the lost city of bgr
although i’m no gastronomic connoisseur or a culinary zealot, i would like to consider myself some kind of vexed enthusiast with a literal taste for the simple, well-constructed, but brilliantly delicious fare across all boards. especially so with the street-sold or “fast food” variety. those much needed edible doses of unhealthy purchased goodness we desperately need to get us through this complex and convoluted foxhole we call daily life. in recent times, i specifically obsess over the classic favourite we know as the “burger”. provided it has been prepared or produced with some care and quality. i am happy to report that i have found the motherload within this arena on the northern side of egoli. it is colloquially known as bgr.
in the words of the prophet, anthony bourdain: “there are many forces at play with a properly made burger.” i’ve had the privilege of sampling this form of food in many different shapes and sizes, in many different places all over. i have had the holy grail of burgers at in-n-out in los angeles, and reasonablygoodburgers in jerusalem, lusaka, cape town, pretoria, and atlanta airport. though, the closest i have come to the el dorado or shangri-la, is hidden somewhere between jan smuts avenue and oxford road in rosebank. i would love to tell you exactly where it is, but i would probably have to kill you.
nestled next to a quiet one-way with very little parking available, bgr is a single store operation that packs the punch that ten franchises couldn’t muster. the clean, industrial, and immensely minimal aesthetic immediately divulges the true purpose of your visit. for, cartoonish or sleek furniture, colourful mascots and iconography, would be the most futile and cheapening endeavour in this house that ground beef built. by the way, “never frozen, [100% rump steak] patties are hand-formed daily with only a dash of salt added while its cooking.”
the menu is simple. burgers, fries, lemonade. maybe a cup of frozen custard afterwards. the absolute best part of all this is, the burger is a ballistic missile of pure delectable greatness. it sounds ridiculous, but it’s truly ingenious. the burgers are available as a single and double hamburger or cheeseburger. then, there’s the bacon burger, and a vegetarian option. toppings are straightforward, the usual stuff to build your own tasty creation with. but, all garnish are intensely fresh. simply ordering your burger with “the works” would move enough mountains in a single visit. the patty is flawlessly cooked with an immensely high quality ground meat. the cheese is melted over the patty while on the griddle. the finely constructed burger is finally handed over, and can be accompanied by a portion of high-grade fries. i’m utterly starving now.
this subjective rant has made it clear that i will be visiting this fine establishment for many moons to come. it consistently provides the contentment seeked, and it effortlessly checks all the boxes. like i said: simple, well-constructed, but brilliantly delicious fare. go and have yours, before the mirage dissipates.