Melbourne’s a stunning city and there burgers are world-class

It started the way these things always do. All I said was, “I wonder who makes the best burger in Victoria?” The next thing you know, my inbox is way over allocation, Telstra is sending those whiny emails and I’m struggling with more suggestions than a drunk blonde on Derby night.

Of the 70-plus great hamburger joints nominated by more than 200 Epicure readers, from humble roadhouses on dusty highways to gourmet hamburger operations, Danny’s in North Fitzroy was the most popular, collecting 30 per cent more nominations than anyone else.

Andrew’s Burgers take some beating

The strong performance of Kermond’s was, however, the real surprise. Especially as Lava Street, Warrnambool, is hardly a high-traffic location - unless you are comparing it to the Oodnadatta Track. Still, they collected more nominations than the next two country places (the Igloo Roadhouse in Buxton and Stella’s at Seymour) combined and came second only to Danny’s.

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The cheese at The Fifties is certainly new Millenium

WGH found this blog on The Fifties. We can’t verify the contents so we would be mighty glad for some feedback. Anyway, here it is verbatim:

As you walk into any of three The Fifties locations in Sao Paulo, you are greeted with alternating black and white tiles, marble counters and tabletops, and the most delicious mixture of smells. This amazing place is any food-lover’s wet dream. Service is always impeccable, as the waiters quickly and efficiently jot your order down into their wireless IPAQs. Nothing I’ve ever ordered here has been disappointing. Keeping in line with the fifties malt shop that it emulates, the strongest candidates on the menu are the burgers, fries, and variants thereof. However, I’ve seen people happily sitting down to a plate of carpaccio or pasta. Suffice it to say, when these guys do delicious, they don’t mess around.

A few of the most popular menu items after the jump.

The Pic Burger (pictured above, with more photos here) arrives at your table cozily resting in its protective paper bag. This bag helps to keep the defenseless burger from being gobbled whole, for who can resist the sliced lettuce, diced onions, melted cheese, and special sauce. The flavor party reaches its crescendo in the beef, which exists in the form of ground picanha — the most delicious beef in Brazil. Similar in quality to filet mignon and revered by all Brazilians as the ultimate cut, picanha is a must for any barbecue, lest ye be cast out into the darkness. This almost sacrosanct piece of cow is lovingly ground up, perfectly cooked by the master grill men, and deposited onto your tastebuds. Truly this burger is the pinnacle of gastronomy as relates to the manipulation of ground beef, bread, and fixins.

Next up is the establishment’s eponymous superstar sandwich, The Fifties. Over time this particular delight has become my personal favorite, outpacing even the illustrious Pic Burger. I guess it’s a matter of personal taste, but when I imagine the ciabatta bread, the tender thin filet mignon, melted cheese, bacon, and green herb mayo — well, words alone cannot communicate the satisfaction which is yours upon first biting into this masterpiece. Subsequent bites serve only to reinforce your initial impression, and when you find yourself staring an empty plate, gluttonous visions of a second helping will flit through your mind.

While there, do not neglect the fries. These little beauties are not the frozen precut crap that you might have become accustomed to in other less discriminating establishments. They are freshly cut on-site every day and fried to a crispy state which will leave you delirious. I’ve been known to stop by there just for an order of fries (although upon arrival I can never resist sampling more selections).

Last but certainly not least is the petit gateau. This Brazilian variation of the dessert features a mini chocolate cake filled with liquid chocolate. This is heated, then topped with more liquid chocolate and surrounded by ripe mango slices. A scoop of amazing vanilla ice cream completes the construction of this climactic meal-ending treat.

A final recommendation: have an espresso and a glass of sparkling water with a twist of lime. It will cleanse your palate and help you digest the prodigious quantities of excellent food nestled comfortably in your stomach. If you find yourself in Sao Paulo, this place shouldn’t be skipped for any reason whatsoever.

The Fifties - Sao Paulo, Brazil - January 2006 [Flickr]
The Fifties [Official site, in Portuguese]

[Daniel Juliano]

Previously: