Whilst on a recent trip to London we were looking for somewhere to have a late lunch and having missed breakfast something substantial!
We came across the Gourmet Burger Kitchen not far from our hotel by Tower Bridge in London.

****FIRST IMPRESSIONS****

Having never come across a Gourmet Burger Kitchen or GBK, as they are often known, I was a little unsure of what to expect; McDonalds or restaurant type?
From the outside it was pleasant looking and quite inviting sort of upmarket fast food chain with some nice out door seating.
On entering it was different though and we waiting by the door to be seated which was pretty much instantaneous, the seating is comfortable but basic leather long couches like you would find in a 50's place, alongside some smaller separate tables and chairs. On the wall behind us was a ginormous blackboard with the different burgers/menu written on it. Aside from this we were also given a menu with detailed information about each burger and sides.
I was immediately impressed with the variety of vegetarian choice! Not your usual one veggie burger but four!!

****SO LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS AND ORDER****

Our waitress came over to give us our menus and explained that we should go to the counter and order/pay once we had decided what we wanted. Our waitress then said something but talking a little fast and with a European accent I missed it except something about monkeys??? Wasn't sure if I had heard that right so I had to ask again and yes it was monkeys!! To be exact monkey nuts! You get a cup each and have free ones while you wait which you scoop from a large barrel - a novel idea but fun and appetizing.

My chap chose CLASSIC - a basic beef burger with salad.
I chose the JOLLY COW - a large grilled mushroom with Gorgonzola cheese, onion rings, salad, garlic mayo and relish! All inside a brioche bun.
For our sides my chap had chunky fries whilst I chose rosemary skinny fries.

****THE FOOD!!****

Our burgers and fries all arrived together in a reasonable time which was good to me as I knew that my burger had been cooked to order and not just conveyer belted out like many fast food chain ones.
It looked lovely from the start the burgers each had a wood stick through to keep them together which was a nice touch as falling all over the plate is never a good look.
My chap really enjoyed his classic burger saying it was juicy and cooked perfectly with not to much salad that it overpowered the burger. His chunky fries were crispy and fat and came in there own little white pot - he didn't leave a bit.
My jolly cow - what can I say was divine to me. The mushroom was a size that it fitted the bottom of the bun almost perfectly with Gorgonzola dripping over the top of the mushroom and the salad on top with relish and mayo. The cheese made it slightly messy as it does drip if you are not careful but it tasted so good I didn't care! My fries were skinny - very skinny and curly - with rosemary scattered over them tasted crisp, very nice and a little unusual, but difficult to pick up as they were so skinny. I too never left a bit.

****PRICE AND WOULD I GO AGAIN?****

Price the classic at the time was £6.95 and chunky fries £3.25
The Jolly cow was £ 8.95 and skinny rosemary fries were £2.95

Ok the prices are more than your average burger bar, however I do feel I got value for money as it tasted and looked so good.
The prices are around this for all of the burgers whether beef/chicken/veggie/lamb. The also so specialty ones of wild boar and buffalo, there really does seem something for everyone.

For full menu see there website www.gbk.co.uk and are on both Facebook and twitter. Worth a look as they also have details of charity things and good causes they are supporting.

They have various places situated around the country and I will certainly go again if I see one - plus the fact they give you a loyalty card where you get a few side after two visits, a free certain burgers on the fourth and any free burger on the sixth, a good incentive to me!

Review maybe posted on dooyoo and ciao under the same username.