Decor vs Food pt2 ….. the hand burger

I try my best not to post anything too negative, however I have to be truthful to myself whenever sharing meal experiences. The whole point of reviewing is to be honest about it correct?

Bernie had recently read write ups in the local media for burger joints in Singapore. All of them receiving kind highlights. So after her going on and on about it we decided to head down to one of them. It had to be good since it was noted in the media. Now, don’t believe everything you hear from the media …..

The Hand Burger, Raffles City

Tucked away among the cluster of shops at the basement of Raffles City, you would find yourself in front of a very chic window display with cardboard standees of vegetables and other stuff. When you enter, the sitting area is clean and straight forward with cool-looking wooden chairs where customers share a long table.

Good Use of Space

Very clever for the lack of space and also another plus point for people to be able to mingle and steal a peek of what “the other guy” is having. The back wall of the restaurant is lined with mirrors. Another clever trick to portray a bigger-looking space. Space is well saved and the overhead lighting is sleek and sufficient, especially for those snapping away with their digital cameras.

The Buns Were Really Good.

The kitchen and cashier is in full view of customers, along cupboards with doors that have cut-out shapes to add another dimension to the decor. There is a glass window that allows the passing crowd to gaze through as the burger buns are being prepared. The first encounter with the wait staff was another plus point as he was helpful and friendly. Menus are presented  on a wooden clipboard explaining itself as you went along. So we ordered – one of the Specials, a black pepper sauced beef tataki steak burger, the original burger (mine), an order of beer battered onion rings, a lemonade mint special and a cappuccino (needed my caffeine fix). After waiting 15mins or so the wait staff returned saying that there wasn’t any coffee as the machine had broken down. Oh well, it is a burger joint anyway.

Good Crowd

Then the black pepper sauced sirloin tataki burger ($17.80) arrived … it was a good sized portion. Now, the fries were soggy, warm and oily. Like it was fried in inadequate temperature so it just absorbed all the oil.  As for the burger, I could tell the meat was soaked in some sort of soy-based marinade for so long that the beef was cured till it had a chewy candy effect, totally inedible. And where did the pepper sauce go?

Tataki Sirloin ??

The original burger ($13.80) arrived, it was really good, but I also received the same slow fried french fries. The accompanying BBQ sauce was very nice I have to say.

Cured ?

Good Onion Rings

Then the onion rings ($4.80) arrived, one bite and it immediately reminded me of my training days at the Hilton where we had to whip up fresh batches of onion rings during every service. Hmmm …. nice ……. BUT ! it came with a very scary tasting red sauce totally pumped with dried herbs and was disgusting. The chef sure loved his dried herbs. (oh, by the way, the sauce dish arrived the way you see it in the picture … dirty )

Scary Sauce, Dirty Dish

Then after all the food, the lemonade mint special decided to arrive. I mean, it obviously takes more time to blend a drink then cook burgers and soggy fries. However there was a stow away on this  drink, a black mint leaf used as a garnish for the drink. I’m sure it’s not that invisible is it?

The Original Burger

Perhaps the person who prepared this loves his/her job so much that he/she was blinded by the fact that the leaf was not meant to be served. Well as they say, love is blind (maybe some editors as well).

After picking through and just wanting to leave we asked one of

Mint Leaf

the wait staff for a few serviettes. He stopped, turned slowly, looked at us like we were speaking in tongues  and then, gingerly selected ONE serviette from a stack of serviettes to hand to us. Hmmm …

I won’t waste my time about my thoughts on the food. It really is sad that places like these are sprouting everywhere, with no substance whatsoever. For the prices they charge for burgers, you would expect it to be at least edible. If only the energy placed into making the place look nice would have been channeled into making the food good and consistent. Well another for the books with chic decor, that is all, nothing else. Not worth the trip. And definitely not worth the hype.

The Hand Burger