My illness has cleared up a bit so over the weekend I visited two restaurants to replenish my energy! The first of which is Byron Hamburgers in Kingston Upon Thames.
Byron prides itself on offering Londoners the chance to experience 'proper hamburgers' like the ones the owners loved in America. They use Scottish beef cooked pink for a soft and juicy texture, minimal fuss with the toppings so they can be eaten easily and offer a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.
See menu: http://www.byronhamburgers.com/menu/
The decor has changed slightly since this picture was taken, there are 3 large clocks where the Byron logo is, the tables and chairs are slightly different. However what remains the same is the kitchen in the middle and the comfy blue sofas. The kitchen is great because it's important to be able to see how your food is being cooked, the kitchen is kept clean and the smell is amazing.
The restaurant itself is situated in the middle of Kingston Upon Thames Charter Quays, so there is a calming river view by the windows, it's also near the Rose Theatre and a few other restuarants and bars which can become quite lively during lunchtimes and evenings on weekends.
The first order was a strawberry ice cream milkshake served in a metal cup, an average milkshake but still nice. However I must warn you not to be scared if the cup slides across the table, it's not a ghost, just the condensation underneath. Although I wish I knew this before I jumped up and nearly had a heart attack.
For the starter I had deep fried mozzarella sticks with a tomato and chilli sauce with some rocket. The mozzarella sticks were hot and crispy and very cheesey, however the dip was a bit sour so I just covered the sticks in the fabulous Cholula original sauce.
The starter section does not have the greatest choice, I have previously tried the nachos, quesadillas and chicken wings which were all quite average. Although the burgers here are fantastic, the starters need a bit of a shake up. Nothing has quite beaten the buffalo wings at Tony Romas or Sticky Fingers just yet (but I'm still on the lookout)!
Now for what Byron is really known for, the Byron burger! This is a Scottish beef burger with melted cheddar cheese, dry cure bacon, lettuce, tomato and their special Byron sauce. For 8.75 this comes with fries (or salad) and a gerkin strip on the side. The burger itself was cooked perfectly, pink the middle, soft, tender and juicy. A well sized burger which is very easy to eat, nothing really slops out of the sides or bottom and the bun is also very nice and soft.
This is so much better than Gourmet Burger Kitchen (which is round the corner), for the fact that the burgers are better, GBK is too messy to eat whereas Byron is nice and clean, plus there is a limited amount of choice to keep things simple unlike GBK's extensive menu. Extra toppings are available for a small charge.
I am also glad that the table has a bottle of Cholula original sauce, as you can see its all over the chips and the burger to give it a nice habenero flavour with a bit of heat to it too.
Normally I would have the onion rings, although I did not have them this time I shall review them for you anyway. The onion rings are huge, really crisp deep fried batter with a fair amount of onion. Has a very unusual flavour, almost like a hint of anise. A recommended addition.
We did not have dessert unfortunately because we were very full up, but perhaps I will on my 6th return visit!
The Verdict:
I think for the main course only, it is simply a great meal especially for the price. A wholesome burger, delicious, fries included and not messy to eat whether you choose to eat with cutlery or your hands.
I do not think that you would be too satisfied with the starters and considering this bumps up the overall bill, you may want to think twice. But if you are hungry I guess a few pounds extra would not hurt, however I would highly recommend that for a cheaper price you switch the starter for a side order of onion rings.
A must have with milkshake even if it is a standard one, but you just can't have a burger without one!
6/10
12-17.00 per person.
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