ball do justice to the massive Pit Burger at Ealing's Meat and Shake?

Meat & Shake have been bringing burgers, Southern-style barbecue dishes and all-American down-home charm to The Green in Ealing since last Summer.

I visited recently to try the Pit Burger - the newest addition to their extensive menu available for a limited time. The Pit Burger offers an authentically American ‘man vs food’ challenge - by far the biggest burger in Ealing.

It is a towering combination of two burgers, smoked brisket, sausages, turkey bacon, pulled rib, an onion ring and cheese, topped with barbecue sauce and held together by a steak knife plunged through the middle.

A serving of gravy to dip the various meats in is also included for £16.90 which seems pricey for a burger but when you see quite how much meat arrives in front of you, it represents good value. I added an optional fried egg but that’s just me.

All the elements work, and the burgers are served succulently medium rare, avoiding becoming the burnt offerings so often found in the larger chains. The tasty skin on fries to complete the meal are available in regular, dirty or stinky versions!

I completed the challenge and lived to tell the tale, requiring two Cokes to wash down the colossal quantity of barbacued meat.

Mentioning drinks, Meat & Shake isn’t licensed but perhaps doesn’t need to be nestled between opportunities for a a pre-dinner beer in the Grove or the Drapers Arms and a post-dinner wine at Crispins.

My, perhaps more sensible, companion went for the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich (£11.50), a US staple that’s tricky to find in London. She rated it a success, especially when spiced up with the Louisiana Chilli ’n’ Herb sauce.

I haven’t mentioned the shakes yet, which are lovely, but the smaller 400ml size is more than enough to drink with this huge amount of food, hanging out listening to American heroes like Bruce Springsteen.

I can’t review the deserts as we were both far too full to attempt them. Meat & Shake is great at what it does. It has no pretensions to compete for the title of Ealing’s fanciest gourmet experience, but if you want the best of the American South in huge portions, with friendly service, y’all get down there.

Jon Ball

3rd March 2016