No storm will stop me in my quest for the perfect burger in Lebanon. Next on my checklist was Casper and Gambini’s. Before delving into something more meaty, I thought I would prepare the grounds with a refreshing start.
The Spinach salad- by far one of my favorite salads in this city. A mix of tender chicken, fresh crisp spinach, ripe avocados, roasted almonds, smoked turkey, swiss cheese and the juicy sundried tomatos. The only missing element was the bacon, since they were out of it. Topped with a good balanced balsamic dressing sauce. The perfect way to start any meal.
I had the Good melt burger, a mix of cheddar and gruyere cheese, with onion rings, sauteed fresh shrooms, red onion, lettuce and tomato and thier special sauce.
An inside look at the Good Melt Burger- when they promised cheese, they weren't kidding.
The Good Melt Burger: I never thought I would say this, but you could ask the chef to go easy on the cheese. You won’t feel the consequences while digging into the burger but half an hour after the meal, your tummy may start feeling heavier than usual. The onion rings introduce a new-crispiness to the burger experience that some may love, but conventional burger lovers such as myself may choose to stick to regular soft texture. The mushrooms will be a pleasant surprise stacked in the bottom.
The Casper's Burger- gruyere cheese, lettuce, red onion and tomato topped with a fried egg.
Th Casper’s Burger: I’m not usually a fan of eggs in my burger, but surprisingly it proved to be of equal significance as the patty in this burger. The yolk however, became a nuisance as it kept sogging up the bun. This burger is different, and may take some getting used to. The bacon was missing on this one as well, so I considered it incomplete. Not one of my favorites, but a new experience.
The meat patty factor: I can’t consider a burger, a real burger, if it didn’t come with a nice thick patty and mind you, it’s easy to place a lot of ground beef into a bun, but the secret lies within how 1) juicy the meat can remain while still being cooked thoroughly 2) the spice mix in the meat. I’m happy to say Casper’s delivers on both these prerequisites. Put aside the mountainous toppings on both burgers, you need to get your choppers ready every time you go in for each bite which you actually begin tasting even before it’s in your mouth; thanks to the real meaty aroma this chunky baby exudes.
The Sloppiness Factor: I have been warned about this burger being one of the sloppiest I may encounter but you can never be that ready. It’s inevitable, when you have that many ingredients, a patty that juicy and a bun so fresh. So you may find yourself trying to finish it off with cutlery, but nonetheless the experience remains a good one.
The Fries: insignificant- might as well have not been on the plate.
The Price Range: You can eat-assured knowing that you are getting the value for your money. A salad+two burgers+ soft drinks= LL 63,000. For this type of quality, this may be hands-down one of the best deals in the city.
The Verdict: The Good Melt gets a 8/10.
Casper’s is a consistent restaurant- something many other places in Lebanon lack.
WARNING:These burgers are not for the faint of heart. Do not bother ordering them if you ” aren’t that hungry.” The portions are generous, so take your appetite with you. Bisoux
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Have you heard of the Holy Burger http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Holy-Burger/171287609564676 you need to check it out. I think they’re having a “best burger in Lebanon competition.” You should definitely be a judge!
Try Ferdinand’s burger! The best in town!
My all time favorite is brgr co!…ivy go there already and if you are really hungry, order an 8oz medium…..come right back and thank me!
#1 BurgerCo, #2 Lord of the Wings, #3 (tied) Classic Burger Joint and Casper. This is coming from an American who spent lots of time sampling the burgers in Beirut!
do come and sample the G. burger then… the numbers u have up here will all change 😉 there’s nothing like US prime beef…
Burger co is the winner, there’s no contest! I also like the burgers at the four seasons
i wouldn’t argue with Ivy, Casper & Gambini’s is one of the few places in Lebanon who serves “real” burgers, the good melt is definitely unbeatable, and the tex-mex is just a bliss 🙂
ok I’m seriously trippin out on this burger do u know if they deliver?
brgr co. on all levels ivy….min il ekher:)
#1 Classic Burger, come one, 12$ average bill, decent burgers every time, very pro, waiting line since the day they opened!!! there should be a reason for this 😉
Have you tried the new Cow & Apple on Hamra street? We just went yesterday…. the meat is so fresh you can actually see the cows hanging from hooks in the back of the kitchen. A bit pricey for just a burger, but worth a try on your quest for the best burger in Beirut!