Despite nagging the head honchos behind the Fat Hippo family to bring a restaurant to Durham, it has taken me a bloody long time to visit. Adding a 3rd eatery to their roster, Fat Hippo Durham has taken up residence on Saddler Street which is fast becoming a mini-mecca for the Durham Foodie.
Fat Hippo Durham
Holding on to the classic design features of the building, the Hippo has brought it’s own unique industrial chic. Picture windows bring the historic Cathedral city inside for dining with views. Either take up a seat in the back for Elvet Bridge views or up front for people watching. You’ll fight for a seat with students, locals and tourists making it quite a diverse customer base.
Offering the same menu as both the Fat Hippo Jesmond and Fat Hippo Underground, Fat Hippo Durham ticks all the boxes for burger lovers. Thanks to the incredibly popular Full Moon Market, us locals are all too familiar with the burgers they are putting out.
As I am a fickle bugger, I chose not to order a burger at Fat Hippo Durham and instead went for my new go-to menu choice. Freddie’s Fingers (£5) and a side of Handcut Chips (£3). I’m usually a PB + J kinda gal but the crispy chicken and buffalo sauce is all I can think about. Probably not as filling as one of their sloppy-good burgers, the generous serving of tender chicken in buttermilk batter is delicious. The tangy spicy buffalo sauce is moreish for us spice fiends and is the perfect compliment to the chicken. I definitely recommend ordering an extra pot of the Buffalo Sauce (50p) for chip dunking and once your dining companions taste it, you’ll need to fight them off. I wish the Freddies Fingers came as some kind of main meal!
Paul opted for the manly, meaty option of a Filthy Animal Burger (£11.90) with handcut chips. A double beef patty is topped with cheese, streaky bacon and piled high with pork rib meat. The filthy sauce is somewhat akin to a homemade marie rose sauce, you know the old school way your mam would mix tomato ketchup and salad cream. Damned tasty though. Served up with a side salad and chips included in the price, this is a messy meaty treat.
The best seat in the house is downstairs at the back by the window, get there early to grab it!
Does Fat Hippo Durham offer anything that the other branches can’t? No. Is it a bonus to the Durham dining scene? YES!
You can find other Fat Hippo reviews HERE
This looks so good! Alan is still banging on about his festive burger just before Xmas so need to plan a return visit!
Author
I never think to go to the one in Durham, it’s always town despite living 5 mins from Durham!
Those chips look delicious! I haven’t tried the Fat Hippo but I definitely want to go there just to try the food 🙂 xx
Yasmina | The July Journal
Author
They are proper brown crispy chunky chips aren’t they! Lush!
Been to the Fat Hippo in Newcastle and I loved it. This is closer so I’ve got to visit soon! 🙂 xo
Author
Big win for Durham!