As it came towards me the other diners gasped. The waiter, who was delivering this beastly incarnation, held a strong smug look as if to say, “you won’t beat this….”
OK, that’s not quite how it happened, but in my defence, it felt like it at the time and a number of other diners in the pub did laugh out loud and ask me what I had ordered. This thing I refer to, as the beast, is the Big Ugly Burger, served at The Dolphin Inn in Longton, just past Penwortham.
Originally, I had ordered the 4 burgers of the apocalypse, which I highly recommend for anyone venturing out to The Dolphin on Marsh Lane, however, to my disappointment they were out of stock.
By this point we had already settled into the cosy conservatory looking out to the vast fields of Lancashire, so I took a breath and apprehensively ordered the BUB.
I was half way through and told myself I could do it. It wasn’t an enjoyable Sunday afternoon out of the house anymore; it was a challenge. Man vs Food (which is what the menu was called). Human vs Animal. This burger vs all those other burgers that I have easily eaten.
The meat was dense but full of that flavour you only get from homemade burgers. The chips were excessive. The bread was ridiculous (I had to remove it half way through). The presentation was exceptional. All in all it was a good burger but one of those that you would never order again.
The Dolphin Inn has a hearty menu where there is plenty to choose. If you’re out for a nice meal on a chilled Sunday afternoon / evening don’t let this meal be the topic of conversation, but if you like burgers and are up for a challenge order the BUB.
It is one of the best pubs I have eaten at in the Preston area. The other would be The Brown Hare. We were lucky to get a table when we booked the same day so make sure you call ahead because they don’t have many tables indoor and they go quick.