Macgregor’s Original

Macgregor’s Original is a burger spot with a simple brief to make great American-style burgers. Here the menu is deliberately small with only three burgers – the signature cheese smash burger, an Oklahoma fried onion burger and the Macgregor junior cheeseburger – and chips cooked in beef tallow. From time to time, expect an off-menu burger to make an appearance.

Macgregor’s also puts a strong emphasis on maximising ingredients. The onion skins and leftover brine are dehydrated and powdered, then reworked into a punchy condiment that can be ordered on the side.

The site – formerly the Magpie Milk Bar and Deli – sat vacant for a year before being used as a set for the Gerard Butler film Empire City. The space has been left largely as it was for the production, with chequered tiles, wood-clad fridges and stainless-steel accents that give the small shop an American feel.