While looking for burger places in London, I came across Burger & Beyond which was rated as one of the best in London so off I went to sample it!
From the outside in Shoreditch, it looks very unassuming; nothing is given away. Step inside and it could almost be a bar – you wouldn’t know you were in a burger restaurant! Clearly, it’s not a normal fast food joint making it worlds away from the likes of Five Guys or Patty & Bun (both of which have an American feel). This is stylish and modern; with exposed brickwork, industrial correlated metal walls contrasted with botanical greenery and filament bulbs.
It certainly isn’t a large space, although there’s a downstairs with more tables available. You can book tables online or by phoning and there were lots of walk ins that managed to get seated.
Burger & Beyond – What We Ordered
Suprisinglty, I chose a cocktail to start which I wouldn’t normally have in this sort of place. I think it’s credit to the atmosphere that I opted for one. I chose the Rose Spritz (£8) which was so refreshing I could’ve guzzled it straight down and my friend ordered the B&B Punch (£8) which was a rum based cocktail.
To start, we ordered a portion of the Smoked Mozzarella sticks (£5) and the Fried Chicken Bites with Secret Sauce (£6). Normally, mozzarella sticks are my go to but this time my favourite was actually the chicken; meat was juicy and tender on the inside but crunchy on the outside. I’ve got no idea what the ‘secret sauce’ is made of but I do know that it was delicious – it tasted similar to a mayonnaise. We kept the sauce for dipping with our fries later and even ordered another portion of sauce! It was THAT good.
The mozzarella was tasty, but not quite as ‘done’ as I would’ve liked; they almost looked a little anaemic and could’ve been cooked for a little longer in my opinion. The marinara chilli sauce that came with the mozzarella sticks was tasty though, it had a nice heat coming through from the chilli.
We both ordered the Bacon Butter Burger – single (£11.50) which is a little more expensive than Bleeker Burger but roughly the same price point as Honest Burger (which I wasn’t a fan of). On arrival, this burger has the wow factor – it looks the same on the plate as it does in an advertisement – absolutely mouthwatering. Expectations are high, especially when you’ve sat and watched other people’s burgers arrive on the next table to you. The burger itself was quite juicy and full of flavour while the seeded bun was soft and fluffy. I particular liked the ratio of bun to burger to extras as I normally pick out the tomatoes or gherkins in a burger and they were none to be seen! Winning! The pancetta bacon was crispy, I loved the addition of the burnt butter mayo with onions and the double American cheese was melted over the burger and oozed with every mouthful.
To me, the fries were perfect. They were well cooked and crispy, nothing special when you compare them with Five Guys or Shake Shack fries but actually, it meant that all of the focus was on the burger and the fries complemented the meal perfectly.
Burger & Beyond – 4/5
This has gone straight to the top of my burger joint list. I’d go back in a heartbeat, although it is a slightly higher price point than other burger bars.
Food – 5/5
Service – 3/5
Decor / Ambience – 4/5
The total cost for two people was £61.31 including service and drinks.
Have you visited Burger & Beyond before? Feeling Inspired? Check out my London Restaurant Hit List!
Burger & Beyond, Shoreditch
147 Shoreditch High St
Hackney
London
E1 6JE
