Starting Up with Martin Bunce @ Atomic Burger

Like a frayed pair of your favourite jeans, or that old shirt you love, there is ultimately a time when you have to face reality.

No matter how hard you try, they no longer fit.

Atomic burger has found itself looking at its Nirvana shirt and those Bowie skinny jeans and finally admitted it’s time to go shopping.

If you have never been to Atomic Burger then you have yet to experience our unique place in the burger market.

Opened in 2009 Atomic Burger very quickly developed into a popular, local independent, that had a refreshing way of seeing things. The food is fabulous, all homemade on site and delivers great quality comfort food in an exciting, casual dining experience. Everything you could possibly want is served here and it’s all done with care and attention you don’t normally see.

Mountains of buffalo wings, spicy, sticky and served with the correct dips. Nachos dripping with chilli, fresh guacamole, crunchy salsa, gooey cheese and cream cheese stuffed jalapeños. Twenty-one burgers (all available as ground beef, chicken breast or homemade veggie). A free side order, from the spicy Sci Fries to huge onion rings. Shakes, hard shakes, sodas, bottles and excellent craft bottle beers.

A range of hot dogs using real German bratwurst dogs that are outstanding, and come with more toppings than you can imagine.

All the dishes have tenuously linked names to iconic characters or people from our childhood.

Some are easy to spot, such as the Jake ‘n Elwood burger (blue cheese crumbles, crispy bacon and fried onions) from the Blues Brothers. Some are slightly more difficult to spot – for the Will Robinson (Swiss cheese, Shroomies, garlic aioli), think Lost in Space, Swiss Family Robinson and Swiss cheese.

But the food isn’t the only reason it’s packed most days, Atomic burger embraces nostalgia in a seamless and uncomplicated way. The concept of the restaurant is to remind you of being a child.

Remember that first burger you had?

This is done through the endearing decor of classic toys, sights and sounds from our collective youth.

You may be too young to remember the launch of the Rubick’s cube or Tom Baker as the real Dr Who, but like all things Atomic, these timeless points of our collective childhood are all part of the restaurant’s personality.

The only complaint that you could have about Atomic Burger is that it’s very difficult to get a table if you haven’t booked. With a capacity of just over 40 diners it goes from empty to full in a matter of minutes.

Their other hit restaurant, Atomic Pizza further up the Cowley Road, does help a little, but Atomic Pizza had its own fans and is very busy as well.

So now it’s time to move, only two doors away, but our shiny new restaurant is less snug and offers us the chance to explore exciting new dishes we can add to our menu. We are hoping to open before the beginning of February and would love to invite you down and check out our new toys 'n' fun stuff, while enjoying your favourite burger – and maybe that bacon shake.

TRY IT
Atomic Burger, 92 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1XG
01865 248200
atomicburger.co.uk @atomicburgers

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