Burger Wars Episode LXXXVII: A Chelsea Local [BurgeReview]

Oh, get the swordfish. Best swordfish in the city. The best, Jerry

Kenny Bania (Seinfeld episode “The Soup”)

The other day we ended in The Phene, a lovely venue in Chelsea with multiple spaces, including a pub style bar, a nice conservatory dinning room, a private dinner first floor space, and finally an amazing beer garden.

Time to eat

We got the salt and Schezuan pepper squid for starter, really nice good heat. Also the gazpacho, texture was a bit odd but good flavours.

Squid

My partner in crime got a beautiful swordfish, great flavours, perfectly cooked, really nice execution. I decided to go for the Phene Burger.

Burger Time

An Angus beef burger, Blacksticks blue cheese, bacon, and chili jam.

The verdict, the burger didn’t stand the expectations. The patty was completely overdone, they mentioned they cook them medium, but it was well done, completely dry. The bacon addition was nice, the cheese was missing in action.

The damage, 18 quid for the burger and fries adding the blue cheese and bacon

The conclusion, the burger was a disaster, such a shame as the rest of the food was quite nice. It might have been a bad day, I would stay away from the burger, just go for whatever else is in the menu. I will have to give them a poor 5 over 10 just for the bacon that was meaty and lovely addition otherwise could have been a 3.

The Phene

T: 020 7352 9898

European Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: The PheneSW3

---

---

Burger Wars Episode LXXVIII: The Bleecker Padawan [BurgeReview]

You know Ron's Records down on Bleecker? They pay big cash for used records!

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Old Man”)

Another burger I tried during my last visit to Kerb was Bleecker St Burger. New York style burgers, toasted buns, and even with a secret sauce, all this brought to you by an ex lawyer that while practising law in New York realised that burgers was the dream! So  moved to London opened a burger truck, and objection overruled.

The food truck

The blue burger cannot be more simple, blue cheese, lettuce, and sauce.

Blue Burger Time

The verdict, great flavour, cooked just a bit under medium so not too juicy. The melted blue cheese was amazing definitely the star of the show, and the sauce was great

The damage, 6 quid for the burger

The conclusion, really nice burger, top flavours, ppresentation a bit sloppy but who cares when the taste is spot on. I will give the Bleecker crew a solid 8. As most of the street food traders, the best way to track them down is by twitter or in their website

Bleecker St Burger

T: 077 1254 0501
Burger Joint / Food truck

Approx damage: £10pp

Various Locations
London

Twitter: bleeckerburger

---

View Larger Map

---

Burger Wars Episode LXVII: Honestly in Soho [BurgeReview]

I know, he's probably the only honest mechanic in New York 

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Fusilli Jerry”) 

The small venue from Brixton Village has expanded and has two other places in Soho and Camden. Honest Burgers praised by many is growing in size and popularity so it was about time I pay them a visit to their Soho branch. 

The place

I still was a bit reluctant as I wasn't impressed with the Brixton joint during my first visit, but I was craving for a burger plus I was in the area, and I wanted to avoid five guys and shake shack frenzy queues. Quite similar style to Brixton, white and wood atmosphere, their classic green board with the menu, small size in a quiet street in Soho, 10 to 14 tables inside, 4 outside, and a small window looking stool/bar sit. Place was packed at 3pm but still we were able to get a table in no time. 

A peek inside

A couple beef burger options in the menu, a daily special, chicken burger, coleslaw, salad, and chips. 

Honest Menu

I got the special and Marisol the blue cheese one with caramelised onions. 

Burger time

The verdict, both were perfectly cooked medium rare as we ordered, the special was superb, a lovely melted smoked mozzarella cheese with thinly sliced nice pancetta, perfect combination and great flavours. The blue cheese one was ok, I think April Bloomfield blow any chances for me to enjoy any other decent blue cheese burgers. 

The damage, 14 quid for the special burger and chips. 

The conclusion, nice burger, I will recommend to go for the special, rosemary fries were ok, decent prices, and now convenient locations. I will give the honest guys an 8 in my scale. Great improvement since my visit to Brixton.

Special one

Blue cheese one

Honest Burgers

T: 020 3609 9524

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: £12pp

Area: Soho

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: honestburgers

---

View Larger Map

---

Pappas we got a problem [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

A colleague after listening all my burger adventures he recommended to try Pappas Burger in Houston. The place owned by the same Greek family that has the Pappas empire including the great Pappasito’s Cantina. A modern twist on the original American diner, burgers, dawgs, shakes, and flat screens TVs with ESPN. 

The place

Bit of an hybrid method of going to the counter to order but the waiter get your food and the bill to your table, have to say it didn't work for me, I ordered and was completely forgotten, I wasn’t sure what was going on, the waiters ignored me for at least 15min, worst thing the place was almost empty. After that, the waitress apologise with the excuse they didn't know I was sitting there, really, only four tables in 130ish sits and you haven’t spot me, one of the only six costumers you have in the restaurant at this time. 

Booth seating

Finally ordered the Bleu Cheeseburger, prime beef, crumbled blue cheese, hickory smoked bacon, romaine, mayo, and spicy onion rings. To complete Buffalo chicken wings, original flavour, and blue cheese. 

Burger time

Wings

The burger wasn't good, average to be honest, the blue cheese wasn't good, I promised myself not to order a blue cheese burger any more in the US, except in NYC Spotted Pig, don't know where they sourced from, not good and so many fails, but I was shocked as the meat is pretty good in Houston making a nice tasty burger patty should not be a difficult task, this wasn't the case, and the onion ring inside the burger not my thing, didn't go well with the rest. The wings were ok, naked style, a bit dry, but acceptable I guess. 

Burger time

Sorry to say but Pappas Burger was a swing and a miss for me. 

Worst translation ever

Pappa reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Mom and Pop Store” 

Jerry: Hey, so where's my sneakers? 

Kramer: That's what I want to know 

Jerry: What do you mean? 

Kramer: Well, I saw Mom and Pop this morning, but when I went by the store on my way home? The place was empty. Everything is gone. Mom and Pop vanished 

Jerry: So all my sneakers are gone? 

Kramer: I'm afraid so. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I've been asking around, they didn't even have any kids 

Jerry: Mom and Pop aren't even a Mom and Pop? 

Kramer: It was all an act, Jerry. They conned us, and they scored, big time 

Elaine: So, Mom and Pop's plan was to move into the neighbourhood, establish trust for 48 years, and then, run off with Jerry's sneakers

Kramer: Apparently

Pappas Burger

T: +1 713 975 6082

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: $25pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

---

View Larger Map Get Directions View Bird's Eye

---