MJ's Burgers: Cheers to Second Chances

We'd tried MJ's at Souk el Akel months ago and left with poor impressions of the burger. It came charred black, and we kindly requested it to be remade. Half an hour later, we were presented with a different specimen, which, while of more edible doneness, was wholly without seasoning or oomph. I couldn’t understand what the fuss on social media was all about.

The other night, equipped with a Zomato voucher, we resolved to give the joint a second shot, and this time they had home court advantage.

MJ’s is situated on a quiet street in Mar Mikhael parallel to the throbbing Armenia Street. We arrived around 6:45 on a Tuesday evening, pushing past the heavy door to expose a dimly-lit, narrow dining hall with a small counter at the end. 

Immediately you notice a wooden bench running the length of the restaurant and seating about 20 diners. There are two additional benches suited for couples diners, but MJ’s seems to be doing two things here. In maximizing their occupancy, they are in effect encouraging guests to rub elbows with each other. This is, after all, a very casual eatery.

A pleasant young lady named Hind seated us and pointed at the massive chalkboard menu. We advised it was our first visit, and she duly recommended the cheeseburger, MJ’s, and the Diablo. Our focus being strictly burgers, we steered away from the frills, including the notorious rosemary fries and beer mustard dipping sauce.

Within ten minutes, our orders descended upon the table. Small metal trays plating humble burgers reflected an austerely simple presentation. The light, airy bun common to all burgers is reminiscent of BRGR.CO, shunning sesame seeds and oats and posing merely as a protective jacket for the patty. It bears hints of sweetness.

The patty comes thick rather than wide. It has an ethereally crispy shell and releases steam when you sink your canines into it, surely because of the high temperature at which it is cooked. There is no question as to its premium quality and freshness.

Each burger is animated with sweet onion relish, the result of caramelization, not added sugar. The cheeseburger (18,000 LL) can be had with either cheddar, Gruyere or blue cheese, and this isn’t your processed, sliced variety. The cheddar is thickly cut from a block of cheese and co-exists beautifully with the Angus beef. You can opt for the recommended sweet chili mayo, but even devoid of dressing, the burger is moist and delightful.

Cheddar Cheeseburger 

Cheddar Cheeseburger

MJ’s burger (22,000 LL), the house specialty, features grilled red bell peppers and eggplants with a homemade cream cheese spread that borrows its kick from rosemary. It is superb.


MJ's Burger

Beware the Diablo (19,000 LL), which teems with jalapeños and a spicy sauce. I couldn't handle its piquancy and much preferred the cheeseburger and MJ’s. 

A reasonable concern would be the restaurant's pricing scheme. At first glance, 18,000 - 22,000 LL seems much too much for an admittedly gourmet street burger sans the usual sides. Add fries and a soft drink, the meal weighs in at 30,000 LL (USD 20), which for a cafeteria-style eatery is certainly on the high end. 

 However, the meat that MJ's imports is Australian Black Angus of the highest grade (MB3+), as owner Mohamad Jaroudi imparted to me, and it is never blended with other cuts. Ingredients incorporated in the burgers are not processed, and the majority of foodstuffs are homemade, which further drives up the cost. 

 Bearing those factors in mind, MJ's manages to keep its pricing in check while still delivering a premium bundle of joy. 


Pharaon St.
Mar Mikhael
01-570355


Comments

  1. nouchalineDecember 10, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    But the rosemary fries are the best part!!!! :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BeirutistaDecember 10, 2015 at 11:02 AM

      Haha, they're admittedly good, but I didn't want them to bias the burger experience. Next time!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tantalizing Treats from the Coast to the Mountains

Image
For many of us, the undisputed beauty of Lebanon lies in the quality of food and drink available to denizens. If we Lebanese are blessed with one thing, it’s a highly discerning palate and a deep-seated appreciation for food, no matter the cuisine or category. Here are a few of my newfound favorites bejeweling the Lebanese frontier, from the coast to the mountains! Gilbert’s Burger Bites Having grown up in California, I know a good burger when I see (and sink my canines into) one. The Lebanese have always had a love affair with burgers, but if you grew up in the 90s, a burger around here ubiquitously meant a thin kafta-like patty smothered with coleslaw and fries, tucked inside a sesame seed bun large enough to bury a baseball. While nostalgia-inducing, that specimen belongs in our past. Since moving to Lebanon in 2011, I’ve enjoyed a number of decent burgers. But the crowning jewel is without doubt Gilbert’s Burger Bites. I’m not sure why it’s dubbed “Bites,” because their burgers are
Read more

What’s New In & Around Beirut

Image
In light of the multiple financial and economic crises that continue to grip Lebanon, it always fascinates me when I see new places crop up, or living spaces being treated to a facelift. Revival in Lebanon is at the core of our fabric. Our entrepreneurial culture perpetually outweighs the lesser than ideal circumstances that beleaguer us. All this to say, it’s a heartwarming feeling when you see others around you continue to invest and not relinquish hope in this country. Here’s the latest example of that! Xpark Perched on high in the hills of Mar Roukoz, not far from Waves waterpark, Xpark is Lebanon’s first indoor jump park spread across an impressive 3,300 square meters. Find different areas to suit every age and expert level: (1) X Mini for ages up to 6 to explore trampoline style jumping, (2) Freestyle, (3) Xpertramps for elevated performance enthusiasts, (4) XDunk for bouncing and shooting hoops, (5) soft-play for toddlers, (6) edutainment zone catering to ages 4-12, and more. Up
Read more

Lebanon's Retail Landscape In Need of Customer Service Overhaul

Image
Last weekend, I found myself visiting two different retailers with which I’d previously been unfamiliar. We received housewarming gifts that I wished to exchange for something of more utility, and after being repeatedly reassured that swapping would be effortless, I embarked on said mission. The first retailer has two branches: one in Jdeideh, north of Beirut, and another in Ballouneh, in the Ajaltoun district. The gift was purchased in Ballouneh, and I was going to attempt the exchange in Jdeideh, which is considerably closer to our home. I entered the shop and presented the item – a half dozen set of tumblers – to the two ladies seated behind the cashier desk. Almost instantly I was greeted with, “that’s an old item.” “Excuse me? This was purchased 24 hours ago from your other location,” I retorted. As though we were duking it out on a tennis court, the cashier swiftly shot back that she had to check whether they even carried this item in Jdeideh, because if they did not, she wou
Read more