It was time for another burgerquest, and Bukowski Grill’s Box Park location was just the ticket. A quick glance at the menu online revealed a handful of intriguing options plus the ability to build up a burger from scratch. Given that it was Box Park, seating was extremely limited inside but they guided us to grab a seat on the outdoor tables and relax with a beer under the heat lamps. The staff were friendly and quirky, and it’s fairly impressive how they manage to serve up so many burgers from a kitchen that’s smaller than my closet. Price wise, it’s quite reasonable at around £9-10/burger and beer for about £4.

Food: ★★★★☆ Service: ★★★☆☆ Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆ Value: ★★★☆☆ Overall: ★★★☆☆

Meeting friends?

You can grab a beer and chill outside or head down a couple box fronts to Cottons Rhum Shack for some tropical tasty rum drinks. If that doesn’t suit or the weather is a bit too cold, Brewdog Shoreditch is a minute or two away and an excellent place to while away the time as you gather your crew.

Alright, burger time!

Our group of four opted for a couple of Fat Gringos and a couple of the monthly specials. The Fat Gringo is essentially a cheeseburger topped with candied bacon and jalapeno mustard. Not a bad try but the bacon could have been a bit crispier and sweeter – perhaps I’m a bit harsh but anytime I see candy bacon I think of Mother Flipper’s excellent Bacon Candy Flipper which has set the standard pretty high.

The special, called Walker’s chilli Burger, was a hefty cheeseburger with honey and bourbon pickled jalapenos and a slightly sweet red chilli con carne. I was hoping for more heat but overall it was a tasty burger with the medium rare patty showing a good layer of pink juicy meat. I tried to enquire as to the type of cut used in the patty but was met with a blank stare. Not a dealbreaker for me but I do like it when the restaurant knows what goes into its food.

The bun was spot of with a touch of sweetness, soft fluffy texture, yet a robust enough construction that it absorbed the juices with ease. I’d guess a demi-brioche but whatever it was, it was good.

We grabbed some chips as a side to share (sadly they aren’t included with the burger) and they were quite good with a crispy exterior and floury interior. A bit salty, though, even with my high salt tolerance so not sure how most people will handle them.

Every good burger needs a good beer, right?

Yep, and the Green Daemon was a nice light pairing for it. I usually opt for the darker porters or stouts but since I was feeling a tad fragile from the weekend the lighter, hoppier Daemon was a perfect. It balanced out the sweetness of the chilli and bun while the hops built on the meaty foundation of the patty.

The rest of the beer list was bulked out by a good number of craft options and they have some tasty looking soft drinks too including a homemade lemonade and hibiscus ice tea.

Worth the dosh?

For a burger just under a tenner, it’s not a bad deal but I wish the chips came as part of it. Bukowski has some tough competition with MEATMission and Lucky Chip being fairly close by, but as an easy lunch from Bank I can see myself making the return trip once in a while.

Find Bukowski Grill here

Box Park Unit 61 (top level on the Shoreditch High St OG side)

4-6 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6GY

020 7033 6601

http://www.bukowski-grill.co.uk/contact-shoreditch/