On a roll 264927

No matter which part of the country you’re from, it’s definitely worth checking out your local Burgers Bar.

By YONI COHEN
Burgers Bar 370 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Burgers Bar 370
(photo credit: Courtesy)
While the ever-popular chain restaurant Burgers Bar has done a good job of corning the market when it comes to burgers in Jerusalem, it’s influence in Tel Aviv has yet to be felt. That may change soon. With an updated image and revised menu, one of the three branches located in Tel Aviv is leading the way in getting Tel Avivians as hooked on the tasty burgers as their Jerusalem neighbors.
Recently, a friend and I went to see what all the fuss was about. We visited the relatively small branch in Ramat Aviv, which is very unassuming from the outside – and as a matter of fact, is nothing too special inside, either. However, at Burgers Bar it’s all about the food.
There is no waiter service at Burgers Bar, so it’s a case of walking straight in, checking out the huge menu printed on the wall and then asking the friendly staff to build a burger to your specifications.
The house burger at Burgers Bar is a mixture of 100 percent ground lamb and beef. I just couldn’t resist. While the meat is an important part of any burger, at Burgers Bar the sauces take center stage. They have over 10 sauces, including pesto, chimichurri, sweet chilli and barbecue, as well as the usual mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise. Once I had carefully chosen all the different components, and watched the “burger artist” craft my burger in front of me, it was my friend’s turn to order.
She decided to check out one of the many non-burger options and went for a steak sandwich. She went through the exact same process as me, individually selecting how she wanted her sandwich to look.
I was not disappointed with what I ordered. The added lamb gave the house burger a unique taste, which differentiated it from the average burger found in many other joints. It was cooked exactly how I like it and the combination of meats really worked.
My friend also enjoyed her steak sandwich, which was served in a baguette-style bun instead of the classic burger bun.
We also tried a selection of side dishes including the home fires, onion rings, regular fries and cigars. All were tasty enough in their own right, but nothing different then you would expect from a burger place.
Although we wouldn’t have wanted dessert because what we had was so filling, there are no dessert options at Burgers Bar, leaving them to focus on what they do best: make burgers.
While the burgers are obviously the main attraction, there are also a number of different non-burger options, including chicken and snitzel sandwiches, chicken wings, a number of different salads, as well as a vegetarian-mushroom burger.
Burgers Bar was established in 1999 and is now the third-largest hamburger chain in Israel, with the majority of branches in Jerusalem, as well as a few others scattered around the center of the country.
It’s owners are committed to using fresh ingredients and offer an entertaining and personal experience.
With so much competition in the Tel Aviv gourmet-burger market, it will be difficult for Burgers Bar to have the same influence that it does in Jerusalem, but for the time being, they are making quite a good effort.
No matter which part of the country you’re from, it’s definitely worth checking out your local burger branch.
The writer was a guest of the restaurant.

Kosher Burgers Bar, Ramat Aviv Merkaz Tagure 30 03-6439777 Various other branches around the country www.facebook.com/BurgersBarIL/info