Perthshire's Favourite Burgers

There’s nothing quite like a burger. Whether it’s sitting down for a nice meal in a restaurant or a quick bite to eat in the pub whilst watching the football with your mates, this popular and delicious national favourite can pretty much be enjoyed in any setting and when combined with chips it’s a match made in heaven.

We’re lucky in Perthshire to have some of the country’s best producers, chefs and eateries allowing foodies to enjoy some truly delightful burgers right across the region. We put the question to our exclusive Food and Drink group on Facebook (join here) on where you can find the best burger and our Small City really is filled with food lovers as the suggestions came in droves. We’ve picked out five for you below, make sure you go and give them a try!

Giraffe Café, 51-53 South Street, Perth, PH2 8PD

Giraffe boasts no less than five different offerings when it comes to burgers, so it’s not a surprise that many people have recommended the café when it comes to grabbing a tasty burger.

Using meat from local butcher, DG Lindsay & Son on North Methven Street, in-house chef Steven and his kitchen team provide a wide range of burgers accompanied by a salad which is grown seasonally by Giraffe in their kitchen garden. All burgers are served on a delicious brioche bun and start from as little as £6.00 – a bargain price if you ask me!

The range includes the standard Naked Giraffe burger made from succulent Lindsay’s meat and the Supreme version sees melted cheddar cheese and bacon added; a personal favourite of mine. If you’re feeling more adventurous, why not try the Spicy Giraffe with jalapenos, or the Scottish Giraffe which is topped with the nation’s favourite – haggis!

There’s also the Veggie Giraffe for those who don’t eat meat to enjoy and if you’re not already impressed then you’ll be pleased to know that Giraffe Café offer a loyalty scheme called the Burger Club, which can be accessed by downloading the Giraffe app on Apple and Android. Buy four burgers, and get your 5^th one for free! What’s even better is that by eating at Giraffe, you are making a difference to people’s lives and supporting a great local cause. You can read more about what Giraffe does in the area by visiting their website.

The Boathouse Loch Leven, Pier Road, Kinross, KY13 8UF

Probably one of the most picturesque eateries in Perthshire, The Boathouse sits on the shores of Loch Leven with stunning views over the water and the occasional glimpse of some of local wildlife who make the area around the loch their home.

And even more importantly, they make a pretty mean burger too! Using locally sourced meat, they offer three different burgers for you to try, all of which are mouth-wateringly good. Served with your choice of either a beetroot bun, ciabatta roll or a gluten free roll, you can choose from Scotch beef, chicken or the vegetarian option.

The Boathouse’s homemade burger uses the finest quality locally sourced meat from the Buffalo Farm, Auchtertool in neighbouring Fife, and comes topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and Monterey Jack cheese. Perhaps you are more of a chicken fan than beef, in which case the lightly spiced chicken breast on this burger accompanied by lettuce, hot sauce and mayo will go down a treat. The vegetarian option is a delicious and adventurous spinach and falafel burger, with pickled beetroot and feta cheese.

And if you’re looking for something to wash the tasty burgers down with then why not try one of the beers or ales from the Loch Leven Brewery – the perfect tipple to go with your meal.

Visit The Boathouse Loch Leven website for more information on bookings and their seasonal menus.

No.1 The Bank Bistro, The Parklands Hotel, 2 St. Leonard’s Bank, Perth, PH2 8EB

Parklands is passionate about using Scottish produce and when it comes to their burgers you can rest assured that they’re sourcing their beef and accompaniments from some of our nation’s best producers.

Established family-run butcher John Henderson is where they source their succulent Scotch beef from Limousin cattle and only the superior shoulder and top-side cuts are used and then minced. The patties are made by hand in the Parklands kitchen by the passionate and skilled kitchen staff.

Different seasonal toppings are available but one firm favourite with the foodies that frequent Parklands is blue cheese and bacon – again both from Scottish producers – and hand cut chips are also served with the burger to create a delicious meal which does our nation and it’s incredible artisan foodie producers proud.

You can find out more about No.1 The Bank Bistro by visiting their website, or head over to the Parklands Hotel website for more information on other dining options and accommodation availability.

Max and Ben’s Bistro, 149 High Street, Auchterarder, PH3 1AD

This delightful bistro on Auchterarder’s High Street is a favourite with locals and visitors alike, and has been endorsed by Scottish journalist and broadcaster Tam Cowan in his famous ‘Scoff the Ball’ foodie reviews.

With ten different burgers to choose from including vegetarian and gluten free options, you’re quite literally spoiled for choice. The 8oz hand-pressed burgers come in a brioche bun and are served with tasty chips, a side salad and Max and Ben’s homemade coleslaw.

Choose a Classic Burger, or add cheese and bacon to make the signature M&B Burger. What about a burger dripping in smooth peppercorn sauce? Or if you like things hot try the spicy Jalapeno Burger with hot chilli sauce! There is also a Chicken Burger if you don’t fancy beef, and a tasty Halloumi Burger as a vegetarian alternative. If you’re gluten free, just let the friendly staff know and they can assist with your requirements.

Visit the Max and Ben's Bistro website for more details. They’re open seven days a week and have a lunch menu on at the weekend which also includes burgers - happy days!

Uisge Bar and Restaurant, Station Road, Murthly, PH1 4EL

Got the Monday blues? Well then why not pop out to Uisge Bar and Restaurant for their famous ‘Burger Mondays’ – £10 for any burger and fries every Monday evening from 6PM!

It’s not just Mondays that you can get a superb burger at the Murthly eatery though and with five delicious homemade burgers on the menu including the Salsabean Burger for vegetarians – a chilli and coriander bean burger with soured cream and salsa – there’s plenty of flavour-packed options to choose from.

Uisge source their meat from the local butcher in the village of Stanley – Stevenson’s – and the burgers patties are prepared using a special recipe, and served on a pretzel bun with fries, gherkins and their famous homemade chilli jam.

Try the Highland – a venison and chorizo burger – or the Tower which is a steak burger topped with bacon, cheese, onion rings and homemade chilli jam. The Spicy Chix brings a taste of Louisiana to the table, with a tender Cajun chicken breast, melted mozzarella and sweet chilli sauce. And last but certainly not least the Uisge – a steak burger with haggis, topped with a fried egg. That last one makes my mouth water at the very thought of it!

Uisge offer gluten free buns for all five of the burgers, and there's a massive selection of boozy (plus non-alcoholic) options behind the bar to wash down your meal with. You can also top it all off with a delicious ice cream dessert sourced from the famous Stewart Tower Dairy!

For more information, visit the Uisge Bar and Restaurant website.

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Our own foodie reviewer Holly has visited two of the above mentioned restaurants – read all about her experiences at Uisge and No.1 The Bank Bistro at Parklands.

A special thanks to everybody in the Small City Food and Drink Facebook group for your great suggestions – we wish we could have featured them all!