Honest Burgers
King Street
Reading RG1 2HB
0118 214 5550
THERE’S a bell close to the entrance of Honest Burgers in Reading.
If you enjoy your meal, you ring it – my son, following our recent visit, made sure it was heard loud and clear … and then he made me give it a tug for good measure.
It’s fair to say that the tweenager was impressed with his meal.
But then Honest Burgers is a different experience to some of the fast food chains he’s experienced before.
The menu is straightforward. There’s a selection of burgers to chose from, each of which can be customised. They’re served with fries and there are some sides you can opt for such as the onion rings (£4) we asked for.
These were enormous, and must surely have been taken from a prize-winning entry of a vegetable growing contest. The batter let it down, being a bit too greasy to be a comfortable meal.
We were here not for the sides but for its special September offer, which is available until October 3.
The limited-edition halloumi-based burger, called Halloumi 2.0, is a partnership between the Hitchin-based Cawsburger (it means cheeseburger in Welsh), and Briddlesford halloumi from the Isle of Wight. The cheese is made from 100% Guernsey cow’s milk to give it an extra creamy flavour.
The rich flavours of the cheese combination is topped off with a mild heat courtesy of the sriracha mayo, chipotle jam, lettuce, and pickles for added crunch.
Introducing the burger, Adam Layton, Honest Burgers Head of Collaboration, said: “I first heard about Cawsburger when we were opening our St Albans restaurant in early 2021.
“They were popping up at their local coffee shop in Hitchin, serving the most delicious looking, simple, high-quality burgers.
“You could just tell they cared about every single ingredient – particularly the beef.”
He added: “Now they’ve opened their first bricks and mortar restaurant in Hitchin they’ve got some real momentum. The burger bloggers are all taking notice and that’s great for the scene.
“We’ll be seeing much more of Cawsburer, I’m sure.”
And Charlie Wood-Jones, Co-Founder of Cawsburger, said it was an honour to work with Honest Burgers.
“It’s a huge compliment to the hard work that we’ve invested into our burgers and brand over the past two years,” she said.
“Honest Burgers love working closely with smaller local businesses – they have a real passion for the industry and helping new businesses hopefully grow into brands as strong as Honest. We can’t wait to hear the feedback on the Halloumi 2.0 this month.”
As you may have noticed, Honest Burgers is pretty hot on its sourcing. It likes customers to know where dishes have come from and what they can expect. This extends to its drinks menu.
While you can order Guinness, Coke and red or white wines, you can also keep it local: the beer list features Wild Weather Ales, Siren beers and a selection from Double-Barrelled Brewery, including the sublime Ding which is on tap, at £5.75 a pint.
Burgers start at £10 for a vegetarian Fritter, or a plain beef burger, raising to £14.75 for a vegan ‘Bacon’ plant burger.
The Halloumi 2.0 collaboration with Cawsburger is £14. As with all Honest Burgers meals, the special is served with homemade rosemary chips as standard.
We ordered a beef and bacon gravy (£2) as a side.
It’s possible to customise the burger – handy if you think pickles don’t belong anywhere near a bun.
Service was warm and friendly, with staff working hard to ensure you have a memorable meal. The burger was moist and juicy, while the rosemary fries are a tasty alternative to oversalted ones you find elsewhere.
So, was my son right to ring the bell? You bet. He’s already eyeing up what he’ll try next.
PHIL CREIGHTON
