Albert Park, VIC 3206
Who doesn’t like a good
old-fashioned burger? Well my mum doesn’t but she eats like a nun; everyone
else’s eyes tend to light up immediately at the words ‘hey I know this great
burger place...’, and the appeal is multiplied tenfold if that burger place also
happens to be a hidden gem.
But
Andrew’s Hamburgers is no
secret. In fact it’s not even one of those poorly kept secrets that Melbourne
seems to love so much. It is unabashedly and undeniably popular; their wooden
panelled walls are lined with all sorts of newspaper clippings and signed
photographs. There are even photos of the (current) owner, Greg Pappas, with
culinary big shots like Matt Preston (forever in a suit and cravat) and George
Calombaris (looking adorable in a scruffy pullover). It took us a while but we
finally made it here to see if their title of ‘best burgers in Melbourne’ is
deserved.
When
we showed up at just past 1pm, the small take-away shop was pumping. 6 people
manoeuvred themselves around the tiny kitchen, grilling beef and frying onions.
The delicious smells were utter torture as we waited the 15 minutes for our
burgers.
As
soon as we received our hefty bag of burgers and chips, we scuttled to the
nearby park to enjoy our feast on the grass.
Plain Burger ($7.5) |
Plain Burger ($7.5) |
The
Plain Burger ($7.5) came with
the staples of onion, lettuce and tomato sauce. It was rather dear compared to
most burgers from take-away stores but the bun was hearty and fluffy, the patty
was coarse and juicy, and there was just enough onion and tomato sauce to add
some flavour.
The Lot Burger ($10.5) |
The Lot Burger ($10.5) |
The Lot Burger ($10.5) was
as big as my head, piled high with bacon, cheese, egg and tomato. The flavours
are placid and comforting, with no elements jostling for attention. This is a
good quality burger that doesn’t offer any surprises, except that of an
excellent, hearty meal where you least expect it. We washed our meal with a
rather large bag of Mini Chips
($2). These were actually really good, with lots of those little crispy bits
that I love.
Andrew’s
Hamburgers offered a reliable, tasty burger made with fresh and generous ingredients.
The patty is chunky and smoky from the grill, held together with a soft yet
solid bun. But how impressed was I? Admittedly, as nice as the burger was, I’d
be much more impressed if I didn’t have a local, Nunawading Fish and Chips,
that does a burger that is almost as good for about half the price and is a
quarter of the distance away. But for those who live closer to Albert Park,
Andrew’s Hamburgers is a great place for a hearty, almost-healthy burger.
Rating: 13.5/20 – good ol’ burgers
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