THEY are known for giving out free beers to their customers and then ironically suggest hangover cures that involve eating their burgers.

They have even posted on Facebook that their staff were too hung-over to come into work, so therefore they were closed for the day.

Huxtaburger restaurant chain in Melbourne targets a niche market with their snappy, cheeky Facebook and Twitter posts. But this time they may have gone too far.

The company used its Huxtaburger Facebook page to openly sledge their vegetarian customers - and their "(lentil derived) protein filled brain cells" - and started a storm of controversy on social media.

Huxtaburger wrote a brief open letter to its veggie-loving friends after they complained about the lack of vegetarian options on the menu.

"Yo vegetarians, we respect your whole 'no meat' get up, but please don't write into our page complaining that we only have one option, our catch phrase is HOT BEEF COLD BEER after all," the Facebook post read.

"You don't see us ringing Vegie Bar (Official Page) to whinge about the lack of steaks that are on offer.

"Instead, why don't use all those (lentil derived) protein filled brain cells to get creative with the menu. Some of our vegetarian staff recommend trying who the Bills with a tofu patty. Huzzah."

But customers were less than impressed, taking to Twitter to vent their anger and disappointment at the anti-vegetarian statements.

https://t.co/64dEX0oykK I guess I'll be giving @HuxtaBurger's Sondra burger a miss in future. — Blue Lotus (@upulie) January 20, 2014

And no more recommending @HuxtaBurger to my non-vego friends. — Blue Lotus (@upulie) January 20, 2014

.@HuxtaBurger I'm not dealing in death, disease & environmental damage for profit. If you can't stand the heat, get out of your kill kitchen — stereogamous (@stereogamous) January 20, 2014

@HuxtaBurger most vegetarians ate at your premises without complaint. It was immature and misguided to insult & take aim at all of them. — Benjamin Karalus (@benkaralus) January 21, 2014

@HuxtaBurger I won't spend another dollar with you. Won't just be me either, but friends and colleagues who would ordinarily join me. — Benjamin Karalus (@benkaralus) January 21, 2014

But someone came to Huxtaburger's defence - burger fan page, Jimmy's Burgers.

Poignant words from the good people at Huxtaburger. Vegetarians, pull your heads in. http://t.co/Z4h6v1Mzm4 — Jimmy's Burgers (@JimmysBurgers) January 20, 2014

Hextaburger seemed to want to fuel the debate, tweeting this from the official Twitter account.

But the restaurant took to Facebook again today to responded to the backlash.

"Hi all. The previous post re: vegetarian choices wasn't meant to ruffle any feathers," the post said. "While meat is the main focus of our business, we do try to cater for vegetarians in the form of our Sondra burger.

"We have chosen not to take down this post as you have expressed your opinions & we don't censor. In retrospect, the delivery of this message was not great. Apologies if this has offended, it was not our intention. Our bad."

Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @HuxtaBurger