Big Mouth – 168 Acland St, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia

“I really didn’t enjoy this burger experience, it was hard work with some overbearing flavours and texture. First of all it’s an extremely dark restaurant, which isn’t helped when the burger is served on a long skinny plank of wood added to the challenge. The bun was a very crusty, dry kaiser roll, with very little give in it, creating a giant crumbly mess, which didn’t pair very well with the domineering sweet pickles and pickled onions. The beef patty, when eaten on its own was delicious and juicy, however with nothing to absorb and trap the flavour in, just ended up adding to the mess.”

“The patty was cooked OK however it did taste a bit garlicky for my liking, but with the ever so creamy combination of Jack cheese and mayo it quickly regained points in my book. Looking at all the other burgers my burger comrades ordered it seemed that the kitchen was having an inconsistent night. As much as I liked the bun I really could have done with less bread in my diet that day. Rather than including the greens in my burger and just saved them later for a fresher-upped for the palette.”

“On paper this was right up my alley. It came out deconstructed and I wasn’t sure what for: pure laziness or they wanted to add as much greenery as you like. I went for none of that. There were great hints of creaminess and plenty of crunch from the crusty kaiser. It was hard to tell where it was actually coming from but garlic was apparent all around this burger. It was great. Not over powering or anything, it just lingered around. The patty was soft and salty and the chipotle aoili rounded out each bite with some spice. The pickled onions also provided a nice tang and I’m glad weren’t of the Zuni variety for a change. I think I really liked this burger. I reckon 21 bucks was a smidge steep though (mainly because of lack of chips).”

Footscray could proudly boast to being the most diverse suburb in the world, with residents from 135 different countries now calling it home. Located only 5kms west of the CBD, this melting pot has had its problems in its past but really appears to have turned a new leaf, with a large assortment of Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese and African restaurants. It’s no surprise then that a computer game inspired diner, that’s open 7 days a week serving burgers, dogs, shakes and sides like Tater Tots has people lining up outside the door. We ordered the 8bit with Cheese, consisting of beef, tomato, lettuce, red onion, pickles, mustard, cheese and 8Bit sauce and then patiently stalked fellow diners finishing for their prized stool at the counter.

“Initial impression came from how visually appealing it was; sitting high and mighty in its custom made little box with plenty of colour popping out from the cheese, ketchup, mustard and lettuce. Then from first bite to last, it was full of great flavour, with equal amounts of bun, beef, cheese and sauce in each and every bite. The bun was super soft, which combined with the crunch from the lettuce to give some great texture, that served well with the perfectly seasoned and fresh beef patty and contrasting sauces. Would love to come back and try everything else on the menu.”

“The wait: was it worth it? Well, burgers covered in gooey American cheese didn’t help my hunger as I watched diner after diner get their burger before me. When it arrived it looked just as delicious as everybody elses. It reminded me of a mix between Fat Bob’s and Laurie Dees. The highlights were the cheese and pattie ( just the way it should be). The cheese and patty combined to form and unstoppable force making for a soft, salty, juicy and fatty bite. So good! And, such a bargain!”

Located in South Eastern suburbia this little cosy, woodgrain-walled shop greets you with friendly staff and the tantalising smell of BBQ. With mouth-watering menu options of delicious meat cuts cooked BBQ style, you can’t help go home still smelling like a cook-out. Their busy nights are Friday and Saturday so we recommend you get there early and be prepared to come back again to try all the assortments of “fall-off-the-bone” meats they have on offer. We went for their famous “Racks Burger” served on a brioche bun with a basted 180g pattie, mix lettuce, tomato, sliced cheese and Racks sauce.

“As we were the only one’s in here (and it’s quite a compact little shop), I could see how much care and attention the chef was putting into each burger. Which is why I was amazed when he opened a fresh bag of buns, then burnt one on the grill, turned to the girl working with him and muttered something along the lines of “oh crap, I burnt that one” and then continued to serve it to me. My dining companions seemed to be enjoying theirs, however it was pretty hard to accurately assess its flavour and texture when it felt like biting into a charcoal briquette.”

“I really enjoyed the whole experience; the service was friendly, the shop smelled of BBQ and was warm and cosy for a winters day. The burger itself was OK, but nothing in the burger really popped up for me with the exception of the delicious Racks sauce glaze. What really sets this place apart for me is entertaining the thought of sharing a rack of ribs with a group of friends then moving onto the burger. I did pay an additional $3 for the chips which I think was a no brainer; no meal is complete without chips.”

“As soon as the burgers went on the grill the smell of nice charred meat was in the air. It was a lovely looking burger although before I bit in I was a little worried the patty might be a little too far on the dark side. Yes, it was crunchy on the outer, but ended up being so soft on the inner. It was really well-balanced and had notes of sticky sweetness from the base sauce, sort of reminding me of a Big Mac Sauce. It was an all around solid burger but I wish it had a little more cheese and maybe even a pickle on the side to finish off the meal.”