Boom Burger

I came here tonight to hear the crowd go...

Notting Hill - 10 July 2014

In case you haven't noticed, I ruddy love burgers. I am also a massive fan of jerk chicken and Caribbean food in general. And tucked away under the Westway off Portobello Road, these collide to great effect.

It's a ramshackle restaurant that's definitely more Notting Hill carnival than Notting Hill the movie. Which I quite like - it's got a lively, friendly neighbourhood vibe, with a few tables spilling out onto the pavement.

Resisting the urge for a Jerk Boom (I feel that kind of thing is best left in the privacy of your own home), we go for the signature bacon jam & cheese Boom Burger with fries and a side of sticky jerk wings.

On arrival the burger itself looks a bit anaemic with very little char on the outside of the patty, but there is a huge dollop of bacon jam falling out of the side and the patty is smothered in well melted american cheese, so it's still an appealing looking meal. Biting in reveals a perfectly pink patty, coarse grind, not too dense, with burgery juice spilling out. The jam is the most bacon-heavy I've ever had, which demands commendation even if it lacks a bit of the sweetness that makes Burger Bear's so amazing. And I like the addition of a little jerk seasoning through the mayonnaise to provide the requisite Caribbean twist, although I would say it could handle more heat, or on reflection I should have asked if they had hot sauce. Some Encona HPS would have made it. But nit-picking aside, this is a well-made burger that delivers on taste and texture.

The wings are a special, being either extra spicy or extra sticky depending on which of the serving kids you asked. I'm going with the latter, because they're certainly very sticky and not super spicy. The jerk flavouring is strong here (as you might hope from jerk wings), and the fresh chillies add freshness and a little heat. However they are very wee, more like beefed up budgies - the same size as half a lime (see photo). If they'd been bigger, then we're talking winning wings. As it is, yeah they're tasty, but nothing to write home about. Sounds a bit churlish, but it's true.

They can cook a fry, which is always good, but that's all there is to say about it. Disappointingly, we'd heard good tings about their signature plantain fries, only to be discover they were sold out upon our visit. So no news there.

Overall, this a cool little place that is doing an interesting twist on the standard burger imprint and doing it well. So if you're in the area, it's worth checking out.

Boom Burger
272 Portobello Road
London
W10 5TZ
http://www.boomburger.co.uk/