Atomic Burger

It really is as good as you've heard. Don't be put off if, like me, the uber-American diner style isn't your thing - the food is worth it. After studying the marvelously baffling array of burger choices on offer I went with a cajun rubbed beef burger with an onion ring, BBQ sauce and American cheese (the name eludes me but I'm sure Atomic Burger disciples will know it by heart!) and it arrived in a magnificent mound of perfectly cooked beef dripping with tonnes of the above goodies. Burger heaven, albeit a heart attack in one sitting! I also (wisely) went with the Sci-Fri's which were sublimely spiced and far too moreish to leave any on the plate. However, do bear in mind they really have quite a kick to them!

The service was very warm and welcoming without being over-the-top and my lovely waitress didn't even laugh when I asked for a fork (which, by the way are in the pots, with the knives - they just all have similar handles!).

Expect sticky fingers, sauce and chili flakes everywhere, massive grins and a very full stomach and never, ever take someone there on a first date. As close to perfect as it gets.

Dr Mukti (DI User), 27/12/11

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Love, love, love Atomic Burger. Visited for the second time with friends a couple of weeks ago - fantastic food, drinks and atmosphere. The only thing that lets them down is the quality of the burger buns. For burgers this good, it might be nice to have a posh bun!

clouddweller (Unverified), 10/09/11

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What a breath of fresh air! I visited Atomic Burger with a steaming hangover and it was cured instantly! Amazing food, friendly enthusiastic staff and reasonably priced considering the HUGE portions!...The decor is fantastic, like nothing I’ve seen before! This place is a feast for your eyes as well as your belly :) !! 10/10 ...Ill be back very soon!

melly (Unverified), 12/07/11

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Food itself is very good, and I have enjoyed eating here previously, but what kind of american diner requires you to now have to make a booking on most nights just to get a table? Absolutely ridiculous considering the type of food they offer. They obviously need to employ faster chefs and servers, or expand their facility.
[Sounds like the quality of the food is speaking for itself! - Ed.]

want_a_burger (Unverified), 08/07/11

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I've had Johnny Cash - amazing. Great burger, friendly staff, nice place.

The food isn't super cheap, but a great value - tastes like quality.

Also love how almost any burger can be made vegetarian.

Wish I had known about it when I lived here.

BenS (DI User), 15/05/11

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OMG have you seen the new loyalty card? It is very cool, and I might even have to stop eating the same burger every time I go. I don't want to spoil the surprise but I don't think it gives too much away to say STICKERS are involved!

Burgerberger (Unverified), 28/03/11

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Atomic Burger totally ROCKS!!! This place has it all, the best burgers ever (I tend to choose a veggie or chicken burger usually, but not at Atomic its the beef burger all the way!!), fantastic homemade coleslaw and the sci fries are off the scale - add all this to great service, atmosphere and reasonable prices - why would you go anywhere else??? Can't wait to go back again, and again, and again :-)

soph_oxford (DI User), 23/09/10

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Atomic Burger - should be renamed Awesome burger.

Love love love it ... Mmmm, the best nachos (I'm salivating just writing about them) and the Messy Jessy with goats cheese, red onion marmalade and rocket I had t'other night kicked ass.

Look guys, if you've been meaning to try it, do it. It's an independent which deserves to do well, staff are lovely and welcoming too (not sure what everyone's talking about below).

Long may it continue. Viva la burger!

Waiflet (Unverified), 22/08/10

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Visited Atomic Burger twice now and I have to say it's one of my favourite places to eat in Oxford. The food is fantastic, very fresh and the sci fries are amazing! It's not cheap but I don't mind paying £8.50 for something decent. The staff are very friendly, in an American way, which is a a bit over the top but also quite nice! My only complaint is that the drinks are overpriced. £2.50 for a small bottle of coke is too much. And if you're paying £3 for a milkshake I'd want it to be a little bigger or have ice cream in it. I'd prefer to drink water and spend the money on delicious waffles for pudding!

T&G (Unverified), 12/08/10

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The first time I went here with friends I wasn't sure about the place; I loved the themed decor, but the staff were towards the American end of the friendly scale, which really isn't my thing, and whilst everyone else liked their dinner my veggie burger arrived barely warm. However as my friends all like it I've been back a number of times since and I'm glad I have been. You can tell that the owners are staying on the ball and tweaking and improving things all the time, The food is fresh and tasty, and for the quality of ingredients the price is about right. I've got used to being asked what my plans are for the evening by the overly friendly staff, and I have to say that overall I'd recommend the place: for a fair priced good quality burger in Oxford it'd be hard to beat.

Ess (DI User), 06/08/10

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This place is fantastic. Only wish I'd discovered it a few months earlier.

Best burgers in Oxford, as good as anything I'd had in the UK. Very much American/antipodean in style of food and service.

Thrashes any similar place.

Turlo (Unverified), 26/07/10

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Just had a Jake and Elwood burger and it was everything a good burger should be (but so rarely is). Crisp on the outside and pink in the middle. Generous blue cheese and bacon topping with a bun that holds till the last bite. Can't wait till my next visit...

Burgerbeast (Unverified), 16/07/10

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This place is fantastic! My friends and I stopped by for a bite to eat for lunch yesterday, and absolutely loved it. Staff were really friendly, the super heroes and cartoon characters on the walls were amazing, and the food really yummy, especially the veggie burgers. A tenner bought me a burger, chips and a drink, and I was so stuffed that I didn't need any dinner - so great value. I'll definitely be going back!

AmyCroz (DI User), 04/07/10

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Decent reply, that. Thanks for taking the time to reply and hear out some of my quips. Thanks.

raasklaat (Unverified), 01/07/10

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Hi raasklaat, ref to your review - we try very hard to keep our prices as low as possible whilst providing excellent quality. We could cut the prices but would unfortunately would not be able to provide the same quality product. Our bun alone costs double that of GBK's and is from Cornfields bakery in Wheatley. We make all our burgers in house from our local butchers best ground beef, instead of buying them in cheaply, this is to ensure that the quality and freshness of our burgers is spot on.
I do hope this helps towards your concerns over price, you can get a burger, side order and beer for less than £10 but we will definitely increase the portion size of the fries given with every burger.
Monday to Friday lunchtime you can also have a burger plus one topping and fries or a soft drink for £5.
Many thanks for your comments
Atomic Burger

21/06/10

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Small portions. Paying a bit too much for the burgers, in my opinion. Chips come in a cup and when emptied out on the plate, they don't take up that much space. Customer service is good but it feels a bit too money-hungry. Average or slightly above but nonetheless a good indie for Cowley road.

raasklaat (Unverified), 19/06/10

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There's something authentically American in this flamboyantally-themed new burger joint. Maybe it's the fun side of food - if you're over 25 you'll struggle not to get nostalgic for your childhood with all the eighties-themed toy memorabilia on the walls. The servers are breezy and friendly and the place is a design riot. It's the burgers themselves though which remind me of being Stateside, with the sort of juicy chargrilled patties I don't think I've had the like of on these shores (I mean Peppers is nice and all, but this tastes like the real deal). Ice-cream milkshakes to boot and the spicy fries are excellent. I'll be going back for more.

Nick Godwin (Unverified), 14/06/10

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At last! Somewhere that understands the meaning of spare ribs. Spare ribs should be tender, succulent, saturated with barbecue sauce and melting off the bones. You shouldn't have to chew ribs, really. Just suck. None of this aggressive crackly batter. Just the soft flesh. Atomic Burger understand how to make spare ribs like Mama used to.

Minnie the Muncher (Unverified), 07/06/10

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Friendly staff, chilled atmosphere, 80s toys on the ceiling and walls, and 80s music videos and movie and TV trailers running on the screen on the back wall. And that's before you even get to the food!

The beef burger I had was beautiful - so tender, and the sci-fi fries (garlic and chilli fries) were tasty with a kick that came later. There is wide selection of burgers, and you can even make your own. For non-burger lovers there's hot dogs and ribs too, and to drink you can have scrummy milkshakes - with space dust, aka fizz whizz, those sweets that crackle at the back of your head, for 50p extra - or cocktails, including a flaming atomic margherita, presented to you Flaming-Homer style (read: on fire).

Great value, great decor, great nostalgia, and really friendly and helpful stuff.

Go here now!!!! That is all.

Jess (Unverified), 13/05/10

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Just visited for the first time. WOW!!! Loved it! Service excellent, prices excellent. The Food.............Oh my God! - Wonderful!!! We went lunchtime and may be going back tonight late for supper lol!! Oh and try the blakcurrant margheritas....they are to die for!!

dolly (Unverified), 01/05/10

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Dolly Parton double! burger, Sugar puff milkshake, Atomic Burger is not right in the head AND WE LOVE IT!! Do yourself a favour and go here, leave your responsibilities at the door and have a brilliant time. Addicted, yes Sir we are.

Steve and Jan (Unverified), 07/04/10

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Went here on an impromptu visit and am so glad I did - we absolutely loved it. My Jake'n'Elwood burger of beef, bacon and blue cheese was the best burger I've ever had and the onion rings truly lived up to their legendary status. Combine this with fun decor, brilliant atmosphere and very friendly service and we were left wanting to rewind time so we could experience it all over again. The margheritas were yum too. Will be going back as soon as possible. Thanks Atomic Burger!

Grizla (DI User), 04/04/10

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I have been to Atomic Burger 4 times for their excellent burgers which I cannot rate highly enough - one of the best places I have been to for a burger - and today tried out the new breakfast menu.

I had pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and it was absolutely superb, probably the nicest pancakes I've ever had, washed down with unlimted quantities of coffee and with, as usual at Atomic Burger, probably the friendliest service anywhere in Oxford.

Highly recommended!

marvin (DI User), 02/04/10

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As a vegetarian who doesn’t react well to gluten, I don’t normally choose burger restaurants! However, the nachos here are fantastic, as are the crispy, tangy salads. They do some great ice cream-based puddings, and the Italian Margarita cocktail is scrumptious. The décor and ambiance really make this place; where else in Oxford can you feast on a delicious (reasonably priced) meal whilst feasting your eyes on plastic spaceships, a dangling TARDIS, superheroes, a young Rolf Harris, that old Vitalite advert, and other vintage visual delights? In fact, my boyfriend and I love this place so much that we had a joint birthday party here. We had around 35 guests, but the service was really quick and super-friendly, and they got all of our orders totally correct. Thanks, Atomic Burger. We’ll be back soon.

Cleo (DI User), 01/02/10

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What a fabulous place! I have long harboured a semi-secret desire to stumble upon a New Favourite Hangout in Oxford, but in my six years here had not found it until this evening. Falling in through the front door to escape the snowstorm to be met with smiles and an instant offer of (free) coffee was a welcome overture to something quite special. This place ticks all my boxes: friendly and real service, imaginative and effective decor and, most of all, superb food. Hamburgers may be somewhat ubiquitous, but that is no guarantee of quality. In fact, the opposite is true. Having lived in America I am difficult to impress on the burger-malts-fries front, but whatever is in the secret recipe at Atomic Burger Kitchen, it works. Unique. When can I move in?

charlieatlantic (Unverified), 05/01/10

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Friendly, helpful staff. Good & varied menu. Good value too.
Sitting facing the back is slightly disorientating with the projection & light tubes etc, but once the food came there were no distractions. Good fresh beef burger, mine done in 'Jack Black' style - you can choose from a myriad of styles, or make your own. Very tasty and well sized burger, accompanied by (free) great fries. My wife had a veggie burger, and it was one of the best & most tasty veggie burgers she's ever had.
Altogether we loved it, and will definitely be back.

ppsg69 (Unverified), 12/12/09

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Most excellent :) This is a seamless and welcome addition to Cowley Road. A good burger place was needed after the demise of Joe's further down. It sits neatly amongst the myriad other food places on Cowley and it seems apt that you can look at the twinkling lights of the Ultimate Picture Palace while you have your movie themed burger. You can also peruse the various movie and tv paraphenalia adorning the walls which make a cute, cosy and pleasant environment. My burger was yummy, as were the lovely crispy onion rings. All I can say is I was more than full for my £8.50 for burger and side, so I consider it good value for what you get. The service was friendly and excellent. I really hope it does well as I think they are going about things in the right way and I will be making a return visit!

bee (DI User), 29/11/09

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Went to Atomic Burger for lunch: decided to "go Atomic" on my Jack Black beef burger, which was definitely worth while. It came with some of the best onion rings I have tasted in a long long time, very fresh and a nice light batter. Also had the chilli and garlic fries, which weren't very flavoursome but were good chips nonetheless. The side salad was almost a meal in itself, full of fresh in season cabbage and various other crunchy items.

The burger was very well made and seasoned properly unlike many "original" burgers from other places i've been in the past. Mine came with a fried egg (still ouzingly runny), nachos! and chorizo which all went together quite well, Certainly a real mouthfull!

The service came with a smile by someone who actually seemed happy to be serving burgers and the decor was very fitting to the retro menu. All in all, a good meal and fairly reasonable, the best burger joint around. Certainly no McDonalds!

Tim Fire (DI User), 30/10/09

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"They" say great burgers aren't rocket science but the chef here must know something other burger joints don't. I absolutely love Atomic Burger; it's great value, really tasty and very cool. We came here on a recommend and it is FAB. Try the Daisy Duke burger and those awsome onion rings. Atomic Burger has definitely landed - you have to check it out.

Mtb (Unverified), 27/10/09

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Atomic Burger seems to have been specifically designed to entice, well, me. Sci fi decor (including robot murals), old Flash Gordon movies, posters advertising trips to Mars, glowing transparent pillars full of bubbles, pictures of rayguns above the till, and most excellent false window views over Metropolis-style cityscapes.

Also, very friendly service, and free ice cream at the end ("we told you our Mr Whippy machine was broken but it was a miscommunication. Would you like some in a cone to take home? The coffee's on us, by the way").

Also also, decent burgers (mainly named after non sci-fi film celebs, although the mushroom double swiss is called a "Dr Zachary Smith"), amazingly good onion rings, and chilli and garlic fries.

I heart Atomic Burger.

Tim (DI User), 26/10/09

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I love the funky venue and the retro style menu. Very family friendly - my two early teens kids thought it was cool and I was happy they ate good quality fresh food at a very good price.

yummy mummy (Unverified), 24/10/09

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I came in with my daughter for a speedy supper and was delighted with the place. The whole retro-American theme is great fun and feels really authentic. As for the food - this is what burgers should be about - homemade and char-grilled, lots of toppings and those onions rings have to be tried!
Great value by the way. You could easily spend twice as much and not have as good a meal... and yes we did have a Mr Whippy!

24/10/09

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Hi there Ben Werdmuller, thank you for your feedback, I would like to respond as the owner of Atomic Burger to your comments on pricing.

We are very passionate about burgers and felt it was a good idea to offer an alternative choice to Cowley Rd. There are plenty of places where you can get a frozen "poor quality burger" on Cowley Rd for less than a pint but that’s not what Atomic Burger is about.

We use only the best ingredients and hand make all our beef and veggie burgers. Prices range from £6 to £8.50 and all burgers are served with a free side order of Fries, Atomic salad or our excellent onion rings. You can have a great burger, side order and a drink for £8.

Your comment of a burger and milkshake easily setting you back £12 is incorrect. You can choose any of our 16 beef, chicken or veggie burgers, with a side order and a shake and it will cost between £9 to £11.50 all in!

We think for a really substantial fantastic product in a great restaurant, this is a very competitive price. Please check out the menu options on our website for more information and I do hope this answers your concerns.

Martin, Atomic Burger (Unverified), 15/10/09

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With the spirit of independent Santa Cruz joints like the Saturn Diner, Atomic Burger has landed in Oxford with a friendly atmosphere and a creative, fully vegetarian-agnostic menu. Arguably, its only real competitors are the Gourmet Burger Kitchen on George St and the takeaway-only Peppers on Walton St - a shocking gap in such a heavily student-orientated town. Previously, the only east Oxford outlet had been the Organic Burger Company, who priced themselves out of the Cowley Road market.

This, unfortunately, is also Atomic Burger's one failing: a burger and milkshake will easily set you back £12, which will turn away many of the students who might otherwise become regular customers. Nonetheless, with its unusual selection, delicious homemade onion rings and community atmosphere, it's a very welcome addition to the Oxford food scene.

Ben Werdmuller (DI User), 15/10/09

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Atomic Burger has just got it right. I love it, and Mr Whippy (or Mr Softy as I used to call it), for dessert is inspired. Really tasty food, great playlist, retro style it just really works. Oh yeah and I spent less than £12 for two courses and a milk shake. You get a free side with your very tasty burger too!! Thank goodness someone understands how to do it right. Don't bother with the chain burger places in town, they promise so much but are very poor. Cowley Rd now has it all.

...Ming the Merciless... (Unverified), 13/10/09

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When I was growing up, my home town had a couple of great independently owned American burger restaurants and when I moved to Oxford nowhere matched them - the ones in Oxford were all too chainy or pretentious (the organic place for example). However I am very pleased to report that Atomic Burger is great, its simple menu offers lots of choice and has great names for the burgers i.e. the George W Bush! The burgers are top quality and the onion rings amazing (not greasy at all!), the nachos good too. Definitely go visit!

granberry (Unverified), 13/10/09

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Its Atomic!!!! Oxford needs a place like this. It's cool but not pretentious, well priced and really tasty. I Hope it does well

11/10/09

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Only opened on Tuesday 6 October and we went on Saturday 10th. Bright and cheerful. Good food, friendly efficient staff, reasonably priced, child-friendly. We had burgers (and, yes, they do do a veggie version) + nachos - quickly served, hot, home-made, and well priced. Definitely a cafe to regularly go back to. My only criticisms (and these are personal ones) are thatI would have gone with a more readable font on the menu, and turned the volume down on the music. But I'll be going back!

radiofreejericho (Unverified), 10/10/09

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