In a world where restaurants find more and more things to put onto a burger, from chili to candied bacon to foie gras to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (look it up on youtube), Sweet Ecstasy bucks the trend by making exactly one basic burger, with just 4 choices to make.That's not for lack of creativity--it's due to pride of product.
Every Sweet Ecstasy burger begins with a brioche-style bun, buttered and lightly toasted. This is topped with a slice of tomato, and a lettuce leaf. Those are on the bottom. That's important, as I'll explain later. The vegetables are dressed with "Ecstasy Sauce," which for all intents and purposes is a runny Thousand Island Dressing.
The only options you have for your burger are the following:
1. How many quarter pound beef patties do you want?
2. Do you want cheese?
3. How do you want your onions?
4. Do you want a bun?
One patty without cheese is a hamburger. One with cheese is a cheeseburger, 2 patties make a double and come with 2 slices of cheese. Onions can come raw, grilled, or caramelized. Add 20 pesos and you can have your bun exchanged for a lettuce wrap.
As far as I'm concerned, this is an illusion of choice. The correct answers are the following:
1. Usually 1. If I'm starving, 2.
2. Yes, Cheese please
3. Caramelized. It's the only choice.
4. Of course. Why would I exchange that perfect bun with lettuce?
Someone used to the Mcdonald'ses and Jollibees of this world would think nothing of this setup. It's just a burger, after all. What's so special?
It's the details. While there is no new component to the classic burger formula, not even bacon, each element of the archetypal burger is brought to its peak.
The buttered, toasted brioche bun is soft and a little sweet, but the toasted insides can stand up to the juicy patties. The sweetness cuts the richness of the burger a little, especially the buttery taste adds another layer of flavor.
The bun is assisted in its resistance to juice-related flooding by the vegetables being placed on the bottom bun. The lettuce and tomato serve as a barrier to the juice running from the patty, thus preventing the dreaded collapse of the bottom bun into a greasy pancake that sticks to the roof of your mouth. The sauce is mild in flavor in order to let beefy flavors take front and center. However, whatever spices are in the sauce still manage to shine through.
As for the patties, they come cooked to medium, with a pink, juicy center and a wonderful sear on the outside. The cheese is obviously cooked on top of the burger patty rather than just laid on top during assembly. That way, it's melted without causing slippage.
Finally, the (caramelized!) onions complement the sweetness of the buns, while adding umami to the entire equation. That equation adds up to one heck of a burger. I found myself nodding in approval while juices ran down my chin the first time I had it.
Having reached the pinnacle of the burger arts, Sweet Ecstasy lets its hair down when it comes to sides and wings. The fries are alright, but the stars for me are the onion rings and especially the pickle fries. Both are fried in a light tempura batter. The onion rings are made of sweet soft onion and have a light, airy quality.
I have to talk about the pickle fries. it sounds strange, but the tang of pickles offset against that tempura crust and dipped in ecstasy sauce is just perfect. To be frank I have yet to order anything aside from burgers and fries here. However, chicken wings and milkshakes are also on offer.
Maybe I'll eventually get tired of the burger and pickle fry combo and try the wings and shakes. Probably not though. The burgers are just that good. read more