Byron at The Intrepid Fox

The latest Byron burger offering has opened up in Soho at the site of the old Intrepid Fox pub and offers a downstairs bar and a stylish, New York-style tiled eating area with booths and tables in front of an open kitchen. Of all the many burger chains in London, Byron is the least gimmicky and could well be the best. Byron claims to source its beef from small farms in Scotland where cattle have roamed the highlands and eaten grass for two to three years before slaughter. Buns are baked daily from a fourth generation family baker in the East End and burgers freshly ground every morning at 5am. The menu is simple: a classic burger, a cheese burger (with four types of cheese to choose from), a Byron burger (dry cure bacon, mature cheddar and Byron BBQ sauce), a bun-free skinny option with salad, a chicken burger and a veggie option (grilled Portobello mushroom, roast red pepper, spinach and goat's cheese). And the verdict? "That's about the best burger I've ever had," claims The Times restaurant critic Giles Coran. We agree: the burgers here are mighty fine ? especially the Byron with extra avocado. Sides include French fries, home made thick chips, onion rings, courgette fries, coleslaw and macaroni cheese, while there is a selection of salads and desserts on offer. With burgers costing ?6.25 to ?8.50 and tasting so good, it's easy to understand why Byron won The Observer's Best Cheap Eat award in 2009.