We all know these moments when it just got to be a burger. But only few places know how to prepare this simple dish the way we want it. A mouthwatering patty on a homemade bun, some fancy extras and the perfect sauce with a side of crispy fries and fresh coleslaw. Let me introduce you to my personal favorite hamburgueserías, the burger joints in Palma who compete for the crown, two restaurants that also have at least one outstanding burger on their menu and an additional café outside Palma.
Badal Burger in the very center of Palma, next to Mercat de l’Olivar, has a permanent place in the hearts of burger aficionados. Create your own burger or follow one of the recommendations by Patrick Battenberg and Marga Nadal (hence Badal). Their homemade sauces are extraordinary – if you love hot stuff, this is your place to go.
Raimundo Burgers and Fries is run by Alejandro Javaloyas. He had been working as a chef in Helsinki and Berlin before he opened his own place in Sa Gerreria. Raimundo is great for dining out with family and friends. Whichever burger you choose, don’t miss the fries. They are sprinkled with rosemary and have a wild, spicy flavor.
The third excellent chef in this row is Adrián Quetglas. In addition to his Michelin-starred restaurant he opened Burger Lab on Passeig del Borne. Sitting on Palma’s noblest boulevard under tall sycamore trees with an Especial Mallorquina, a coleslaw and a Moritz – what else do you need? **** Burger Lab is now closed. ****
Café Restaurant Sibil.la on Carrer Blanquerna is open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Apart from a lovely choice of tapas, salads, curries and pasta there’s also a great burger on the menu. If you are out with friends who are up for hamburgers and others who aren’t, Sibil.la is the perfect place to go.
Admittedly burgers have long been the symbol of a rather carnivorous life style. And yes, from time to time I love mine with a patty of beef, lamb or chicken. But today, most hamburgueserías also offer vegetarian and even vegan burgers that are absolutely delicious.
No surprise that Temple Natura, one of the pioneers of vegetarian food on Mallorca, also has fabulous meatless burgers on the menu. Of course, there’s much more than burgers here, and Temple Natura easily convinces even the most committed meat lovers.
Whenever I come to Port de Sóller I try to stop by at Don Pedro. The café at the waterfront of the picturesque bay prepares great salads and burgers. Watching the sea from Playa d’en Repic with one of Don Pedro’s scrumptious burgers always makes my day.
“I wanna burger.” The voice of Donald Sutherland keeps coming back to me whenever I think about hamburgers. In the recent road movie “The Leisure Seeker” Sutherland and Helen Mirren play a couple on their journey from Boston to Key West. I watched the film at my favorite movie theater Cineciutat and I am not going to spoil it for you. But if you have already seen it, you will surely smile just like me whenever your sweetheart is asking for a burger.
Badal Burger
Plaça del Comtat del Rosselló, 7
Raimundo Burgers and Fries
Pl. Raimundo Clar, 14
Burger Lab (closed)
Passeig del Borne, 16
Sibil.la
C/ Blanquerna, 7
Temple Natura
C/ del Temple, 4
Don Pedro
Paseo de la Playa, 18
07108 Port de Sóller