Meats Ahead: More patty for your buck

Too many things these days have become unnecessarily convoluted - politics, murder trials, public art, and now even the hamburger.

Pretoria

Luckily, back in the capital, a few restaurants are working hard to restore the simplicity of the good ol' days, when all a burger had to be was a perfect harmony between toasted bun, meat, toppings and sauce. Here are three favourites:

Burger bistro

This roadhouse diner-themed restaurant, tucked away in the hills on the north side of the city, is home to 23 different burgers and 19 extra toppings. Interesting takes on classic recipes, vinyl record placemats, giant floats and names such as Mr Miyagi, Marilyn Monroe and Naas Botha aside, it is the variety and freshness of these ingredients that makes the huge burgers worth a visit.

• Corner 24th and Pierneef streets, Villieria

Capital craft - Beer academy

When you finally page past the list of 120 different beers you'll find a selection of perfectly proportioned, meaty, towering burgers with a side of chunky potato wedges. At a standard size of 200g, these patties are tough to beat, especially if you are able to nab the limited Big Smoke Burger, smoked to perfection in the restaurant's in-house smoker, the Iron Maiden.

• Corner Thomas Edison Street and 12th Street East, Menlo Park

Burger arena

This little halaal-friendly burger joint serves daily deals with the best prices in the city, including a burger and fries for only R20 on Mondays. But if you want more bang for your buck, check out the Arena Burger: 100g beef patty, chicken fillet, steak patty, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and a sauce so good it inches this bad boy ahead of the competition any day of the week.

1052 Hertzog Street, Villieria

Reviews by Sylvia McKeown

Johannesburg

The proof that Johannesburg chefs make better burgers than our trans-Jukskei neighbours is etched in the demonym "Johannesburgers". It is a skill that we have perfected through decades of not having enough time to eat food that is not portable. Pop into:

Rocomamas

The burgersmiths at Rocomamas are well aware of the state of lethargy a good burger should provoke, and as such have taken to producing some of the most pulse-slowing and delicious examples of burger-craft in the northern suburbs. Their lack of pretentiousness, rugged flavour combinations and ability to lull one into a blissful food coma make them my nomination for next year's Nobel Peace Prize.

• Rocomamas in Randburg, Fourways and Rivonia, www.rocomamas.com

Craft

Long ago a cheeky young lad named David wrote himself into underdog folklore by felling Goliath. A few millennia later Craft is looking to replicate that feat and beat nearby burger kings, the Wolfpack, at their own game. Craft has recently rejigged its menu and new additions include a lamb burger in a pita bread toga, a surprisingly tasty vegetarian option with a patty made from olives, and a sauce-laden meatball burger. Craft shows once again that underdogs have sharp teeth.

4th Avenue, Parkhurst. 011-788-7111

Reviews by Yolisa Mkele

Hudsons

Parkhurst doesn't really need another burger joint. It got one last month when Hudsons opened at the far end of 4th Avenue.

Think freshly made burger patties of 180g or 250g and a side order of either disco or skinny fries. Beers are crafty as with any chain that has its roots in Cape Town. Be ready for rock ballads and quirky burger names on the menu. The lighting is dim enough for a first date and bright enough to see every last pickle. And the burgers are great.

4th Avenue, Parkhurst Review TJ Strydom