The Michelin inspectors don’t review burger joints because, apparently, joy isn’t a metric – but if they did, they’d probably be tossing them like confetti at Heard. – because it comes to us from chef Jordan Bailey, who was the fastest ever straight to two Star restaurant in the history of the UK & Ireland Michelin Guide.
Although it’s just opened in London, it’s actually highly possible that you might have already enjoyed Heard.’s brand of superior, produce-driven fast food, which the team have been refining & serving up at festivals up and down the country over the last few years. But in case you haven’t (or your hangover was so potent that the memory of your meal is simply irretrievable) here are the headlines – the culinary prodigy in the kitchen has one simple goal: “to take an everyday classic and make it exceptional”.
Way before burgers, Bailey grew up in Cornwall and worked his way up from working in a family-run restaurant to competing in Bocuse d’Or – the notoriously tough ‘chef Olympics’. Bailey’s fixation on perfection spurred him on to take roles at Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK – at the Elephant in Torquay, and Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham – before heading abroad. At three Michelin-starred Maaemo in Oslo under chef Esben Holmboe Bang, after a year of deeply-serious seasonal Norse cooking, Bailey earned Head Chef status. Then, after a two-year stint, he moved to Dublin with his wife Majken, and together they opened fine dining restaurant AIMSIR, which earned two Michelin stars before closing in 2023.
Smash-cut to today’s smash burger joint, and you’ll see that Bailey’s offering is backed by a serious culinary pedigree, placing him leagues above the many competitors who might have beef with him. The restaurant itself, in Borough’s Flat Iron Square, looks great – reminiscent of a 1950s diner, complete with a checkerboard tile floor, banquette seating and soft pastel hues. Annnd, rumour has it they’ll be opening a permanent site in Soho later this year. But that aside, let’s get down to the real business – the burgers.
Each burger at Heard. is layered with double smash patties and made with “world-class aged British beef topped with English cheese and homemade pickles, served in a signature butter-toasted, roast potato bun.” Head along, and on the menu you’ll very likely spot highlights like –
The Heard – jalapeño hot honey, Ogleshield, white onion, secret Heard. sauce, pickles
The Boring Burger – aged Cheddar, white onion, secret Heard. sauce, pickles
Wild Umami – Spiced black bean and wild mushroom patty, Cheddar, secret Heard. sauce, kimchi, green leaf, pickles
And in a nod to Bailey’s humble, Michelin-garlanded roots, you can even add caviar to your burger…
Alongside the burgers you’ll find Heard.’s signature fries, which are cooked in beef tallow and seasoned with beef salt from dry-aged beef fat. And if you fancy a sweet treat, there’s an organic yoghurt ice cream sandwich that’s made in-house using single-origin chocolate and comes with the suggested pairing of a glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry…
Frankly, it’d be rude not to.
NOTE: Heard. is open daily from 11am-10:30pm. You can find out more and book a table on the Heard. website.
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Heard. | 1 Flat Iron Square Borough, SE1 0AB
Hankering for more bun-sandwiched action? Read our guide to the best burgers in London.
