NOTE: In January 2020, it was announced that Nusr-Et Burger would not be going ahead. However, Nusr-Et Steakhouse is still due to open at The Park Tower Knightsbridge, despite being several months behind schedule.
Viral sensation Nusret Gökçe is set to open a burger restaurant in Mayfair, which will be his debut restaurant in the capital.
Gökçe is better known by his internet pseudonym of Salt Bae, having gained fame on now defunct video sharing app Vine with his unique way of seasoning meat. In a nutshell, the technique can be described as theatrically sprinkling salt over steak and the video has led to Gökçe opening several restaurants around the world, as well as amassing more than 23 million followers on Instagram.
Gökçe is already planning to open a branch of his Nusr-Et Steakhouse in London at The Park Tower Knightsbridge Hotel, but according to Eater London, the celebrity chef will open his other concept, Nusr-Et Burger, first. On the menu, you can expect an array of burger and fries combinations, featuring the likes of beef burgers topped with cheese and sandwiched between a brioche bun, as well as patties that are hollowed out and filled with melted cheese.
Nusr-Et Burger is set to open on Mount Street, taking over a site which was formerly home to The Audley pub (the boozer closed its doors in early 2019). The burger joint will certainly be in good company, as Mount Street is home to some of London’s most premier leisure destinations, including The Connaught hotel, a branch of Christian Louboutin, and legendary seafood restaurant Scott’s.
Currently, Gökçe has launched 12 steakhouses and four burger restaurants around the world. Three of these locations are in Istanbul, while other outposts can be found in the glitzy likes of Dubai, Mykonos and Miami. Although Nusr-Et steakhouses are often packed and have been visited by the likes of famous faces such as the Beckhams, the restaurants have not been well received by critics. In fact, a New York Times restaurant critic labelled the NYC outpost “public rip-off No. 1” in their review, after a bill for three people topped $500.