Black Bear Burger on Exmouth Market - on a good day, grab a perch outside.
So what's so exciting about a new burger place?
There's always hype around the opening of a new London burger restaurant, but we've got to say we had heard a LOT of positive things about Black Bear Burger before we went. The duo behind it have been slinging burgers at pop-ups and markets since back in 2016. Three years later they opened a place in Brixton Village and now they've headed north of the river.
Where's the new restaurant?
You'll find it on Exmouth Market, in between Pizza Pilgrim and Veggie Pret on the site of the old Dirty Burger. It's pretty much equidistant from King's Cross, Angel and Farringdon tube stations.
Where's a good place to go for a drink before or after?
You're spoiled for choice here with Quality Wines just around the corner and Mikkeller Brewpub serving up the best pints along the street.
Where should we sit?
There are plenty of high-top tables outside. Inside we found a perch on the counter looking out over Exmouth Market.
Is there something that sets Black Bear Burger apart from the crowd?
They're probably best known for the use of brisket, both in their burgers and as part of their sides. But they would also say it was their use of the best grass-fed, dry-aged, British beef. (Founder Stew grew up on a beef farm so it's fair to say he knows a bit about that).
We also thought their choice of sides and non-burger dishes was more inventive than most. To give you an idea of what to expect, here's what we had:
Brisket spring rolls - fried wontons stuffed with 12-hour beer-braised brisket, smoked bacon and cheese and served with pickles and garlic mayo (£5.95). These are absolute must-haves. Phenomenal.
Buttermilk chicken nuggets with buffalo and blue cheese dips (£7) - brined overnight before being coated and then fried, these were exceptionally good nuggets.
Beef sando - dry-aged beef, American cheese, burger sauce, onions and pickles (£7) - you may be thinking you don't need a sandwich when you're planning on ordering burgers. You would be very wrong. Unmissably good.
The signature Brisket Burger (£12.50) - a dry-aged beef patty with cheese, brisket, pink pickled onions and garlic mayo. The burgers are, as you'd expect, excellent here - easily among London's best. Top marks to that bun too - packed with sesame seed.
Miso Bacon burger (£11) - dry-aged beef patty, cheese, smoked bacon topped with miso honey-butter mayo and onions.
Anything else?
They also do wings, a very nice looking mac 'n' cheese along with a chicken and a vegan burger. And these top drawer fries...
We're blaming these Brisket Philly cheese fries (£6.50) as being the wafer-thin mint that drove us into a food coma. But to be fair, we couldn't resist trying most of the menu here.
What is there to drink?
You should probably try the Pilsner they've brewed in collaboration with Pillars Brewery. And, there's a cocktail list that includes treats like Elderflower Collins, a Barrel-Aged Negroni along with these...
What are maple bourbon shot-skis we asked? This (£4.50 each) was the answer. Two of you take each side and drink in unison.
Room for dessert?
You will be much too full, if you've done this right, to have anything more than the complimentary dessert they give out.
Two teeny custard-based soft serve cones that everyone gets free at the end of their meal here.
Overall thoughts:
It's been a while since we've been so bowled over by a London burger experience. Black Bear Burger is delicious, inventive and - above all - fun. The question isn't should you go, but why wouldn't you go?
More about Black Bear Burger
Where is it? 17 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4QD
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @black_bear_burger.
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Black Bear Burger. Prices correct at time of publication.
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