Burgers

Shhh Burger Club and Bar

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shhh01

address: 424 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8LF

telephone: 02072748888

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shhh-Burger-Club-Bar/926667227365416#_=_

Up to now, whenever we wanted a burger, there has been only one place to go – Honest Burger (see here) – but as part of our quest to keep pace with all the recent openings in Brixton, we decided to see if this had changed. So we visited Shhh one weekday evening when there was little in the cupboard and we wanted some quality family time. This is a comfortable restaurant with mis-matched, but stylish, chairs in the former Duck Egg Café (see here) site. You can sit outside or inside and there is a bar with high stools at the window for peering at the passing scene. A word of WARNING … watch yourself as you go inside. There is a step where you least expect it and two people in our party tripped, as did the next lot.

The menu is short and has three burgers, two beef and one chicken. There are also a couple of snacks as well as a few side dishes. We over-ordered as usual, covering the complete range of burgers, which means the classic beef (Dry aged, pasture raised Yorkshire chuck, brisket and bone marrow with lettuce, pickled cucumber, chili jam and the rest); the chicken burger (chopped breast, watercress, creamy leek sauce, onions) and the Honey Burger (paprika smoked beef, honey mustard mayo, rocket and goat’s cheese). All the burgers are in a “homemade” bun and come with hand cut, triple cooked chips.
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The three side dishes were chosen mostly for the inclusion of some veg: coleslaw (apple, celeriac, cabbage, raisins) – we couldn’t taste the apple -, baby gem lettuce (with crispy bacon, Stilton, pickles and green goddess dressing) – absolutely delicious and we wished we had ordered more –  and something called “so Corny” which turned out to be two pieces of corn on the cob covered in chipotle cream and some chilli – watch out for the chilli as one member of our party didn’t and although she likes chilli this really put a stop to conversation.

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We liked all the burgers – perhaps the classic more than the others. The fries were ok but slightly sweet and not all were as crispy as we would have liked.

The meal cost £54.00, including two large glasses of wine and the free bottle of tap water. The service was attentive and friendly. We were the only customers for a while and that did give us the opportunity for conversation and a relaxed dining experience. Much as we love Honest Burgers (and their burgers are pretty spectacular) it is now so popular for most of the day that you feel very rushed, understandably as they have so few tables. This restaurant provides a more relaxed and spacious alternative. The food isn’t too fast, even with few competing customers. Maybe the food is not yet up to the standard of Honest Burger but if you do not want to queue and do want relaxation then this is a good place to go.

Honest Burgers

~ eatinbrixton ~ 1 Comment

HB01

Unit 12, Brixton Village, London SW9 8PR

www.honestburgers.co.uk

+44 (0)20 7733 7963

Mon: 12.00–16.00

Tues to Sat: 12.00–22.30

Sun: 12.00–22.00

Amazingly its nigh on three years since we reviewed Honest Burgers. We are not great burger eaters but, for a variety of reasons, we paid a couple of visits recently, so it seemed an opportune time to produce another review. A big change is that there are now six branches across London, from Tooting to King’s Cross. So the question is, does this mean they have taken their eye off the ball or will they still offer our previous judgement “… the best burger I have had south of the river”.

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Brixton – Washington DC

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address: 901 U St. NW,  WASHINGTON, DC 20009
telephone: 202-560-5045

http://www.brixtondc.com/

Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? We decided to see if it was after noting a post on Urban75 (here) that there was a Brixton bar and restaurant in Washington. We were also interested in the ‘gentrification’ issues that the bars in this area had generated, as they seemed similar to those being discussed in Brixton blogs.

The Brixton is a “concept” bar with food. It was opened by a company called Brixton that herald from San Francisco and they make clothes. We believe (the barman told us) that they were originally from South London. But this is not any part of South London that we have been in. The surrounding streets were part of a mainly black community (so that’s the same). In fact Obama chose Ben’s Chili Bowl which is just along the street from the Brixton to emphasise his black credentials and there is a monument to Afro-americans who fought in the War of Independence. The area is now being “gentrified” with new businesses mainly being run by white entrepreneurs – hence the discussion thread on Urban75.

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Bukowski Grill

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Address: Unit 10, Market Row, Brixton Market, SW9 8JX, London
Telephone: (temp) 07973663105

email:info@bukowski-grill.co.uk

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

This is the latest of the pop-up restaurants in Brixton Market. Already with a location in Shoreditch, their experience in the restaurant business is clear, with the place running smoothly although only just opened. It is in the heart of Market Row, which nowadays seems to have restaurant after restaurant popping up each week, making it almost seem like a food court rather than the market it once was.Inside one wall is stripped down to the bricks and the other they seem to have stopped half way and the only decoration is the fluorescent tube of the name Bukowski along one wall. Tables are for two or four and on a Friday night spill out into Market Row. Lighting is simple and was turned down for more atmosphere as the evening progressed. It was quite noisy so the music being played in the background seemed a little pointless.

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Honest Burgers

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Honest BurgersHonest Burgers: Unit 12, Brixton Village, London SW9 8PR

Having heard so many good things about Honest Burgers a friend and I decided to check it out for ourselves this Thursday lunchtime. Surprised to get a table as usually when you pass there is often a queue, (HINT: perhaps lunchtimes are a good time to go). We were met with a smile by the staff and much like the rest of Brixton village the chefs are on show so you can see your burgers being assembled in front of your very eyes.

The menu is short but sweet with chicken, vegetarian option (cauliflower fritter), a special and then three types of beef burger. Thrice cooked chips with rosemary salt come with every burger but can also be ordered as an extra for those who are greedy. Limited drinks menu (they don’t have a license, although I’m sure comply with the byob system that most of the market adheres to) but the homemade lemonade was delicious.

We opted for the beef burger options, the standard cheese filled with cheddar or stilton, lettuce and extra yummy onion relish and the house favourite ‘the honest burger’ with bacon, pickled cucumber, cheese and the same delicious onion relish. The meat comes medium rare and melts in the mouth and every extra, such as the pickled cucumbers and glazed bun, gives them that special something. Good portion sizes ensure that you can use your hands without too much mess, something they appear to suggest by only supplying you with a knife. Personally the icing on the cake was the thrice cooked and rosemary salt chips. Crunchy on the outside and with a fluffy centre these are like your grandmas best roast potatoes in chip form.

With such a hype surrounding it we were not disappointed with our visit. Cost was around the same as the rest of the market (£17 for two burgers, chips and a lemonade). This place knows what it wants to be, so if its variety you’re looking for this may not be the place for you however this is by far the best burger I have had south of the river.

http://www.honestburgers.co.uk/