Pre-COVID-19, Growlers was a buzzing craft beer hang out in the heart of Headingley, with an eclectic range of meal and snack options.
Their waffles and pancakes were a big hit, but so too were their Tex-Mex classics like nachos and fajitas, which went really well with their range of local drinks. Then, with the lockdown, Growlers, like so many other eateries, had to close its doors. Recently, Growlers opened once again, this time as a ‘socially distant club’, offering delivery and collection meal and drink options.
The food and drink, which is available 5-10pm Tuesday to Sunday, can be ordered through their Facebook page or website, or via the Deliveroo, JustEat or UberEats platforms. The Growlers online menu focusses on burgers and traditional sides like onion rings and jalapeno cheese balls. It also offers an exciting range of drinks, including iced slushies, fruit smoothies, milk shakes, margaritas and daquiris – all ideal for sipping in the early summer sunshine.
This bank holiday weekend we made the most of the sunshine and ordered some of the goods from Growlers to enjoy in the garden. We opted for two of the burgers on the menu. First, the ‘Posh Avocado Mama’ burger; a mammoth beef patty, topped with melted cheese, crispy lettuce, fresh tomato, a generous dollop of smashed avocado, grilled onions and a smoky mayo sauce. The burger was packed inside a buttery brioche bun, which kept its shape, despite the generous filling.
Second, the ‘Growlers Hot Chick’ burger which was just as large as the avocado treat and was also encased in a brioche bun. The chicken burger extravaganza included two marinated buttermilk fried chicken fillets (both of which were perfectly cooked and still crispy), creamy coleslaw, pickled cucumbers and lettuce, topped with smoked garlic aioli and a hot sauce, which certainly had a kick. Both burgers were fresh, flavoursome and huge. We also ordered a side of hand cut fries, which finished the meal off perfectly, and ensured that we were well fuelled for an evening of relaxing in the garden.
All together, our meals came to just over £20, which did seem a little steep for a couple of burgers and fries, but the meal was really good, and we didn’t mind paying a little more than we might have liked, knowing that we were supporting a great local, independent business.
Photograph by Gemma Bridge.
