Take 3: Canberra’s juicy new burger joints

There is no food better in life than a good burger, according to my 17-year-old daughter.

Her long-held belief about her favourite comfort food may have something to do with spending her formative years living in the US. While residing there, we took every opportunity to traverse the country, taking in the sights and sounds as she took in the tastes of the classic American burger.

Maybe her belief has something to do with the fact burgers are simply a delicious, unfussy and quick social meal that can be eaten with your hands. One bite can deliver an unctuously satisfying combination of meat, carbs, fat and sugar that is hard to resist.

Whatever the reason for my daughter preferring to eat a good burger rather than my home cooking, on the Canberra Day long weekend we satisfied her cravings by chowing down on three of Canberra’s newest burger joints.

Burger Craft

In the heart of the Parliamentary Triangle, taking pride of place at the bottom of a shiny office block neighbouring the headquarters of the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department is homegrown Canberra creation Burger Craft.

The airy space is casual, but big and impressive with large, long tables inside and outside. The burger menu is compact with two beef options, two chicken choices, a fish burger and a vegan burger. On the other hand, the beer menu has more than a dozen craft brews, with a few wines also available by the glass and bottle.

My daughter’s standard burger-joint order is a classic cheeseburger, and she informs me the offering at Burger Craft features a quality of beef and perfect char that makes a juicy combination with just the right amount of cheese melt. The fries you order separately are also sublime, hitting the spot on a Friday night with their crunchy, salty exterior.

Burger Craft is located at 6 National Circuit, Barton, and is open Monday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm; Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm; and Thursday and Friday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.

The burger chain hailing from Noosa, Queensland, brings beach shack vibes to its city location at the Canberra Centre, Bunda Street.

The brand is sunny and bright with a hint of vintage, including on the packaging which is very attractive. Everything has been designed to be Instagrammable, from the interior’s cool coastal charm to the way the burgers are presented facing up, spilling out with their ingredients.

The burger menu is large and customisable – including options for vegetarians and vegans – with all manner of added extras such as bacon, smashed avocado and crunchy prawns. Kids are also catered for with a separate menu.

Drinks and desserts also feature heavily at Betty’s Burgers with beer, wine, thickshakes and concretes available. The experience is delicious and fun.

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. is located at the Canberra Centre on Bunda Street in Civic, and is open Sunday to Wednesday from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm; Thursday from 11.00 am to 10.00 pm; Friday from 10.30 am to 10.30 pm; and Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:30 pm.

Pattysmiths

Located in Dickson’s new eat street, Melbourne chain Pattysmiths is slinging more than just burgers. It also serves up chicken as wings, drumettes and battered fried pieces. The Canberra store is also halal, swapping out bacon for a maple chicken-bacon substitute.

The emphasis at Pattysmiths is on a quick meal so takeaway is king with a constant buzz of online orders and a stream of delivery drivers coming through the door.

Pattysmiths is located at 241/6 Cape Street, Dickson, and is open Monday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Original Article published by Sophia Brady on The RiotACT.