“Crafted By Hand. Served With Pride.” Stock Burger Co.
British burger brand Stock Burger Co. has recently opened at the Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi bringing together that winning combination of premium burgers and craft beer in a relaxed modern bar and restaurant concept.
So what makes Stock Burger Co. different from all the other burger joints around? Good quality grass-fed meat from local supplier Springbok butchery for starters combined with a sizable selection of craft beers to suit all tastes. Burger and brew pairings may be commonplace elsewhere but here in the UAE it’s a little more unusual, in fact I can’t think of anyone doing it well in this region except maybe Black Tap in Dubai (Black Tap has now opened in Abu Dhabi but sadly without the hops option).
There’s nine different burgers on the menu including a regional special of camel burger and two vegetarian options. We tried the signature Stock Burger, the Boss Burger with its double patties topped with veal bacon and two types of cheese and the veggie Portobello field mushroom. All burgers are served with a signature sweet brioche bun but there’s a naked option for those carb adverse, an iceberg lettuce wrap served with house salad instead of the standard crinkle cut fries. Those who want to build their perfect burger can opt for the burger builder option, choose from beef, chicken or veggie then add one cheese, your topping of choice, a sauce and one additional extra such as a fried egg or avocado. All burgers have a recommended beer pairing for just AED 15 extra.
It’s not just all about burgers either, there’s a whole variety of starters like buffalo wings, cajun prawns and nachos and mains such as the haute dog, beer battered fish and chips, steaks and pizza. There’s plenty of fries and side options too along with flavoured salts and mustards, we swapped our standard fries for sweet potato and thick fries but regretted the decision, the battered and deep fried potatoes were not what we expected or enjoyed. Stock Burger Co. is a family friendly place with a seperate kids menu available upon request.
House brews include US favourite Brooklyn lager and two popular British beers, Brewdog’s Punk IPA and Hobgoblin Gold. Craft beers on offer include Brooklyn IPA and American Ale, Liberty Ale, Flying Dog Raging B, Marston’s Pedigree, three types of Brewdog Ales, the fruity Mountain Goat and Little Creatures Original Pilsner both from Australia. There’s also an extensive choice of draft and bottled beers and some ciders. Not a fan of beer? Don’t fret there’s mixology options as well as moonshine cocktails and a burger joint wouldn’t be a burger joint without a milkshake. Stock burger Co. has six varieties of milkshakes that can be upgraded to boozy shakes with a shot of spirits.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the range of desserts that are served in jars. We tried the indulgent chocolate creation with honeycomb, a key lime pie with citrus cream and my personal favourite, a traditional Eton Mess made with meringue, strawberry, chantilly cream and vanilla ice cream. The classic steamed pudding has had a regional make-over, the Sticky Date Pudding is served with hot caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream, a notable addition to the menu and worth the additional calories.
The modern restaurant has a distinctive red and black colour scheme with plenty of seating and an outdoor terrace, there’s two areas of booth seating under bold Abu Dhabi signs and many screens visible from all seats each showing different sporting events. The central well-stocked bar is perfect for that after work drink and live music fans should visit at the weekend to see different acts perform weekly.
As with all new concepts and soft openings teething problems are to be expected. My veggie burger was served completely cold but replaced without hesitation, one of the craft beers was unavailable which was a shame as we tried the tasting selection and as mentioned the battered fries were a disappointment but overall the experience was good, after all burgers and beer, what’s not to like!
Stock Burger Co.
Location: Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, Dhafeer Street, Abu Dhabi
Telephone: 800-STOCK (800-78625)
Website: stockburgerco.ae
Opening Times: 12 noon to 3am
All the views are all my own. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2018. All rights reserved.