Review: The Gastro Burger Co, Brentwood, Essex - CLOSED

UPDATE MAY 2014: Following a tweet from Chris, The Gastro Burger Co. has closed its door. Such a shame.

Since The Only Way is Essex hit our screens a couple of years ago, the little town of Brentwood has been known as the tourist capital of Essex. Once a quiet town with not much of a party vibe, on a Friday night the town is full of Geordie and Scouse groups of friends on hen nights arriving in pink limousines or steely black Hummers. Yes, people far and wide visit specifically to shop in the many boutiques the show's characters have opened, or party at the infamous Sugar Hut in the hopes of rubbing shoulders with that blonde one, or the one with the tan. (Can you tell I don't watch it?).

But Brentwood has so much more to offer than a cheesy nightclub and diamante studded clothes. There's the heavily signposted Secret Nuclear Bunker. There's Weald Park and the deer that roam the hills. There's a Go Ape style treetop running adventure playground.

And rather than settle for a frozen burger at the Slug or Maccy D's, or cheap Nando's chicken during your visit, walk literally fifty steps down Crown Street, a lovely little cobbled street full of tiny shops, and you'll find a brand new family-run burger restaurant, serving fresh, delicious food to locals and tourists.

The Gastro Burger Company was set up by Masterchef finalist Chris Georgiou, who used to host pop up diners serving haute cuisine in London cafes at night. When Chris came to Brentwood he joined forces with Anthony Young and together they developed a menu they thought was perfect - cheap, handmade, hand seasoned, and hand cooked organic burgers. And keeping with their original plan, everything, from the ketchup to ice cream, is made by the family and served fresh using local products. For example, all the meat is bought from French's Farm a few miles away, an organic, antibiotic-free local farm run by a husband and wife team.

So what should you order? Try the Volcano, a deep fried spiral cut potato. Sounds strange, but's a unique twist on nachos, and absolutely delicious with the homemade guacamole. The Greek Meze is just as good. It got the seal of approval from an authentic Greek (my dining partner) so you know it's worth a try.

Now for the burgers. They are delicious, and as it's a new venture the menu's constantly evolving as Chris and Anthony work out what people love and want. Each burger is made of three types of meat that only someone with Chris' experience could ever concoct. The seasoning is a well-guarded secret, that I'm sure will be passed down the generations. There's the Juicy Lucy, with a slice of cheese melted inside the patty, the Chicken Classic and the Camembert Melt for veggies. For the extra hungry, the Fat Yank serves its purpose well. Burgers start at £3.45 which when you think about the time and effort that goes into making them, is a steal. The onion rings were a really lovely accompaniment, and I'd recommend you order a bowl or two.

If you're not full after your burger, definitely give the Margarita ice cream with a shot of tequila a go. The ice cream is again, homemade and infused with tequila, Cointreau and lime. This is one thing I hope they never take off the menu, as it was a sweet and refreshing way to end the meal.

It's a bring your own bottle place, so perfect for a cheap, cheerful and healthy meal the next time you're in town. But be quick. There are only a handful of tables and they're usually booked up by midday!

The Gastro Burger Co | Crown Street Cafe, Crown St, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4BA | To book, call 07909 262227 or tweet @GastroBurgerCo with your reservation