Review: Boom Burger
Ok so the above witty ditty doesn't really work, but something that does hit the nail on the head is the menu at Boom Burger.
The uniquely Jamaican influenced burger company opened its first permanent restaurant earlier this year and already people are talking about the venue. Open for lunch and dinner they offer both a sit in (or outside if it's a nice day) or take away service.
Arriving on a beautiful early summer's evening, the outside seats all taken, we opted to sit inside for our meal. You can't book a table at the restaurant which, if you turn up and find there are no seats, could be annoying. But luckily for us we managed to squeeze onto a shared table wit some other dinners. The venue feels very sociable, sharing a table with strangers encourages you to chat to people which is gives a really friendly, warm, easy-going feeling to the restaurant.
Rum and ginger beer swiftly ordered and brought over (there are a number of rum cocktails as well as over drinks to try) we turned our minds to the menu.
Simple in the sense there isn't oodles of choice, which is always a good thing, (do a few of what you do best and really wow people in my opinion) everything sounded full of flavour and rather amazing.
To start we dined on Chicken Wings marinaded in the house jerk sauce and a portion of Stamp & Go (saltfish chilli and herb fritters.)
The fritters were amazing, spicy and full of flavour. Like a delicate, thin version of a fish cake. A great dish which fills a space but doesn't leave you so full you can't enjoy the next course.
The chicken was cooked to perfection and the marinade was mouth wateringly good. If you're a fan of chicken wings, as I am, you would be hard pushed to not enjoy them. The condiments on the table were also incredible which sounds ridiculous, but the spicy mayonnaise type sauce was so good that if I could have smuggled it out in my handbag I'd be enjoying it with all my meals.
For the main we opted to share a Boom Burger (the signature beef burger covered in cheese and bacon jam), a Jerk Boom (Jerk chicken, with fried plantain, rocket, mango and pawpaw sauce) with a side of fries and plantain fries.
Out of the two, the Boom Burger was the star dish, but as it's their signature I expected no less. I always say a good burger is one you get in a complete mess with when you eat it and I certainly made a bit of a mess. To be honest it tasted so good I just couldn't get it in my mouth quick enough! If you have a slightly plainer pallet you may find all the flavours a bit much. As for me, easily the best burger I've had to date.
The plantain fries were great although due to the portion size I would say just order one and share. Especially if you have starts beforehand. All the dishes are no more than £9 so it's great value.
A very rare occasion occurred during my visit too. I didn't have dessert. I always say that there is ALWAYS room for dessert. But after two amazing courses I couldn't manage another thing. I was quite happily defeated by Boom Burger.
The only niggle I had is as it's an open kitchen, great you can see your food being cooked and assembled, but it also means that you smell of whatever it is you have eaten that evening. As much as I love a burger I'm not mad keen on smelling like one. It's only a very teeny con, and the only one I can find.
This small restaurant on Portobello Road, full to the brim, both inside and out, will no doubt have to look for bigger premises when the word gets out that the food is incredible. It's a little bit of Jamaica in the heart of London and I loved it.
www.boomburger.co.uk
The uniquely Jamaican influenced burger company opened its first permanent restaurant earlier this year and already people are talking about the venue. Open for lunch and dinner they offer both a sit in (or outside if it's a nice day) or take away service.
Arriving on a beautiful early summer's evening, the outside seats all taken, we opted to sit inside for our meal. You can't book a table at the restaurant which, if you turn up and find there are no seats, could be annoying. But luckily for us we managed to squeeze onto a shared table wit some other dinners. The venue feels very sociable, sharing a table with strangers encourages you to chat to people which is gives a really friendly, warm, easy-going feeling to the restaurant.
Rum and ginger beer swiftly ordered and brought over (there are a number of rum cocktails as well as over drinks to try) we turned our minds to the menu.
Simple in the sense there isn't oodles of choice, which is always a good thing, (do a few of what you do best and really wow people in my opinion) everything sounded full of flavour and rather amazing.
To start we dined on Chicken Wings marinaded in the house jerk sauce and a portion of Stamp & Go (saltfish chilli and herb fritters.)
The fritters were amazing, spicy and full of flavour. Like a delicate, thin version of a fish cake. A great dish which fills a space but doesn't leave you so full you can't enjoy the next course.
The chicken was cooked to perfection and the marinade was mouth wateringly good. If you're a fan of chicken wings, as I am, you would be hard pushed to not enjoy them. The condiments on the table were also incredible which sounds ridiculous, but the spicy mayonnaise type sauce was so good that if I could have smuggled it out in my handbag I'd be enjoying it with all my meals.
For the main we opted to share a Boom Burger (the signature beef burger covered in cheese and bacon jam), a Jerk Boom (Jerk chicken, with fried plantain, rocket, mango and pawpaw sauce) with a side of fries and plantain fries.
Out of the two, the Boom Burger was the star dish, but as it's their signature I expected no less. I always say a good burger is one you get in a complete mess with when you eat it and I certainly made a bit of a mess. To be honest it tasted so good I just couldn't get it in my mouth quick enough! If you have a slightly plainer pallet you may find all the flavours a bit much. As for me, easily the best burger I've had to date.
The plantain fries were great although due to the portion size I would say just order one and share. Especially if you have starts beforehand. All the dishes are no more than £9 so it's great value.
A very rare occasion occurred during my visit too. I didn't have dessert. I always say that there is ALWAYS room for dessert. But after two amazing courses I couldn't manage another thing. I was quite happily defeated by Boom Burger.
The only niggle I had is as it's an open kitchen, great you can see your food being cooked and assembled, but it also means that you smell of whatever it is you have eaten that evening. As much as I love a burger I'm not mad keen on smelling like one. It's only a very teeny con, and the only one I can find.
This small restaurant on Portobello Road, full to the brim, both inside and out, will no doubt have to look for bigger premises when the word gets out that the food is incredible. It's a little bit of Jamaica in the heart of London and I loved it.
www.boomburger.co.uk