Gourmet Burger Kitchen Maiden Lane

‘For a reliably good burger, GBK is hard to beat’, chimes one fan. Founded a decade ago by three ebullient Kiwis, Gourmet Burger Kitchen may have spawned a clutch of copycat joints, but is unfazed by the competition. Quite right, too: the deliciously simple notion of top-notch but affordable burgers in stylish surrounds is about as recession-proof as it gets. If you’re a card-carrying carnivore, sink your teeth into one of a dozen beefy versions, or go off-piste with chicken, lamb, chorizo or even buffalo in your bun. There’s a surprising amount of choice for veggies too, from popular falafel or Puy lentil burgers, to those layered with aubergine & goats’ cheese. Don’t forget the generous sides (piping-hot fries, grilled haloumi, Antipodean-style ‘homeslaw’) & take advantage of the uncomplicated drinks list, which ranges from frothy milkshakes to a smattering of southern hemisphere wines.