Dumbo

Was a solid smash burger but not the best I’ve had. I will give credit for those delicious crispy edges, true burger lovers will deffo agree this is so underrated but always massively appreciated. And the cute server added some extra brownie points as another reason to come back!

Dumbo was one of those places that seemed impossible to avoid when it first arrived from Paris. Every time I walked past there was a queue outside, and social media had people talking about it as if it was the second coming of the cheeseburger. After letting the hype settle down, we finally visited on a weekday evening. The ordering process is straightforward. You order at the counter and, if you're dining in, there's a seating area at the back where the team brings the food over to you. One thing worth noting is that mobile signal back there is practically non-existent, and there isn't any customer wifi, so don't expect to stay connected. The menu is refreshingly simple. We went for burgers, fries, and a side of chicken nuggets. The problem is that after all the anticipation, the food felt surprisingly ordinary. The burgers were good, the fries were decent, and the chicken nuggets were made from actual chicken rather than heavily processed filler, which is always appreciated. From a product quality perspective, everything was competently executed. The issue is that nothing really stood out. There was no particular flavour profile, texture, or element that made me think this was worth the level of hype it received. Everything landed firmly in the "good enough" category. To be clear, this isn't a bad burger spot. Far from it. But if there had been a queue outside, I would have been disappointed. And the next time I'm craving a burger, there are several places in London that would come to mind before Dumbo. One area where they do excel is hospitality. The team were friendly, welcoming, and genuinely pleasant throughout the visit, which definitely elevated the experience. Overall, a perfectly decent burger restaurant with good service and a clean, focused menu. Just don't go expecting a life-changing burger simply because social media told you to.

If I had to explain Dumbo, these are the two sentences I would use: Simplicity is king. When you do something, do it right. Dumbo does exactly that. Tender, juicy chicken nuggets, a great cheeseburger, fun sauces, and the best fries I’ve had in years. That’s it. That’s the menu. A little wiggle room for variation, extra pickles or no mustard, but honestly… why customize the perfect classic cheeseburger? We grabbed some burgers at the spot and had one packed takeaway. I’d actually recommend getting yours packed even if eating at Dumbo. The residual heat melts the cheese perfectly and makes for one of, if not the best, burger experiences in London.

Apparently London's most underrated burger. However, for me, putting this alongside the likes of Bleecker is a bit of a stretch. If I was to attempt to describe how this burger tastes, it's identical to the McDonald's cheeseburger from taste to texture. Some may say that's a good thing, some may say otherwise but overall, it's a decent smash party burger. The patties have a nice crispy edge to them and seasoned well, the bun is soft and fresh and the ketchup, mustard and pickle inside are not overpowering. While it's also probably a lot better quality than a McDonald's, it's going go set you back a hefty £10 for just the burger. I probably wouldn't go back just because I'm not a fan of the McDonald's-like taste but I can see the appeal.