I've written before about my love of a good burger, yet for some reason it has taken me nearly 18 months to visit Byron. Trust me, the gap between my first and second trip will be somewhat shorter...
Many plaudits have been bestowed on Byron and after my first visit I can see why.
Put simply they have the best burgers I've had in London.
What makes them so good? Well, the burger is served perfectly pink with a good, charred flavour on the outside. The meat is so succulent and I had juices running down my chin after every mouthful - it was a pleasure to tuck into and the burger left me with a big satisfied smile on my face.
The Byron burger: before and half way through...
As Byron only charge £6.25 for their classic burger, then it's chains like Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Fine Burger Company, Ultimate Burger etc that need to be worried.
Byron blows them out the water in terms of quality and if they can maintain their standards as they expand (which is easier said then done, just ask Strada...) then they are going to be huge.
The only specialist burger place that I've been to that comes close to Byron is Hache. However, what makes Hache is so good is the variety and quality of it's toppings, where Byron is all about the burger.
I suppose the only possible downside to Byron is if you like lot's of unusual toppings on your burger as they are limited to cheese, bacon and salad...
Chips and onion rings: a mixed bag
The side attractions were a bit more of a mixed bag. Skin on chips were only average, as they seemed to be having an identity crisis and were somewhere between a skinny and a chunky chip and sadly they didn't have the qualities of either, which was a shame. When I do go back I will be having the skinny fries as they did look good.
On the other hand, I thought the onion rings were great. A good light, crisp batter and thick, sweet onions that were highly satisfying.
Next time I want a burger in central London then I'll be back to Byron.
