Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Bluewater (From News Shopper)

Review: Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Bluewater

12:20pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Leisure By Jim Palmer

BLUEWATER has no shortage of restaurants, and while you might take a date to Loch Fyne or go to Carluccio’s for special occasion, Gourmet Burger Kitchen ticks the box as a perfectly relaxing place to spend a lunch or dinnertime out of a shopping spree.

It is also the kind of place my Dad would love – simple, unsophisticated food which is well prepared and service by friendly and helpful staff.

Nestled in the shadow of Bluewater’s Glow events venue, Gourmet Burger Kitchen has had a makeover. Exposed brickwork, orange leather and wooden crates suspended from the ceiling make for a modern, laid-back eatery.

It is comforting to see an open kitchen, while complementary monkey nuts and a tangerine-coloured fridge with free water and home-made mayonnaise are nice touches.

As the name suggests, Burgers are the fare here, and they have all sorts.

Imagine you’re in a group: most of you want a hearty bit of meat in a bun but one friend is smitten with neighbouring and more adventurous Wahaca (and why wouldn’t they be, it’s great in there) – never fear – GBK’s special burger of the moment is a Mexico-inspired behemoth with refried beans, avocado and all that jazz, so you can easily twist their arm.

As a born-and-bred Wessex boy, I felt compelled to try the Buffalo burger (£9.95) which had also come from a farm in good ol’ ‘ampshire.

It may have been lower in fat, but I’d argue it was actually stronger in flavour than beef. A really good patty was complimented by a soft but not doughy bun, fresh greenery and a generous wedge of tomato.

Accompanying chunky fries (£3.25) were good but fairly standard, while a juicy corn on the cob (£1.35) was more than a viable alternative.

A good dessert can be a great pleasure, but unfortunately Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s menu was rather thin on the ground – a few frozen yoghurts or ice cream or a nutty chocolate bar. But I guess that comes with the territory – it is not the sort of place you pick for extravagance.

My visit did contain a solitary moment of disgust– the couple sitting on the next table did not finish their chips. And they looked great. Criminals.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen is unlikely to break the bank, not that you necessarily have to pay the full price if you don’t want to – a quick Google search frequently shows great offers. They do a loyalty card too, which ramps up the freebies and has ensured I will be heading back soon.