The Great Burger Company (GBC Illovo)

Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Reviewed by Robert Fowler

Walking in I was a bit nervous after being told these were the best burgers in Johannesburg, could they live up to the hype? It was a busy Friday night and the atmosphere reminded me of Anfield on a big European night, it was electric! We were greeted by a server as we walked in and asked to sit upstairs, the cheeky server saw that the only table that was empty was reserved but made a plan and let us have it. First Goal! Cynthia then let us know we had arrived in the middle of Happy Hour and that Craft Beer on tap was half price for the next hour as well as all "social food" fancy way of saying starters. We ordered a large jug of the crafty stuff, Jack Black, and a couple of social foods to start. The beer arrived in a flash, and then the food ... Hot wings, jalapeño poppers and deep fried avocado wrapped in bacon! Off to a great start everything was perfect but those deep fried bacon avocados were like beating Everton 5-0 ( they were that good). Then the burgers... Fook mi ... The burgers! I don't fancy my burgers too fancy a bacon cheese burger is as far as I'll go with toppings, I believe you judge a burger on the quality of the patty and was duly informed from our happy server that they only make their patty's out of A grade Rump and Sirloin. I ordered the bacon cheese and my mates Giggsy, ordered a Mediterranean Burger(lamb patty, feta and tzatziki on a ciabatta), and Stevie G deciceded to build his own, with so many toppings it looked like the Eiffel tower when it arrived! We also had curly fries and Giggsy had the Sweet potato fries ( yes he's a Manc) he did say they were great though between wolfing down his Mediterranean burger and fries, I'm not kidding when I say he wolfed it down he literally grabbed it with both hands and smashed it in a minute he loved it that much, you'll understand what a feat this is if you've been , the burgers are huge! Stevie ate his tower with a knife and fork like he's posh. He said it was amazing, as good as scoring a header in Istanbul. Back to my bacon cheese burger the patty was juicy and you could taste the quality of the meat with just the right amount of seasoning, good proper cheddar you could tell it's the real deal and not the processed stuff and a very healthy helping of crispy streaky bacon the burger mayo brought it all together nicely , the toasted brioche bun was sweet and buttery like it should be. A Great Burger indeed! Eating that burger felt like beating UTD 3 nil at Old Trafford ! I couldn't do desert but Giggsy wanted to try the waffle with nuttella, he said it was inspirational, what ever that means! All in all it was a great night out ! Great craft beer , Great burgers and Great setting, Great service all at a great price. Like winning Big Ears five times it's the real deal and deserves five stars. GBC Y.N.W.A