2023 | apples-burger-blog

The Plimsoll

52 St. Thomas's Road, London N4 2QW

Purpose: Burger Assessment
Good for: Small plates and natural wine
Verdict: I normally don't review pub or hotel burgers as previously noted, on the basis they're usually rubbish. In this case, the Dexter burger has appeared in other, lesser burger blogs with good to great reviews, so I thought I'd give it a go. To be fair, it was pretty good - but would have been better if the thinner part of the patty hadn't been cooked to crunchiness. The patty, including the crunchy bit, tasted good though - which I guess is the draw of the Dexter beef. There wasn't enough sauce on mine, which weirdly didn't increase the taste profile of the cheese - another event where a simple burger (bun, sauce, cheese, pickle, meat) didn't balance out. Bun was good though, and pickles added piquancy. I'd go back and give it another go if I was about. No chips per se, but the small plate of deep fried potatoes was good. It's a pub, so obviously beer, and it's worth noting the only wines available are "natural", which I like but is a bit of an acquired taste (we had the Adonis, very good). It's also worth noting it's quite expensive for the portion sizes in my opinion.
Burger: Not all that
Cost: £££

61 – 63 Windmill Hill, Enfield, EN2 7AF

Purpose: Burger Assessment
Good for: Chicken probably, and surprisingly also burgers.
Verdict: Failing a previously less than great burger experience in Enfield, and due to a lack of burger locations in Enfield (apologies to Chubby Gourmet Burgers - your time will come), I ended up at Franzos. Not full of hope for a great burger, I wasn't surprised not to get one - but I was surprised by how nice it was. Not perhaps top quality beef, but nicely cooked, well seasoned in a decent bun with cheese that you can taste and decent veg, Again, a double patty, which seems to be a standard nowadays, with a bit of greasiness that just worked well. Again, no beer, but Enfield does have a number of pubs.
Burger: Good effort.
Cost: ££

Crate Food Hall, 17 & Central Shopping Centre, London E17 7JR

Purpose: Burger Assessment
Good for: Gravy
Verdict: The burger itself I didn't enjoy. Two pieces of steak type patties inside a sesame seed but with a good amount of cheese and sauce but no veg, resulting in an overall taste which whilst not unpleasant wasn't what I'm looking for - the sort of burger you can get anywhere. On the positive side, the gravy was very good. I didn't think it helped the burger particularly, but the chips and gravy would have impressed anyone from the North. Drinks from a separate bar/
Burger: Not great.
Cost: ££££

198 Hoe St, Walthamstow, London, E17 4BF

Purpose: Burger Assessment
Good for: Taste
Verdict: Pretty much everything worked here, from the service to the food and drink it was all good. Burger first, I went for the Smash & Grab (two patties instead of one bigger patty - which is the Chairman) and it worked beautifully. I had initial reservations, due to the untoasted bun and the large amounts of pickled onions, but I needn't have worried - the tastes all worked together with the onions and sauce having a more subtle impact than I expected. Patties had good smashed texture and taste, and if the bun had been toasted it would probably have not tasted as good - first time I've ever said that. If there is a minor flaw it's the cheese, which wasn't prominent. Fries were OK, and the craft been surprisingly good (Luftballon Festbier).
Burger: Best of 2023
Cost: ££££