Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Gourmet Burger Kitchen has become a victim of its own success. Once the vanguard of the gourmet burger revolution, it has since been surpassed by younger, fitter, leaner, hipper outfits such as Meat Liquor and Honest, among many, many others. Nevertheless, GBK remains one of London’s better chain restaurants, and one that still takes the quality of its product seriously.

Standard patties are 100% West Country beef, plus there’s buffalo and wild boar from Laverstoke Park Farm. While patties are simple (just a little, possibly a little too much, seasoning), the extras are not. The Don, for example, comes with bacon aïoli, blue cheese, American cheese, onion jam, rocket, and mustard mayo balanced inside a brioche bun; and the Kiwiburger has the acquired/adventurous taste of beetroot, egg, pineapple, aged cheddar, salad, mayo and relish.

Skinny fries are a barely-there size zero, but very moreish, and diner-style shakes (Oreo is a favourite) served in big metal mixing cups are jeans-bustingly filling.