Gourmet Burger Kitchen: Kiwi flavor for an American classic
The wonder of an outstanding hamburger isn't lost on the Irish palette, as upscale burger chains continue to thrive in the country's metropolitan capital as well as smaller outposts across the country. Leading the list is recent New Zealand import Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK to its friends), a small but flourishing group of burger houses bringing bold taste to the traditional beef and bun.
With prime locations in Dublin's city centre, including Anne Street, South William Street and Temple Bar, GBK is an established stop for local and visiting meat-lovers. For those exploring just outside of the capital a visit to the Liffey Valley outpost, located across from the shopping centre's multi-screen Vue Cinema, is the perfect "dinner and a movie" recipe any night of the week.
A surprisingly varied menu of toppings take burger lovers on a globe-hop. Fans of American-Southwest flavors will enjoy the European take on a satisfyingly spicy and fresh Mexican burger, paired with salsa, advocado and a cooling dollop of sour cream. Or, for a new taste the Kiwiburger, a good-humored nod to GBK's New Zealand heritage, features a stack of toppings including beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, crisp lettuces and finished with mayo & a sweet tomato relish.
Notably, sandwiches arrive without accompaniment, meaning even sides as standard as fries or salad are separate orders (but worth the splurge). Thick-cut steak chips arrive to the table hot and golden, paired with a strong house dressing of garlic mayo. Other options include surprisingly delicate onion rings, huge in scale and lightly coated with Japanese breadcrumbs. Dipping sauces are available at €1.00 each, a steep price for a few dabs of additional flavor.
For something different to sip while eating, try a thick, creamy milkshake – delivered to your table in a freeing metal mixing cup and available in favorite flavors such as vanilla, strawberry and chocolate (mixed with a dash of caramel).
HelloDublin Tip: All orders are cooked medium well, and burgers stand up well to the flame, arriving to the table moist with a hint of burger-friendly char. Service runs smoothly and the waitstaff are reliably upbeat. While menu prices can induce a bout of sticker shock, GBK's regular specials, including free fries with large burgers or buy-one-get-one-free vouchers, do take a bite out of the final bill.
Posted by Bridget Reilly
