What is it?
Best Burger in the country?
1 of 3
Anywhere that asks you how you want it cooked and then cooks it like that. I've been to specialist burger places that don't even ask you which I find just weird.
Originally Posted by BrunoStreete:
“Anywhere that asks you how you want it cooked and then cooks it like that. I've been to specialist burger places that don't even ask you which I find just weird.”
“Anywhere that asks you how you want it cooked and then cooks it like that. I've been to specialist burger places that don't even ask you which I find just weird.”
Read 2 Anthony Bourdain books on holiday last week. Can't think which one it was in (either Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw - I think the later) and he said that as an American in America, he thinks it's an absolute disgrace that he can't have what is considered to be the most American of foods, the hamburger, served medium rare. I tend to agree!
Best burger I've ever purchased from a chain was from Wendy's. Unfortunately the one in Belfast closed a few years back so I have to wait until I'm in the US before I can have one. At least there I can have root beer with my meal, though
Byron burgers are very tasty though expensive and kind of oily but in a great way.
I too used to love Wendy burgers.
I too used to love Wendy burgers.
Originally Posted by big_hard_lad:
“Read 2 Anthony Bourdain books on holiday last week. Can't think which one it was in (either Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw - I think the later) and he said that as an American in America, he thinks it's an absolute disgrace that he can't have what is considered to be the most American of foods, the hamburger, served medium rare. I tend to agree!
Best burger I've ever purchased from a chain was from Wendy's. Unfortunately the one in Belfast closed a few years back so I have to wait until I'm in the US before I can have one. At least there I can have root beer with my meal, though”
“Read 2 Anthony Bourdain books on holiday last week. Can't think which one it was in (either Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw - I think the later) and he said that as an American in America, he thinks it's an absolute disgrace that he can't have what is considered to be the most American of foods, the hamburger, served medium rare. I tend to agree!
Best burger I've ever purchased from a chain was from Wendy's. Unfortunately the one in Belfast closed a few years back so I have to wait until I'm in the US before I can have one. At least there I can have root beer with my meal, though
”
Funnily enough the U.S. is one of the places I can get burgers cooked to my liking. The Cheesecake Factory bizarrely cooked the best burger i've ever had, perfectly rare.
Originally Posted by big_hard_lad:
“Read 2 Anthony Bourdain books on holiday last week. Can't think which one it was in (either Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw - I think the later) and he said that as an American in America, he thinks it's an absolute disgrace that he can't have what is considered to be the most American of foods, the hamburger, served medium rare. I tend to agree!
Best burger I've ever purchased from a chain was from Wendy's. Unfortunately the one in Belfast closed a few years back so I have to wait until I'm in the US before I can have one. At least there I can have root beer with my meal, though”
“Read 2 Anthony Bourdain books on holiday last week. Can't think which one it was in (either Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw - I think the later) and he said that as an American in America, he thinks it's an absolute disgrace that he can't have what is considered to be the most American of foods, the hamburger, served medium rare. I tend to agree!
Best burger I've ever purchased from a chain was from Wendy's. Unfortunately the one in Belfast closed a few years back so I have to wait until I'm in the US before I can have one. At least there I can have root beer with my meal, though
”
Originally Posted by BrunoStreete:
“Funnily enough the U.S. is one of the places I can get burgers cooked to my liking. The Cheesecake Factory bizarrely cooked the best burger i've ever had, perfectly rare.”
“Funnily enough the U.S. is one of the places I can get burgers cooked to my liking. The Cheesecake Factory bizarrely cooked the best burger i've ever had, perfectly rare.”
I think in that respect the UK has had 30 years of cooking with frozen burgers. I don't think we've had the same respect of them as some of the places in the US.
It's changing though and now we are doing "proper" burgers. Fresh, big and full of flavour.
I remember having a cheeseburger in a Frankie and Benny's a few years ago, and it was so delicious. So juicy and tasty!
I had the Kiwi Burger at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and it was gorgeous! It had beetroot, pineapple, egg and cheese in it, along with the beef burger of course! By the way GBK always cook the burgers medium, unless you ask for them well done (which I always do!).
Also I really enjoyed the burger at Jamie's Italian too.
Also I really enjoyed the burger at Jamie's Italian too.
Originally Posted by degsyhufc:
“I think in that respect the UK has had 30 years of cooking with frozen burgers. I don't think we've had the same respect of them as some of the places in the US.
It's changing though and now we are doing "proper" burgers. Fresh, big and full of flavour.”
“I think in that respect the UK has had 30 years of cooking with frozen burgers. I don't think we've had the same respect of them as some of the places in the US.
It's changing though and now we are doing "proper" burgers. Fresh, big and full of flavour.”
Most places still don't ask you how you want it cooked though. A few times I've even asked for it cooked medium-rare and they've looked at me in horror.
Originally Posted by BrunoStreete:
“Most places still don't ask you how you want it cooked though. A few times I've even asked for it cooked medium-rare and they've looked at me in horror.”
“Most places still don't ask you how you want it cooked though. A few times I've even asked for it cooked medium-rare and they've looked at me in horror.”
Most places I suspect won't leave any pink meat in a burger due to potential health reasons. No problem with steak leaving it pink but as burgers are made of mince, their center has been exposed to air and thus potential health risk if not cooked properly. The would not apply to places that produce their own mince but I suspect this is few and far between.
If you want a really juicy burger at home, I suggest cooking it on a griddle pan and then cover with a inverted metal bowl so it steams as well as frying. Also do NOT press the meat, there is no reason for it and all you are doing is squeezing out the juices.
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Most places I suspect won't leave any pink meat in a burger due to potential health reasons. No problem with steak leaving it pink but as burgers are made of mince, their center has been exposed to air and thus potential health risk if not cooked properly. The would not apply to places that produce their own mince but I suspect this is few and far between.
If you want a really juicy burger at home, I suggest cooking it on a griddle pan and then cover with a inverted metal bowl so it steams as well as frying. Also do NOT press the meat, there is no reason for it and all you are doing is squeezing out the juices.”
“Most places I suspect won't leave any pink meat in a burger due to potential health reasons. No problem with steak leaving it pink but as burgers are made of mince, their center has been exposed to air and thus potential health risk if not cooked properly. The would not apply to places that produce their own mince but I suspect this is few and far between.
If you want a really juicy burger at home, I suggest cooking it on a griddle pan and then cover with a inverted metal bowl so it steams as well as frying. Also do NOT press the meat, there is no reason for it and all you are doing is squeezing out the juices.”
Are you saying the Cheesecake Factory in the U.S. make their own mince? I somehow doubt it.
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Most places I suspect won't leave any pink meat in a burger due to potential health reasons. No problem with steak leaving it pink but as burgers are made of mince, their center has been exposed to air and thus potential health risk if not cooked properly. The would not apply to places that produce their own mince but I suspect this is few and far between.
If you want a really juicy burger at home, I suggest cooking it on a griddle pan and then cover with a inverted metal bowl so it steams as well as frying. Also do NOT press the meat, there is no reason for it and all you are doing is squeezing out the juices.”
“Most places I suspect won't leave any pink meat in a burger due to potential health reasons. No problem with steak leaving it pink but as burgers are made of mince, their center has been exposed to air and thus potential health risk if not cooked properly. The would not apply to places that produce their own mince but I suspect this is few and far between.
If you want a really juicy burger at home, I suggest cooking it on a griddle pan and then cover with a inverted metal bowl so it steams as well as frying. Also do NOT press the meat, there is no reason for it and all you are doing is squeezing out the juices.”
Originally Posted by BrunoStreete:
“Are you saying the Cheesecake Factory in the U.S. make their own mince? I somehow doubt it.”
“Are you saying the Cheesecake Factory in the U.S. make their own mince? I somehow doubt it.”
True that it is deemed more dangerous but if you have fresh mince and know it's quality and where it's from then you have some leaway.
I watch several US food shows where they show restaurants preparing burgers and 95% of them get mince out of a pack. I've only seen one or two actually mincing their own meat for burgers.
The mince must be fine otherwise the burgers and restaurants wouldn't be popular.
Again, I just think we have a bad reputation of mince and burgers in this country. We think it's the cheap off cuts that need to be cooked to buggery to make sure it's ok to consume but it doesn't have to be that way.
You can get quality mince and produce quality burgers (and other dishes).
Raw mince can't be that bad if kibbeh nayyeh is popular in the middle east.
Probably the best burger is from the 'Gourmet Burger Kitchen'. The 'Kiwi' burger is excellent. Plus it is served medium rare and chargrilled.
The 'Black Aberdeen Angus' burger from 'Sophie's Steakhouse' in London is also very good. Cooked to your liking and chargrilled.
The ones from 'Lucky 7' in Notting Hill were pretty good. They are griddled rather than chargrilled, but still use a high quality beef. Bit pricey for what they are.
The ones in 'Hard Rock CafeŽ' are excellent and chargrilled, but again are pricey.
I prefer chragrilled burgers.
The 'Black Aberdeen Angus' burger from 'Sophie's Steakhouse' in London is also very good. Cooked to your liking and chargrilled.
The ones from 'Lucky 7' in Notting Hill were pretty good. They are griddled rather than chargrilled, but still use a high quality beef. Bit pricey for what they are.
The ones in 'Hard Rock CafeŽ' are excellent and chargrilled, but again are pricey.
I prefer chragrilled burgers.
I started this thread with a vague question, but with several responses now, I'd like to add a point. Although I do think I might be overthinking and I may not be able to explain this very well, so bear with me.
I am posting this now after seeing a recommendation from Sophies Steakhouse. I have never been, but I have seen it mentioned in food threads here several times, so I am familiar with it and have viewed the online menu.
Now if I were to visit Sophies Steakhouse, chances are I would have a steak, as that is after all what they are known for (or at the very least that is what you would expect them to specialise in given the name). So the chances of me having the burger are fairly remote - I'd likely have a steak. If I was going out with the preconcieved notion of wanting a Burger, then it's more likely I would go to GBK or somewhere that is more well known for burgers.
But is this right? Is this what many do and is this how perhaps the best burgers fly under the radar?
The Sophies burger is probably better than a GBK burger, but who would know? Obviously they must sell enough to justify it's presence on the menu, but at Sophies a burger is an 'alternative' meal rather than a 'signature' meal.
Does this make sense? And if it does make sense, could it be the case that there are some damn good burgers out there that not many people know about because they wouldn't order it in that venue because they are there for something else?
I am posting this now after seeing a recommendation from Sophies Steakhouse. I have never been, but I have seen it mentioned in food threads here several times, so I am familiar with it and have viewed the online menu.
Now if I were to visit Sophies Steakhouse, chances are I would have a steak, as that is after all what they are known for (or at the very least that is what you would expect them to specialise in given the name). So the chances of me having the burger are fairly remote - I'd likely have a steak. If I was going out with the preconcieved notion of wanting a Burger, then it's more likely I would go to GBK or somewhere that is more well known for burgers.
But is this right? Is this what many do and is this how perhaps the best burgers fly under the radar?
The Sophies burger is probably better than a GBK burger, but who would know? Obviously they must sell enough to justify it's presence on the menu, but at Sophies a burger is an 'alternative' meal rather than a 'signature' meal.
Does this make sense? And if it does make sense, could it be the case that there are some damn good burgers out there that not many people know about because they wouldn't order it in that venue because they are there for something else?
The Ultimate Burger from The Louisiana, near The Vue cinema, Kirkstall Road, Leeds. Lovely and plenty of it too.
I'm always confused about this whole rare burger situation. I eat steak rare, but assume thats ok, yet I'd never dream of eating a burger rare - uncooked mince really makes me feel like i'd be ill after eating it.
Originally Posted by BrunoStreete:
“Funnily enough the U.S. is one of the places I can get burgers cooked to my liking. The Cheesecake Factory bizarrely cooked the best burger i've ever had, perfectly rare.”
“Funnily enough the U.S. is one of the places I can get burgers cooked to my liking. The Cheesecake Factory bizarrely cooked the best burger i've ever had, perfectly rare.”
I've had the best omelette I've ever had at International House of Pancakes (IHOP). Screw the pancakes.
As for burgers for the chain burger bars, I would say Wendys.
The best burger I ever had was in Paris, cooked medium rare and beautifully seasoned. Over here, I've had a decent burger at gaucho and also ed's diner.
1 of 3
