City Girl Rating: ★★★★

An overview

Ate and Drank: Burger Beer, Homemade Lemonade and 2x Brighton Hot Burgers
Cost: £31.75 (£13 each for the Burgers)
Allergy-friendly options: Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian Options + Allergy Breakdown readily available
Address: 8 Duke St, Brighton, BN1 1AH
Phone Number: 01273 049972
Website: honestburgers.co.uk, also available on Deliveroo
Accessibility: There are no disabled toilets and it’s quite challenging to get a wheelchair through. This is the reason why we’ve knocked a star off the rating.

Located in Brighton’s bustling, meandering Lanes, just off West Street and only a few minutes walk from the seafront, Honest Burger lies in the heart of Brighton, on Duke Street. 

Its location makes it a perfect place to stop and grab a bite amidst the hubbub and charming ambiance of the south lanes. Customers can choose from ten outside tables or seats inside the restaurant that sports - as you may have guessed - an honest, unaffected, and comfortable atmosphere. 

Perfect for any occasion, a bite and drinks with friends, an easy meal with the family, or a relaxed date - Honest Burger Brighton is inviting, welcoming, and genuinely open to all.   

I went with my boyfriend on a warm July evening for a date night - something we really missed being able to do over lockdown. We’d heard that Honest Burger had teamed up with @brightonhotsauce to create a bespoke hot sauce to feature in a new local burger for Brighton - as hot-sauce fans, we just had to give it a go.

Honest Burger: One of Brighton’s Best Burgers 

Restaurant Atmosphere

The atmosphere was warm, beguiling and gently buzzing. Fortunately, we ventured down on Wednesday 14th July, which just so happened to be the one week of summer we’ve actually had this year.. 

The town centre was alive with people enjoying a warm summer’s evening and Honest Burger was the perfect place to sit in the sun, unwind with a crisp pint, and people-watch. 

The customer service was nothing short of excellent. The staff were refreshingly welcoming and paid great attention to detail. A first - they seemed genuinely happy to be there, which creates a comfortable atmosphere for diners. 

Our server was attentive and approachable (all of the staff were) - allowing us our pick of the tables and providing an informative yet easy-going service. Everyone was incredibly friendly, open and kind - I  felt extremely comfortable and well looked after.

The Menu

Honest Burger has something on their menu for everyone, and are renowned for their convincing meat alternatives - as well as their rosemary salted chips, which are worthy of their own article. 

It’s refreshing to find a burger menu that equally balances the needs of non-meat eaters and carnivores. 

I was equally impressed with their selection of local beers and alternative soft drinks. A Burger Beer, brewed in collaboration with Laine Brew Co. Brighton and homemade mint lemonade immediately stood out as must-trys. More impressive, they offer PowerPlant, a gluten-free, vegan larger, as well as Lucky Saint, a low alcohol lager. 

Our Burger Order

We opted for a pint of burger beer and a soothing glass of homemade lemonade. The lager was crisp, fresh and went down almost too easily. The lemonade was easily the star of the show, and was utterly refreshing and gulpable. 

We both went for the special, the Brighton Hot - something we’d already decided before even arriving. I wish I was the kind of person who waited until I’m at the restaurant to check out their menu - but I’d be lying if I said otherwise. 

The Brighton Hot came as an Honest beef patty, topped with bacon, Smoked Mayfield Cheese, Honest x Brighton Hot habanero hot sauce, chipotle slaw, rocket, and pickles - with a side of rosemary salted chips, which are amongst the most golden and crispy chips I’ve ever had. 

For such a saucy, stacked burger, it’s impressive how well the Brighton Hot held its own. It’s rare that such a burger holds its shape and integrity, but the Brighton Hot managed to down to the very last bite. 

It was oozy, sumptuous, and colourful - one of the best burgers I’ve eaten in a long time. The patty was tender, juicy, and served perfectly pink, the brioche bun was cakey and soft yet firm enough to hold everything together, the bacon was crisp and caramelized, topped with the Smoked Mayfield that added amazing depth, and the chipotle-slaw was bright and delightfully fresh. 

The Honest x Brighton Hot habanero sauce, made with red habaneros, ghost peppers, lemon juice, and chinook hops, perfectly cut through the bacon and beef. Falling on the right side of hot, it balanced the combination of flavours and nicely tied together the ensemble. 

I love eating with my hands. When I sit down with a group of friends and eat with my hands, I am nudged to put aside my self-consciousness and pay full attention to the food I’m eating, and the people I am with. I am entirely present when eating with my hands - probably because I don’t want to dirty my phone - but, that’s exactly why I enjoy it. No distractions. 

And this was the kind of burger that had me licking my fingers with each bite. Honest Burger, I’m looking forward to more specials and creative partnerships, and will certainly be back for what I can definitely call one of Brighton’s best burgers. 

Allergies

Honest Burger’s allergy breakdown is easily accessible and straightforward to navigate. Our server was sure to ask if we had any dietary requirements - aware of and attentive to customer’s individual and personal needs.

Written By Polly Wyatt

Disclaimer: Food and Drinks were given to us for free in return for an honest review.

The City Girl Rating system ranking system ensures that we recommend the best places to eat and drink. We take into account the atmosphere, customer service, value for money, allergy awareness, and of course, the quality of the food and drinks served.