Beastie Burgers

Despite the ubiquity of Hamburgers, a really good one is hard to find. One might be inclined to think that as a traditional symbol of the kind of humble, working class America that Bruce Springsteen sings about, the closer to average  a Hamburger is the better. More pure, more legitimate, more honest. Well, that's nice and romantic but you can stick it right up your New Jersey turnpike. The Hamburger can be so much more than that.

Unfortunately, forming the basis of just about every multinational fast-food corporation's menu has sullied the fair Hamburger's reputation just about beyond repair. Low standards have led to low expectations of what can actually be a really quality meal.

I don't mean it needs to be some lofty abomination of Kobe beef, foie gras and black truffles, generously served with a triple helping of grasping, pretentious wank. But nor need it be a flavourless patty of bacteria, sloppily sandwiched between two pieces of sugary cardboard and washed down with four litres of Chlorine Cola.

When it falls somewhere in between (OK - I guess that is literally average after all), that's where I'm eating. There are a few choices for burgers in Southbank, but Beastie Burgers are easily the best. They're licensed, their servings are large, their menu is creative and the burgers are great.

There are about 15 different burgers to choose from, with about a third of that being classic ground beef burgers and the rest everything from tandoori chicken to Barramundi.  I opted for 'The American in Noosa': ground beef with bacon, avocado, cheddar and tomato relish for about $12. Yeah, that sounds like a lot for a burger, but remember what I said about low standards leading to low expectations? If this was some sloppy roadhouse contraption it would be a lot. It's not. It's well made of quality ingredients and it's quite big. It's a bargain for that price. It'll fill you up. I couldn't finish. I really wanted more of that in my mouth but the stomach said no.

I made the mistake of ploughing through a serve of chips before I even started on the main event, leaving no more room for delicious burger. A rookie error for sure, but let me tell you something about these chips: THEY'RE AMAZING. Nobody does chips like this. They're the thick, rustic, hand cut, skin-on variety, served with some seriously good aioli and... soaked in balsamic vinegar. Vinegar on chips is a brilliant choice and nothing new, but I've never been anywhere that it's the default. You don't get some vinegar to put on as an option; they come like that from the kitchen. I couldn't get enough of them. We didn't try the onion rings but if they're anywhere near as good as those chips you've got nothing to worry about.

There are also salads to cater to the carnivorously-challenged and a decent selection of beers and wine, though you'll be paying Southbank prices for those. I opted for a Lindt Chocolate Milkshake for six bucks and unfortunately that is too much to pay for what you get. Perhaps I'd been spoiled the week before but if you want a Milkshake worth that price , go to Pearl. But honestly, that's my only gripe with the place. I'll be going back to try just about everything else on the menu .

Beastie Burgers
Shop 60d, Little Stanley St.
South Bank, QLD
07 3844 4070