This now infamous upmarket chain of burger joints are hard to beat for freshness, quality of meat and overall dining experience when it comes to fast food. Move over McDonalds, there’s a new burger sheriff in town.

The Venue
Gourmet Burger Kitchen is located in the North Laines and attract a bohemian crowd popping in for a burger between browsing the shops. Outdoor metallic tables and benches with the menus embedded in the tables invite al fresco dining. Inside, the restaurant is sleek and totally in keeping with the Gourmet Burger Kitchen concept. Padded brown leather seating is coupled with smart wooden tables to ensure a comfortable dining experience. Interesting features include a pebbled partition, a magnificent back wall which changes colour and tasteful canvasses arranged on the walls depicting how Brighton appeared in its first throws of popularity back in the early 20th Century.

The Atmosphere
This is a popular restaurant thanks to its quick counter ordering service and an al fresco area that extends onto the bustling street that's ideal for people watching and soaking up the lively North Laines buzz.

The Food
As you would expect this is burger heavy but there are some good alternatives if meat is not really your thing. First things first though, you can choose from over 20 different varieties of burger from aged cheddar cheese with 100 per cent Aberdeen-Angus Scotch beef, salad and relish, a Cajun burger with smoked chilli relish and their signature Kiwi burger (GBK is originally a New Zealand concept) that combines beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, salad and relish with the all-important burger. The meat is of the highest quality and the burgers are both succulent and juicy on the outside with just the right amount of pink on the inside. Other burgers on the menu well worth sampling are the avocado bacon burger with streaky bacon (the fat oozing gently into the meat), Pesterella with fresh mozzarella and pesto and the Satay which unsurprisingly includes a spicy satay sauce which drips decadently down the sides of the burger. Order some fries too which are made from fresh potatoes and are chunky and crispy.

It's not just about beef here though and GBK isn't just trying to appeal to Joe Bloggs and his beef burger tendancies. The new Thai chicken burger with a fresh chicken breast and even fresher Thai red curry sauce, grilled pineapple and salad is delicious, the Greek lamb burger with fresh lamb, houmous, cucumber raita, chilli sauce and salad is mouthwatering and the Summer Veggie Stack combines chargrilled vegetables, sun dried tomato and feta pesto all rounded off with peppery rocket.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen has also branched out into salads if you fancy a lighter meal. The Aubergine and Feta Salad uses mixed leaves, sun-blush tomatoes, aubergine, peppers topped with a feta and balsamic vinegar dressing. More unusual however is the Chicken and Kiwi Salad consisting of cherry tomatoes, chicken, red onion and a freshly prepared kiwi fruit salsa which lifts all of the ingredients and adds interest to a dish that would otherwise be pretty ordinary.

The Drink
There’s a sound array of European wines on offer but forget them and plump for a traditional New Zealand Beer called Mac’s Gold. Non-alcoholic options include fresh juices and Gourmet Burger Kitchen Milkshakes which benefit from real ice cream to make them extra thick.

The Last Word
Gourmet Burger Kitchen is undoubtedly the King of burger joints in the North Laines. If you haven't already bagged yourself one of these burgers make sure that you head to the North Laines next time you fancy tasty, reasonably priced food.