Grill'd, Cairns

When The Lakes Resort and Spa shuttle bus driver said we should go to Grill'd for burgers, Nathan's ears instantly opened. He won't listen to anything I say, but say the word 'burger' and you'll have his undivided attention. For once, I really thanked Nathan for this quality.

After hearing too much about Nathan's craving for a burger, we reach Grill'd. The decor inside reminds me of Year 10 woodwork classes. The large, high-ceilinged room is flecked with communal wooden tables and metal stools. Low teal lights hang over the tables and comfy cushions line the southern wall. The place is cool, but its cartoon-lined walls and the generally cheap vibe of the interior makes me feel as though I am in a fast food restaurant. It's also stinking hot, the few fans aren't doing much.

The staff at Grill'd are hip and super friendly on approach. Upon ordering, we are given a Little Creatures lid and told to choose one of three jars to put it in--the coins representing a dollar and the jars, three different charity organisations. Overall, the place is pretty refreshing, and is made even better given the relatively low prices. (If you want a comparison for the style of eatery: think Mad Mex, Guzman y Gomez and Crust Pizza).

What sets the chain apart from fast food outlets is the taste. The burgers are better at Grill'd. It's also licensed, which is always a plus. And they stock WA's Little Creatures and, while I'm not a beer drinker, Nathan informs me this is definitely a pro.

We order at the counter, then wait. A while passes before our meals arrive. Nathan's Big Queenslander: seriously has the lot with a grilled 100% lean beef, tasty cheese, crispy trim bacon, free range egg, a couple of slices of beetroot with salad, relish and herb mayo. Everything blends so smoothly resulting in a luscious and perfectly grill'd burger. Sure, $14.50 is more than you'd pay for a standard burger, but the expense was definitely proportional to the delectable morsels of food.

Although incomprehensible to most (and sometimes myself) I don't eat chips. This is one of those days that I will regret my choice not to consume the delicious, fatty food. Apparently the chips below were simply smashing. Nathan says they were crisp and the rosemary and sea salt gave them an edge. Seriously, he wouldn't stop raving. Below is the 'snack' serving of Grill'd's chips with rosemary and sea salt ($3.30).

I opted to have my Simply Grill'd burger with lean beef, salad, relish and herb mayo ($10.50) on a panini as opposed to a traditional bun. The bread was crisp, the patty moist and juicy and the relish and herb mayo just gelled. The flavour of the patty was unlike any I have ever tasted in terms of the balance and layers of flavours.

Grill'd was just what we needed (bar the sweltering heat inside the eatery). The burgers were some of the best I have ever tasted. And although the price was a tad steep and the service not the best--we never received water we requested and the meals took a while--all is forgiven considering the extraordinary taste.

But most importantly, I am excited to learn that Grill'd has multiple locations in Sydney! Burgers anyone?

Grill'd, 77 Esplanade Cairns