The American-style burger restaurant is the brainchild of Icelandic entrepreneur Tomas Tómasson, who has launched nearly 20 restaurants and hotels across his country, including the Hard Rock Café.
“We are hugely excited about bringing our burgers to London as the capital has a huge appetite for them right now,” said Tómasson.
“Having eaten one every day for the last eight years and travelling the world trying out different styles, I know that a good burger joint should be fun, relaxed and most importantly taste great, so we hope Londoners enjoy our take on the burger phenomenon.”
The new 25-cover diner will be overseen by head chef Siggi Gunnlaugsson, one of the group’s most senior chefs who has now relocated to the UK. The menu will be simple; based on a selection of burgers including beef, chicken and vegetarian.
On the menu
As with all Tommi’s Burger Joint’s in Iceland, burgers will be cooked on an American gas grill to enhance the charcoal flavour, and garnished in the classic diner style with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, chopped onion and ketchup. Meat will be carefully sourced from the UK, and course ground by hand on site to a recipe that Tómasson has perfected over several decades in the business.
A selection of alternative American classics will also feature on the menu, including the rib eye steak and chicken in a honey sauce. Fries, béarnaise and cocktail sauces plus a selection of ‘interesting’ soft drinks, complete the offering.
The venue will have an informal, vintage-style interior with mismatched recycled furniture, banquette seating and high retro stools. American memorabilia and movie posters will adorn the site’s walls. Food comes served packaged in ‘nostalgic’ brown paper bags.
The first Tommi's Burger Joint opened in April 2004 in Reykjavik, followed by four more in the Icelandic capital and one in Hafnarfirði.
Tommy’s Burger Joint is situated at 58 Marlyebone Lane and opens today (6 August 2012). For more information, visit www.burgerjoint.co.uk.