'Mooshies' review (written when restaurants were still open and we weren't at risk of being fined for leaving the house)


I end up at 'Mooshies' one Monday lunchtime with a friend kind of by accident. It is due to a combination of the place we wanted to try not existing where we thought it did and me being virtually incapable of using a map and therefore needing an establishment that actually shows up on google maps and is pretty visible (that being said, I did walk past and have to retrace my steps, it’s a wonder I manage to find my way home sometimes honestly). ‘Mooshies’ presents itself as an American style burger all vegan burger restaurant with rustic but pretty basic wooden benches and quirky wall art. My friend and I, a fellow vegan, make a joke about how thankful we are that the menu only offers four options, otherwise we’d be deciding for days. Yeah ok, classic restaurant chat but seriously, how on earth do you make quick decisions in restaurants when the whole menu is open to you due to lack of dietary preferences or requirements?

After impressively brief deliberation, I opt for the Fillet-Om-Phish burger (a slice of aubergine coated in panko breadcrumbs with a layer of nori and vegan cheese, served on a seeded bun) and my friend gets the mushroom one. Unfortunately they’re not doing any of the milkshakes today. I hide my crippling disappointment with a bright ‘it’s ok!’. 

It’s not ok. 

The food comes relatively quickly in diner-style latticed plastic baskets but still tastes fresh. The waitress warns me that my burger is hot and so to be careful. Upon eating it I realise that whilst as a gesture this is certainly very kind, it’s unnecessary. The nori definitely adds a distinct ‘fishy’ flavour to the burger and the aubergine is delicious. I consider this to be a strange vegan substitution for fish but obviously not strange enough to not order it, in the spirit of trying new things. I’d get it again but ultimately I would describe it as a burger trying, unsuccessfully although not unpleasantly to be something that it’s not. The waitress is attentive, asking us part way through how our meal is and if she can get us anything else as well as thanking us when we leave. I happen to have a mouthful of food when she does this but she and my friend laugh politely and the burger does retain its shape and filling, which is more than can be said of a lot of other vegan options I’ve tried, so that’s something. 

The restaurant itself has a friendly vibe and as we eat, more diners and couples drift in, all of whom seem to enjoy whatever they order. I notice that the menu also offers several salad options but I don’t see anyone order one. I’m not sure whether this speaks to the integrity and appetising description of the burgers, or rather the lack thereof of the salads. 

Overall, I would say that whilst the burger certainly is enjoyable and relatively convincing, I’ve definitely had better vegan burgers (“fish” and “beef”). The flavour was nice and I’d recommend it without necessarily raving about ‘Mooshies’ or gagging to return in the near future. For being in the up and coming hipster area of brick lane, Shoreditch, I suppose it is what’s expected but I’d say for what you get, £9 for a burger is a bit steep considering that you have to pay extra for fries (although you do get a decent size portion for £2). 

If you’re in the area, don’t necessarily avoid the place but I can recommend several others which I consider more satisfying for a vegan junk food fix. 

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