Fat Hippo Jesmond

You're walking down St George's Terrace in Jesmond, past the usual suspects, when you clock Fat Hippo squeezed between the neighbourhood spots. Inside, it's refreshingly unpretentious—no reclaimed wood nonsense, just stripped-back vibes and a menu that knows exactly what it's doing. The burgers are serious business: thick patties, proper toppings, buns that don't disintegrate the moment you pick them up. Their loaded fries are the kind of thing you order meaning to share, then don't. It's become the sort of place where locals actually queue, which tells you everything.