Review: Honest Burgers, Soho

I recently won tickets from Hamburger Me to Two Nights Only, a hamburger dinner event. The brief was to review a burger in 140 characters and I chose the Honest Burger from Honest Burgers. It ended up as a limerick and I couldn’t resist a bit of a pun:

“Honestly not horsing around,
It’s the most succulent that I’ve found,
With rosemary chips,
And mayonnaise lips,
Lots of mess and fun abound!”

So, in case you can’t tell, I loved Honest Burgers. For those of you who want to know why, read on…

The evening on which I arrived at Honest Burgers was not going well. My phone had run out of battery, my friend was missing in action, and there was a queue. Not just any queue, but a waiting list of one hour and 45 minutes. The lady on the door was very charming and friendly as she offered to take my number to call when a table was available. However, I was starving and there was no chance that I’d survive that long. Apparently, this is how popular Honest Burgers is. You have to fight for the seats!

Shivering, I waited for my friend, feeling rather miserable. He arrived just as the friendly lady appeared at the restaurant door again.

See those window seats? she said. They’re not included in the waiting list and those people are about to leave. Would you like them?

Hmm. Would I like to jump the one-hour-and-forty-five-minute-queue? Yes please!

We squeezed in and grabbed the menus. The offerings are simple – beef burger, chicken burger or veggie fritter – although daily specials appear on the board.

I needed the Honest Burger (£9)  – beef patty in a bun with red onion relish, smoked bacon, mature cheddar, pickled cucumber and lettuce. I dived into a soft, succulent patty that screamed “Hello, I’m good quality beef!” The bacon was well-cooked and also very tasty. Honest Burgers get their meat from The Ginger Pig, a highly renowned butchers (who, incidentally, will be providing the bacon at the Two Night Only Event). The relish was not overpoweringly sweet and the whole thing was expertly executed.

Whilst I was devouring my burger and wishing I could magically replicate it, my friend contemplated the chips. All the burgers come with rosemary salt chips. These are very good chips. In fact, my friend is normally fairly ambivalent towards his food but these chips possibly made his year.

We also took a Red Cabbage, Beetroot and Apple Coleslaw (£2.50), which is a fantastic flavour combination and made for a very pleasing accompaniment.

My friend also enjoyed some home-made lemonade (£2.50), served in a jar.

Honest Burgers 4.5/5

Squeezed onto a counter, it wasn’t the most comfortable of meals, but the food couldn’t be any more comforting. 

Food 4.5/5 – Absolutely great, but I shall keep my beady burger-hunting eye open.
Service 5/5 – Quick and efficient. And special mention to the lady on the door who is endlessly positive when telling customers the bad news about the wait.
Atmosphere 3.5/5 – Not the most relaxing of places. But the room is united in burger and chips appreciation.
Value 4/5 – Good quality food at a good price. Happy times.

Where: Brixton Village, SW9 8PR; 4A Meard Street, W1F 0EF
Website: http://www.honestburgers.co.uk/