PipsDish

I’d always heard about Pip’s Dish, the pop-​up restaurant in an Islington garage, but somehow never managed to get around to trying it out before is closed. Luckily, they’ve moved a bit more central and to a more casual menu with Brioche just off the Strand. It’s primarily a burger joint so the menu is limited to a few choices but encompasses the important parts. The décor is rustic and vintage kitschy and gives it a very charming feel and you can spend a few hours entertaining yourself with the various signs on the wall. That being said, the seats aren’t the most comfortable so you’re most likely to pop in for a bite rather than linger over drinks.
Naturally, get a burger. The three main choices were the classic beef burger, fried chicken, or pulled pork. I’m sure there was a veggie option too but I can’t say I spared it more than a glance. You then choose from a range of toppings (3 different cheeses, bacon, mushrooms, and braised onions) plus there are additional sauces and relishes. Unfortunately, the toppings and sauces are all extra, but the burger entry point is fairly reasonable so it’s not too much of a stretch to get a couple upgrades on the base.
We opted for both the beef burger with all the toppings and a fried chicken burger with tarragon and lime aioli plus a bowl of chips to share. The chicken was adequate but lacking any particular crunch on the batter or juiciness in the meat to make it exceptional. That being said, the brioche bun was spectacular and a serious challenger for the best bun in London title. It’s soft with a light toasty crunchy and is chewy enough to hold together despite the copious amounts of sauces I added in.
The burger was delicious — She voted it the best she’s had in London — with a good meaty flavour and spectacular tangy and sweet toppings all held in by brilliant brioche. My only wish would be for a thicker patty cooked more medium rare to enhance the beef to balance out the strong flavours from the toppings.
The chips were a winner and were closer to American fries than thick cut British chips. They are lightly seasoned and boast a solid crunch yet maintain a fluffy interior. Paired with chipotle ketchup, they were quite moreish and we probably could have polished off another bowl.
Dessert was unimpressive with the sticky toffee pudding on the online menu being replaced by a «Dime Pie» which was a couple of small triangles of layered chocolate and cream ganache. It was unsatisfying and I’d recommend a pass given the chocolate fondant at Champagne + Fromage is just slightly more expensive, infinitely more enjoyable, and only a stone’s throw away.
Our bill came to just over £50 including service and included two burgers, a bowl of chips, a few extras (cheese, bacon, and some sauces), a Dime Pie, and the bottle of Prosecco. While not the cheapest burger meal around, it’s very reasonable for the area and would drop to £15pp excluding drinks.

What a special place but not for everyone.
You only eat whatever he has cooked for the day and you are literally sitting in the kitchen. In my case what Philip «Pip» cooked was a delicious potato and leek stew and a chicken stew with beans and turnips. Hearty home cooking!
It is a tiny place and I’d imagine that is quite communal when you go there when it is crowded as there are only a few tables and none of them are built for 2! They also have a «hut» in the back for private parties of 8. Very cool.