The weather is drizzly and cold on this wet Thursday night. Jeremy and I have tickets to watch Pinnochio at 7.30pm, so we've rushed into the city to find a place to eat before the show. Unfortunately the weather is not our friend, so we scrap our plans to head to Bar One, and instead beeline over to The Burger Bistro in Shafto Lane.
This burger bar is the first of all the new "gourmet" burger venues I tried back in the day. It's small, unpretentious and boasts an impressive menu that is just that little bit different to all the others. I feel a bit sorry for them because Grill'd have very cleverly built a GIANT store at the top of Shafto Lane, which would steal quite a bit of their foot traffic. Smart business decision, and you can see it's had an affect on Burger Bistro - we were one of three other groups eating there.
However the staff continue to be efficient and friendly; and the menu continues to grow, with new and impressive additions since the last time I have come here.
Their motto here is simple. Burgers as they should be. And yes, they live up to this statement.
I stare at the menu a little bit torn. Should I get The Beef Big Smoke like I usually do? Or should I try the Captain America which my friends tell me is amazing? My eyes are drawn to the El Mariachi ($16) which I haven't seen before. It's Mt Barker free range chicken breast marinated in spicy Mexican chipotle dry rub, salad, fresh lime and sweet corn salsa.
Jeremy chooses my 'go-to' burger here: The Beef Big Smoke ($15.50). It's a CAAB Angus beef patty with pancetta bacon, emmental cheese, salad, garlic mayo and smokey BBQ sauce. The beef is cooked so it has a slightly pink centre, the cheese is flavoursome and melts into the centre. You can tell (as the menu confirms) that they make the patties on site, using just simple salt and pepper to flavour it. It's fresh, juicy and thankfully, not oily!
I highly recommend you try this place if you're a fan of burgers and want something different than the mainstream options on offer everywhere else. The menu is diverse, generous and delicious. I'm happy that years after my first visit it still tastes just as great.
I've been on a bit of a burger crusade and loved this place. I had the Beef Big Smoke which was so full of flavour. Loved the smokiness and meaty juicy beef patty. The sweetness of the BBQ sauce, melting cheese, perfect!
ReplyDeleteHi Shaun - I definitely agree! I went through a stage of eating at heaps of burger places to try and find the best. There's a reason I keep coming back for the Big Smoke too :)
DeleteI have been to all three of the Burger Bistros: Leederville, Perth and East Perth. I have never been let down. The food is always top quality and the service is friendly and efficient without being 'in your face'. Highly recommend this place being a big step above the other gourmet burger franchises. Might just head there tonight!
DeleteI so agree Mickey - hope you went down after getting that craving :) I've only made it to the Perth one but I'm sure now that it's on my mind I'll be at one of the others some time soon.
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