More on KentOnline
The restaurant scene in Folkestone continues to go from strength to strength, with independents like Pick Up Pintxos and Folkestone Wine Company earning rave reviews in the national press and more new venues set to open on the ever-popular Harbour Arm.
In this competitive dining landscape, it takes something special to really stand out from the crowd. And the burgers at Lucky Chip are very special indeed.
Opened last year, this 'dive bar' situated at the crossroads of Church, Guildhall and Rendezvous Streets is the third venue in a chain which already boasts two locations in the capital.
Dimly lit and decorated with plenty of dark wood and red leather, the room has three booths down one side and tables along the other, with bar and kitchen to the rear.
Wednesday is £5 cocktail night, so taking our seats in one of the snug booths we decide to start with a margarita and a Lynchburg Lemonade, paired with a portion of hot wings to kick things off.
It's a great combination. On a warm day, both cocktails hit the spot, refreshing, zesty and with just the right kick to them.
The wings are delicious too, tender meat and a hot sauce that leaves your mouth a-tingling but stays just the right side of intensity when it comes to heat.
Things are off to a great start, but the truth is we're here for the burgers.
On previous visits I have always gone for the classic cheeseburger, because some things are best kept simple, but today we're determined to explore a bit more of the menu and give this review a bit of variety. It's hard work, but someone has to do it.
We opted for one Kevin Bacon and one Gus Fring's, both £10.50, with a side of fries and a portion of pigs in blankets. We also switched to wine, and a very easy-drinking Tempranillo which was excellently priced at £4.50 a glass.
Before we get on to the food, it's worth addressing the drinks selection at Lucky Chip as it is definitely one area in which it stands out from the crowd.
For beer lovers, there is a decent selection of craft brews from the UK and international breweries, while the extensive wine list is curated by Folkestone-based food writer and wine consultant Zeren Wilson. Alongside the excellent cocktails, this leaves you spoiled for choice when it comes to a deciding what to pair with your food.
And now for the main event. The Kevin Bacon takes the signature cheeseburger and takes the flavour up a notch with the addition of applewood smoked bacon.
It is phenomenally good. The flavours are deep, and the texture borders on the sublime, with the soft bun, the perfectly-cooked patty and the bacon uniting as one and packing each mouthful with a meaty punch.
The Gus Fring's - named in honour of the Chicken Man in hit TV show Breaking Bad - is also packed with flavour, mingling mayo with the Buffalo hot sauce used to coat the delicious hot wings we'd devoured earlier.
It's loaded with a sizable chicken breast, coated and fried, and unfortunately the meat was a touch on the dry side, but with so much flavour on show it's a minor quibble.
The fries are fries, done perfectly. Our tip would be to order the green sauce for dipping.
And while we probably could have been full up without them, I did not regret ordering the pigs in blankets, the meat was delicious and the honey mustard dressing really took things up a notch or two.
Since Lucky Chip burst onto the Folkestone scene, and I tried one of their cheeseburgers for the first time, I have wracked my brain trying to recall a better burger I have ever eaten. I failed.
If high-quality burgers, made with awesome ingredients, are your thing then get yourself down to the seaside and see what the fuss is all about. You won't be disappointed.
Out of five:
Food: Is this the best burger in Kent? I have yet to try better. And the quality of the sides means you won't go wrong, whatever you choose *****
Drink: The selection - especially the wine list - is fantastic. You'll pay a premium for the very best on the menu, but I reckon it's worth it ****
Decor: Despite being little more than a year old, the bar has the lived-in vibe of a joint that's been around for years. This is a good thing ****
Staff: Always a warm welcome in my experience, attentive but not overbearing. And the bar staff certainly mix a mean cocktail ****
Price: Some may consider it to be a tad expensive, and I understand why, but when the food and drink is this good I say it's worth every penny ****