Fatburger. The very name is likely to make the calorie conscious dive for cover. But not me. I turned up at this burger joint in Cyber Hub, Gurgaon, to see if the fare on offer was as good as its name. And, I was not disappointed. But before I divulge any more details, let me tell you that it is India’s ek lauta (one and only) outlet of this American burger chain. Right across the wall, from where I was seated, a map displayed the locations of all the Fatburger joints in the world – only Gurgaon peeped out of India. The restaurant opened on August 25, 2014, and when I visited it a few days later, I was pleasantly surprised to see an almost full-house – grannies, mommies, daddies, baccha logs, and of course the young crowd. Within 5mins of being seated, the menu appeared and, from that moment onwards, the evening was a delicious blur. The joint is yet to get its liquor licence. We ordered strawberry lemonade, ‘all our natural’ lemonade and cranberry juice, which came super-fast, in under 8mins. Upon spotting potato poppers, ‘world famous wings’ and chicken twisters on the menu, I was delighted. Who knew a foodie like me could find little joys of life in the bite-sized poppers? The appetisers came with a variety of dips – blue cheese, peri-peri mayo and tzatziki. The blue cheese got a feisty nay from me and the peri-peri mayo a yay.
Hardly a salad fan and officially lactose intolerant, I could not resist ordering a portion of Fatburger’s Caesar salad. They asked me to choose between chicken and bacon… I chose both. It was delicious but a bit overwhelming for me with all the grated parmesan(of course, cheese lovers may disagree).
Finally, it was time to try the star attraction, the burger. I wanted the regular ones after the appetisers and the salad, but the chef insisted I try their ‘fat stack’. ‘The fat Greek’ was a juicy tender lamb patty marinated in a unique blend of spices and herbs with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions, fresh mint leaves and homemade tzatziki sauce; their signature ‘the tenderloin’ was a juicy grilled tenderloin patty with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese and mayo; the ‘outlaw spicy crispy chicken’ was spiced chicken breast fried golden with home-made relish and mayo. Last but not the least, ‘the shroom’ was sautéed mushroom and melted cheese on a classic tenderloin patty with mustard and mayo. All of their burger buns are toasted. Did I tell you how fat the stacks were? The fat stack burgers came with double patties! Vegetarians too can chose from an extensive menu. From potato patties, grilled paneer patties with African peri-peri chillies, soya patties with citrus mayo, to bean patties with home-made relish and garlic mayo, to a special ‘five-a-day’ option (healthy ingredients packed in a toasted bun and served with a ranch dressing). The burgers don’t come solo, they come with their own side dishes of fries and fresh slaw. There is also a separate meal for kids – kids’ choice of a small plain Fatburger, chicken twisters or a hot dog with fries, and a small drink.
I was already full but the chef’s invitation to taste Fatburger’s special cookies and ice cream shake was too good to resist. Just as I was beginning to think that I was going to drink my dessert, the chef suggested apple crumble. Usually, I do not like my fruits cooked, but dismissed the thought the moment I took a bite of that crumble. As I left the place, I had to remind myself of an extra hour at the gym the next day.
The information
Where: 102, 1st floor, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon
Timings: 11am to 11pm
Price: For two – Rs 800 – Rs 1,000 (approx) excluding taxes