Bangbang Cafe

Bangbang was once Alan Thompson’s semi-traditional English cafe. No more. Thompson is now running Barista and Cook and Bangbang serves burgers under new owner, Matt Maddrell.

The burgers use iconic American fast-food ingredients. There’s a tender fried-chicken burger with a Sriracha-mayo slaw; a sloppy Joe with chilli Wagyu; and an American bonanza with double-smoked American cheese, a double patty, bacon and the house sauce.

It sounds like a handful and it is, but it’s nothing compared to the weekly special. Past experiments have been topped with mini Reuben sandwiches; packed with buttermilk fried chicken, crispy onion rings and blue-cheese sauce; and even a huddle of chilli chips moulded together by a glue of mustard and melted cheese.

Mornings are less radical. Thompson’s famous big breakfasts remain and they’ve been joined by a homemade granola with apple compote and a blueberry, banana and walnut pancake stack.

On Friday nights the cafe, now a little less stylised and a little darker, swaps shakes and juices for Murray’s craft beers.