Phantom Gourmet: Burgers At Bred In Dorchester
DORCHESTER -There's a brand new burger joint in Dorchester that's for serious burger lovers only. Bred, in the Lower Mills section of Dorchester is a new take out spot where gourmet burgers are sizzled up, piled up, wrapped up, and eaten up, by customers who have quickly made this place an instant classic.
"I grew up in Dorchester and I remember when something new would open, everyone would flock to that, and that's definitely been the case here," said Manager Kinesha Goldson.
Unlike all those big burger chains that are popping up around the area, Bred is as homegrown as it gets, thanks to Kinesha and owner Tambo Barrow.
"Just growing up here, I feel like I knew what the neighborhood needed," said Tambo.
Of course it all starts with the burger. At Bred they use beef from Maine Family Farms that they squish into shape right on the flattop, to create maximum flavor.
"We squish it on the grill just to keep some of the juices in the patty while it's cooking," Kinesha explained. "Once we press it down a little bit, we add the seasoning to it, and then we put the iron back on that, and that keeps all of the flavor in it."
First timers usually opt for Bred's classic: a cheeseburger stacked with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and bacon.
"It's just so good. It's like melt your face good," Kinesha said. "A lot of people they come in and they try it and that's the first burger they try, and then they just kind of get stuck in that."
If you can pull yourself away from the classic, the Maui Burger is an excellent option.
"The Maui it's like on a whole different playing field. That has fried plantains, M&M Ribs barbecue sauce, grilled pineapple, fried ham, and crispy fried onions on there," Kinesha listed. "It's just the perfect mesh of flavors. I always describe it as one of those things where if you like the sweet and salty combination, that's the perfect burger."
If Greek cuisine is your thing, order the Olympus, featuring a grass fed patty topped with red onion, cucumber, roasted red peppers, crumbled feta, Kalamata olives, and creamy tzaiziki.
"It tastes like heaven," said Kinesha. "It's literally all of the things that everyone likes about Greek food. You have the feta; you have the tzaiziki, roasted red peppers, olives, and just all of those flavors coming together. It's amazing."
There are more than just beef burgers at Bred, like a homemade Sweet Potato Veggie Burger topped with apple slices and goat cheese; a Jerk Salmon Burger with crispy onion strings; and a Turkey Burger with shaved celery, blue cheese and buffalo slaw.
Of all the different styles of burger on the menu, none are more decadent than the Parisian. This classy combo stacks grass fed bison with brie cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, mushrooms, and a perfectly fried egg. It's fine dining flavors, at a fast food price.
"I would say it's the kind of burger that you get when you sit down at a fancy restaurant, but you get to skip all of that. So you don't have to get dressed up to come here. You can pick it up; you can go home, eat it in the comfort of your own home," said Kinesha.
To go along with all of Bred's great burgers are some vitamin packed smoothies. They may seem a bit out of place, until you find out that Tambo is a bit of a health nut who spends plenty of time at the gym - except on the days he punching out all of the restaurant's hand cut fries.
"When we cut two barrels of fries, you'd be surprised at how much energy you exert," Tambo said. "You don't even have to go to the gym that day."
Any day is good to lift a couple baskets of Bred's fries, whether you go for the original, sweet potato, or indulgent Truffle Parmesan.
After some fries and a burger, and maybe even a smoothie, you just need a little something sweet. Kinesha's homemade French Macarons always hit the spot, but please, don't confuse these Macarons, with Macaroons.
"Macaroons are like shredded coconut that usually have a little bit of chocolate drizzle on them, and Macarons are made with almond flour, and then they have a filling on the inside. So it can be a salted caramel, or a chocolate ganache, or a buttercream. But they're just a really, really fun snack," described Kinesha.
In fact, everything about Bred is fun, and since customers order at the counter with a full view of the open kitchen, everyone gets to know each other. Eating here, and working here, is like a party.
"We want our customers to have the same experience that we have when we come to work," Kinesha said. "We have fun, we laugh, and we enjoy the food."
You can find Bred at 2255 Dorchester Ave. in Dorchester, and online at bredgourmet.com.
Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.