Best. Burger. Ever.

A wandering eye and a willing mind can take you to delicious places. A few nights ago, they took me to the best hamburger I’ve ever enjoyed.

My friends Sarah and Greg and I had just reveled in the energy and pageantry of Olympic Beach Volleyball. Ready for some eats, we snaked our way to the Tube and headed over to the Southwark region of London, close to the famous Tower Bridge and home to the Wright Brothers restaurant, one of Sarah’s and Greg’s favorite oyster bars. Along the way to dinner, we passed through some striking architecture, traipsed along the Thames, and got a glimpse of the quiet-for-the-evening Borough Marketplace. Classic old-towne London stuff.

Just before we got to Wright Brothers, though, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a simple, neat-looking open-air restaurant off to the side. The Wright Brothers oyster bar did look fun—old wooden paneling, a healthy buzz of customers–but this outdoor patio seemed less cramped and more in line with my mood. I asked Sarah and Greg if they’d be willing to switch, and they said, “Sure, what the heck. Let’s try something new.”

That was the right choice. Elliot’s menu consists of one item, and one item only: a cheeseburger with fried potatoes. If you want choice, look to the wine menu–or head to another restaurant. “You can take things away,” described our waiter, “but you can’t add or change anything.”  In this case, the singular menu imposed no restriction. Instead, it offered clear direction.

A summer-only  venture sprung up in honor of the RAW natural wine fair and the Olympic games, Elliot’s patio uses all-local ingredients purchased that day from the Borough market next door. All the produce and livestock are grown organically, and each burger gets prepared only upon order. Fresh meat slow-cooked under cover to preserve the juices and melt the cheese. Toasted buns spread with organic dill butter. Carmelized onions that have been cooked carefully for eight—yes, eight—hours. As we soaked in the open air and dwindling London light, the preparation itself was proving tantalizing.

The first bite did not disappoint. Rich, juicy, flavor poured out, warm and smooth, and an involuntary moan—Mmm mm!—passed my lips before I wiped my chin and continued to chew away. The freshness of this food was singing in my mouth and my taste buds joined in chorus of approval. Subsequent bites showed no sign of slowing, every one as amazing as the one before. The potatoes were great, too, drizzled with homemade ketchup and a house mayo-mustard sauce. A bit of crisp, but nothing too  heavy or oily.

I don’t eat meat much these days—both in deference to my partner’s vegan diet and for a host of other ethical, financial, and health-related reasons—but this burger qualified as a worthy and welcome exception. We had enjoyed the improvisational nature of our post-volleyball wander through London, so it wasn’t too tough to let go of any laser-like focus on our original plan. The eyes had wandered to a more intriguing option so we followed our guts and then obeyed the menu’s direction.

What a reward we earned as a result!