Burgers

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

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2 Electric Ln, London SW9 8FA

Telephone: 020 7733 8905

website: fiveguys.co.uk

Hidden in Electric Lane, so no-one visits but just orders takeaways or deliveries. They have a “handler” who collects the delivery orders, so that the restaurant is not crowded with the delivery people. It is red and white, has a long open kitchen with very busy people frying, putting on toppings and bagging up. Of course there is the limitless soda fountain and the rather lethal milkshakes. Everyone knows what Five Guys offers – its “famous ‘boardwalk style’ fries, (hand-cut on site each day and cooked in 100% peanut oil), add spice for Cajun fries. In the entrance to the restaurant bags of potatoes are piled up and on the blackboard they give you the name and place where they come from for the days chips, as we call them. For us they came from Myrtle Grange Farm in Yorkshire. They also have burgers, Hot-dogs and Sandwiches.

We are not going to describe the endless combinations of burgers, but assume they have everything you want, same goes for the beef hot dogs and sandwiches include a BLT, grilled cheese and a veggie offering. The list of milkshakes also seems endless.

We chose a Hot dog (with tomato, mustard and pickle), a bacon burger (with pickle and relish), one portion of chips (sorry fries), a soda and a malted vanilla milkshake. Drinks come first, so beware of the milkshake which while absolutely delicious can fill you up before the main event. In terms of calories you are likely to expend more on sucking through the paper (!) straw than take in from the drink.

The meals came slowly as it was 6.45pm and clearly everyone in Brixton was hungry so the takeaway and delivery orders were rolling in. But that gave us time to see the choreography. There was one other couple in the restaurant eating very slowly and the two of us. We were glad to eat in as this sort of food doesn’t travel well, as it steams inside the packets.

We were full before we were half way through, but we doggedly pressed on. This is something that you need to try every now and again – cholesterol willing. The bread was sweetish, the chips definitely different and the meat just right. We were full and happy and took our remaining drinks with us for the long walk home.

The bill came to £29.50

Halo Burger – Delivery

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PopBrixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
(That’s what’s on their website, but Deliveroo think it’s 144 Stockwell Rd, SW9 9TQ)

Website: https://haloburger.co.uk/

Opening hours: Check Deliveroo site here.

No cows were involved in the production of these burgers as they are vegan. We reviewed it a while ago (see here). We decided to try it again because: (1) it is close by; (2) when we were hungry it was open; and (3) most importantly, you didn’t have to book several days in advance. The Deliveroo service was prompt. Continue reading →

Black Bear Burger

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Address: 11-13A Market Row, SW9 8LB

Phone: 020 7737 3444

Website: http://blackbearburger.com/

Opening times:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Sunday: 12 noon to 10pm

You might well ask what is the point of another burger place in Brixton, other than somewhere to go when you definitely want a burger and Honest Burger is too busy?  Black Bear is not new to burgers, however, learning their trade at pop-ups and residences, but this their first sit-down location. For this they’ve chosen Brixton, replacing Wild Caper, one of nu-Brixton’s earliest eating places. The site has had a major refurbishment, with plenty of space inside for those cold winter nights. Continue reading →

Halo Burger – Pop Brixton

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49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ

https://www.haloburger.co.uk/

Opening hours:
Mon-Thurs: 12noon – 10pm
Friday – Saturday: 12noon – 11pm
Sunday: 12noon – 10pm

This is a burger joint unlike any other – no cows were involved in their production as they are vegan. It’s in Pop Brixton, on the ground floor and down the aisle on the left as you go in. It looks much like any other take-away food joint, with some stools to sit on if you want to eat in. Continue reading →

Fox Bar and Chickenshop

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Address: Piano House, 9 Brighton Terrace, London SW9 8DJ

Telephone: 0203 859 1130

http://www.chickenshop.com/en/brixton

This is a review mainly about cocktails but it includes the food too. I have relied on my dinner companion and photographer to nudge my memory. I hadn’t seen this friend for a long time, so we decided to celebrate in the Fox Bar before eating. So, as we didn’t want to appear too eager we arrived at 5.10 (it opens at 5). We were the only customers but it was relaxed and the service was fantastic. We have covered here before (see here) so this is more of an update.

After ordering a couple of cocktails (Earl of Gimlet – Gin- Bergamot – Grapes), we were then offered free celebratory glass of Bollinger by one of the bar staff,  as it was his birthday present. Then we had another couple of rounds of cocktails (Reynold Reserve – Tequila – Islay Whisky – Apricot and also a Red Hook – Rye Whisky – Bitter – Maraschino).  We well and truly tested the drinks menu!  – all drinks were great, not too sweet and very aromatic.

Feeling peckish and not being able to make too many choices, we ventured only a few feet away to the restaurant, where surprisingly we were not the only one’s present. We each ordered a Dirty Burger (succulent deep fried chicken in a burger bun) and both of us were converted – deep fried chicken is a real winner. The meat was succulent, not too much sauce and anyway you could ask for more of the hot stuff. We both decided the bun was superfluous but the crunchy greens were really enjoyable and made us feel healthier.

My memory from thereon is more than hazy, we moved onto another of our favourite bars in Brixton (Three Eight Four), where our taste in cocktails diverged with my friend opting for a dry Gin Martini and I went for a classic Vesper.  The mixologist did us proud producing two very good classic cocktails, although by this time I’m not 100% sure either of us were in any fit state to call ourselves a connoisseur   I think two Vespers/Martinis contributed to  a staggering walk home and I have now downloaded the Drink Aware App and trying to stick to 14 units a week. A more purist lifestyle will also help with the credit card bill. The advice from two people who should have known better is, go to Chickenshop but a beer is all you will need for a good night out.

Bean and Bun – Vegan Burgers

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Website: www.beanandbun.co.uk

Brixton Station Road Market – Saturdays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bean-and-Bun

As reported before, Brixton Station Road is now a food court with a range of different outlets and have slowly been working our way through them. Coming back from the gym (first time in four years) we stopped to pick up lunch. There are many different foods on offer, but when you have decided on the stall, the choice is generally limited. Although we had given up on Vegan eating at the end of January, this place caught our eye. Continue reading →

Fancy Funkin Chicken

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ffc01441 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, SW9 8LN, UK

020 7733 0108

Instagram @fancyfunkinchicken

http://www.fancyfunkinchicken.com/

This new place, only opening in September, describes itself as a late-night chicken shop, serving a southern American spin on fried chicken, along with a dedicated cocktail menu. It will also host a range of DJs every weekend but this probably means in the evening. On Sunday lunchtime we just enjoyed listening to the background music, which was mostly classic soul.

For old Brixton hands this is, of course, the premises occupied by the much-missed Phoenix Café, a classic ‘greasy spoon’ of long-standing, before it moved further down the street and then vanished. It was always rather poky and, even following a total reconstruction from the foundations up, it’s still on the small side. There are some cosy four seater booths on one side, opposite the bar, but most of the seating is on stools at high bar tables. It’s also a little on the dark side, which I suppose gives it some atmosphere.

I’m not sure what constitutes south American fried chicken and the food on offer is pretty Brixton generic – i.e. much like stuff you can now get at many other places in Brixton. There are the inevitable chicken burgers; crispy fried chicken wings of course, with a choice of sauce varying only in how spicy hot they are; and, somewhat randomly, waffles. If this place is going to succeed it needs to stand out by the quality of the food, rather the uniqueness of what’s on offer. One plus is that the meat comes from ‘free range happy chickens’, although quite how they know the chickens were happy is unclear.

There were three of us and the dedicated vegetarian had the Jackson burger – described on the menu as a ‘veggie patty, roast beetroot, sweet potato, black bean and wild rice with a blend of herbs and spices’ served in a sesame seed bun with cheese, lettuce, onion and mayo. This received a definite thumbs up, marking an improvement on the usual tasteless beanburger. The bun also maintained the structural integrity of the dish

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I had the chicken wings with the middle-ranking sauce, described as “having a little kick”, which was quite hot enough. The wings were oddly small but properly crispy, despite being served smothered in the sauce. I chose the smaller serving size, supposedly six, although there were more.

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The third choice was boneless chicken pieces (chicken nuggets in other words), served deep fried in breadcrumbs with a “secret spice mix” and BBQ sauce. The sauce was given a positive review, with a deep savoury smoky taste, although the chicken itself wasn’t really as interesting as it should have been.

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ffc05For sides we had a portion of fries, a dish of coleslaw and waffles. The fries were fine, if not outstanding; the coleslaw was as we like it; and the waffles were a bit odd, mainly because we were expecting savoury potato waffles, but were served ones made with flour and served with a sweet sauce. The portion size of the sides cannot be described as generous but, in the event, we had plenty to eat.

The service was attentive and appropriate action was taken when there was a delay due to a problem with the waffle machine, i.e. we were given our drinks (passionfruit juice, ginger beer and a coke) for free. We passed on a pudding (a limited choice), as well as cocktails, (a good choice). Altogether, without the drinks, the bill came to £30.50 before adding a tip.There’s been a suggestion that Brixton is becoming a giant food court and this places fits into that model. It’s going to have to work hard to develop its own identity as a food destination, or else it’s going to end up as just another place to have a drink and socialise.

Trinity Arms – Burger Shack

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address: The Trinity Arms, 45 Trinity Gardens, Brixton, London, SW9 8DR

telephone: 020 7274 4544

email: trinityarms@youngs.co.uk

website: http://www.trinityarms.co.uk/

The refurbished Trinity Arms reopened in mid-August providing much more space in the bar, a little loss of character and something new upstairs , a Burger Shack. You might well question the need for another burger bar, particularly in Brixton where burger lovers are spoilt for choice, but it seems that this is something Young’s, the Brewery, are rolling out across their chain of pubs. You can still get other food in the bar, but upstairs it’s just the burgers. It seems a bit odd and it will be interesting to see how it works out. The key difference here is perhaps it has more of a restaurant like ambience, rather than the “fast food, eat your burger and get out”, feeling you get at the other places in Brixton.

Continue reading →

Bukowski Grill

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Address: Unit 10, Market Row, Brixton Market, SW9 8JX, London
Telephone: 020 7733 4646

email:info@bukowski-grill.co.uk

http://www.bukowski-grill.co.uk/

We are hoping that this will be the last burger bar we review for a while, after about six. Although we do know there are others coming to join the list. This is a return visit, due to pressure from one of group and our previous review is here. Despite the elapse of four years it hasn’t changed its décor, so we won’t spend any time on that. Seats though are for parties of four, unless you book when they put them together for larger numbers. This is the last (or maybe just the latest) of a small chain with other locations being in Shoreditch and Soho. It is in the heart of Market Row, which now has almost 50% restaurants. Lighting is dim and music loudish, even at 7.00pm on a Thursday.

Continue reading →

Dirty burger

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address: 395 Coldharbour Lane,  London,  SW9 8LQ

Tel no: 0203 859 1121

Website: http://www.eatdirtyburger.com/brixton

Mon – Thurs: 12pm – 11pm Friday: 12pm – 12am Saturday: 10am – 12am Sunday: 10am – 10.30pm

The recent burger bar boom in Brixton has not gone unnoticed. Starting off with the staple burger venue Honest Burgers plus Shh!! Burger and Bukowski, we now have the ‘chain’ Dirty Burger joining in on the fun. With locations already all over London, including Whitechapel, Kentish Town and Wimbledon, Brixton seemed to be next on their hit list. Located on Coldharbour Lane in what was the interim Phoenix café, next to Dogstar, this joins a whole host of other new eateries opening on that stretch of road (including the Rum Kitchen, Three Little Birds, and another yet unknown below the newly opened Premiere Inn).

Continue reading →