Gourmet Burger Kitchen

A classy, modern burger joint that knows how to deliver bucketloads of flavour in a slick environment.

The Venue
On the corner at the far end of Greek Street, sat opposite All Bar One, this relatively new kid on the block sparkles with its glass facade and shiny, modern interior. Thought-provoking, colour-changing lights (did that really happen?) hang above long modern tables and benches.

There are also colour-changing walls lit from behind the fixed seating, and these sync in with the pendant lights, giving the place a surprisingly tranquil, calming ambience. It changes from lime greens to electric blues, it’s very hi-tech and very intriguing.

It’s a cool looking place full stop and it certainly doesn’t look like a typical fast food burger joint. The materials used in the design are classy and look expensive, put together with a keen eye for detail.

Its modern feel takes your mind away from burger vans outside football stadiums and those horrible flattened burgers you get served with slimy onions. It’s more ethical and earthy, more Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall than Ronald McDonald.

The People
Being on Greek Street, there’s the obvious throng of business-types lunching and filling up after work. Make sure you don’t have your best white shirt on as burgers of this size and calibre can get messy.

There are also families and young couples and a general mix of people enjoying the food and the ambience. It’s not fast food, but it’s certainly not a candle-lit propose to the girlfriend sort of restaurant either. It lies somewhere in between, which generally entices a younger crowd wanting a more casual, informal meal.

It's also a great place to eat on your own if you want something more appetising than a run-of-the-mill burger, but can’t quite face the curious stares and sympathetic frowns of somewhere more formal. Great for nightclubbers who want to pack some food in before drinking and dancing the night away.

The Food
One thing is for sure, there’s nothing safe about how Gourmet Burger Kitchen tackle their burgers. Big, wholesome, interesting and damn right delicious.

Taking good ingredients and a laidback Kiwi-style (the idea originates from New Zealand where burgers are quality and a staple diet), Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s manifesto is to elevate the status of the burger from a fast food snack served out of the back of a trailer to a sit down meal packed full with nutrition and fulfilment. And it gets it spot on.

All burgers are made from 100 per cent Aberdeen Angus beef. You can’t help licking your lips at the thought of a blue cheese burger (with aged stilton dressing £7.25), chorizo burger (£6.85) or minted lamb burger (£6.95). Very tasty and messy, great with chips (£2.70) and a choice of dipping sauces.

If you’re a vegetarian there’s no need to worry as even the veggie burgers pack a real punch and you’ll be eager to get your teeth into them. The veggie and camambert (portobello mushroom, aubergine, red pepper, sweet potato, camembert, mayonnaise, rocket and onion jam is £7.25) might actually make you convert.

There's also a premium quality selection including a buffalo burger (£9.80) and a selection of hearty salads (chilli chicken salad £7.85). You can also build your own burger with a choice from all the key ingredients.

Serving great burgers packed with innovative ideas and monsterous flavour, this is the place for big tastes and big appetites. The only criticism being it’s not a restaurant where you feel special. You’ll certainly remember that colossal burger but will you remember the night? Great place to start off the evening or for lunch, but don’t expect to draw out the romantic side of your partner here.

The Drink
Any good burger bar, should have milkshake (£3.50) on the menu and Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s selection is highly recommended. Very smooth, creamy, filling and delicious. There are also fresh juices (£2.55) and smoothies (£2.90), so you can bring along your gym-fanatic friend and they won’t get too upset with the calorie count.

Plenty of wine to choose from clearly emphasises that this is a restaurant and not a fast food joint. With a dozen bottles on the menu, whites reds and roses, there’s enough to keep you happy. Bottles start from £11.95 and can also be served by the glass, small or large size.

The Last Word
Gourmet Burger Kitchen sets out with the clear intention of being a restaurant with a capital R. It certainly is one of the best places for a memorable burger but it's more posh diner than high-end restaurant. So get stuck in and get messy!

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