SmashBurgers

Meet Mr Pickles

Mr Pickles is run by Frank and Olga, two hospitality lifers with close to 40 years between them. Frank has spent almost three decades in the kitchen and Olga a decade out front, working for notable chefs and restaurants across the UK and Australia.

Frank grew up making sausages in his dad's butcher shop from the age of 12 (his father is a classically trained French butcher), and later spent five years making smallgoods at Gamekeepers. During COVID, the pair launched Mr Pickles Deli, a sandwich trailer where almost everything was made in-house: the mustards, the pickles, Olga's family-recipe sauerkraut, the smoked pastrami, ham and bacon. Pretty much everything but the bread.

Setting up at Penni Ave distillery, they ran taco nights and burger nights to keep things interesting. The burgers stuck. Inspired by George Motz of Hamburger America, Frank dove into the history of the hamburger and the people doing great (and sometimes crazy) things with it, and Mr Pickles Smash Burgers was born. Their loaded fries take a cue from Mexican favourites like Tostilocos and micheladas.

The approach is classic, but never too serious. They're not reinventing the wheel - they just want to make it roll better.

• 100% Australian beef
• Potato buns
• Gluten free buns, no charge
• Veg patty available