In search of a really decent burger? (Who isn't?) Try these London restaurants…

Restaurant/Bar: Hawksmoor
Where: 5 Air St, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0AD
The burger was… AMAZING, Ok, so when you think of Hawksmoor you think of posh steak and chips - somewhere to go when you want to impress a client or your friends visiting London. But now whenever I think of Hawksmoor it'll be the time I tried the The Big Matt Meal. I don't know how they've done it, but this burger will remind you of the poshest Big Mac, and that my friends is a great thing.
Eat with: French fries, but of course. And I might have ordered a side order of their Mac 'n' Cheese, because why the hell not, hey?
The crowd: Cool people.
You should also know… The burger is available from 12pm-6.30pm, Monday to Saturday at all Hawksmoor restaurants and in the evenings at Spitalfields Bar.

Restaurant/Bar: Five Guys
Where: Covent Garden, Central London (but you can find them across the country)
The burgers were… The stuff of burger dreams. Made freshly on-site every morning and made to order exactly how you want them, these stacked up burgers are absolutely delicious. Top yours with anything from cheese, bacon, pickles, grilled mushrooms... the list is endless. Choose from a single or double meat patty or even add more if you're feeling really hungry.
Eat with: Five Guys do burgers and fries. And that's it. They do them really well. A small fries is enough for two to share, and if you're going the grilled onion and mushroom route, the cajun fries are a great accompaniment.
The crowd: Everyone's welcome at Five Guys. The hungrier the better.
You should also know… The all-you-can-drink soda fountain is unique to Five Guys; choose from dozens of drink combinations, from peach fanta to Dr Pepper Zero. Or, you know, a Diet Coke.

Restaurant/Bar: Stax Diner
Where: Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London
The burgers were… Perfectly cooked, mega-meaty and delicious. The 28-day aged beef is the perfect base for Stax's declicious array of toppings; we opted for 'The Big Stax', topped with spicy sauce, maple glazed beef bacon, caramelised onions and cheese. It's all housed in a fluffy brioche bun that holds together well under the weight of your monster burger. Add sides at your peril - this is a big eat.
Eat with: The Boardwalk fries are super-tasty, especially the little crispy ones. If you're feeling really hungry, add the Cajun Onion Blossom, too.
The crowd: Soho hip. There was a line outside from about 7pm so go early if you want a quick eat. You can book for tables of six or more.
You should also know… It's not all about the burgers at Stax. We also tried house favourite 'Chicken and Waffles', southern fried slightly spiced chicken strips on crisp sweet waffles served with maple syrup. We know... But it's actually delicious. The cocktail menu is worth a peek too, we thoroughly enjoyed the hard ice cream floats and a Stax Old Fashioned.

Restaurant/Bar: Lanes Of London
Where: Mayfair, Central London
The burgers were… Beef. Brisket. Sliders. Yep. There are sliders (mini burgers for the uninitiated) and there are the Lanes Of London sliders: These are the pièce de résistance of mini burgers with juicy slow-roasted pulled beef in a gorgeously sticky glaze making up the patty, which is then sandwiched in between a brioche bun. I'm salivating as I type...
Eat with: These come with a horseradish cream and roasted bone marrow, the latter of which - rather unsurprisingly - is very rich so temper the gastronomy of your splendid burger spread with the absolutely rocking cocktail menu. Our advice? Start from the top and work your way down, we made a slight dent in the menu and it was nothing short of fantastic.
The crowd: Couples and groups of friends tucking into the tapas style sharing menu made the majority of the clientele.
You should also know… On Thursday nights there's a live band - and they're awesome. Take your other half or a group of friends to really soak up the atmosphere post-dinner.

Where: Covent Garden
The burgers were… Oh-my-gosh, delicious, probably the best burger I’ve ever had. Not only are Shake Shack burgers the perfect size (you could probably even go on a date there if you wanted to, it’s not a messy affair), but the burgers are cooked to perfection, too!
Eat with: You can either go for the regular ShackBurger, or you can try the SmokeShack cheeseburger topped with all-natural applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShackSauce. Blimmin' delicious. Enjoy it with a portion of crinkle-cut, crunchy, salty fries – gooey cheese optional (DO IT).
The crowd: A real mix, thanks to its central London location. You’ll be dining with tourists, regulars and complete newbies who have read reviews like this and who are desperate to know if it lives up to its hype.
You should also know… You can’t book, and if there’s a queue, you queue. But don’t worry, once you’re in, it’s all very swift. It’s worth noting that you really need to make room for dessert because the Concretes are insanely good (dense frozen custard ice cream blended with mix-ins) and not to be missed.

Restaurant/Bar: Builder’s Arms
Where: Kensington, West London
The burger was… Presented beautifully on a large white plate with accompanying blue earthenware bowl brimming with delicious skinny fries. The burger was of a good size (not too big, not too small), topped with cheddar and complete with a chunky slice of tomato and crisp lettuce.
Eat with: Modern British classics make up the rest of the menu. Think fish and chips, steak sandwiches and homemade Gloucester Old Spot sausage rolls.
The crowd: The after work brigade and well-heeled locals.
You should also know… The pub is a really gem situated on a quiet street just off bustling Kensington High Street. The perfect pit-stop for a post-shopping drink or a fun brunch venue. I can imagine this place really comes into its own in the warm weather – the tables outside are both cute and comfortable.

Restaurant/Bar: Tommi's at The Princess of Wales
Where: Primrose Hill, North London
The burgers were… Juicy, pink in the middle and much tastier than more hyped-up London burgers with their insufferable no-booking system. Tommi’s Burger are American-style with a Scandinavian twist – you get bearnaise sauce for dipping if you order the premium steak burger, and cocktail sauce with your classic Tommi’ s Burger. We tried a special Irish version for St Patrick’s day which had ribs and Guinness sauce inside. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Eat with: The perfectly-salty fries and one of the inventive cocktails – I had a spiked peanut butter milkshake which was served in a milk bottle with a straw.
The crowd: This once-a-month pop up lets you sit in the main pub area, with burgers served out the back – so you’ll be mingling with the venue’s regular Primrose Hill pub set, which is pretty glam.
You should also know… If you miss out on the pop-up, Tommi’s has other outposts in Marylebone and on the King’s Road.

Restaurant/Bar: Honest Burger
Where: Kings Cross, Central London
The burger was… The Brew Burger. This mythical burger creature is the brainchild behind BrewDog and Honest Burger and is also the perfect merger of all things beer and beef. No luxury is left out on this baby from the Comté cheese, which is slathered upon a pile of beer candied bacon, Punk IPA beer fried onions all topped off with a BBQ reduction. Yep. That happened.
Eat with: The chips, of course! Super crispy and deliciously salty, they're the perfect bed fellow for the Brew Burger.
The crowd: There's a lot of after work diners and girls and boys catching a bite - and a quick drink.
You should also know… The other burgers are all pretty sensational at Honest Burger, too so make sure you and your plus 1 order something different so you can try as much as possible!

Restaurant/Bar: JW Steakhouse
Where: 86 Park Lane, Central London
The burgers were… HUGE! If you like a great big burger, with delicious skinny fries, this place is for you. Make sure you go hungry because this place is a classic American Steakhouse, and the portion sizes are massive.
Eat with: The Longhorn Burger (which is what we had) already comes with skinny fries. But if you’re feeling brave, there are also onion rings and macaroni cheese for you to delve into as well.
The crowd: Due to its swish London location – set within Mayfair – is of a rather posh clientele. You’ll probably also dine with tourists and men trying to impress new girlfriends.
You should also know… The service is impeccable. Oh, and the Bourbon Bar has the largest and most varied selection of Bourbons in London. Hiccup.

Restaurant/Bar: St Bart's Brewery
Where: 66 West Smithfield, St Paul's, London
The burgers were… The pick of the menu. Choose from lamb and beef, opt for all the trimmings and scoop up any leftovers with delicious chunky chips.
Eat with: One of the amazing local brews on the menu. The nettle or strawberry and blackcurrant Jake's Orchard ciders are absolutely delicious.
The crowd: City-chic meets east London cool.
You should also know… It's a great live music venue too; keep an eye out for shows if you enjoy entertainment while you eat.

Restaurant/Bar: MEATLiquor
Where: Marylebone, Central London
The burgers were… Bloody good. No doubt you've heard of London gaff, MEATLiquor which broadly speaking, kicked off the whole revamped burger scene in London four or five years ago. Well, it's still one of the best and the signature Dead Hippie Burger is nothing short of outstanding. It's a biggy though, with two mustard and butter beef patties, cheese, the special Dead Hippie sauce, pickles and shredded iceberg lettuce, you won't have much room for anything else. But don't let that deter you.
Eat with: If you're an onion fan, you have to try the Onion Rings, thick cut and covered in batter - you'll love 'em. Failing that, you must, must, MUST hit the cocktail menu. With a bar serviced by SoulShakers, there's also a pretty impressive whisky menu for the more discerning among you.
The crowd: People come from all over London for these burgers and with a no reservation policy, be prepared to queue. Having said that, the queue is whittled down pretty darn quickly thanks to speedy seating.
You should also know… MEATliquor will be marking its territory up North this summer, settling into the city centre of Leeds come the hot weather. Enjoy!

Restaurant/Bar: Rub Diner & Milk Bar
Where: Finsbury Park, North London
The burgers were… Incredible. The brioche buns were the perfect accompaniment for the stacked-up burger towers, from classic beef, through pulled pork, to our choice, the sweet potato and halloumi burger. They’re just too big to bite into without something falling out the back, as all good burgers should be.
Eat with: This is where the fun starts. From deep-fried pickles to crisped-to-perfection oven-baked mac & cheese, Rub Diner is all about indulging in naughty-but-oh-so-nice treats. The jerk shredded chicken was delicious, too.
The crowd: Hip, young meat lovers.
You should also know… There’s a big refurb in the works, with a new bar being installed that will serve bar snacks alongside your milkshakes or rum punch. Oh, and save room for dessert; the chocolate peanut butter sundae is as good as it sounds.

Restaurant/Bar: Haché
Where: Shoreditch, London.
There are four branches across London: Camden, Chelsea, Clapham and Shoreditch.The burgers were… delicious! The menu offers a vast selection of burgers from scotch beef, lamb and chicken to roasted pulled pork and duck with all kinds of toppings. We wanted to try them all! We eventually settled for the Steak Canadian which comes with sweet cured bacon and melted mature cheddar. The burger was succulent and cooked to perfection. We also tried the melt in the mouth Chicken Fajita; spicy chicken topped with grilled onions, red pepper, melted mature Cheddar cheese, jalapeños and salsa. YUM!
Eat with: Deliciously dirty nachos, covered in sour cream and melted cheese, perfectly cooked skinny frites and enormous juicy onion rings. If you somehow can manage, do try the Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream. It is heaven.
The crowd: Twentysomethings grabbing a bite to eat after work and catching up with their partner or friends.
You should also know… Haché pride themselves on being a ‘female friendly’ burger joint with a touch of glamour. No strip lights and greasy tables but nice twinkling mood lights that create a relaxed atmosphere and invite you to linger over a glass of wine. Or two. No sniggering if you don’t fancy the brioche or ciabatta bun, but prefer a green salad, it is offered as a choice on their menu. More space for chips, we say! Finally, the staff was super friendly and helpful without being overbearing. Perfect service.
