Five Guys is coming to London!

[craigjm]

Cotty said:

theplayingmantis said:

its not a fad, a good burger should be rare almost in the middle. if the beef is a good quality its just like a steak or tartare more accurately.

We will have to agree to disagree. I do not want uncooked food.

A rare burger is nothing like tartare. I like my burgers cooked pink if it's great steak but let's face it most of these places are not that and to suggest that slightly raw mince is like tartare is having a laugh. Making a tartare takes top quality meat and a lot of skill. Get it wrong and you can make people ill and getting it wrong is easy. Medium pink decent thickness burgers are fine. Skinny undercooked crap is not.

[theplayingmantis]

craigjm said:

Cotty said:

theplayingmantis said:

its not a fad, a good burger should be rare almost in the middle. if the beef is a good quality its just like a steak or tartare more accurately.

We will have to agree to disagree. I do not want uncooked food.

A rare burger is nothing like tartare. I like my burgers cooked pink if it's great steak but let's face it most of these places are not that and to suggest that slightly raw mince is like tartare is having a laugh. Making a tartare takes top quality meat and a lot of skill. Get it wrong and you can make people ill and getting it wrong is easy. Medium pink decent thickness burgers are fine. Skinny undercooked crap is not.

well yes it is if quality beef is used, and not 'mince'

[craigjm]

theplayingmantis said:

well yes it is if quality beef is used, and not 'mince'

Show me one of these trendy burger joints that is using tartare standard beef

[Cotty]

I would just err on the side of caution and opt for no pink.

[Luke.]

Cotty said:

I would just err on the side of caution and opt for no pink.

Are you 12?

[prand]

craigjm said:

Show me one of these trendy burger joints that is using tartare standard beef

It would explain the cost of some of the burger joints if they did...

Though steak tartare is supposed to use fillet steak? Which is virtually fat free, and not recommended for burgers as the meat is too lean. The cooking process of burgers is supposed to release and break down fat and fibres, which in turn would make it juicy.

Anyways, I know what I like and it's not the undecooked Patty and Bun thick runny mess I had a while back. I'm more of a cooked through thin patty (happy with two in one bun) with melted cheese, gherkins, onions and ketchup man.

[Cotty]

Luke. said:

Cotty said:

I would just err on the side of caution and opt for no pink.

Are you 12?

No

But without knowing the origin of the beef I would prefer to be safe. I don't particular like eating raw mince so its a moot point.

[Luke.]

Cotty said:

No

But without knowing the origin of the beef I would prefer to be safe. I don't particular like eating raw mince so its a moot point.

It's not raw though. It's pink. Not fleshy and bloody.

[Cotty]

I would just rather not, especially if I have a choice.

[HorneyMX5]

Just scoffed a Signature Classic at McDs while between client visits. Actually not bad! Ok so the meaty bit was a bit over cooked as you would expect for a fast food joint but the bun, sauces and garnishes were good.

It want amasing, but it exceeded expectations.

[21TonyK]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Twice I've been served a burger that isn't even warm in the middle and one of them was barely defrosted in the centre. Both times they were sent back. On both occasions they were bought in premade patties, one in a pub and one on the side lines of a rugby pitch so not somewhere you would trust with raw (or probably even rare) meat. However a proper medium rare burger (not raw) can be amazing if you trust the place making and serving it.

On a general note I was reading up a few bits the other day on dish specs etc and came across Vienna Steak or Bitok in an old copy of practical cookery. This was then followed by notes on "Hamburger, American style" which states a burger should be half a pound in weight and 20-25% beef fat.

I have in the past made burgers with lean beef minced with beef suet, not sure of the ratio but they did taste good.

And, as I generally don't eat fast food, much of the taste of a commercial burger can be recreated by wrapping your finished burger, salad and all, in greaseproof paper and leaving in a warm over for a few minutes. Makes it a bit softer and the bun chewy.

[theplayingmantis]

craigjm said:

theplayingmantis said:

well yes it is if quality beef is used, and not 'mince'

Show me one of these trendy burger joints that is using tartare standard beef

given i only have experience of bleecker for serving it bloody and i dont work in them that would be a struggle, but plenty of independents in the States use top quality 'tartare standard' beef from my taste experience.
as an aside 'the diner' chain in london does a nice burger

[markcoznottz]

Had a five guys cheeseburger all the way, just as a test for the purposes of this very thread (honest guv), it was every bit as good as I remember. Free fries too! As they had made too many.

[Yidwann]

So I have just taken the plunge and decided to try Five Guys? I mean average at best, the Cajun fries were awful, burger was good, but nothing to write home about.

If I was to some it up, glad work were paying

[theplayingmantis]

Had one agian for my shame. Cajun fries awful, bacon double cheese burger distintcly average. 0 seasoning and beef tasteless, as the other times ive had it ridiculous price for what you get. hot dog ok, but not worth the cash.

only good thing is the coke freestyle machine

[RickRolled]

I find fiveguys pretty good for a fast food place and to be honest, some of the restaurants serve worse burgers than them.

Last week tried Patty & Bun in James Str, had to wait for 15 mins just get a seat, but it was worth it.

Definitely one of the better burger joints I've been to, pink burger in the middle, the sauce, everything was spot on.

[okgo]

RickRolled said:

I find fiveguys pretty good for a fast food place and to be honest, some of the restaurants serve worse burgers than them.

Last week tried Patty & Bun in James Str, had to wait for 15 mins just get a seat, but it was worth it.

Definitely one of the better burger joints I've been to, pink burger in the middle, the sauce, everything was spot on.

Are we in 2011 again?

[BlueHave]

The prices even for London will be a complete rip off. In Ireland for the equivalent of a Big Mac Meal in Five Guys is about £20.

[smudgerebt]

Whilst in the centre of Manc (watching Appy Mondays tribute band) popped into a Five Guys.

Just a really expensive Big Mac!

The burger whilst hot and straight off the griddle was ok, but wouldn't say any better than McD (not as nice as a BK).

The bacon was poor.

The add on's where on bit nothing special.

Cajun fries. To salty.

Over all. Poor.

My local place (The Bun And Bones Club) is roughly same cost, maybe cheaper, but sooooo much nicer.

Wont be going back to a Five Guys.

Will be trying a GBK soon.

[48Valves]

IMO Burger King is garbage these days. Probably the worst of the major burger chains.

Bit taste is a subjective thing.

I like to get my monies worth from 5G with the salted monkey nuts.