'We sold our soul for burgers’ reads the menu (in English) at Chez Burger. We salute your noble sacrifice, Chez Burger. And hoping it would turn out to be worth their midnight-at-the-crossroads moment, we went to put their prowess to the test.

Pulling up a white chair at a white table in the white-washed interior of the intimate spot, it’s immediately obvious that it’s as much about appearances here as the burgers. 

Chez Burger, which opened at the end of 2011, completes a triumvirate of consciously cool spots, alongside fashion store Surface to Air and Chez Lorena, on the same upmarket Jardins block, and all owned by the same trendy crew which set up nightclub Bar Secreto and who have, just recently, also opened another restaurant, Chez MIS. Just like Chez Lorena, the decor here is minimalist but memorable – white dominates, with mirrors reflecting naked lightbulbs strung up on lengths of knotted rope.

As for the burgers, we opted for the Secreto burger (R$27) – a recreation of a Bar Secreto favourite. The beef patty, sporting a slice of Gruyère, was delicious, served wedged in a black sesame seed-studded roll. The sauces – caramelised onion and cucumber relish – added serious yum factor. 

A big thumbs up to the joint for having a veggie burger option, but thumbs down for charging a whopping R$29, making it pricier than its beefy equivalent (and neither come with fries). The chickpea patty was plain and effectively just a falafel sandwich, which you’d never pay more than US$5 for in New York. 

One indulgence that is worth forking out for are the milkshakes. Pistachio is the house special but the torta de limão (lime pie) (R$13/$19) shake, with lime zest, was our winner.

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