Fighting Like Cat and Dog Over the Perfect Burger

There’s something magnificent about the humble burger. Maybe it’s the ability for it to be a deeply personal experience or the fact that it’s just a primeval urge for a big lump of meat - who knows? It just works whether you like it kitted out with all the foodie mod cons or just a simple burger with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Who doesn’t love a good burger? In our humble city the burger comes topped with everything from jelly babies to foie gras and everything in between. If you can eat it, it’s more than likely found its way atop of a burger. I’m not sure if either of those combinations work, but each to their own when it comes to burger toppings. Whilst we don’t have the kind of invasion that London has seen - being hit with a whole host of pretenders claiming the throne of burger king (no pun intended) - we are beginning to see a small burger revolution here. Whether it’s the wonderfully old school children’s burger that’s a staple on the menu at Deane’s at Queen’s or the slightly more leftfield venison burger on offer at the opulent Saphyre on the Lisburn Road, there are plenty of places turning the humble burger into something well worth making the trip for. For me, however, there are two ‘go-to’ places when I’m craving a burger – Alley Cat and the Barking Dog. Whilst both are casual, they couldn’t be further from each other in looks. Alley Cat is over-the-top funkiness whereas the Barking Dog exudes a kind of simplicity that makes it just as welcoming. Alley Cat’s menu is primarily made up of burgers and dogs and if you stay away from the headline grabbing and stomach busting Piginator, you’ll have the best burger in the city. The Piginator is more Man vs Food with enough meat to make even Adam Richman break into a sweat. Its little brother, the Pig Out (priced at £8 without sides), is a ripping example of how the Cat stands above most offerings in the city. The burger is made in a similar fashion to Heston Blumenthal’s complicated version* and the recommendation is that it’s cooked to medium. There are no airs or graces however, and if you’re not a fan of that kind of thing, you can get it burnt to a crisp if you prefer. The Pig Out comes with melt-in-your mouth pulled pork, onion rings and their own slaw. Expect to get messy. Pig Out messy. Up at the Barking Dog, the burger (priced at £14 including side of chips) is a heavyweight contender – soft and well cooked around the outside. In the middle there’s rich beef shin that’s high on flavour. Caramelised onions, a rich slathering of melted cheddar and some horseradish mayo accompany as well as a side of chunky chips. It’s so tall you’d need some scaffolding to tackle it properly. Everyone has his or her own favourite burger, but whether you’re a Dog or a Cat person, get yourself down and feast on Belfast’s ultimate burgers. Barking Dog, 33-35 Malone Road. Tel: (028) 9066 1885 Alley Cat, Church Lane. Tel: (028) 9023 3282 More Information * Heston Blumenthal's Beef Burger Recipe: http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/heston-blumenthal/beef-burgers-recip Do you agree with this list? Where do you think is #Belfast's best burger? @Groupon_UK #grouponguide ____ Check out our deals for restaurants in Belfast.