It was a pretty miserable Tuesday night in terms of weather as I ran down Brighton Rd on my way to St Kilda’s Grosvenor hotel. A new drive through burger bar had opened as part of the venue and I was excited to see what all the hype was about!
Putting our umbrellas away and shaking ourselves dry, we walked towards a roped off area in the corner of the drive through, where gas heaters were conveniently placed warming up the crowd. We made our way to the bar where Mountain Goat steam ale ($5) and Kelly Brothers apple cider ($5) were free flowing, and for the non drinkers a variety of Daylesford & Hepburn Mineral Springs Co. ($3.80) beverages were available. A DJ was on hand to spin some tunes, and the atmosphere became more elated as the crowd grew larger. Kids ran around excitedly playing as they ate handfuls of chips, and the adults chatted excitedly amongst themselves diverting their conversation as a bevy of celebrities arrived. The whose who of the Melbourne food scene was there, which made it apparent that the word was out, this little burger bar was going to be the new ‘it’ place in town.
As more people arrived, so did the food. A selection of burgers were brought around on platters held by extremely friendly waitstaff. The Gatwick Roadhouse ($12) was a crowd favourite consisting of beef, beetroot and red onion jam, pineapple, cheese, ketchup and mayo. The meat was juicy, fresh, and hand pressed, with the pineapple giving it that beautiful sweet kick. The Mr Fun Guy ($10) was my personal favourite consisting of roasted portobello mushroom, rocket, gruyere cheese and herb mayo. The bun was the star element of the burger. It was soft, fluffy and literally melted in your mouth, the perfect accompaniment to the succulent ingredients inside. For the spice fans in the group the STKBB Spicy ($12), didn’t fail to impress. Filled with beef, house ketchup, jalapeños, double cheese and pickles, I’d recommend having a Mountain Goat steam ale on hand to wash this baby down.
The night continued and everyone had their fair share of burgers. Just when I thought I couldn’t stomach another, the waiter gave me that knowing look and I just couldn’t help myself. They were the perfect bite sized burgers that you could literally just keep eating! I am a massive sweet tooth, so when the deserts came out, I was genuinely excited! Saint’s Halo’s ($4) were brought around by the esteemed chef himself Paul Tyas. This decadent chocolate biscuit encased raspberry jam and marshmallow, and was the perfect after dinner delight. If that wasn’t enough, delicious peanut butter and jelly ice-cream sandwiches ($6) were also brought around. I’m literally drooling just thinking about them! Both deserts were a really unique take on classic recipes, and it was refreshing to see an innovative menu as opposed to the bland menus we often see at other burger bars.
As the night came to an end and we said our goodbyes, we were delighted to receive a goodie bag of gifts to take home with us. Cider, beer and a bottle of the Grosvenor Hotels famous hot sauce were included in our new found treasure, a great surprise to end a perfect evening. Its rare to find a drive through service of quality, however the St Kilda Burger Bar is just that. Their burgers are literally dripping with flavour, and the passion that they put into their craft is evident in the great effort they went to in order to ensure a fantastic opening night. If you’re in the area, don’t hesitate to drive through and enjoy a delicious burger for yourself, rain, hail, or shine!
SKBB
10 Brighton Rd, St Kilda
Ph: 9531 1542
www.burger.melbourne