Grill'd - Balaclava

It is no secret that I love the Grill’d franchise. My go to is the Vegan cheeseburger 2.o. I grabbed some takeaway due to the recent lockdown and was impressed with the swift service. I highly recommend if you are vegan and are in the mood for a burger.

When dining at Grill'd, you can expect consistency and trust in their chain of restaurants. The Balaclava location is conveniently situated on the corner of Williams St and Carlisle St, just past the Train Station. The restaurant is always busy but well-serviced, with friendly staff and clean tables. There are plenty of burger options to cater to all tastes, including those with dietary restrictions. The sweet potato fries are a highlight, although the avocado chips may not be to everyone's taste due to the coating.

Twosheds and Clan typically steer clear of chain restaurants, but Grill’d Balaclava is an exception. The photos speak for themselves - the interior design here is outstanding, as the restaurant spans two shops on the ground floor of a corner building in the heart of the Balaclava strip. On a Tuesday night, the restaurant was nearly full with a mix of families and children, creating a lovely atmosphere. The burgers are delicious and there is always a new option to try. The service is quick and friendly, making takeout a breeze. The variety of chips, including zucchini, sweet potato, and regular potato, are always a standout. Overall, highly recommended with a rating of 3.8.

I ordered the Moroccan lamb burger, which was not the most delicious burger I've ever had, but the chips were excellent. We also tried the sweet potato and famous chips with herb mayo, and they were delicious.

Verdict: Having watched Melbourne conquer Chinese, German and Italian dishes effortlessly, I was surprised when I had a poor Burger experience at Lord of the Fries (yelp.com/biz/lord-of-the… , however, all doubt was washed away upon arriving at Grill'd, because my burger was hands down one of the best burger experiences I've had.<br/ <br/ Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere?<br/ <br/ Grill'd really is brilliant from the moment you walk in the door. With a hyper-friendly and accommodating staff in conjunction with abundant seating both in and outdoors, Grill'd puts the icing on the cake by giving each customer a token that they can use to select which charity Grill'd will donate to. With a list of how much was donated to each charity the previous month, this really is a brilliant idea. Star Granted.<br/ <br/ Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?<br/ <br/ Even as a gourmet burger establishment, I was a bit nervous when I saw the $10.90 price tag on my Crispy Bacon Cheeseburger. However, my fears were alleviated when I saw that my burger was both of good size and of excellent quality. $10.90 for a quality burger? Worth it. Star Granted.<br/ <br/ Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?<br/ <br/ Top down, Grill'd serves up one of the best burgers I've had in recent memory, and without a doubt the best I've had outside of the United States. To start it off, Grill'd has a truly phenomenal menu, with two different types of fresh bread mix and mashable with beef, chicken, lamb or veggie burgers. From there, fresh toppings make for a truly phenomenal and juicy burger. Dual Stars Granted.<br/ <br/ Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?<br/ <br/ Quality, Friendly, Delicious and Socially Responsible. Grill'd is hands down my favorite restaurant in St. Kilda if not all of Melbourne. I'd gladly come here daily and would even more gladly bring the concept to the states! Star Granted.<br/ <br/ *edit: Sadly, I've since left Australia, but I should emphasize that this was without question my best dining experience in a country full of brilliant dining experiences. Come to the US! I beg you!