The Cheeseburger
A Delightful Classic

Location: 19 Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD
Dish: Cheeseburger Combo or Double Cheeseburger
Price: $7 - $13 each
Website: http://www.betterburger.co.nz

Our first stop of the crawl is to the vibrant Better Burger found on Vulcan Lane. With a mission statement of “Better doesn’t have to be complicated”, you know that simple yet perfectly executed is what you will get. Their menu consists of 4 burgers, a couple of drinks and fries. That’s all. By keeping their menu small, their quality and consistency are high.

The burger of choice will be a decision made by how you approach this crawl. It is highly recommended that you go for a Double Cheeseburger by itself, but if you are game enough, the combo can provide you with their delicious fries.

As is becoming more commonplace these days, a secret menu is in place. We opted for getting a Cheeseburger combo, upgrading the fries to the "Epic Fries". Please note, these are not for the faint of heart. Crispy fries covered in grilled onions, and doused in mustard and special sauce, they can be a little overpowering at times but full of flavour. I would recommend asking them to go a little light on the mustard.

When it comes to the main attraction, the cheeseburger follows all the traits required for greatness. Homemade honey bun, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, pickles, and onions, cheese, angus patty, and their special sauce. These burgers aren’t the biggest ones found on the crawl but are surely the best value.

Once you are finish up here, it's a brisk walk down the road to our second location.

Location: 18 Fort Street, Auckland CBD
Dish: Big Brown
Price: $13.90 split between 2
Website: http://www.velvetburger.co.nz

There is something to be said about places with burger in their names, they know their way around a grill.

Velvet Burger, located on Fort Street, have made a name for themselves of doing great burgers and doing in big. With an interior closer to that of a bar than a restaurant, it's a great environment to sit down and have a beer with the meal.

Our burger of choice that best resembles a cheeseburger is the Big Brown. Often (and recommended) paired with a Double Brown, place an order and take a seat at a booth in the back.

This burger is no small task to eat. Double patties, double cheese, salad, aioli and relish on a large bun, it’s a great sight to see once it hits the table. The burger as a whole is greatly enjoyed but the relish is the star of the show. Tangy and sweet, it brings everything to a whole other level and makes this burger my personal favourite of the crawl.

For those up to the challenge, an alternative of an even greater variety is available. The Manburger is not for the faint of heart, with a beef patty, venison patty, lamb patty, crumbed chicken breast, streaky bacon, cheese, aioli , and their delicious velvet relish. One bite of this and you will hit the daily serving of five meats a day every man should meet.

Once you have finished your burger, it's a 2 minute stroll down the road to a New Zealand favourite.

Location: 13 Customs Street E, Auckland CBD
Dish: C N Cheese MKII
Price: $12.50 split between 2
Website: http://www.burgerfuel.co.nz

BurgerFuel has been a family favourite within New Zealand for many years. I'm sure most readers have tried their burgers and have a personal favourite, but as this is a cheeseburger crawl, there is but one item on the menu we should be looking at, the C N Cheese MKII.

With a large menu and restaurants spanning the entirety of New Zealand, their burgers are tried and true. The C N Cheese MKII is probably the most unique burger of the crawl, with melted cheddar, grated parmesan, and creamy mascarpone, it's a treat for cheese lovers.

C N Cheese MKII, Creamy Goodness

If you are a little less game on the flavour combinations, an American Muscle single or double would be a suitable replacement. Meat, cheese, pickles, sauces, delicious.

Seldom do I leave BurgerFuel without getting their Spud Fries, with Aioli. Thick cut fries with the best aioli you will ever try, a chip connoisseur’s dream.

Pick yourself up and make your way back up the road to our final destination, Al’s Deli.

Location: 12 O'Connell Street, Auckland CBD
Dish: Al Burger
Price: $14 split between 2
Website: http://alsdeli.co.nz

Our final stop on this crawl is the quaint Al’s Deli Brewhouse. Having come almost full circle, we are ready to have out final meal. This restaurant is a smaller offshoot of the larger Al’s Deli brand. Built to house and serve their craft beers, it's a different experience from the larger location on Upper Queen Street.

The Brioche Bun Gives Larger Volume

The last burger on our crawl is simply called the Al Burger. 150g Angus patty, special sauce, cheese, pickles, onion, tomatoes, and lettuce, served on a homemade brioche bun. This is a Montreal take on a classic and can be a little strange at first. The brioche bun makes for a different taste with a much sweeter, doughy bread.

If you are feeling up to it, there are plenty of other items on the menu, especially in the desert section. A craft beer could fit well with the meal, but the main attraction is the Canadian favourite, poutine. Fries topped with cheese curds, gravy and optionally pulled pork, it's the greatest side to be found from any of the restaurants.