Fat Hippo York

You'll smell the beef patties sizzling before you even spot this Low Petergate joint. The kind of place where the menu doesn't try to reinvent the wheel – just serves up bloody brilliant burgers with proper chips that actually taste like potato. The loaded fries deserve special mention; they're essentially a meal disguised as a side dish, drowning in cheese and whatever else you fancy piled on top. The space feels relaxed without being scruffy, busy without being manic. You're here for the food, not Instagram shots, though the towering burgers do photograph rather well. Service moves at a decent clip, which is handy when you're trying to squeeze in lunch between wandering York's medieval streets.