Martin FrimetUrban Burger earns its awards
April 15th 2008 23:36
With a sign that proudly boasts being the winner of a vote to find Richmond’s premier takeaway, you might think Urban Burger had everything going for it. Suddenly remembering, however, that among its opposition in this category are 5 or more McDonald’s, and the same again in Subway’s and in cheap fried chicken joints, this boast seems less than providential. Regardless, with its cooler-than-thou vibe and with a clutch of outdoor seats that always seemed to be filled when I went past its Swan Street branch, I wanted to know whether this particular poll told me anything I needed to know.
In both name nature, Urban Burger seems to be a place that prides itself on its close interaction with the modern-day city and accordingly, while I surveyed the surprisingly large and varied menu, a couple of cool young things behind the counter chirped their way through their introductions. They were smiley and happy and unpretentious – perhaps not quite so ‘urban’ after all if you’ve ever been stuck on a broken-down tram in the middle of rush hour - but I liked it all the same.
The burger choice too was diverse and different and did seem to reflect a little of how the taste-buds of the city are changing. The trend towards Japanese eating was reflected in Sensei burger, served with a wasabi mayonnaise, while flavours from as far apart as Thailand, Morocco and Mexico also mixed it with more authenitc Aussie barbecue classics. A small but interesting sounding selection of vegetarian options included a tofu burger and a sundried tomato and capsicum pattie might occupy me on another visit but, for then at least, I was interested in what mighty meats Urban Burger had to offer.
Thus, a rich beef pattie came served with fresh avocado and salad that I could really taste, while a slightly more experimental chicken burger with brie and pesto was similarly sensational on the palette. Both burgers came in out-of-the-oven soft buns and spread with a thick layer of aioli, while a portion of chips were full of crucial crunch and came with a perfect salt-tang.
Sitting outside under a warm sun and with the sounds of the city floating coolly past me, Urban Burger felt a world away from some of the other tired and trying takeaways that are so ubiquitous across this city and, if anything, Urban Burger does itself a disservice in even bracketing itself together with these types when it has a taste and a template that puts it in a different league entirely.
Urban Burger
174 Swan Street
Richmond
(plus 6 other stores across Melbourne)
In both name nature, Urban Burger seems to be a place that prides itself on its close interaction with the modern-day city and accordingly, while I surveyed the surprisingly large and varied menu, a couple of cool young things behind the counter chirped their way through their introductions. They were smiley and happy and unpretentious – perhaps not quite so ‘urban’ after all if you’ve ever been stuck on a broken-down tram in the middle of rush hour - but I liked it all the same.
The burger choice too was diverse and different and did seem to reflect a little of how the taste-buds of the city are changing. The trend towards Japanese eating was reflected in Sensei burger, served with a wasabi mayonnaise, while flavours from as far apart as Thailand, Morocco and Mexico also mixed it with more authenitc Aussie barbecue classics. A small but interesting sounding selection of vegetarian options included a tofu burger and a sundried tomato and capsicum pattie might occupy me on another visit but, for then at least, I was interested in what mighty meats Urban Burger had to offer.
Thus, a rich beef pattie came served with fresh avocado and salad that I could really taste, while a slightly more experimental chicken burger with brie and pesto was similarly sensational on the palette. Both burgers came in out-of-the-oven soft buns and spread with a thick layer of aioli, while a portion of chips were full of crucial crunch and came with a perfect salt-tang.
Sitting outside under a warm sun and with the sounds of the city floating coolly past me, Urban Burger felt a world away from some of the other tired and trying takeaways that are so ubiquitous across this city and, if anything, Urban Burger does itself a disservice in even bracketing itself together with these types when it has a taste and a template that puts it in a different league entirely.
Urban Burger
174 Swan Street
Richmond
(plus 6 other stores across Melbourne)
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