"Want some of my burger?"
"Is it Mr Burger?"
"No..."
"Is it Mrs Burger?"
This conversation took place between my 4-year-old and I in downtown Droop St, just an hour or so ago. Yes - we were in the 'scray, talking about not banh mi, but burgers. And we weren't shivering in the lee of a truck - we were in a real bricks n' mortar burger bar.
HYPERVENTILATING YET????
You should be, because 8 Bit has officially thrown its doors open today, and has brought a new style of dining to Footscray that I am very, very excited about.
The theme is old video games, which is played out in some of the burger names ("1UP" mushroom burger, anyone?) and in the awesome table number thingies.
I could never play anything on Nintendo harder than Mario Bros - I just used to mash all the buttons with my fingers and occasionally my character would do something awesome. In the face of so much menu awesomeness (smoked frank with bacon, grilled onions and BBQ sauce, anyone? Crispy chicken burger with slaw and Sriracha???), I kind of applied the same theory to choosing our meal.
Oh em gee. So delicious. I went the classic 8Bit with Cheese, which was great. The burgers are cooked on a griddle and the patty had a great crust on the outside. Nice pickles and the now-classic brioche bun... Yum.
But the fries! These were bury-your-face-in good. Covered in melted cheese sauce with quality chopped bacon - they were sensational.
Can we reflect on the prices? I think they are crazy reasonable. $8.50 for a burger, plus $3 for a side of beer-battered fries - that's way cheaper than Grill'd, and loads better.
Lest you go howling about "hipsters" taking over the neighbourhood, you should know that two of the three partners behind this enterprise are Footscray boys, born and bred. The other is from Geelong, so he's got westie wings too.
Anne, who had brought her lovely bub in pram in, was kind enough to let us share her table. The staff were super lovely and accommodating to the mum and little one, even bringing him a bickie when he got a bit over it all. When this mama is similarly over it all, I intend to rely on 8 Bit just the same way - hopefully there will soon be some voddy to tip into those strawberry cheesecake shakes!
Oh em gee. So delicious. I went the classic 8Bit with Cheese, which was great. The burgers are cooked on a griddle and the patty had a great crust on the outside. Nice pickles and the now-classic brioche bun... Yum.
Can we reflect on the prices? I think they are crazy reasonable. $8.50 for a burger, plus $3 for a side of beer-battered fries - that's way cheaper than Grill'd, and loads better.
Lest you go howling about "hipsters" taking over the neighbourhood, you should know that two of the three partners behind this enterprise are Footscray boys, born and bred. The other is from Geelong, so he's got westie wings too.
Anne, who had brought her lovely bub in pram in, was kind enough to let us share her table. The staff were super lovely and accommodating to the mum and little one, even bringing him a bickie when he got a bit over it all. When this mama is similarly over it all, I intend to rely on 8 Bit just the same way - hopefully there will soon be some voddy to tip into those strawberry cheesecake shakes!
8 Droop Street, Footscray
Open daily, 11am-11pm
How funny we were in there just after you, agreed that they are awesome burgers and super lovely people. Im gutted to be moving out of Footscray now!
ReplyDeleteOh, shame you're moving, kat! Hopefully not too far :-)
DeleteAhh!! Can't wait to try!
ReplyDeleteSoooo exciting, right?! xo
DeleteHey i am a lurker on your blog,have been reading you forever and love it heaps............i live in Qld,but visit Victoria a lot and want to take one of your tours if i time it right.....now this place sounds like a must go to ,well most of the places you write about do,so i need to start getting to them when i visit......it sounded very yumbo Thanks for a fablog.....
ReplyDeleteHi norma - thank you so much for your comment! Delighted to hear you enjoy the blog and I hope a tour works out for you timing-wise soon!
DeleteWow they're open till late!! That's going to be handy! Ok so do we get a burger, or the African in Moonee ponds tonight ... decisions decisions
ReplyDeleteBy now I know that (spoiler alert!) you got the burger, but if I didn't already know that, I would have said - BURGER ALL THE WAY! Apparently they are going to stay open even later once their have their liquor licence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteWow, this place sounds great Lauren. Fantastic idea to bring some more colour to the diets of Footscraliens everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHeh, "Footscraliens" - I like! Yep, love a bit of variety.
DeleteI'm so excited to try this place. My bf and I are moving to Maidstone tomorrow so we are super happy to have this nearby :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the west, Cassandra! Have a safe and stress-free move - I think a burger is the perfect reward this evening!
DeleteI'm very excited to see another great business open in Footscray. Can't wait to support this new venture. The burgers look great. I went along to the new Malaysian Roti place on Thursday. Food was great, service needs tweaking, the floor show is a hoot and I am sure it will be on my list of regular haunts. Thanks for this blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Adrian - thanks for your comment! It sure is exciting. I was at Roti Road again recently with a group and we had a ball. I cannot get enough of the roti dance!
DeleteOMG. Those bacon on the chips. OMG.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW!!!!!! HHHHNNNNGGGGG
DeleteAgree. Those chips are to die for (or from if I keep consuming at this rate!). Great spot and really welcoming. Hopefully the opening frenzy dies down a but. Queues around the corner on Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI have been following on Twitter, Julia, and they have closed early at both lunch and dinner over the weekend! One fellow drove back home twice, sans burger. I was reading Daniel's blog (http://temasek68.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/eat8bit-finally-burger-joint-in.html) and he mentions that they kept coming over and apologising for the wait, and bringing free things. Hopefully it does calm down a bit but as someone else said on the twits - for now it's "eat early, eat often" !
DeleteAnother great review! I love your comment about these kids looking hipster despite being Footscray born and bred. People like to moan about the gentrification of the West, don't they? Turns out of the real change is coming from within. 3011 represent!
ReplyDeleteHi Mike! Sincere apologies for the very delayed reply to your perceptive comment. I wholeheartedly agree!
DeleteI went here tonight and it was FUCKING AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteI love your passion Lau!
DeleteThanks! Parked opposite here to take my bf to the big (not so new now) patisserie on Barkly St and noticed it was chockers with people. Definitely going on to To-Do list. Have you been to Mama Cho's on Gordon St? I'd love to read what you think - we love it there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Megan! I love the diversity in the patisserie - old people, young people, and from every culture that makes the 'scray home. I have Mama Cho's on my to-eat list! What are some of your fave dishes? I want to get a group together to go there as there are so many things that look like they have potential!
DeleteLauren, I had the salt and pepper soft shelled crab last time. More crab than I could eat, and yum yum. Felt it could have come with a dipping sauce - but i had asked for one, instead of concentrating on eating, the service is such that there would probably have been provided on request. The stirfries are plentiful, flavourful, crisp. So many combinations to choose from! I've heard very good things about the pork belly, tho the day I asked for it, the waiter advised against since they had sold out the night before and a fresh batch had just gone in for marinating. Oh, the salt and pepper quail - delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe patisserie - yeah! So many people in hi-vis jackets popping in, and different cultures, and some of the Seddon-like population - a wonderful mix. Tho they burnt my coffee the one time I drank it there.
Thankyou for the review of the Bonsai nursery tea house - that's on my To-Do list too, once it gets a bit warmer. I'm a West Footscray girl.
Thanks for the tips, Megan! I want to try the pork belly so bad. I'll have to call in advance to make sure they have it - not kidding! Defo try the bonsai nursery, and don't forget, Post Industrial Design in WeFo are having the launch of their Christmas window this Thursday - bar open at Pod Cafe (inside Post Ind. Design) from 6-8pm!
Delete