Were Dubai’s Wagyu burgers the GOAT in London Knightsbridge?

We hear the acronym for the ‘Greatest of All Time’, or G.O.A.T., being bandied about often these days.

So what makes this restaurant brand in London’s Knightsbridge, which made its UK debut from Dubai late last year, the GOAT of burgers?

One reason could be that all their beef burgers are made from “100% Halal premium wagyu”, with chicken burgers and sundry also on the menu.

Founded in 2021, they have locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Fujairah, and Sharjah, with this UK site on Brompton Road being their first international restaurant outside of the UAE.

From Dubai to London, GOAT comes with expectations…

The brand’s look and identity revolves around a mainly yellow colour scheme, with this light and spacious venue offering indoor seating for around 50 diners.

GOAT – Wagyu patty, G.O.A.T. sauce, crispy & caramelised onion, yellow cheese, Gouda Cheese, £12.00

The quality of the brioche bun with its attractive shiny exterior is the first thing that stood out for us.

While the meat isn’t pressed flat against the grill like a traditional smash patty, it remains noticeably thin.

As such, not only do you have more to bite into and savour, but it is beautifully charred to leave a delicately crispy exterior.

Paired with two cheeses, including the buttery Gouda’s subtle nutty sweetness, as well as the signature sauce, and the combination of the crispy and caramelised onions, this GOAT burger really does come close to living up to its name. Juicy, delicious and packing a punch.

While appreciating that this place is situated in Knightsbridge (though not in the City of Westminster), the only criticism we would have, given its price, is the relatively small size of the burger.

Truffle Mushroom – Wagyu patty, truffle mayo, sauted mushroom, rocket, parmesan, yellow cheese, £15.00

Another exceptionally good one this Truffle Mushroom, albeit a hefty £15, with all the ingredients coming through to play their part in creating a sophisticated flavour profile.

This was a rich landscape of umami goodness, where the aroma of the truffle mayo offset the earthiness of mushrooms, and the peppery rocket leaves marrying with the piquancy of the parmesan and yellow cheeses.

Mexican – Wagyu patty, chilli cheese, chipotle sauce, sauted onions, jalapenos, £14.00 + Extra patty £4

This was the weakest of the lot, only because the chilli cheese and the chipotle sauce failed to contribute much.

As such, what we had was an okay burger underscored by subdued flavours, making it somewhat monotonous.

Dirty Buffalo Chicken – Fried chicken dipped in buffalo sauce, ranch, lettuce, £13.00

If the buffalo sauce, in which this fried piece of poultry was dipped, didn’t deliver on the robust tanginess expected, we would probably make a bigger deal of why a chicken burger of this size costs £13.

Truth be told, this Dirty Buffalo Chicken has been wonderfully conceived, being nice and juicy, and plenty enjoyable.

Loaded – Skinny fries, salt, grated parmesan, French Gruyere, Buffalo sauce, Fake Mac , parsley, fried onion, £8.00

Loaded indeed, with crispy fries coated and covered in a superb array of ingredients.

Exceptional dips, £1 each

Thanks to the grated parmesan, French Gruyere, Buffalo sauce, Fake Mac, and the sprinkling of parsley and crunchy fried onions, this was dangerously addictive.

We also got to try all of their inhouse sauces, which were distinct and brilliantly executed.

They also serve the following seven sauces: GOAT, Honey Mustard, Chipotle Mayo, Ranch, Fake Mac, Truffle Aioli, Buffalo, and BBQ.

Our top three have to be the Truffle Aioli, GOAT, and the Honey Mustard.

Cajun – Skinny fries, salt, cajun spice + Fake Mac sauce, £5.00

The amount of cajun spice may at first look over done. But when it’s as good as this, you can understand why. Goes really well with the Fake Mac sauce too.

Buffalo Wings – Chicken wings, Buffalo sauce, Ranch dressing, parsley, £7.00

These Buffalo Wings are their best seller; and thus recommended by the manager.

Again that vibrant buffalo sauce lathered in more than enough ranch dressing to recommend these all the way.

Sakura Pink Lemonade, £6; Passion Fruit Iced Tea, £7

Both these beverages were far better than we’d expected, with the Sakura Pink Lemonade turning out lively and zesty, and the Passion Fruit Iced Tea refreshingly good.