Review: Heard. Burgers
Review: Heard. Burgers
By Caroline McConnico
When you think of London and Michelin-starred chefs, you probably don’t immediately think about burgers. But a real, hearty, juicy and flavourful burger deserves all of the awards in the world.
Heard. is a burger joint located in Borough that specialises in high-quality smash burgers made with the finest ingredients. The spot opened in February and was started by Jordan Bailey, a two Michelin-starred chef whose mission is to “make burgers that are deceptively simple yet made with the same care and precision as a Michelin-starred dish.”
Jordan is committed to making burgers that are not only good for the consumers, but good for the environment. All of the burgers are made from British beef from regenerative farms and the beef is aged for a minimum of 35 days. The produce used is ethically and locally sourced too.
We arrived at Heard. around 7.30, just as the sun was starting to set. Because of the sublime weather and city glow, we requested to sit outside for the full barbeque experience.
At first glance, the menu seems very simple with about four burger options, two sides and one dessert. The closer I looked, the more I realised the subtle Michelin-implications. Each burger has upscaled elements listed on the menu, ranging from jalapeño hot honey on the classic “The Heard” burger to the option to add caviar to “The Boring Burger”. Each burger is also listed with drink pairings for an optimal dining experience.
We ordered a “Truffle Shuffle” burger, that comes with Italian black truffle mayo and balsamic pickled red onions, and a “Smoke Stack” burger that has bacon jam, pickles and the secret Heard. sauce. We also ordered a side salad, fries and orange wine to go with our burgers.
As an American, I feel somewhat like a burger expert. I’m used to a classic barbeque with all of the fixings like relish, slaw and condiments. These burgers however, were unlike anything I’ve experienced. Something about smash burgers elevates the experience of eating a burger, and makes you feel ten times more special.
The truffle mayo on the “Truffle Shuffle” was to die for, making the rest of the burger moist and delicious. The bacon jam on the “Smoke Stack” was unbelievable, with a slight sweetness that had me finishing the whole burger. The fries were nothing to write home about, but the scrumptious Chardonnay vinegar dressing on the side salad made up for it.
The orange wine washed all of this down perfectly, as if they were especially designed to go together.
Because the restaurant is fairly new, the service seemed a bit overwhelmed. Our food came out reasonably fast but we had a hard time ordering and requesting other things we needed like extra condiments. Once the restaurant finds its feet, this will be a top spot with impeccable food and a fun atmosphere.
Be sure to try Heard. if you are looking for a great London burger with fine ingredients, innovative creations and a lively environment.
