Gourmet Burger Union
Gourmet Burger Union 1/F Cheung Fai Building 45-47 Cochrane Street Central Tel: 2581 0321
Grub: Build-your-own-burger joint: start with a naturally reared, grass-fed, free-range Angus beef patty. Or you can choose chicken or lamb, both of which are raised on a vegetarian diet without added hormones or antibiotics.
Vibe: Rockin'! This is a pretty hip place but not overly trendy. You could eat with your folks here, but they'd better like cool music. The restaurant plays music at a good volume but they'll probably turn it up even louder if you ask.
Who to bring: All of your mates. This would be a fine place to meet or hang out. Sit by the window and spot people you know going up and down the Mid-Levels escalator.
What's hot: First, choose your burger. You can choose from quarter-pound and half-pound beef, or the chicken, lamb or soy protein veggie versions. Whatever you choose goes onto a bed of either lettuce, rocket or mixed greens. Then you've got to pick from 15 types of cheese, 15 standard toppings, 12 premium toppings and 15 sauces.
The cheeses include stilton, brie, Roquefort, cheddar and Monterey Jack. Premium toppings include fried egg, smoky bacon, portobello mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes.
Finally, select which type of bun you would like to squeeze it all into.
All burgers are cooked medium, but you can specify your preference.
If this all seems a bit overwhelming, you can choose from a menu of about a dozen 'signature' burgers where the toppings have already been planned. And if you want more than just a burger, they also serve chips, poutine, onion rings and salads. If you don't want a burger at all, you could go for a chilli or foot-long hotdog.
What's not: If you get too many toppings, they're all going to squirt out and land in your lap.
Cost: The burgers are all HK$63 to HK$68, except the half-pounder, which is HK$98. For that you get one cheese topping, two standard toppings and a sauce. And, of course, you can have extras. Cheese is priced at HK$15, standard toppings HK$5 and premium toppings HK$10.
