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Islamabad's Street Burger serves beef patties in a black bun. Would you try it?

Islamabad's Street Burger serves beef patties in a black bun. Would you try it?

The gourmet buns are baked in-house and an imported machine is used to lend them their unique colour and flavour
27 Jan, 2017

Don't let its sleek-looking dining area confuse you. Street Burger is an out-and-out burger joint, one of the latest to join Islamabad's increasingly crowded burger market.

Where to go

Street Burger is a small shack located in the Beverly Center basement in F-6, Islamabad.

When to go

The burger joint is open from 11am till 11pm.

What to eat

The burger joint's claim to fame is their signature burger called Street Burger. It consists of a juicy beef patty, cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and homemade sauce called XYZ sandwiched in an ebony bun.

Street Burger's eponymous burger features a juicy beef patty sandwiched in an ebony bun
Street Burger's eponymous burger features a juicy beef patty sandwiched in an ebony bun

The burger patty, which is their secret weapon, weighs 140 grams. “We buy meat from the local shop but we get to pick and choose. Different meat portions are mixed together to come up with the finest quality of patty meat before homemade and imported sauces are infused. The beef is then ready for marination," shared architect Ali Omer, one of two partners at Street Burger.

There was no doubt after the first bite that this burger is indeed made from freshly ground beef cooked to perfection. The medium rare meat patty carried a nice little crispness on the outside, whereas the bun itself was light and fluffy. One could taste more meat than bread, which is always a good thing.

Other burgers include Double Stack, Mushroom Swiss, Egg in a Hole. Mexican and Philly Steak as beef options and Chicken Cheese, Southern Style, Mexican and Jalapeno burgers as chicken options.

Burgers at Street Burger are served in gourmet buns baked at the eatery
Burgers at Street Burger are served in gourmet buns baked at the eatery

“We are serving gourmet buns baked at our own eatery, not ordinary ones supplied by a vendor. We have imported a machine, which makes buns in three colours and the first one to launch is Ebony Burger," explains the other partner Ahsan Bhatti, who also runs Street One café.

Ali’s son, Hassan bin Ali, is a graduate of International Culinary Center New York and currently working at the first Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant in New York. He is the master chef of the salads offered at Street Burger.

The young chef has introduced Halumi Salad, Beets Salad, Potato Salad and his all-time favourite Quinoa Salad. The salad features a mix of roasted bell peppers, mint, lemon, dash of olive oil vinaigrette, slices of grilled chicken and lavishly sprinkled quinoa, a nutritious grain full of protein and a wheat-free alternative.

Halumi salad alone was a full wholesome meal. Four chunks of char-grilled Halumi cheese, cherry tomatoes, crispy lettuce filled with seasonal greens was very appetising. The secret dressing is most likely honey based vinaigrette, drizzled on the lettuce leafs, which made its way to every corner of the salad bowl.

The salad menu at Street Burger is masterminded by Hassan bin Ali, who works for the first vegetarian Michelin star restaurant in New York
The salad menu at Street Burger is masterminded by Hassan bin Ali, who works for the first vegetarian Michelin star restaurant in New York

I also sampled the Mushroom Swiss and Philly Steak Sandwich from the burgers menu. The Philly Steak was top-notch with steak lavished with very thinly shaved bell peppers, caramelised onions and provolone cheese in a sandwich roll. One wishes that the spices were more American than Pakistan.

The Mushroom Swiss was also very satisfying. The mushrooms were sautéed to perfection. One could feel the chewiness of the mushroom and yet it was not falling out of the bun. Generally once you close up the bun, you are fighting to keep the burger in tact. Maybe it was the Swiss cheese that managed to arrest the freefall of the mushrooms with its moist melt. The sear on the outside of a burger patty was also just perfect.

There's also plenty to satisfy one's sweet tooth at Street Burger.

Brownie Shots arrive as a trio of flavours on a plate
Brownie Shots arrive as a trio of flavours on a plate

Brownie Shots come as a trio of distinct flavours; caramel, crème brûlée and hazelnut chocolate. The brownie rolls are so moist that they stuck slightly to my fingers like a good whoopee pie. The fillings tasted good, except one found that the crème brûlée could have used more vanilla custard.

Other dessert options include Toffee Crisp Cheese Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Pie, Banoffee Pie and Lemon Meringue
Other dessert options include Toffee Crisp Cheese Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Pie, Banoffee Pie and Lemon Meringue

Other dessert options include Toffee Crisp Cheese Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Pie, Banoffee Pie and Lemon Meringue.

Damage on the pocket

Burgers at Street Burger range from Rs600 to Rs1000, whereas a combo with fries and soda can easily deprive you of a handsome amount, falling in between Rs900 to Rs1200.

Eclairs were one of the most easy-on-the-pocket dessert options on the menu
Eclairs were one of the most easy-on-the-pocket dessert options on the menu

The eatery offers limited number of shakes; Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry priced at Rs525 and Pistachio for Rs725. Easy on the pocket are éclairs in variety of flavors carrying a price tag of Rs135 and Cookie Cups/Shots Brownie for Rs155.

Comments

Rashid Jan 27, 2017 02:56pm
Pakistanis love beef.
Recommend
HASHAM Jan 27, 2017 04:11pm
Wonder if the patty is ever stolen by the bun.
Recommend
syedchaudhrygangadinkhan Jan 27, 2017 04:37pm
Is it beef?
Recommend
Truth Jan 27, 2017 05:16pm
You know what to expect after consuming a black bun? That's why most foods are appetizing colors - yellow, green, red, brown, white, purples, or pinkish. Never Black!
Recommend
Khwarezmi Jan 27, 2017 05:45pm
I have stoped eating beef and keema in restaurants and wedding halls after people were served donky meets in several eatries. I eat grilled fish and chicken only.
Recommend
Sandy roberts Jan 27, 2017 06:44pm
I would.
Recommend
Slim sHeeda Jan 27, 2017 07:01pm
The beef is the best!
Recommend
indian Jan 27, 2017 08:18pm
Looks yummy !
Recommend
Truth here Jan 27, 2017 08:42pm
Yes ofcourse nothing can beat beef patty sandwich.
Recommend
Parvez Jan 27, 2017 09:27pm
That looks very tempting.........when are they opening in Karachi ?
Recommend
Bilal Jan 27, 2017 10:32pm
Looks unhygienic. No way I can have this.
Recommend
Hina Khan Jan 27, 2017 10:37pm
Lovely.
Recommend
Dr abdul latif Jan 27, 2017 10:39pm
Wak! Never. Very unclean.
Recommend
waheed Jan 27, 2017 10:57pm
Overpriced junk food!
Recommend
rashid nasim Jan 27, 2017 11:52pm
This is a great story. Hard work and creativity will pay off these guys Looks like they are working hard and smart. Keep up the hard work guys.
Recommend
Imtiaz ali khan Jan 28, 2017 12:25am
Beef is bad for health friends.
Recommend
ulaganatha boopathy Jan 28, 2017 01:23am
Please promote your local food which is very healthy for kids. Not this kind of junk food.
Recommend
BEEF CURRY Jan 28, 2017 03:18am
GOTTA LOVE DAT BEEF HMMMMM
Recommend
AXH Jan 28, 2017 07:03am
Well, McDonald served some of its burgers with black buns in the US around Halloween.
Recommend
Irfan_Sydney Jan 28, 2017 09:31am
KFC has served black bun burger in Australia.
Recommend
najeeb Jan 28, 2017 09:57am
I was fooled once - it was a dog meat instead of beef, have to be careful now a days..
Recommend
Kryptonite Jan 28, 2017 10:11am
@Khwarezmi Beef can be easily substituted with some other meat. Mutton is safe I guess. Can be easily differentiated.
Recommend
MJ Khan Jan 28, 2017 11:00am
Food should never be black, except when its chocolate. Only gives the impression that those buns are burnt or stale. Looks disgusting tbh.
Recommend