The sloppy joe at the Navigation
Since being taken over by new owners in the summer, The Navigation has undergone a makeover, started to build a rep as a gig and event venue, and – most importantly for this section of the website – has swooped in to recruit Annie and her renowned Burger Shack from the Old Angel. This makes the Nav a pretty hectic place at the best of times; when we rocked up there were three Rockabilly bands playing downstairs, and a craft fair on upstairs.
As at the Angel, each of the burgers have a theme, mainly musical, with relevant toppings. The ‘Thin Lizzy’ (£6.90) has Guinness as an ingredient, whilst the heart-stopping ‘Elvis’ (£6.90) has peanut butter and jam. There’s three options for fries - straight, curly and wedges – and it’s all presented on a wooden slat with a couple of sliced gherkins for garnish. Another huge tick in the ‘win’ column for this place is that, unlike other places where vegetarians are often fobbed off with one or two options on the menu, all 24 of the burgers on the menu can be made for vegans and vegetarians, while the actual beef is locally sourced.
My friend and I opt for the ‘Howlin’ Lord’ (£7.50) and the ‘BB King’ (£6.90), our choices possibly subliminally dictated to us by the Blues tunes that fill the pub when we first got there. The latter is drenched in BBQ Sauce and topped with onions and cheese. We take the Quorn option, but it’s more than enough to satiate even the meatiest of appetites. Eating it is a sloppy, but fun experience as the sauce makes its way all over my face and hands. It’s not often that I can say that the simple act of eating a burger is an outright delight, but this is one time when it definitely is.
Our second choice - the ‘Howlin’ Lord’ - consists of cheddar, jalapeños, black olives, onions, peppers, chilil paste and – gasp - a whole grilled Scotch bonnet pepper. When ordering it, I was advised by the relentlessly cheerful and super-helpful Annie that I’ll need a fire extinguisher. My companion dares me to eat the Scotch bonnet pepper whole. I do, because I’m an idiot. I step through the looking glass into a world of searingly hot sweats and dizzy lightheadedness. According to my companion, who has not immolated his tastebuds, the actual burger is spicy and sweet in equal measure, but not overpowered by heat and is bursting with flavour.
Annie’s Burger Shack proudly claims to serve the best authentic American burgers in the UK. And you know what? They’re probably right.
6 Wilford Street, NG2 1AA. Tel: 0115 8087280
The Navigation website
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