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Would you like fries with that?” asked the waitress as I ordered my burger. It’s a question I’ve been asked 100 times before in burger bars. But Burger Burger is as far removed from the average
High Street fast food joint as is possible.

The gourmet burger restaurant, which opened last month, forms the corner-piece of the Brewery leisure and dining complex. Set over two floors, the big windows (perfect for people watching), exposed brickwork and polished wooden floors evoke New York loft style. The designers have also cleverly incorporated some of the original features of the former Flowers brewery building, giving an air of industrial chic. Automatic glass doors open into a bar and small dining area, while upstairs is the main restaurant and kitchen. The staff, who all look like they’ve walked off the set of a Gap commercial, are a joy – polite and bubbly, without being over the top.

Owner Simon Hall spent months researching the perfect burger on both sides of the Atlantic and claims his to be the best in Cheltenham, if not the world. And there’s no disputing that they’re good. The meat is all Cotswold beef and lamb and the chicken is free-range, sourced locally from Winchcombe. The burger buns come from Hobbs House Bakery in Nailsworth and the chips, sauces and relishes are made on the premises daily. The burgers come in three different sizes. The ‘regular’ is a 7oz burger or if you’re really hungry, you can have the ‘stopper’, a full 10oz of beef. My wife and I both went for ‘slider s’, a unique combination of three mini 2oz burgers – perfect if you want to try more than one variety. Once you’ve chosen your size, the next decision is what to have in it. There’s the old favourites – including the Classic (£6), beefburger, beef tomato, red onion, lettuce, relish and mayo, as well as Cheese (£6.50) and Bacon Cheese (£7.20). The more adventurous could try the Spicy Sanchez (£7.50) with guacamole, jalapeno paste and chilli salsa, Big Blue (£7.50) with blue cheese and onion marmalade or the Hawaiian (£7.50) with chargrilled pineapple and streaky bacon. There are also two different types of chicken and lamb burgers, two vegetarian options and the bizarrely named Leo Sayer, a Cumberland sausage with all the trimmings in a ciabatta.

Burger Burger says it’s not fast food but not slow either and by the time I’d finished a vanilla milkshake (£3.50) that was to die for, my deluxe triple (£9.50) was on the table. It came with skinny fries and red coleslaw (both £2), which I shared with my wife. The food tasted fresh and delicious – a million miles away from the usual takeaway rubbish. The beef was succulent and the bread was warm and soft. Desserts are also home-made and include brownies, banoffee pie and New York cheesecake or you can indulge in ice-cream made with Jersey milk (£1.40 a scoop). Burger Burger is pulling in customers by offering them what they really want – good quality, fresh ingredients in pleasant surroundings.

Ronald McDonald should be shaking in his over size red boots.