This month I really wanted to do a cappuccino comparison but I just didn’t find the time to taste ten…that will have to wait for next month. Instead I decided to rate takeaway beef burgers from a range of establishments. In each place I ordered a beef burger and took cheese and/or other extras only when they were complimentary or part of the deal… or when it was my ‘change’. Here are my findings:

1. Vali’s Bakery Kensington 8.5/10

It was very hard to separate the top two. The Vali’s burger has more of a home-cooked feel, and although more expensive (with chips and salad I didn’t want), their beef patty, homemade salsa and in house baked buns tipped the scales in the end. A superb burger worthy of a 9/10 if only you could get just the burger for slightly cheaper. $8

2. Deano’s Diner 8/10

Don’t be put off by their advert for the ‘terminator’ at $20. Deano’s do actually have a good selection from $5 up to the ridiculous $20 option. Their basic burger knowhow is top-notch with a patty that is already tasty and then is complemented by sweet caramelised onion and the salad and bun are decent and fresh. $5

3. XO Avondale 7/10

This was definitely one of my favourites – I might have been a little swayed by the fact that I actually got a double cheeseburger for the price of a regular burger as they had a special on, but the unique thing is the ‘kofte’ taste in the patty; then a decent bun and nice fresh crunchy salad complete this offering. $5

4. (tied) Bon Marché Belgravia 6.5/10

This burger was recommended to me but I didn’t think it would really be a contender… however this is a great simple burger and for $1.50 I was super impressed. Maybe it’s the volume of burgers they are making but the patty was perfectly cooked, the salad was fresh and the bun was super soft. $1.50
*BEST VALUE FOR MONEY

5. (tied) St Elmo’s 6.5/10

At $12 this wants to be a full on gourmet burger, which it is not. Granted the patty is very generous and the burger comes with a mini salad with dressing and chips, but then I wasn’t judging those and the chips weren’t all that, anyway. It’s a good burger but I just don’t think it does enough to justify the price. $12

6. Book Café 6/10

Book Café at one point made a big deal about burgers but the emphasis seems to be on their pizzas now as none of the speciality burgers are still on offer. The patty was juicy and meaty, but nothing else about the burger made it stand out apart from some mighty fine chilli sauce, which I could not take into account. $5

7. (tied) Spar Montague 5/10

An average burger – still good value at $1.50 but nothing here to write home about. I’ve tied this with the Chicken Inn variety in terms of all my main indicators: patty, bun, salad, etc. and it makes me wonder why the supermarkets are competing with ‘burger’ establishments when they should be way behind. $1.50

8. (tied) Chicken Inn – Food court 5/10

Fast food it may be but there’s a 10min wait for a burger as they ‘cook it fresh’- so was I informed. Maybe this got my hopes up but this was a boring burger, even with the cheese (although maybe a little unfair to expect a good burger from a fried chicken outlet). $4

9. OK Fife Ave 4/10

I had to try another supermarket burger in case there was something I had been overlooking but this burger has nothing on the Bon Marché offering. They seemed to have pretty much the same set up and even though this is a bargain at $1.50, it doesn’t deliver anything that suggests it would ever sell for more. $1.50

10. Steers Newlands (Steers Burger) 3.5/10

I don’t understand it but I was really unimpressed by this burger. I hear they have good rib burgers but I figured burgers were their speciality and anyway a rib burger would have made the comparison unfair. The patty was dry, the salad was soft and the bun I didn’t like either – it disappointed from every angle. $4