Are the burgers better in Coburg, and if so, whose Coburgers are better? That's the question on locals' lips with the very recent opening of – wait for it – Coburger & Co.
The shiny, mural-clad burger joint complete with arcade game has taken up residency at the suburb's south-east tip (aka Brunswick's wild northern frontier) - a smart decision given food offerings in the area are currently limited.
Owners Kylee and Adrian Dixen are fresh from cafe land, having recently sold up North & Eight in Essendon. They decided on burgers when they found the site near the corner of Moreland Road and Nicholson Street, previously Pause Cafe; the space "was such an obvious burger place," says Kylee.
The menu may read a little too on-trend for its own good (there's a "doughnut brownie ice-cream burger" ($7) – plus an Instagram eight-minute burger challenge) but the food is fresh-tasting and good-value; mainly hunger-busting burgers and fries plus soft-serve ice-cream desserts – with the odd curve ball (a lobster "tail end doughnut burger").
Most popular since they opened 10 days ago are the 'Makin' Bacon Duplex' (two of everything – wagyu patty, cheese, bacon... $13.50), the "KFC" (Korean Fried Chicken served in a burger or waffle, $13.50) and of course, the eponymous Coburger – a nice take on the traditional beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup 'n' mustard combo – but with a generous slice of cheese to top it off ($9.50).
The Dixens are so fresh to Coburg they're surprised to hear the name "Coburger" is a dead horse (the Post Office Hotel on Sydney Road has a longstanding, very popular incarnation, as does the Two Monks cafe nearby). But the customers clearly aren't worried, nor the folk at The Post Office (we asked) – because the Dixens are serving their Coburg Lager and Pentridge Pale Ale on tap.
All up it's a good package and seems purpose-built for the changing face of Coburg with young families and university students from newly-sprung apartment buildings making a beeline for the $8.50 cheeseburger and fries pack for the munchkins, and the accommodating vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Open Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu-Sun noon-10pm.
67 Moreland Road, Coburg, 03 9939 5178, Facebook: @coburgerandco
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