We all love a good burger. Think brioche bun, secret sauce and a dollop of pulled pork on top. Colchester is home to some of the best burger restaurants in Essex and we’ve picked 8 of the best places to go
1. Love Thy Burger, High Street
After a trip to America left Adem Lacin feeling disappointed in the UK’s lack of decent burgers, he decided to set up his own burger joint. Enlisting the help of his Father, Murteza, a meat chef with 30 years experience, the dynamic duo set up Love Thy Burger. A casual, rustic environment with scrubbed wooden tables and exposed brickwork, this is an excellent place to unwind and enjoy an informal meal with friends.
The menu has a selection of patties that will sate the appetite of any hungry diner. Go large with the ‘Greedy Burger’, a succulent beef patty with red onion marmalade, cheese, pickle, onion rings, bacon, house slaw and a fried egg.
For the more adventurous, why not try the ‘Scorchio’, a juicy beef burger with chilli jam, streaky bacon, cheese, jalapenos and a hefty drizzle of LTB’s spicy sauce. To finish, indulge in one of LTB’s freshly made milkshakes.
2. Grand Central Bar & Grill, Haven Road
Grand Central is passionate about cooking the best food possible using bold flavours and fresh ingredients to serve their diners the tastes of America. Their food is all farm to fork; you’ll find nothing processed here and with their modern, quirky layout and décor, dining here is an experience you won’t forget.
The burger menu keeps things simple with four delicious burgers to choose from, each served with fries, house slaw and salad on the side. The ‘Classic with Cheese’ does exactly what it says on the tin while ‘The Tzat’ is a fresh lamb patty teamed up with tzatziki and halloumi, and ‘The Smokehouse’ lets you choose between chicken or a beef patty with smoky BBQ sauce, cheese, onions and peppers.
‘The Veggie Burger’ has a zingy sun-blushed tomato, mozzarella and olive patty and if you feel up to the challenge, check out the ‘Dude Food’ menu and order ‘The Juicy’ – mozzarella, cheddar and chopped bacon sealed between two beef patties and smothered in BBQ sauce.
3. Three Wise Monkeys, High Street
Built over four floors with its own Tap House, cocktail bar, lounge, kitchen and club, Three Wise Monkeys is a foodie’s dream come true. The kitchen on the first floor specialises in food-coma-inducing gourmet burgers. The burger menu has a mixture of burgers, subs and dogs all featuring a combo of tasty ingredients; from Louisiana-style shrimp to pulled chicken and chorizo and smoked brisket and pulled pork.
‘The TWM Burger’ is simple; aged beef patty in a brioche bun with cheese but in a stroke of genius, diners are given the option to “stack it up” with a selection of add-ons that include pulled pork, hash browns, brie, avocado and even a fried egg. Here, your burger is what you make it and the possibilities are almost endless.
4. Lunch, Sir Isaac’s Walk
Family-run Lunch has been making homemade American classics for over a decade. The atmosphere of this restaurant and take-away oozes with the charm of an old-school American diner - even down to the iconic red plastic burger baskets.
Whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal with friends, or a tasty snack for on the go, Lunch has burgers aplenty to suit your needs. The menu is extensive and well priced with each handmade 6oz patty made from locally sourced beef and tucked in a lightly toasted seeded bun. Keep it simple with ‘The Classic’ or double up with a ‘Bacon Double Cheese’.
‘The Spanish Burger’ has chorizo, paprika fried onions and spicy mayo and ‘The Lunch Burger’ comes with sticky, sweet pulled pork. For something slightly different, perhaps try ‘The Onion Smash’ where the onions are cooked within the patty allowing them to caramelise and add a wonderful new flavour to the meat.
5. Hudson, Head Street
Hudson Bar touts itself as the place in Colchester to “Eat, Drink and Party all under one roof” with delicious food in their Steak Etc restaurant and fabulous cocktails in their Library cocktail bar. The Hudson philosophy is all about comfort and this can be seen in everything from the menu to the décor with its warm and welcoming ambience and unpretentious, genuine and friendly service.
All of the burgers from the menu are homemade with the finest Scottish dry aged beef and served alongside house coleslaw and fries. ‘The Manhattan Burger’ comes naked, (or bunless if you’re being PC) with lettuce and tomato and diners are encouraged to dress it with extra ingredients such as cheese, bacon, mushrooms and if you’re feeling adventurous, chilli beef. Alternatively, there is also ‘The Gourmet Burger’ which changes regularly or ‘The Veggie Burger’ which offers a combination of Portobello mushroom, sun-blushed tomato, spinach and halloumi.
6. The Old Siege House, East Street
Built in the late 15th century, The Old Siege House has witnessed plenty of Colchester history including the siege of 1648, evidence of which can still be seen on the building’s timber frames where it’s said you can see bullet holes left over from the fighting. Diners will love its intimate atmosphere whilst tucking into the fabulous food which is served in a unique combination of modern European and English style.
The burgers off the menu are grilled for extra flavour – beef with a hefty helping of creamy stilton cheese or lamb with fresh mint and cool tzatziki – and come in a lightly toasted bun with chunky chips.
7. Church Street Tavern, Church Street
The Church Street Tavern has been open since 2014 and it’s a great spot for weekend socialising with friends and family over some hearty burgers and cocktails. The huge townhouse is warmly decorated over two floors with a relaxing ground floor bar and a quirky first floor restaurant which incorporates a mixture of paintings, drawings, photography and murals into its décor from talented local artists.
The Burger, available from the downstairs bar menu, is a patty of rare breed, finest quality beef with fresh red onion, deliciously creamy mature cheddar and secret CST (Church Street Tavern) sauce with house fries on the side. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.
8. The Den at 23, Crouch Street
The Den at 23 is a unique vegan café with succulent burgers, cheese on toast and even creamy frosted cupcakes! After noticing that many people were following a vegan diet yet longing for the taste of meat and dairy foods, owners Robert and Jennifer dreamt up a menu of comfort foodie favourites that had a vegan twist. The menu contains everything you’d expect of a classic eatery or cafe but it’s made with plants instead of meats and dairy.
The four burgers on the menu are all equally wonderful, utilising a wacky and inventive combination of vegan friendly ingredients so delicious that even the most unrepentant meat-eater wouldn’t know the difference. The ‘Quarter Pound Cheeze Burger’ is the best seller with a grilled soya burger topped with melted dairy free cheese, red onion and lettuce in a toasted sesame seed bun.
New to the menu, ‘The Desert Island Burger’ is made with a smoky tofu burger with organic veg, sunflower seeds, wheat, oats and almonds all thrown together in a toasted burger bun with mayo and a pineapple ring – wow!
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