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.
The team behind Stuzzi - one of Leeds’ best-loved Italian restaurants - are set to launch a brand-new concept in Farsley this week.
La Grassa will be a new Italian-American ‘Paninoteca’ and diner concept, where you’ll be able to get your hands on paninos filled with house-made meats, cheeses and sauces.
The new concept comes from Stuzzi Leeds co-founders Jimbob Phillips and Brett Lee, and is set to open in Amity Brew Co.
They’ll be taking over the former brewing area at Sunnybank Mills, after Amity moved their brewery operations over to a new site in Greengates.
This new collaboration between Stuzzy and Amity Brew Co will bring Italian-American flavours to Farsley with quick-service dining - hearty sandwiches and light bites by day, and more substantial plates by night.
Jimbob Phillips of Stuzzi Leeds said, “La Grassa is about bringing people together over food that’s indulgent, fun and full of flavour. Working with Amity gives us the perfect space to explore that in a new way.”
Brett Lee added: “We wanted to create a place that feels lively and approachable, where people can enjoy the quality of Stuzzi Leeds in a quick-service format without compromising on taste.”
Verity Clarke, Director at Amity Brew Co, said: “While we were brewing on-site at Sunny Bank Mills, it did limit the hospitality experience. We could only open four days a week, and there wasn’t a weekday that went by without mill visitors wanting to pop in for a daytime drink or bite to eat.
"Over the past five years, we’ve collaborated with food vendors, and it’s always added another welcome dimension to the experience at Amity. We’re very excited to have such a high-quality team joining us to really fulfil Amity’s potential.”
La Grassa at Amity Brew Co will officially open on Friday 13 February 2026 with new extended opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday every week.
The best places in Leeds to get pancakes on Pancake Day
Clementine Hall
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.