Burger Wars Episode XXXI: The Sith Burger

One place I was really looking forward to visiting was Brasserie Malmaison. The restaurant of the Malmaison boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, just a couple steps from the Smithfield market. There were two main reasons, first I have read good reviews about the burger, and the second one to see the Butchers Block, I’ve been dreaming going there since I read a review by Kang. Their promise simple British classic, big portions and not compromise in quality..

The Hotel

Butcher's Block

Got to the place, a modern atmosphere, good service, and pretty straight forward menu. Didn’t take me long to decide as the main was already chosen, a brief browse to the menu to ask for the fried squid, and the Mal burger.

The menu

The squid was superb, oh my god! I think one of the best ones I have had, the batter was amazing the dipping sauce brilliant, and the rocket gave a balance between the peppery flavour and the sweetness of the dipping sauce, and the presentation of the dish was spot on.

The star of the night

The Mal burger, naturally reared ground beef supplied by Donald Russel comes with bacon, melted gruyere cheese, gherkin, lettuce, tomato, and onions, a special tomato base sauce, home made fries, and I asked as a side the tarragon aioli.

Mal Burger

The verdict, brilliant! The burger was amazing, medium rare, cook to perfection, amazing flavour, the sauce, the bacon, and the cheese giving an extraordinaire uniqueness to the bloodiness of the patty. The fries on the other hand for me swing and a miss, oily and soggy.

The damage, 16.45 quids for the Mal burger, fries, and a coke.

The conclusion, Malmaison met the expectations, the burger was spectacular, the squid stole the show, sadly the fries failed to deliver. I would give them a solid 9, Chef John Woodward just get those fries crunchy to get you into the top three burgers in town, apart from that keep it the good work.

This is a real bad boy

Mal could be translated to Spanish as Evil, and that reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Face Painter” when Puddy paints his face as a Devil to support his hockey team.

Elaine: That poor priest. He was just visiting from El Salvador. Now he's gone completely loco.

Jerry: The one Puddy screamed at in the car?

Elaine: Yeah. He thinks he saw the devil. He won't leave his room in the church basement.

Jerry: Well, that's what you get for getting mixed up with a face painter.

Elaine: I mean, what compels a seemingly normal human being to do something like that?

Jerry: Got to support the team.