I am not one who automatically assumes that restaurant chains are bad and firmly believe that everywhere deserves a try at least once, which is why I found myself in the Handmade burger company.\n\nAt first sight the appearance of the place is a modern clean establishment like you would find in most Pizza Express or Frankie & Bennys. Personally I don't mind this when dealing with a chain. There were plenty of tables and lots of staff but it still took a good five to ten minutes of standing at the door before we were seated. But hey it's lunchtime on the holidays so I could let that go. The staff were very polite and professional.\n\nThe menu was impressive with lots of variety and frankly mouthwatering choices! I opted for the BBQ cheese and bacon burger with a side of peri-peri chips and a chocolate milkshake. My partner ordered a sweet-chilli chicken burger, plain chips and a hazelnut milkshake. I was surprised that orders were placed at the bar to be honest. I know this is the style in Nandos but they have a slightly less formal feel to it. Personally if a member of staff shows you to a table, gives you a menu, lists the specials and delivers your drinks and food to the table I would have expected that they would take the order at the table too but maybe I am just old fashioned!\n\nI have to say the milkshakes were excellent, full of flavour but in my opinion lacking in quantity, I was expecting something bigger! The burgers were very tasty, not too greasy and they arrived exactly as ordered. I often find in restaurants that the burger is either greasy or has been partially cremated before being served. This was as perfectly cooked a burger as I have ever had. \n\nAt this point you will be asking what is with the two stars right? Well while this place was nice and the burgers are reasonably good I was expecting much more than reasonably good for a place which specialises in burgers and is not a McDonalds. The chips were not very crunchy and just a bit soft and greasy. To be honest I could not finish the peri-peri chips as it was like they had been dusted with pot-pourri. Lots of aroma but no taste and got stuck in your teeth (not that I eat pot-pourri). While the staff were attentive and polite they seemed to spend a long time running around with nothing in their hands while a sizeable queue developed at the door with some angry looking people. Finally my last point would be the cost. Two burgers, chips and milkshakes nearly broke the \u00a330 mark which I found disappointing.\n\nOk wrapping this up now. The burgers here are tasty but are not game changers. The milkshakes are incredible and I would recommend them to anyone who is not lactose intolerant. When weighing up the cost coupled with the quantity of food and service format I feel that I get more for my money from a Frankie & Bennys or Pizza Express. Personally I don't think I will be returning sadly but every once in a while I may get a craving for a good milkshake!
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