Burger Brilliance: Make a withdrawal at The Greedy Banker in Rainham

That moment when you catch eyes with your dining partner and they’re experiencing the same taste explosion as you chomp down. That moment is rare. But it happened to us on our trip to The Greedy Banker (@thegreedybankerpub) in Rainham.

The new sister site from the team behind Rochester’s banging beer and proper patty purveyor The Dead Pigeon, TGB is seeing the ‘sports bar’ tag and smashing it together with the quality brews of a micropub and fully loaded food.

Started by friends Jamie Clark and Tom Mudge in 2018, the former Barclays Bank building was added to the portfolio in November 2022 and, while the menu is similar across the two sites, The Greedy Banker has its own character and nuances. For example, there’s a monster tap wall (that includes a specialist ‘nitro’ tap) built in behind black tiles, with an ever-changing list of local and international craft beers on the screen above.

There are plenty of cocktails, wines and craft beers by the can also available to enjoy while watching your favourite sports. There are plans for an event-type space upstairs and a potential to use the old bank vaults downstairs for beer-tasting and more.

But right now, the focus is on making sure the delivery of their scoff and quaff is on point. And they’ve smashed it. Now let’s talk about the food.

The culprit of the flavour fountain, and ever so slightly awkward stare-out, was The Argentinian.

Having debuted as a special back in 2022, The Argentinian Cheesesteak Burger is now a mainstay of the menu, and OMG are we thankful it is. There is an explanation about the mincing technique refining the meat that sounds all very scientifical, but all we know is that this thing was melt-in-the-mouth good. Juicy patties, with 28-day dry-aged thinly sliced steak with butter-soaked onions, a garlicky chimichurri that added a beautiful kick and a load of melted American cheese. Heavenly.

The guys at The Greedy Banker have done their necessary due diligence and scoured the country to search out and try all the best burgers, bringing home that experience to Medway. And they’ve nailed it.

We also took on the proper Pulp Fiction-vibey American Double Cheese Burger. And just as Jules (Samuel L Jackson) says before he bins off Brad, “mmm-mm, that is a tasty burger”.

“... just as Jules says before he bins off Brad, ‘mmm-mm, that is a tasty burger’”

Two signature blend patties, slathered in melted cheese, ketchup, mustard, dill pickled onions and gherkins. It’s messy, but it’s must-have.

And because we are greedy, and totally unnecessary, we ordered a couple of sides… “when in Rainham…” as the saying goes.

The Colonel can absolutely do one, because the buttermilk coating in a secret mix of herbs and spices on the chicken tenders would have him kicking the bargain bucket were he still among us. Peppery, succulent and encased in a perfect bit of crunch. Beautiful.

Crispy skin-on fries covered in The Greedy Banker’s House Seasoning, Naga Ketchup, cheese sauce and diced chilis were absolutely banging and made us look double-hard in front of our pals.

Finally, a session on the Good For The Seoul hot wings, in homemade Korean sauce with chopped spring onion and sesame seeds, added a chilli-packed end to a monstrously good meal that was filled with quality ingredients and delivered simply. The London Black Nitro Porter - from Croydon - was the ideal flame retardant to wash it all down.

A little word to the wise, when you go to The Greedy Banker, go with hunger on your mind and in your heart. Smashing.