Culture Food & Travel Restaurant & bar reviews

Tommi’s Burger Joint in Marylebone

Tommi’s Burger Joint in Marylebone | Restaurant review

London has no shortage of burger chains for insatiable carnivores and it’s pleasing to see Tommi’s Burger Joint – a Scandinavian-owned, former pop-up in London’s Marylebone district – taking up permanent residence despite an influx of rivals from the States. Their lip-smackingly good burgers are cooked on an American gas grill, enhancing the charcoal flavour and ensuring an authentic taste as first-rate as any experienced burger joint across the pond.

Curiously, the restaurant’s interior is more akin to a dockside fisherman’s shack than an inner city diner: wooden fixtures and furniture are paired with sufficient rope and wire netting to snare a thrashing shark! Added to exposed brickwork, colourful fairy lights, peeling plasterwork and endearing customer art drawn on takeaway bags, the intriguing décor is as fascinating as it is comfortable.

Partaking in the “Offer of the Century”- a burger, fries and soda for less than £10 – we were somewhat dismayed to realise that an appetising new range of milkshakes wasn’t included in the deal. However, the quality of the food, made with UK-sourced produce, quickly dispelled our disappointment and the milkshakes were promptly forgotten.

Our expertly cooked burgers – a medium-rare, single patty with no additional toppings and a well done cheeseburger – arrived neatly wrapped and nestled in a wicker basket alongside a liberal portion of crispy fries. Each delicious bite yielded a new release of flavour and texture, beginning with the smoky char of tender, coarsely-ground beef, followed by crunchy iceberg lettuce, red onion and fresh tomato, nicely complemented by a ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard-soaked brioche bun. The melted American cheese was just as it should be: a near flavourless, shiny square with the inexplicable ability to make everything taste even better.

Unfortunately, our meal came to an abrupt halt following the sighting of a short, dark hair buried among the golden French fries. Head chef Siggi Gunnlaugsson apologised profusely and explained that this was not the restaurant’s usual standard of service. Indeed, the venue was heaving with satisfied, returning customers, clearly indicating that our misfortune was likely to be a one-off incident. Compensated with vouchers for a complimentary meal, we remained to bask in the relaxing atmosphere with a cup of coffee, available to diners at no extra cost from a self-service station near the entrance.

Hairy shenanigans aside, Tommi’s Burger Joint is worthy of a prominent spot in any countdown of the best burger bars in London. The food was hugely gratifying and worthy of unbridled praise. A return visit is not so much a possibility as it is a certainty!

Food: 18/20
Drinks: 13/20
Service: 18/20
Tommi’s Burger Joint: 49/60

Niki Shakallis
Photos: Monika Jørgesen

For further information or to book a table at Tommi’s Burger Joint, 30 Thayer Street, London W1U 2QP, call 07823 557 945 or visit here.

More in Food & Drinks

Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery to open largest branch in Kensington this July

Food & Travel Desk

Madrid’s Chispa Bistró to make London debut with five-night residency at Carousel

Food & Travel Desk

Renais Gin and Quaglino’s launch new cocktail menu and pop-up for Cocktails in the City festival

Food & Travel Desk

Cuban Nights to bring live Latin music and rum cocktails to the Bloomsbury Club for Daiquiri Week

Food & Travel Desk

Bund Lounge rooftop bar brings art deco flair and Shanghai-inspired cocktails to Mayfair

Food & Travel Desk

New all-day restaurant and bar Canal opens in Westbourne Park

Food & Travel Desk

Shanghai Me to bring 1930s Pan-Asian dining to London Hilton on Park Lane

Food & Travel Desk

Villa Mamas in Chelsea launches Bahraini-inspired weekend brunch for Middle Eastern twist on classic fare

Food & Travel Desk

Rotunda at Four Seasons London Bridge launches floral cocktail menu and dried flower installation for summer

Food & Travel Desk