From humble beginnings in Newcastle Markets to Leeds high street.
The mighty cheeseburger: patties piled high between layers of gooey cheese cascading down either side; sauces oozing escaping between every bite; light, fluffy buns sandwiching one America's finest dishes together.
Perfect for all occasions, meat-eaters have raved about cheeseburgers since their creation across the Atlantic- and we've been obsessed ever since.
Few have managed to achieve the right balance of meat and carbs, but since MEAT:STACK launched back in 2016, they have quickly become a cult favourite for American-style burgers and shakes.
Image: Meat Stack
With a real focus on quality, the team have crafted a small yet perfectly formed menu of double or triple cheeseburgers, sides, shakes and desserts that will satisfy even the most discerning of fast-food junkies.
MEAT:STACK has built up a loyal following in the north of England since they first launched as a pop-up in six years ago and after operating within Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market, the company took the plunge in 2020 and opened their first high street store on the Bigg Market in Newcastle.
The success of their burgers followed them onto the main streets and now they're bringing their attention to detail, authentic preparation methods and moreish flavour combo to Leeds.
With ten different burger combos to choose from, including a pork and beef patty breakfast burger, vegan fried ‘chicken’ burger and a regularly changing monthly special, we have to say the menu really does look immense. It’s a cheat day treat if ever we saw one.
Each patty is lovingly crafted with the perfect blend of rare and traditional beef cuts, sourced from award-winning free-range butcher's Block and Bottle. To create the base of their menu, the meat is smashed into a raging hot grill, smothered with cheese and all the trimmings, before being steamed to melted gooey perfection.
Menu highlights include the bestselling French Canadian, which comes loaded with streaky bacon, blue cheese, garlic butter, chilli-maple syrup, hash brown, American cheese and signature Stack Sauce.
The sides menu is equally as desirable, particularly as it includes the Pompeii Fries: beef dripping fries smothered with Stack Sauce, fiery ‘nduja sugo, basil oil and parmesan cheese. The Filthy Fries encourage diners to get their hands dirty, with a killer combo of crumbled blue cheese, Signature Buffalo and crispy onions.
Those with a sweet tooth will naturally gravitate towards the Jersey Shakes, which come in a range of satisfying flavours, including Nutella, Peanut Butter and house made Raspberry Jam. MEAT: STACK also offers up their own brand of locally brewed pale ale, and a refillable soda fountain.
Image: Meat Stack
Opening in spring 2022, MEAT:STACK have taken over a vacant venue on Bishopgate Street, in the prestigious 34 Boar Lane building, right next to the train station.
MEAT:STACK has snapped up the last space in the recently renovated building, which is home to a plethora of creative offices, retail outlets and restaurants. The venue will seat up to 60 diners and create up to 25 new jobs in Leeds.
MEAT: STACK partner and director Allan Hyslop had this to say ahead of the release:
“Since we announced that we will be coming to Leeds, we cannot get over the incredible support we have had in the city."
"There is such a great food scene here and we cannot wait to be a part of that! Community is everything to us and we hope to be getting involved with as many businesses, creatives and foodie folk as we possibly can once we are open".
Whilst you can't quite visit the MEAT:STACK venue just yet but you can drool over the menu and plan your visit to 34 Boar Lane to get your cheeseburger fix in the coming weeks.
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Five of the best new openings in Leeds recently – from ice bath cafes to listening bars
Clementine Hall
It's been a brilliant couple of months for new openings in Leeds.
We don't know about you, but we think our city is really thriving with all it has to offer at the moment.
There's been a flurry of new spots opening up, and if you haven't visited them then we urge you to check them out.
But first, allow us to tell you all about them...
Domo
Tower works, 2 Globe Rd, Holbeck, LS11 5QG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Located right on the water's edge, we've got a feeling this is going to be our go-to spot this summer for long lunches fuelled by spritzes.
Also born in Sheffield, this one's for the matcha lovers and we know there's a lot of you. Think iced banana bread matcha, superfood smoothies and refreshing acai bowls served in a super cool setting.
Kontrast
84-86 Railway Street, Saxton Gardens, LS9 8HB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
After already making a big name for themselves over in Manchester, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath cafe concept over to Leeds. Located under the railway arches, Kontrast features two traditional saunas, one infrared sauna, and four ice baths, each varying in temperature between three and 13 degrees. It's the perfect space to enjoy solo or with a group of like-minded wellness-loving people.
Scott and his partner have opened the coolest, 70's inspired record bar that is full of his massive record collection alongside a carefully curated cocktail menu with a twist. With the best view of Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is just the most chilled out place to watch the world go by whilst sipping on a coffee or a glass of wine whilst hearing everything from hip hop and soul to deep house, and disco. We loved our visit and we know you will too.
We all know and bloody love Silver's Deli over in Bramley, but now they’ve branched out to Farsley and opened the wonderful their very own bakery which is already a sell-out.
The all-new neighbourhood bakehouse is slinging out the likes of homemade focaccia, buttermilk brownies, sausage rolls, cookies, tiramisu and, of course, the ever-so-famous sandos but this time in homemade, fluffy focaccia.
Sophie Smith -
18th March 2022 
