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Lucie Loves… Food // #Triedandtasted An honest review of Honest Burgers, Kings Cross

Lucie Kerley

Burger joints are fast becoming 10 a penny in London, so we were curious to taste how this one was going to stand out from the crowd.

Honest Burgers was set up my friends Tom & Philip on the premise of the burgers being just that; honest.

One of the many things that impressed us upon entering the new Kings Cross restaurant was the fact that they had proudly stated the fact the dry-aged beef is from The Ginger Pig, the chicken is free range and they use market veg.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll happily say it again: if you’re opening up a restaurant and aren’t willing to say where you’ve sourced the ingredients to make the stuff you’re raving about - there’s something amiss.

Fortunately, Tom and Philip haven’t missed a trick. From the clean and simple design and uncluttered almost Scandi-style restaurant layout, to the just-a-few-great-things-done-exceptionally-well menu options, Honest Burgers isn’t your usual greasy spoon type burger joint and I must say that I’m glad. 

The staff are impeccably mannered and knowledgable when asked about their favourites and happily offer up suggestions - spoken with an air of reassuring confidence. They come across as actually liking working there too - which is a far cry from the non-plussed waitress we encountered at the Hawksmoor’s Spitalfields bar who was a little too-cool-for-school. 

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What we ate…

We poured over the menu - bellies rumbling - and decided to try the battered Ginger Pig sausages with curry dipping sauce to start. Great choice! I can’t believe I’ve got to the grand old age of 28 and have never tasted a battered sausage. It was like a dream… where next? Battered Mars bar? Anyone? 

For our mains JMG ordered The Tribute burger: beef, bacon, American cheese, burger sauce, french’s mustard, pickles, onion and lettuce, £10, whilst I went for The Special: beef, comte cheese, bacon ketchup, smoked onion rings, pickled green chillies and lettuce, £11 - both served with tasty house [note: skin-on) chips. We ordered a side of chipotle dip, £1 and I tested out their beetroot and apple coleslaw, £2.50.

To drink…

JMG ordered a bottle of Troubadour amber beer, about £4.75 and I went for a Boxer Gin & Tonic, £2.75. It was only later that I noticed some girls drinking what looked like cocktails that I felt like I’d missed out a bit. I didn’t spot them on the list. Although, I can’t complain - my Boxer Gin was very refreshing.

Thoughts?

The burgers were delicious - as expected. The home-made smokey bacon ketchup was superb, especially with the comte cheese. I also liked it because it was a really nice size - not too mega. The place wasn’t crowded at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon so it should be pretty easy to get a table when you decide to check it out for yourselves and there was a nice buzz. The team were attentive, but didn’t over do it.

I particularly appreciated how the waitress made us aware that the burgers are served pink. My mum’s a bit funny about ordering food and feels embarrassed when having to ask for it to be cooked for longer. It was good to get a heads-up in advance, just in case you’re a well-done type like my mama.

Total  - approximately £15 pp for a starter to share, an alcoholic beverage and burger and chips

Where?

Honest Burgers, Kings Cross - a five minute walk from Kings Cross St Pancras station.

251 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NG

kingscross@honestburgers.co.uk

www.honestburgers.co.uk

Want more burger love?

Here’s a list of the restaurants that JMG and I have sampled burgers at over the past 18 months:

We’ve yet to, but would love to, try these burger restaurants…

* Thank you to Honest Burgers for inviting us to come down and try your menu. Our meal was complimentary, but our love for Honest Burgers would be the same whether we’d paid full whack or not. *

Photography / Illustration © Lucie Kerley

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