MENEO Smash Burgers & Special Beers — Restaurant in Tías

Smash burgers and craft beer, should be an easy win. This place is fantastic, however this restaurant is new and it still needs work. The biggest grievance with this place is minor, that this reviewer feels in two minds for leaving it. Hubby was excited when he saw the local Lanzarote craft beers on the menu. NAO IPA was delicious and worthy of a try, something exceptional among the generic mass produced cerveza's. And the local Lanzarote IPA is fantastic. Wifey ordered the fish and chips, while hubby went for one of the smash burgers and some Papas Meneo. Sadly wifey's fish and chips were disappointing. To dress it up they added a little lime zest and it does pretty it up. However the fish looks like it comes from a frozen box, in the cheap section of Iceland. On first delivery the battered fish arrived uncooked and raw, a silly mistake. However it was quickly resolved by the excellent customer service of the Boss lady. She dealt with it in a professional manner and apologised profusely. The Jefa, Boss lady, is absolutely fantastic and does her little burger joint proud. You can see behind her eyes the absolute passion and determination to have her restaurant run perfectly and become a success. Wifey and Hubby wish her well... And she is nearly there. But the battered fish spoiled it, it was not very good quality nor good value. I cannot fault the smashburger as it was fantastic. The brioche bun, the pickled gherkins, and the caramelized onions made a sweet meal of this burger. Absolutely delicious and we both loved it. The Papas Meneo, covered in a sauce that was heavy on the garlic. It was not to my liking and my tongue was burning. But it was ok, a personal taste, and I am sure that others might like this. Wifey and hubby both like the Owner of this place, but Hubby loves the burgers and beer more. However Hubby also agrees with Wifey that this place needs more work to get it perfect. That the battered fish quality is too low and too expensive for the price. Even the burger maybe a little expensive, but yet the quality is definitely there... And Hubby would order that again in a heart beat. If not for the owner we would have rated this place as 3 stars. The restaurant business is a very difficult, and I feel this is beginning hiccups. This place has something really special, if only they work on a few small key quality areas. This place has the potential to be the best burger joint...

Tasty burgers, quick service, and a relaxed seaside setting. A solid choice for a casual meal with quality ingredients.

Food: We ordered a cheeseburger and the Meneo Smash Burger, both with a side of classic fries. The burgers were tasty and generously sized. Personally, I would have preferred a bit less sauce on the cheeseburger, as it slightly overpowered the flavor. Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Drinks: We just had sodas, but it was great to see they offer several local beers, which is a nice touch for anyone wanting to try something regional. Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Staff: The staff were friendly and efficient. We received our food in under 10 minutes. Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Environment: Located near the sea, the restaurant has an outdoor seating area with a relaxed vibe. Soft background music made it easy to enjoy a conversation. Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Value for Money: A great place to enjoy a simple but flavorful meal. Worth the visit for a satisfying burger experience. Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Extras: We noticed a small issue on the English menu. The Meneo Smash Burger didn’t list bacon, unlike the Spanish version. While it could be an oversight, we hope it’s not intentional, as it could affect customers with dietary needs or lead to unexpected charges.

Overall...

Calling this place a restaurant is an insult to actual restaurants. The burger I got was a crime against food a greasy, bland, half-burnt slab of meat shoved between two lifeless buns that tasted like cardboard. It was so bad I wouldn’t feed it to a stray dog, and I honestly felt guilty forcing myself to take more than one bite. The fries tasted like they had been fried in motor oil, and the "special sauce" was nothing more than a watery mess that looked suspiciously expired. The entire meal made me wonder if the kitchen staff has ever even eaten a real burger in their lives. The atmosphere? Depressing. The staff? Rude and indifferent. The price? Outrageous for something I wouldn’t serve at a prison cafeteria. If this is what a “smash burger” is supposed to be, then consider me officially...