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

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Burger Wars Episode LXXIV: The Shack Invasion [BurgeReview]

I’ll have the, ah, turkey club without the bacon

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Soup”)

The burger trend in London is still strong. You still have new burger joints, pop ups, street vendors opening places, and don’t forget the food festivals where at least one burger trader is a must. One widely expected opening was no doubt Shake Shack. The mythical NYC burger joint opening in the rainy city seemed impossible years ago. Who would have thought that Danny Meyer’s hot dog cart would have transform into a burger empire conquering not only USA but Middle East, Turkey, Russia, and London.

Shack Staff

Domo Arigato Mr Shackboto

I waited long to have the British shack burger, as the queues were humongous. But finally saw my opportunity, fourth months after their opening in July while wandering in the area no queue! The chosen one was a double SmokeShack, a cheeseburger with Wiltshire cure smoked bacon, cherry pepper, and their sauce.

The SmokeShack

The verdict, nice burger, good flavours, straight forward greasy American burger, same quality as their Manhattan siblings

The damage, 9 quid for the double bacon and cheeseburger

The conclusion, good flavour, convenient location, it was like having a déjà vu from my visit to Madison Square Park. Cheese fries were ok, a bit saggy to be honest. Lovely burger  even though it was well done, but not worthy of 20+ minutes queue, unless you’re a die hard fan of Meyer’s chain, then this is your place for sure. I will give Danny’s place a 8.5 in my scale

Burger time

Shake Shack

T: 020 3598 1360

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: shakeshackUK

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Burger Wars Episode LXIX: The Guys are in London [BurgeReview]

I'm not going to Skyburger. Besides, it's in the opposite direction, let's just eat popcorn or something 

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”) 

The burger rush that invaded London keeps full throttle. We still have the frenzy for the perfect patty between buns, and there is no exception with the two American burger joints that just crossed the pond. Queues are still in full size to get a burger in any of these chains. But I finally saw an opportunity, not too crowded for the Five Guys during Wednesday lunch time. 

Five Guys London

I’m amazed how crowded the place still is. During any of my visits to the States I've never seen this, my recollection of the Five Guys are places with a normal number of punters and some a bit empty, but here in London queues are becoming the common denominator. The staff a well oiled machine, line cooks preparing thousands of orders, Londoners still dazzled by the free Coca Cola refills, and the all toppings same price policy, one thing for sure the Five Guys are cleaning, this must be one of their most successful locals for sure. I wonder if the place in Reading has the same popularity.

Finally near the counter

Line cooks

I went for the bacon cheeseburger, and added grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, and jalapeño to spicy things a bit. Regular fries and a coke. 

The Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger

The verdict, burger was ok, nice gooey melted cheese, crunchy bacon, good taste, and the meat was completely done, so expect no juices at all 

The damage, less than 12 quid for the burger and small fries 

The conclusion, I'm still surprise with the fries, the quantity is unbelievable, the regulars fries are good for at least three people, probably if you go to the counter and complain you didn't get enough they will happily give you more. Overall the Five Guys experience have good flavours, street food all over your face, I see the novelty but surprise me that the wow effect is still lasting. I would prefer to have a more decent burger somewhere else but that's just me. I would have to say weak 6.5 for the Five Guys, thanks for the extra fries and the 100+ drink flavours in the soda machine though. Hope for the die hard fans of the Five Guys the queues calm a bit with the new place coming in Angel.

Small fries

Burger

Five Guys

T: 020 7240 2057

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: £16pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: FiveGuysUK

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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

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Burger Wars Episode LXVI: Special Big B as in Byron [BurgeReview]

I say we leave now, we go to Skyburger and we scarf them down 

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”) 

Last week was for sure burger week in London, with the new additions of Shake Shack and Five Guys to the London burger scene, and the launch of the new Byron special the Big B. The burger in question is inspired by a trip to LA, where the Byron research team tried thirty different burgers in just three days. 

The new special

The place

I decided instead of queuing in the American chains that I’m pretty familiar with, to visit one of the Byron restaurants on my way home and try their new special. The Big B is a double cheeseburger with two patties of 3oz each and double cheese on a potato bun, onion, shredded iceberg, pickles, and a special burger sauce complete the picture. 

The Big B

The verdict, sadly not impressed, the flavour was ok, a bit more sauce might helped, cheese was completely melted but didn't cover all the patty, the 3oz factor for me was not enough meat, the bun I have to say was the star, quite nice and soft. 

The damage, 9.50 quid for the Big B, no fries, no shake, no cake! 

The conclusion, I used to love all Byron’s special to the point that I consider some of them should be permanent on the menu, sadly this is not the case at least for me. The burger is ok but not close to any of their previous specials. The Big B wasn’t big enough and didn’t deliver I have to give the B a low 6 on my scale out of 10 

Not so big

But not all was bad news, the onion rings I have to say they got top marks. I complained a long time ago, actually on my first visit to Byron as the rings that time were saggy and oily. This time they were well rested, crunchy, not oily, and really nice. Also the Oreo milkshake went down great. Good flavour, thick, dense, it was perfect for the hot wave we have this last two weeks.

Oreo time

Onion rings

Byron

T: 020 7370 7991

Burger joint

Approx Damage: £17pp

Area: Earls Court

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: byronhamburgers

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Your Majesty King Akaushi at the Burger Palace [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

“I say we leave now, we go to Skyburger and we scarf them down” 

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”) 

A good friend of mine has been telling me about Akaushi beef or the American Kobe from a long time. So as soon as I mentioned that I was going to Houston he invited me to try the Akaushi burgers at The Burger Palace. 

Silverware

The Akaushi beef is extremely tender with excellent marbling. This Wagyu cattle is original from Japan where it’s a national treasure, but got its way to the US in 1994 thanks to a loophole in the law. HeartBrand Beef sized this opportunity and adapted a 747 to bring to the states a total of 11 Akaushi bulls and cows. Nowadays they are the largest and only purebred group of Wagyu beef outside Japan. 

InstAkaushi

Got to the place with Reuter and we ordered a Franziskaner weissbier. Studied the menu for a couple minutes to decide what burger to have even asked the waitress for the best seller. The final choice the Texas cheeseburger. The amazing Akaushi beef cooked medium rare with cheddar cheese, jalapeño, caramelised onions, apple wood smoked bacon, spicy mustard, and garlic aioli. As a side some fries with Parmesan and rosemary. 

The Burger

The Fries

The burger is excellent, there are no words to describe the flavour of the beef other than awesome. The beef was perfectly cooked, it was juicy, just amazing. Hope this doesn’t sound cliché but it was one of the best I burgers have tried. The fries were perfectly cooked, nice flavour, crunchy crust and inside quite soft, couldn’t be better.  

The amazing Akaushi burger

If you’re in Houston don’t waste more time in other places and go to try the Burger Palace. I’m a bit afraid, as the place was quite empty, I hope business improves giving me the chance to try again that amazing burger.

The Burger Palace

T: +1 713 877 9700

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: $20pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

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Burger Wars Episode LXIV: F for Foxtrot and G for Gordon

“It's cleavage. I couldn't look away. What am I, waiting to win an Oscar here? This is all I have in my life” 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Shoes” 

My last stop searching for the greatest burger in London took me to Gordon Ramsay’s British Bistro in Chelsea. Foxtrot Oscar offering a classic menu using seasonal produce. Small and cozy place with black and white pictures in a burgundy dim light ambience. 

The place

I couldn’t resist having the bone marrow, superb, a classic well executed. Every ingredient as it should, shallot comfit, a touch of Parmesan, panko crust, with a parsley, caper and lemon salad. Marisol went for the beef carpaccio, potato salad, and lemon vinaigrette. The carpaccio was nice, and the potatoes gave an excellent addition. 

Marrow

Carpaccio

While waiting for my burger we shared a really nice Viña Real Rioja. The Foxtrot cheeseburger, with smoked streaky bacon, mushroom relish, pickled gherkin, and triple cooked chips. 

The Foxtrot Cheeseburger

The verdict, it was unbelievable, great flavour even though it was cooked medium, as they want to make sure the cheese is completely melted. The bacon gives a nice smoky flavour, the brioche bun is wonderful, and the cheese was completely melted in deed 

The damage, 15 quid for the burger and chips 

The conclusion, great burger, nice balance, amazing flavour, I would have prefer it a bit more juicy but it was quite good. The chips were nice but probably the weakest link. I will give it a 9 in my scale. Highly recommended if you’re in Chelsea 

Burger time

Close up

Almost forgot, Marisol got the 35 day dry aged Cote de Boeuf with watercress and béarnaise sauce. I had a couple bites and it was perfectly cooked, great execution, amazing flavour. 

Cote de Boeuf

Great bistro the food and the service were excellent.

Foxtrot Oscar

T: 020 7352 4448

British Bistro

Approx Damage: £60pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: foxtrot_oscar

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