Tag Archives: burger

Best Burgers on the Block, Malmaison London

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There are some new burgers on the block that you simply must try. The Malmaison London is already firmly established as a top burger outlet, often making the ‘top ten’ in London burger write-ups. Their classic bacon and cheese has always been one of my favourites, made with the highest quality meat and served with a deliciously stacked assortment of ingredients. Now the Mal welcome a list of indulgent speciality burgers to tempt the most discerning customers.

I went along to the Malmaison London last week to investigate with a group of other keen foodies. We were seated in the snazzy private dining room, and given the freshest mojitos to sip  – did I mention this hotel make exceptionally good cocktails? It wasn’t long before beautifully presented charcuterie (artisan salami, cured meats, cheese and olives) and warm bread arrived.

The main event followed and was as spectacular as promised, a selection of giant burgers. Here’s the list of choices with my thoughts…

Rossini Burger – foie gras & black truffle with fat chips
Rich and luxurious, this burger is a real treat.

Classic Mal Burger – bacon & gruyere cheese with fries
I chose the classic… the rest of the group picked the other options, so I thought in order to conduct a fair comparison I should order the Classic. It was as scrumptious as ever, perfectly seasoned meat with crisp lettuce leaves and onion, bacon and oozing melted cheese. The super skinny fries are just as they should be, thin, crispy, salty and dangerously addictive.

Tartiflette Burger – reblochon, onion & pancetta with fries
Next time I will be trying this one – all my favourites components in one burger – French cheese, crispy delicately flavoured pancetta and sweet onion. I had a little bit of food envy watching my friend dissect this on the other side of the table!

Poulet Szchnitzel Burger – chilli jam with fries
For those who aren’t red meat fans there is an equally exciting burger, and though we mocked the diner who got left with this choice… he was smug when we all lusted after the chilli jam. I think this alternative Chicken option will be surprisingly popular with Mal guests.

To finish we ate Rhubarb & Ginger Syllabub with shortbread dusted in icing sugar. It was a wonderful combination of flavours and textures, and a perfectly light dessert after the burgers. Similar to pannacotta, the syllabub was creamy and silky with crunchy crystallised cubes of ginger and soft pink rhubarb, I savoured every mouthful.

Yet again the Malmaison proves it is much more than just a lovely hotel. So put this restaurant on your to try list of eateries in London, this exciting new menu is a must for burger fans everywhere.

Visit the Malmaison website here for more information.

Joe Allen Restaurant, Covent Garden

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I’m wondering why I’ve never visited Joe Allen before, especially as I spend a large proportion of my time gallivanting around Covent Garden. This legendary restaurant is tucked away down Exeter street, with an intriguing entrance luring you in.

Inside, the restaurant spans a huge floor space, a charming, warm and informal place to dine – despite the size the venue manages to maintain a cosy and intimate atmosphere and reminded me of a Parisian brasserie. The service was friendly, we took our time enjoying the evening and savouring the food, and I was impressed by our waiter who didn’t hurry us at all even though the restaurant was full, and tables were sparse for incoming guests.

We began with cocktails, fresh bread and marinated olives. My Caipirinha cocktail was incredibly strong, and though mixed well needed a little more sugar for my taste, but my guest’s fruity champagne cocktail was sweet and much more drinkable. We ordered our starters, a thick and comforting Black Bean soup for my friend and I tried the Buffalo mozzarella with caponata and black olive vinaigrette. My starter used the freshest of ingredients, light fluffy cheese and the most delicious homemade caponata, with a garnish of crunchy rocket.

I’ve heard that the secret burgers (they’re not on the menu) are particularly good at Joe Allen’s so I chose one, a decision I did not regret. The burger was compact and extra meaty, well seasoned and presented simply with strips of sweet bacon and melted cheese. It lived up to all the recommendations. The chips were a little disappointing, soggy and left limp on the plate, I would have preferred crispy fries. My guest chose the seared Yellow Fin Tuna with Asian greens, crushed wasabi peanuts and goma dressing, a wildly inventive dish that worked together surprisingly well. It was a generous portion, the fish perfectly cooked with a crispy edge and the peanut dressing absolutely delicious – creamy, spicy and sweet and the perfect accompaniment for the fish.

The wine list is long and varied… unable to choose we asked a waitress who recommended the Viognier – Yalumba from Australia, a light fruity white wine with a wonderful flavour. Joe Allen’s is a lovely place to hang out and chat, and before desserts we took a prolonged break to catch up and let our mains digest. When we were ready our waiter brought us fresh mint tea with two puddings to share, the pear sorbet and a slice of rhubarb and almond tart with mascarpone. The sorbet was divine, so juicy and refreshing and yet full of flavour. The tart went down well too, a sugary cake with rich mascarpone, this recipe reminded me how much I love the unique taste of rhubarb.

Joe Allen is just as cool as its reputation promised – hang out with the trendy theatrical crowd, while munching on a great burger and sipping a glass of wine… a great place to reminisce and relax.

Visit the website here.

Big Easy, King’s Road

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When I mentioned I was going to the Big Easy for supper to friends they seemed surprised that I’d never been to this legendary American style diner before. Obviously the place has something of a reputation, and after visiting I can understand why.

The bright lights and big sign set my heart racing, it was just like being back in the big apple, a city I adored and long to return to. Inside the restaurant it is just as cool, friends sit chatting, everyone seems like locals, totally familiar with their surroundings and even more familiar, and fond of, the food.

We were advised by the manager and our friendly waitress about what is hot at the Big Easy… we soon learnt there are some specialities that customers can’t resist coming back for again and again. The list includes the lobster and shrimps, the bread crumbed chicken strips, and potato skins. Ravenous and obediently doing as we were told, we soon ordered giant shrimps and potato skins with cheese and bacon to start, along with a couple of the famous Big Easy signature cocktails: Rum Runner (White and dark rum shaken with Galliano, fresh lime juice, passion fruit and tropical juices) for me and the Starlett (Gordon’s gin, fresh passion fruit, lime juice and sugar syrup shaken straight into a martini glass) for my equally excited companion. The service was super speedy and our drinks arrived within a minute or two, and within another few minutes were gone! Some of the best cocktails I’ve tasted in a restaurant, they were very sweet but deliciously unique combinations of flavours, expertly mixed so you could barely even taste the alcohol.

Our table fell silent as we gobbled our way through the starters – I had starved myself all day for this meal and was now reaping the benefits. My potato skins were insanely good, gooey and crispy with masses of melted cheese and the crispiest bits of bacon. The shrimps looked good too – a pretty pale peach colour and very fresh. I had to pace myself knowing the feast that was still to come…

I had initially decided on a burger when I stepped in the door but was swayed by the list of steaks, and eventually opted for the New York strip sirloin with the creamiest and spiciest cognac & peppercorn sauce I’ve ever tasted. The chips which come in two varieties: shoestring or steak house fries were delicious and very moreish, I managed to tip mine over while desperately trying to cram them into my mouth, that will teach me for being greedy. My guest chose the whole lobster steamed and marinated with sweet chilli sauce, she seemed delighted to have this whole fancy fish in front of her and couldn’t stop smiling as she made her way through it, only stopping to say “this is so good” and “I am so full”.

Pudding was a struggle and our mischievous waitress tempted us with liquor coffees and dessert cocktails… but we restrained ourselves (well we had already drunk ourselves merry with the ridiculously drinkable cocktails), and decided on JUST a homemade waffle with strawberries, butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice-cream to share. It was exquisite: the ideal mix of hot and cold, sweet, crunchy, soft and icy. Then came a latte for my friend and a fresh mint tea for me, a perfect calming drink at the end of the meal.

For good food and a good time it doesn’t come better than the Big Easy. Look out for the weekday deals to make the most of your trip, plus, to add another dimension, every night from 8ish the Big Easy hosts live music downstairs.

Visit the website for more information and to book here.