Angus Beef Burger with Cheddar at Sylvan Post, Forest Hill
First up, apologies for the worst food photo ever taken. Photography in dark bars is not my forte. I would have taken this burger to a better lit area if I were not so hungry. Sorry.
Sylvan Post is one of the new additions to Forest Hill that happened after both the Overground arrived and I moved out. It coincided with the SEE3 project, an initiative headed by Mary Portas to boost the businesses of Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham. The pub was not part of that scheme, but is a welcome addition to a high street with few places to eat.
It is on the site of a disused 1960s post office and has kept some of the original features of the building which, combined with some vintage furniture and interesting artwork, makes a warm and welcoming pub. They have quite an extensive beer menu, offering a range of bottled beers, as well as some on tap. The menu is largely British bistro food with a few international influences and seasonal ingredients.
I ordered the burger, billed simply as an ‘Angus Beef Burger’ (£10.50 with chips) and added some cheddar at a further £1. You could also add blue cheese and bacon for the same price.
Without much description on the menu, I was not entirely sure what to expect, but was not disappointed. I could see the shine on the brioche bun before the plate even reached the table, and they were definitely not stingy on the side. There was definitely value for money on the cheese, as the patty was topped with a slab of cheddar so enormous that I feared what kind of dreams I would be having that night. Having removed the slice of tomato and most of the raw red onion inside the burger (for me, neither add anything good – pickled red onions on the other hand…) I noticed that it was missing some of the additions that really make a burger. For me, some gherkins and a sauce, either mustard or ketchup.
That being said, the patty was very, very well seasoned and cooked perfectly pink in the middle whilst retaining the outer crisp. The abundance of cheddar may be too much for some but I loved it. Given a few little extras, this would be an excellent burger worth venturing to Zone 3 for. Also, the chips were homemade, which is a rarity in pubs and such a delight. They were not quite as good at my Mum’s, but that’s an impossible standard to live up to for anybody.
Sylvan Post, 24-28 Dartmouth Road, London SE23 3XZ
Six Hundred and Seven Square Miles 