Brilliant burgers at GBK! (Gourmet Burger Kitchen in General)

Member Name: _lauren_

Product:	Gourmet Burger Kitchen in General
Date:	06/11/09 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extensive range of burgers, good price when you have a voucher, incredible milkshake

Disadvantages: Could do with some more sides perhaps

My Nan recommended GBK to us after my boyfriend mentioned how much he likes burgers. Living in Bristol, we have 2 GBK restaurants - Park Street and Cabot Circus. We have only ever visited the Park Street restaurant as it is always quieter due to most people eating at the Cabot Circus venue after shopping. There are 49 GBK restaurants in the country.

*GBK Background*

Gourmet Burger Kitchen originated in New Zealand and they aim to use the best ingredients available to create and extensive range of freshly prepared burgers. The menu is refreshed twice a year (Spring and Autumn) to reflect the change in seasons, ingredients and customer feedback. I have been to GBK a fair few times and have noticed that the odd burger is missing, and new ones have appeared. They are not massive changes which is good, but it is also nice that they don't continually have the same menu because it might get boring if you go there a lot.

*The Restaurant*

What I like about GBK is that we can go for burger, chips and milkshake, but not feel like we're sat in Burger King or McDonald's. I like going out for meals with my boyfriend and this is no different. The restaurant is modern yet classy, with wooden floors, simple table and chairs, spotlights, and artwork on the walls. I like the fact that it is light and airy.

When you arrive you can either go and sit down or if you look a bit lost then someone will show you to a table. There is a large menu on the wall, or you can read the menu that they give you. Once you have chosen what you would like then you go up to the desk where you place your order. I think this is great as it means staff aren't rushing you to choose, or you aren't sat waiting for someone to take your order! This method also means that you can leave when you're done, rather than trying to catch someone's eye for the bill!

*The Burgers*

According to the GBK website, "the oversized sourdough buns are baked each morning by our artisan baker. The Aberdeen Angus Scotch Beef, fresh English chicken and fresh vegetables are delivered each day. Gourmet Burger Kitchen uses only 100% Aberdeen Angus Scotch Beef which is sourced from fully traceable grass reared animals. Our premium organic burgers come from the world famous in Laverstoke Park farm in Hampshire, England."

There are 28 burgers on the menu, ranging from the 'Classic' which has just salad, mayo and relish, to the 'Kiwiburger' which contains beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, salad, mayo and relish. I always have the 'Blue Cheese' which contains (yep, you guessed it!) stilton cheese! This is in the form of an 'aged Stilton dressing' with salad, mayo and relish. The Stilton dressing is like mayo with chunks of blue cheese in, but it's very tasty even though I don't really like mayonnaise. When you order your burger they ask how you would like it cooked which is great. There have been a few occasions where it has been slightly underdone but I'm sure they'd be more than happy to shove it back on for you!

The 28 burgers in the range consists of:
-- 13 beef burgers
-- 4 chicken burgers - Chicken breast panko-breadcrumbed and fried
- Chicken
- Camembert and cranberry
- Satay
- Avocado and bacon
-- 5 vegetarian burgers
- Falafel
- Puy lentil
- Mushroom
- Aubergine and goat's cheese
- Veggie and camembert
-- 3 speciality burgers
- Chorizo
- Greek lamb
- Mint lamb
-- Laverstock Park Farm burgers
- Buffalo
- Wild boar
- Organic Moroccan lamb

You can also have extras on your burger which range from £1.25 (cheddar, avocado, etc), £1.45 (Oven roasted tomatoes, blue cheese, etc), £1.75 (bacon, mozzarella, etc) and £2.10 (mushroom, goat's cheese, etc).

For children or people with small appetites there is the option of smaller burgers. You can choose from beef, chicken, cheese and bacon or puy lentil.

The burgers in GBK are huge, I would say about as large as my hand outstretched. Or, about as big as a Burger King Whopper! When they arrive, they are on a plate with a large cocktail stick through it. There is a certain strategy to eating these burgers. This isn't one you can pick up and eat! Mine usually end up in bits all over the plate. I would advise people to leave the cocktail stick in because it really does hold it together!

*Other Food*

GBK have recently introduced starters. You can choose from marinated mixed olives, or spicy mixed nuts if you want something to nibble. Or if you'd prefer something hot then perhaps cajun chicken pieces, lamb koftas, grilled chicken kebabs, or homemade onion rings would take your fancy? I tried the lamb koftas and although they were tasty, we thought 4 small sticks was quite a measly portion for £3.95.

If you feel the need to have something with your burger then chunky chips are available for £2.75. One bowl is enough for 2 people to share. They aren't the best chips I've ever eaten, but they're good enough! You can buy separate dips to go with the chips and these are £1.55 each which I think is too expensive for the small amount that you get. I just dip my chips in my blue cheese sauce on my burger.

For those on a diet or who don't fancy a burger then salads are available. You can either have side salads: rocket and parmesan, GBK homeslaw, or a mixed leaf salad; or a main salad:
-- GBK salad
-- Butternut squash salad
-- Chilli chicken salad
-- Spiced Bulgar salad with,
- Grilled marinated chicken
- Grilled lamb kofta.

GBK don't do much in the way of desserts but to be honest I don't think they are needed as you are always really full anyway! But if you're desperate then they do 3 flavours of Ben & Jerry's ice cream for £2.50.

*Drinks*

The milkshakes in this place definitely deserve a special mention. There are £3.65, which is expensive, but they come out in those American style metal containers so you can pour your own milkshake out. You get about 3 glasses from one container. I always have chocolate and they are incredible! So creamy and thick and lovely! They also have the usual selection of soft drinks, juices, wine, beer and cider available. I also ask for tap water which they are always happy to give.

*Cost*

The price of the burgers range from £5.95 to £9.95 for the Laverstock Farm burgers. The small burgers are approximately £4, and the salads range from £2.75 to £7.95.

Although the food here is always good, I do think it can work out quite expensive once you add on stuff like the milkshake! There always tends to be some vouchers kicking around so my advice would be to use them! We never go now unless we have a voucher. Previous vouchers have included 'buy one burger, get one free', or '2 burgers and chips for £15'. The current voucher is '2 burgers and chips for £10' which is an absolute bargain! To get hold of these vouchers in the future it is easy enough to join the GBK Gang which then emails you the vouchers. You can join this gang at www.cravegbk.com

Summary: Go try GBK, especially if you have a voucher!