Fancy a Burger in the city? Fancy Burgers (FB’s), 17 Synagogue Place, Adelaide, SA

Posted on April 11, 2013 by hayleybishop

There is no doubt I have a love affair with burgers… ever since my visit to the “US of A” five years ago I realised just how much I love a good burger and had a new definition of what ‘good’ actually was. The fact is that the seemingly simple burger can in reality be amazingly divine or devastatingly average.

So this post is one I am unashamedly excited about. Not just because of my affection for the old meat patty and bun but also because I have been itching to see what some old high school mates have done with the recent opening of a city Fancy Burgers store. In full disclosure I am already a fan of Fancy Burgers (original Blackwood shop style) but if anything, I know I will be extra picky on if they have been able to step it up a notch with this city location.

Today a weekday lunch and an escape from the office has been organized and as we head down the seemingly quiet Synagogue Place off Rundle Street I am impressed at the external fit out of this cool little joint which is perfectly framed by urban buildings towering around it.

Pleased to see Justin’s friendly face and founder George flipping burgers out the back I already feel at home and we grab a menu and are no doubt spoilt for choice across 15+ beef, chicken, lamb and vego burgers and even steak sandwiches too with an average price of about $12. Justin’s reco is “The Legend” a lamb patty with a field mushroom, Woodside goats cheese & other goodies (but it is big apparently). However I can’t go past the “Holy Smokes”. My dining mate gets tempted by the “Sunrise Surprise” due to the avocado inclusion but is wary of the pineapple in the combo but decides to give it a go – this trip is all about testing. Seasoned chips on the side (of course!) and one of George’s homemade sauces are a non-negotiable staple. The other interesting thing is that they only offer wholemeal rolls now – fine by me. As always the full menu is very much about fresh, high quality local produce in diverse yummy combinations and with amazing store-made sauces.

After we order there follows a late lunch rush and a line appears almost all the way to the door – wow – it seems that despite this relatively new venue being down a quiet dead end street, word has most definitely got around that this is the place to be. The open kitchen in full customer view seems every bit capable to step it up a notch, barely breaking a sweat, and the burgers are streaming out to all the punters with open arms (and mouths).

While we wait I take a look around and the fit-out it really snazzy. Unique, quirky, vibrant but definitely calculated. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into every element and I am super impressed. I love the ‘pods’ down the side which are distinctively like the oval shelter sheds I recall hanging out in with these guys at school – but these ones are decked out, each with an individual style. The artistic checkerboard floor and walls full of frames is my favourite. Street art and retro 50’s illustrations fill any gaps around the place and it is cool. Very cool!

Burgers are out in the blink of an eye, which is great as since I read the menu I have been incredibly hungry. Full, juicy and layered to perfection we dig in and my shoulders relax as it lives up to every expectation. Phew! Loving the combo of an awesome patty, layers of roasted peppers, salad, cheese and the moist-maker layers of smoked chilli mayo and BBQ relish… it has an undertone of heat that is perfect and lingering while letting all the other elements still play their part. One of the best things is the roll, even wholemeal, it isn’t too much bread (common issue with burgers), it is still soft and you wouldn’t even really know it is wholemeal.

I get to try the “Sunrise Surprise” as well and it is great. Not being a huge fan of pineapple on pizza I am not sure on this inclusion either but the ‘surprise’ for me is that it really works in this combo and ironically suits this 30-degree summery day we are enjoying. Chips are plank style, crunchy, seasoned perfectly and the sauces (dips) awesome as always. Smoked Chilli Mayo is my favourite.

A benefit today of sitting on the communal ‘old door – come table’ out the front is our new ‘dining friends’ get some other menu offerings that I get to cheekily inspect – the vego “Farmers Market” burger is an impressive stack full of veg favs and goats cheese and we also see two mini “Moo Moos” (salad optional) come to the table as well. I am thinking these are great cheeseburger substitutes but SOOOO much better in every respect than anything you will find at maccas. These customers are also really impressed with their lunch and are ‘cleverly’ washing it down with a beer. That would be nice if work wasn’t to follow.

It has been a really good lunch and lived up to every expectation on the food front, it is as good as any other burger I have had in a very long time. What has really impressed me today has been the service, which is all really efficient and super friendly, and then the set-up and surrounds is the perfect cherry on top. Hats off to these boys for getting it all so right and the result is a fantastic vibe that only enhances the whole experience, no wonder there are lines to the door.

One of my burger favourites and a great benchmark is “Grill’d” in Melbourne that ticks all the boxes for me, which has today been surpassed by Fancy Burgers and that is no mean feat. As a result, I have a feeling I am going to be calling in pretty regularly from now on and am genuinely excited at what new burger variant I will try next – there certainly is plenty to sample and I have a feeling I will like them all.

Fancy Burgers
17 Synagogue Place (off Rundle Street), Adelaide, South Australia
http://www.fancyburgers.com.au
Food: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Vibe: 9/10
Cost: $

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Adding some spice to a bland work day… La Cantina Co Mexican Street Kitchen.

Posted on February 10, 2013 by hayleybishop

It doesn’t take much to encourage me to skip my bowl of leftovers or a home made ham sandwich and have a ‘different’ lunch while I am at work… and so the arrival of a custom flyer (impressive marketing!!!) to advise that La Cantina Co Mexican Street Kitchen is visiting our office’s street was very welcome news.

Food trucks or the ‘pop up’ style of hospitality are growing in availability and gaining popularity at the same time – and why not, we all love to see a new eating option where it didn’t exist before. I hear that bricks and mortar retailers in the city are getting peeved of such options literally lobbing up nearby and stealing clientele, but it certainly all makes sense to me. Clever business I say.

From mid morning I am thinking about the delicious Mexican I imagine I will be enjoying at lunch and by 12.30pm a few of us head down. The line is big from both my colleagues and those from other buildings nearby. It’s a nice day so we don’t mind being ‘forced’ to enjoy some sun as we line up to order then wait for the goods to be cooked. I see that the options include soft tacos $6 each or (2 for $10) or quesadillas at $7 each. I decide to go one of each for ‘research’ and then the fillings include beef & chorizo, chicken, pork or vego. I see servings aren’t that big so definitely need two, Beef & Chicken for me.

We wait over 15 minutes in the sun for our orders… still nice as we take the opportunity to forget about work and get some Vitamin D. However, upon presentation of my order they have done it as 2 x tacos, I decide that “no I want to try both” (and I did repeat my order twice and she even repeated back) and ask them to correct it. We wait another 5-7 minutes and while genuinely apologetic I get 2 x quesadillas, still not the combo I ordered – it is all too hard, I am hungry, I just take it and run. Seriously though, there isn’t that much on the menu, they should be able to get it right. What I paid doesn’t even match any of the combinations in the end.

We head up to our office balcony deck to dig in and it is certainly yummy and piping hot to boot. Just the right level of spice heat mixed in with a great concoction across filling types. Luckily my generous colleagues let me try theirs so I still get a mixed experience. The tacos are better I think, with additions like sour cream, guacamole and salad it increases the freshness rather than my toasted basic filling only options that by the end feel a little stodgy, now seeming like the poor cousin although beautifully toasted on the outside. The beef mixture is great – black beans, a hit of chilli warmth and maybe a bit of chorizo (but not enough, I can’t really see it!) is delicious. The chicken one – it should have been called “corn… with a bit of chicken”. I feel like they tried to use up a mega can the size of a bucket in the mix. The meat and flavour is delicious, but I need more of it and without corn dominance. Some of my quesadillas quarters have maybe two small bits of chicken and others have good coverage throughout, so it is very inconsistent. The food is pretty ugly from a photography point of view but certainly tasty. The authentic bottled green hot sauce was good on the side and I noticed they had Jarritos (Mexican) soda too – nice touch.

Still, we easily smash these out and they are pretty yummy with each bite making you want more… which is a good sign and you get that lingering mouth burn from chilli that reminds you for a decent time after that you just ate something delicious. I was probably over mine though by the end without the same salad/freshness of the guys with the tacos. There is plenty of the finely diced filling that has made its way down our hands. Unfortunately no napkins at the truck to make it cleaner eating as they had ‘ran out’. You’d think they could be stocked up given the style of food.

For a $10ish lunch it is good, and it did offer a bit of spice (literally) to an otherwise average day in the office. I think they need to maybe look at their filling mixture, perhaps up the meat content, even if they charge a buck or two more. I also think they need to look at including more of the salads or salsas to freshen it up and add some moisture – tomato salsa, more guoc, lime, other greens, they need to have a play with the balances of their mix and also ensure for the tacos filling is spread throughout and not all at particular layers. From my experience they certainly need to get their staff more schooled in getting the order right, hire people good under pressure. Fundamentally, I think if they really want to excel they need to be quicker at getting the orders out, even cut the menu down and just crank out multiples to hand out as purchased as over 15 minutes is not fast food and takes up a hefty part of your lunch break… they’re busy enough over the peak time to avoid any wastage!

So certainly not a bad option and most definitely better than the alternatives at your fingertips so close to work. I’d go the taco options, at least two, and make sure they take your order right. Maybe you can request a visit to a well populated lunch location or check out where they are next via their social media feeds (links below).

Well done to them for capitalising on such a popular format and cuisine style and thanks for ‘bringing it to me’… a few little tweaks and they could easily take their offer from good to great. My fingers are crossed that they do.

La Cantina Co Mexican Street Kitchen
Various locations – check out on twitter or facebook for updates

Food: 6.5/10
Service: 5/10
Vibe: 7/10
Cost: $

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Lazy Sundays & Fresh Mex… Arriba Grill – 476 Goodwood Road, Cumberland Park, Adelaide, SA

Posted on January 14, 2013 by hayleybishop

Well it is a lazy Sunday and we’re having dinner with my sis and soon to be bro-in-law. We’ve all been busy today, so takeaway is on the cards and we decide to head to Arriba (Mexican) Grill. The claim – organic, fresh and tasty burritos.

I have driven past quite a few times and been intrigued, pleased to see another new funky dining option pop up in Radelaide burbs, and excited to give it a go. I have heard their original Prospect store is fabulous and it is great to have one this side of town. There is also one in Glenside for the eastern suburbs folk.

We head there and the concept is simple – all they do is burritos – & following several steps you make your selections on fillings and style: meat, salad, sauces, spiciness and in a wrap or bowl (great for those avoiding gluten). Between the four of us we pretty much cover the whole menu… yes it is very basic, but on a Sunday night that is probably good!

The menu system is something I really enjoy… up on a board clearly but with a sheet for you to tick your selections, obviously making the cooking process easy and less risk for everyone. I LIKE! The great benefit was my sis had collected forms last visit so the group had filled in at home which was super easy! Pricing is from $9-$15 per burrito, which is extremely reasonable considering the quality of ingredients.

We enjoy the decor waiting for our takeaway, chuckling at the original retro Super Mario video game set up by the window, funky cacti on tables and the basic but sufficient seating set up for this ‘takeaway’ come ‘eat in’ store. The customer flow is consistent, many people agree that a burrito is a good dinner option tonight.

I appreciate seeing our food being made by staff as we wait… all the fresh and organic ingredients visible over the counter as they compile the yummy bundles of goodness. Thanks to the menu sheets they even get named on the bags making distribution in your group a breeze.

Ready to eat we all delve into our burritos and they are just what we craved… hearty, fresh (and from our choice) the perfect level of spice desired. The room is silent, always a good sign, and it almost becomes a race to see who can smash it first. All the components work really well, the tomato salsa sauce and guacamole is delish, meat is tender and all is held/wrapped together really well – there is no liquid escaping from these bad boys.

My only real criticism is that I wish it was hotter (temperature), I even give it a zap in the microwave… From last visit my sister actually asked them about how hot it is meant to be and staff explained their intention is more like a sandwich with warm meat, very lightly heated bread and then cold salads. Intention or not, I just wish it was served warmer. Others in our group disagree and like it as is, verdict is split on this challenge in our group: 2-2. Maybe the temperature option could be a selection – a quick heat post wrapping for those that want it hot? The lime rice could have a little more lime for me, but I do appreciate that there is a fine line when it can then dominate too much.

My other wish is that there were some ‘sides’ options… smokey paprika spiced chips with a zesty dipping sauce or even that amazing juicy mexican corn that made me yell “OMFG” when I first tasted thanks to Melbourne’s Mamasita (which I have since found the recipe for and recreated, here for those begging me for the recipe. The finished result looks like this).

Instead, our “side” this evening was a bottle of St Hugo GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro) at home. In full disclosure a ‘work baby’ of mine. However, I must say though it was an exceptional partner – rich, juicy, savoury. It is heavy enough to work with a spicy burrito but soft enough to let the fresh flavours of the food play their part too. It does cost nearly as much as the four burritos, but damn it was great and why the hell not… Good food, great people and all that. As my favourite wine at work at the moment, I encourage you to check it out (limited distribution in fine wine retailers) but noticed like usual Dan Murphy’s has it far too cheap – so enjoy while you can – only a small make on exceptional years.
This does also make me note, if eating in store there is only a fridge of softies… no alcohol. Perhaps a BYO from the BWS next door would be allowed (?) or grab a bottle of vino or a 6pk of Corona or Sol while getting your takeaway to take home with you.

Overall, the burritos were pretty spectacular – extremely fresh and tasty, packed full, wrapped tight and the store experience was great. I really like the concept and will certainly be back again. If you want a cheap, easy, fresh, tasty and pretty healthy takeaway with a difference… ditch the fish and chips or soggy burger option and trade up from your local yiros – try an Arriba Burrito. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner.

Arriba Grill
476 Goodwood Road, Cumberland Park, Adelaide, South Australia
http://www.arribagrill.com.au

Food: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Vibe: 7/10
Price: $

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Out and about in Adelaide

Category Archives: Takeaway / Casual Dining

Fancy a Burger in the city? Fancy Burgers (FB’s), 17 Synagogue Place, Adelaide, SA

Adding some spice to a bland work day… La Cantina Co Mexican Street Kitchen.

Lazy Sundays & Fresh Mex… Arriba Grill – 476 Goodwood Road, Cumberland Park, Adelaide, SA

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