Electric Diner, Notting Hill

bacon double cheeseburger

The Electric Diner is a brand new American style diner that's just opened in Notting Hill. The decor is absolutely spot on, thanks to the SohoHouse owners. The burger is ace too, thanks to an award winning chef from the windy city (Chicago, not Portsmouth). There's a bar on the right hand side complete with high stools and a decent beer, wine & cocktail selection. There's a long open kitchen, there's red leather booths to sit in. The walls are rough brick, the ceiling curved. This is how to do a 'diner'. A DJ in the far corner is playing classic hiphop tunes at a gentle volume. The place is buzzing, there's a great atmosphere, I'm in love with the place before I've even sat down. 

The 'Stack', Malmaison, Clerkenwell

"Would you like to try our Stack burger?" they said, "Hells yes!" was my reply, especially as i've had Malmaison on my burgers-to-try list for some time. 

Located on Charterhouse Square in Clerkenwell, Malmaison is a grand looking hotel with a fancy lobby and an inviting looking brasserie downstairs. Spacious and peaceful, the dining room is a nice place to be. We get settled in leather chairs near an open fire. 

London Burger Bash 2012

Here's my photographic-burger-memory of the 6 magnificent burgers from this week's fantastic London Burger Bash organised by YoungandFoodish (@burgermonday), all fighting for the coveted 'Golden Patty Award' (above, obviously). 

Cinnamon Soho

Being invited to try a new burger at a restaurant is a treat i rarely turn down (read: never). Cinnamon Soho is Vivek Singh's newest spot, and its nestled away in Kingly St. just behind Carnaby St. 

I didn't make it downstairs to the second dining room, but upstairs was buzzy and full. We arrived a little early and grabbed a very decent cocktail at the bar while we waited for a table. 

Blues Kitchen, Camden

I thought it was time to check out the burger at the Blues Kitchen, they'd mentioned that it was pretty damn good so i headed to Camden with an empty stomach. 

Hache, Camden

Hache in Camden are one of the first 'gourmet' burgers places i can remember eating at. I raved about the place to people for ages after a few trips there to experience their fab burgers. Unfortunately my recent visit was pretty disappointing. The venue hasn't changed, its still nicely done out with a hint of French bistro chic. Staff are polite and friendly, the problem was the damn buns and fries. But i'll get to that. 

Mishkins, Covent Garden

Right next door to the Opera Tavern in the centre of the Covent Garden Theatre district is where you’ll find Mishkins, which considers itself "a kind-of Jewish deli with cocktails". To me its more of a kitchey 50s inspired American diner, but whatever, the venue is great, with its rough wood paneled walls, checkerboard tiled floor and appealing cocktail bar by the window. There’s a really warm, homely vibe in here and the young staff seem to be the happiest, friendliest people in the world.

Tommi’s Burger Joint

I really like the idea of an Icelandic burger chain coming to London. Tommi's started over there almost 10 years ago and now has a bunch of restaurants. The first UK branch is found on Marylebone Lane, an upmarket street in the heart of you-guessed-it, Marylebone. 

Fattburger Pop-Up at The Sun & 13 Cantons, Soho

Yet another guest post @yesiamben

About 4 or 5 years ago, when I was still living in the South West, Greg (Cheeseburgerboy) and I spent the best part of an hour wandering around Exeter one lunchtime looking for a bacon and avocado sandwich. You see, Greg really wanted one and being my hometown, I was eager to accommodate. Except we didn't find one and ended up getting an incredibly average chicken sandwich. Of course if I'd known then what I do now, I would have headed for Michael Caines Cafe where they do a pretty decent one. It's just a shame they ruin the Caesar salad wrap by including more anchovy than chicken…

Davy's Bar & Grill (Bunghole)

The following is a guest post by @yesiamben

I'm not sure whether having an awesome name like Davy's Bunghole is a plus or a minus when it comes to choosing a place to eat. I mean It's pretty funny - but only if you have a fairly base sense of humour. I do. Which makes it A-OK with me. That said, they're now calling themselves 'Davy's Bar and Grill, Holborn (formerly the Bunghole)', so either someone lacks a sense of humour, or someone has realised that not everyone wants to eat out of a Bunghole [cue maniacal Beavis and Butthead style laughter]. 

FIRE! Its the Byron Chilli Queen

What happens when the UK's best burger chain hooks up with the UK's most interesting burger designer for a one month only Jubilee burger special? You get a monstrously spicy cheeseburger which is gunning for royal approval. I've heard* HRH has been ordering these bad boys by the pallet load and dishing them out to the royal fam with ice cold bottles of Meantime Ale.

* i might have made that up 

Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen

The following is a guest post by @yesiamben

With my usual burger compadre (@cheeseburgerb0y) otherwise engaged, I decided to grab a quick dinner with a friend at Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen. My role is usually to provide conversation and nods of approval (or not), and @cheeseburgerb0y usually figures out what's going on with the food, so I'm going to apologise in advance for the more visceral approach to this review he's asked me to write. So let's say this is less grounded in science, more grounded in beef (b-boom ting).

Ben's Canteen, Wandsworth

Found on a leafy high street in Wandsworth, Ben's Canteen is an inviting looking place with its main restaurant at the back and a bar and a few well spaced out tables at the front. When i arrived there were a few hipsters and locals hanging out in the bar, playing with their macbooks and drinking cocktails respectively. 

Dollar Grills & Martini's, Clerkenwell

Located in Clerkenwell, the outside of the DG&M venue looks great with its curved glass and neon. Lucky we booked, it was a Tuesday night and every table was taken. Its a stylish place. Moody wall uplighting, candles on bench style tables and low hung ceiling lights glow dimly over tables. They had Casablanca showing on a flat tv on one wall. The unisex loos downstairs are reminiscent of nightclubs. Burger orders continually arrive at a central kitchen hatch where they are whisked away by waiters and waitresses. Its buzzy verging on noisy and its a little bit grill-smokey. 

The Westbury, Kilburn

An Oasis on Kilburn High Road. The Westbury is a hip venue in a somewhat out of the way part of town. Chandeliers, high ceilings, a long bar, cosy lighting, pool table, alcoves and offshoot rooms make the place feel spacious and fun. The Westbury was mid-week quiet, a few tables having drinks, a couple playing pool, a few geezers chatting in the back room. Waitresses are cute and friendly. 

Honest Burgers, Brixton Village

Honest burgers in Brixton Village. What can i say that's not been said before? Nothing probably. What i will say though, is that they serve one hell of a good cheeseburger. 

Lucky Chip - Hackney's Finest

Its cold. Its december. My burger-loving compadre for the evening, Al, isnt sure about the idea of eating outside. I try my best to convince him its a great idea, and its on the way to the Trailer Park Boys Live show we're going to see at the o2, which makes it convenient. We arrive at 5.45 to an old carpark with a few stalls shutting up shop & a bunch of people sitting at tables around Lucky Chip, who are busy doing 'stuff' in their burger hut. I imagine Del boy trotter had a stall here once. No one is eating. Everyone is waiting. I walk upto the counter and start to order but i'm cut off - "We don't open till 6 mate". Ok so there it is. We're waiting in the cold with nowhere to take a piss. There's a pub nearby apparently, but we decide to wait. I grin at Al who is starting to get annoyed. Mr Lucky Chip lights a fire drum next to us which completely smokes out our table. We cough and move seats. 

Edinboro Castle, Camden Town

I recently attended a friends birthday party at this quaint Camden boozer. The menu looked good and i had my eye on the pork belly, but was told that they had just run out of it. With a waitress and table full of people waiting for my decision, my emergency backup response kicked in "I'll have the cheeseburger please" and i'm so glad i did.