Fuddruckers, or Fudds, as it’s affectionately known, proudly claims to serve ‘The World’s Greatest Hamburgers’ so, as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary in Bahrain, Liz O’Reilly went along to try them for herself.

I am, and always have been, a big fan of Fudds’ breakfasts. I can often be found tucking in at my desk, my colleagues drooling over the delicious aroma emanating from my regular Western Omelette Platter and hash brown potatoes.

That said, it’s been a good while since I’ve actually visited one of the restaurants so, with that proud boast ringing in my ears, I was excited to head down and check out a brand-new meaty offering.

The Adliya branch that my companions and I visited is bright and welcoming. Yellow and red seating with large TVs showing various sports as R&B music plays in the background, make for a fun atmosphere. A cosy corner with comfy easy chairs, more large TVs dedicated to sporting events and walls decorated by American football team crests beckoned us to settle in for the afternoon. These game zones can be found in both the Adliya and Al Liwan, Hamala branches.

I was specifically there to try the newest offering, the Triple Cheese Double Smash Burger, of which more later. But first, we opted for a selection from the massive menu to get our taste buds in the mood.

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We chose a Classic Caesar Salad and Lemon & Pepper Shrimp to share as starters. I loved the salad, not just for the crispy lettuce and generous amounts of parmesan shaves and crunchy croutons – all of which were, indeed, impressive – but more for the fact that it was not drowned in dressing. Much as I enjoy the delicate mix of garlic, Dijon mustard et al, far too many places give in to the temptation to lash it on so thickly that no other flavour stands a chance. That was not the case here and the salad was all the better for it.

The shrimp too were a triumph. Fat and juicy, hand battered and accompanied by an aioli sauce of garlic paste, parsley and mustard which caused one of my dining companions a mini foodgasm at the first bite.

I decided to try the American Breakfast to see how it would measure up to my much-loved desk version and, oh my! To say they had me at the sausages would be a complete understatement. I don’t think I have ever eaten a good beef or chicken sausage and I was certainly skeptical. But Fudds’ beef sausages made me a believer. They’re super tasty made with the perfect combination of herbs and beef that is neither so lean as to be chewy nor so fatty as to leave an unpleasant residue. They say every day’s a school day and I definitely learned a lesson.

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One of my dining companions went for the Rosemary Barbecue Chicken which is a huge plate containing two charbroiled chicken breasts glazed with rosemary barbecue sauce and topped with cheddar cheese and bacon. Additions of steamed veggies, a baked potato and Texas toast made this a dish too far but she really enjoyed the tender chicken breasts with their flavoursome sauce before admitting defeat half way through the potato.

The other dived into the Cowboy Burger – a charbroiled burger glazed with chipotle BBQ sauce topped with balsamic onion relish and melted cheddar cheese served with mixed lettuce, sliced tomatoes and chipotle mayonnaise dressing on a freshly baked bun. This went down so well that he was, in fact, speechless!

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At last, it was time for me to try that Triple Cheese Double Smash Burger and I was more than a little excited since the three cheeses in question were mozzarella, cheddar and blue – three of my absolute favourites. The new burger was borne proudly to my table and looked amazing. Big chunky, juicy beef patties one atop the other with the warm cheese melting gently down the sides. The accompaniments of fresh onions and secret burger sauce added to high-quality, wellseasoned beef and the totally winning cheese combo made for a complete taste explosion. If you try one new thing on your next Fudds trip, make sure it’s this. You won’t be disappointed. You’d think we’d be stuffed by now, right? And you would be correct. But there’s always room for dessert, no? So, we finished our feast with a Fudds Volcano – a meal in itself. Chocolate cake with an explosion of chocolate sauce served with a chocolate-dome-coated vanilla ice cream. Do I even need to say more? I don’t think so. ✤

GO: CALL 1774 2266 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.