Engraved in our memory as a childhood guilty pleasure, burgers and fries spur some of the most heated arguments when it comes to picking your favourite spots.
Those who are more skilled open up a restaurant, or a cart, to prove their point.
Grilled was one such spot born out of pure passion.
"The year 2014 was when all the burger carts were popping up; I knew I had more if not the same passion for food to have a cart of my own", said founding partner Sadat Rahman.
Their labour of love went from being a cart to a small restaurant in 2014.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneFood
Their "Big Mama" is essentially a crispy chicken burger that lives up to its name in terms of spice and how big the flavours are.
This giant burger has a deep-fried chicken patty smeared with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions stuffed inside two brioche buns.
The mix of garlic mayo and chilli jam makes for a tarty yet pungent creamy texture with a vital smack of tang on your tongue.
The noticeable spread is also to be appreciated.
The staple toppings of a hearty burger include some fresh lettuce and tomatoes topped with jalapenos to give you that last bit of punchy heat, and this fried chicken burger brings you a whirlwind of flavours in one single bite.
Make your first bite a big one for this deliciousness, and you will not regret it.
Served with a side of potato crisps, this one is a treat.
If you are not a big fan of burgers, this unconventional cross between southern flavours within a ground round can bring you closer to loving burgers or, at the very least, giving them a chance.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneIn contrast to their crackling (literally and otherwise) fried chicken burger, the classic cheese and mushroom burger has a succulent beef patty, an impeccable umami mushroom sauce combined with lettuce, and some ripe and nippy pickles.
The caramelized onions add a sweet flavour to the famed burger, and if this is, in fact, one of your classic favourites, this cheese and mushroom plate of comfort only adds to your love for this delicacy.
Just eat it while it's still hot, though. You can relish the melting cheese and oozing mushroom sauce that much more.
Their OG (original) chilli cheese fries are a specialty where the fries are splotched in ragu sauce with melted cheddar cheese and an abundance of ground beef for the meat lover in you.
A dollop of that ragu sauce brings in an element of innovation and creates a mouthwatering braising tomato roux masterfully blending in the ground meat.
Some green onions are duly added to finish with a pop of colour to the dominantly red and golden yellow plate.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneWhile the fries are well-seasoned and at par with the sauce they come with, the sauce takes over your taste buds so that you will only pick up the fry to coat it with that scrumptious sauce and gorge on it.
Their Shawarma wrap includes some chicken, potato flakes, and saporous greens.
The rotisserie chicken is well marinated with whole spices and makes for mind-blowingly tender bites wrapped in a warm flour tortilla and split in two, making it instantly shareable.
While this shawarma is enjoyable, it lacks a wow fact that would take it a notch higher than any other shawarma you may have tasted.
The price range for a meal at Grilled ranges from Tk150 to Tk440 all inclusive.
Ambiance
The interior is sleek with contrasting lighting. The spotlights are projected explicitly in certain areas, while others are more secluded for privacy.
The chairs are Hardwood brown, which contrasts with the darkened floor.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneOne of the walls sport a painted cinnamon canary-hued sketch of the city landscape with the spotlight directed at them.
The jagged pink shaded "G" stands out on the wall beside the chairs and desks.
Red and balloons are scattered atop the slowing decor to welcome you into what promises to be a lively ambiance, with a serene outdoor space, bringing you the peace of mind you need in the evening or maybe even in the middle of the day.
Challenges
While Grilled has had a cult following in Dhanmondi since 2014, the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 brought their operations to an unprecedented halt, calling for a location shift once they decided to re-launch in January 2023.
"I closed down on March 25, 2020 and the place we were in was too run down to start up again," said Rahman
The restaurant is stationed at a bigger spot in Dhanmondi; however, more space meant a two-year hiatus to start operating again.
"It's a pretty big spot. We've moved from a 40% seating capacity to 80. So it took us two years. Covid also made it difficult to start it up again," He added.
Like for others in the restaurant industry, the inflation hikes have also greatly impacted them.
"I used to buy meat for Tk320. I'm buying it right now at Tk825," He said. And I had to change my prices accordingly, but our customers are very understanding," he also said.
Verdict
Go enjoy some of the most flavourful burgers, and just about the best( you read that right) chilli cheese fries, not just in Dhanmondi.
What are you waiting for, then?
Remember to try their Big Mama as well.