Though it may take a moment to find the front door, Black Bear Burger is worth the search. Located within Brixton's Market Row, this burger restaurant is easy to locate when you get indoors - just follow the sounds of old-school hip hop and the smell of freshly-grilled meat emanating from the front door.
Black Bear Burger is one of the newest additions to London's ethically-reared burger scene, and this restaurant is the first sit-down restaurant from the brand known from the Shoreditch stand of the same name. Sourcing its meats from Southwest England, Black Bear Burger claims that all its food is prepped in-house, not including the bakery-fresh buns or the meat delivered straight from the butcher.
The restaurant itself is small, so be prepared to be elbow-to-elbow with your neighbours - or the staff that oddly walked around spraying disinfectant. Also, expect to have to raise your voice, because the din from the restaurant's music and kitchen, plus the chatter of its patrons, makes for a very lively environment.
The food itself is the main reason for the trek, though we'd recommend just going for the burgers. TheSpring Rollswere a fun appetizer, with their crispy wonton wrapper and brisket and bacon filling, but they were a bit small. The chicken nuggets had a more generous portion, but there was nothing remarkable about their buffalo dipping sauce.
The burgers are definitely some of the best in London, however. The Black & Blue burger, featuring a dry-aged beef patty, bacon, onions, and a blue cheese sauce, is a perfect blend of salty and sweet, perfected by the crunch from the toasted sesame bun and the crispy bacon. The Brisket Burgerwas also a delight, but the pile of brisket made the bun lack the crispy texture that makes the burgers so special. The side of fries were your standard, slightly-cold addition, but make sure to save room for their complimentary soft-serve.