The Vurger Co Brighton A Food Review
The 100% vegan fast food restaurant have launched it latest limited edition burger: the BBQ Pork Vurger, and it is absolutely delicious!
I think it is fair to say that over the past couple of years the market for vegan comfort and junk food has exploded in Brighton and Hove, with an astonishing array of delicious options available that even the most ardent carnivores who have sampled such wares would be hard pressed to find argument that their meat alternatives are superior. A few years back you might find one or two vegan options on a menu, but nowadays you can walk around town and take your pick of completely vegan eateries that encourage innovative uses of ingredients that you would not necessarily see in other areas of the restaurant industry to produce some obscenely tasty fast food.
The Vurger Co is one such establishment that stands out from the crowd, who since opening in in London in 2016 have been revolutionising fast food through the power of plants to make vegan food as accessible and convenient as possible. They have been serving up a wonderful array of burgers with patties made from a variety of plant based ingredients as well as mouth-watering sides and shakes in the centre of Brighton since the middle of last Summer, so I figured it high time I paid them a return visit. Just in time for the launch of their BBQ ‘pork’ vurger special.
The location is prime for shopping and eating some incredible vurgers on the beach. Nestled in the famous laines on Market street. The diner itself has a minimalist vibe, with pristine white tiles and marble topped tables and a mixture of pink and black chairs. A huge neon sign exclaims the Vurger Co are about to feed our soul! With a regular menu featuring four different patties made wholly of vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains, plus buttery butter-free brioche buns, salads, and cream-topped shakes I don’t think the sign is lying! Everything on the menu looks glorious, though as it is the launch day of their new special I plump for BBQ pork- Sausage style ‘pork’ patty topped with vegan smoked gouda, house-made BBQ baconnaise and hickory BBQ sauce, paired with crispy onion straws, tangy slaw and rocket. My companion goes for a New York Melt – Beyond Meat patty, topped with double vegan cheese, gherkins, tomato and house-made burger sauce. We also grab some 50/50 fries tater tots to share. Along with a couple shakes to wash it all down (salted caramel popcorn for me and banoffee for my companion).
Our meal is quick to arrive on metallic trays and it all looks and smells incredible. Vurger Co gets extra brownie points for the focus on sustainable packaging — compostable cutlery and paper straws as well as ‘plastic’ cups made from plants, of which ours are already overflowing and dripping vegan whipped cream all over the table. The portion sizes are unashamedly huge, so we waste no time tucking in.
You have probably come across the laborious process called ‘food-styling’ in which its burgers are prepared for hours and put together with absolute precision so they look their best for photo shoots. Then when you order one it comes out looking disappointingly flatter and not even close to what you see on the menu. Not the case with the Vurger Co.. when our Vurgers appear they look every bit as good as the menu pictures, if not better! My pork vurger is stacked full of crispy coleslaw and onion straws yet still stands to attention as if each layer has been placed by a loving hand with total precision. It seems a shame to ruin it, but I can resist no longer, and I’m pleased to report, it tastes every bit as good as it looks. Jam packed with exciting flavours and textures that danced a merry dance on my tongue with every bite, the patty was as close to mimicking pork sausage than anything I have had previously, with a very meaty texture that tasted great. The sweet barbecue sauce and smoky baconaisse highlighted the flavour of the patty even more, and the mountain of coleslaw and crispy battered onion straws topped this colossal vurger off nicely. My companions New York Melt vurger really hit the spot with some really exciting classic bold flavours from Tangy sauce, oozing cheese and a generous helping of gherkins that combined exceptionally well with the Beyond Meat patty, which as it happens is always my go to meat patty alternative, to make a very tasty burger indeed!
The sides were also a delight. The tater tots had a lovely golden carapace of crunch encasing chopped potato akin to hash browns and were exceptionally moreish, the perfect accompaniment to go with the burger and lots of them! The 50/50 fries were crisped to perfection, even the sweet potato fries had a lovely crunch which I never seem to be able to get when cooking them at home. The shakes were some of the best I have tried and not a jot of lactose in sight. Nice n thick, incredibly sweet concoctions that were quite honestly a meal in themselves. I loved the finishing touch of scattered hot salted popcorn on my shake, that seemed to absorb into the drink so the taste evolved with each sip! Ingenious!
Our experience of The Vurger Co was a resounding success. I cannot wait to go back and try all the other delicious sounding creations that make up an extremely innovative and well thought out menu. Their special BBQ ‘Pork’ vurger really is a treat, and we were so full after our meal we could barely move. Such good value and super tasty to boot. Make sure you pop in to give them a try whether you are a carnivore or follow a plant based diet. I guarantee after trying the Vurger Co you will not want to go anywhere else to get your burger fix!
Tony Shattell
The Vurger
13 Brighton Place
Brighton BN1 1HJ
available on Deliveroo and click and collect.