Uncle Georges — Restaurant in Wollongong City Council

If you’re looking for expensive oil burgers this is the place for you!

We went here with the kids as it looks really nice and what kid doesn’t like burgers and fries?! Our order was four burgers, a chicken taco, fries and four shakes, totalling a grand price of $140!

The first red flag appeared while I was ordering. A lady had returned her meal stating the meat wasn’t cooked properly to which a staff member (possibly the owner/manager) pulled out a torch to inspect the patty. He then proceeded to argue with her that the meat was cooked at xyz degrees and as such is cooked properly. I wish I had heard that before I paid as it just got worse from there. Angry defensive manager guy aside, the staff here are really nice.

First to come out were the shakes, which by definition should actually be called ice cream in a cup with a straw garnish. This is the only shake I’ve had that comes served with a spoon as its main way of consuming the “beverage”. Fortunately the ice cream was nice so it’s not a complete loss there.

Next up was the chicken taco. This wasn’t bad and the chicken was perfectly cooked, however for the price a much cheaper alternative would be a crispy chicken slider from KFC as the only difference between them is the KFC sauce is much nicer.

Then came the burgers. This is where the wheels completely fell off the wagon. The meat wasn’t cooked through for a start. While I’m a huge fan of medium rare steak, there’s something quite off putting eating a medium rare mince patty. The meat crumbles leaving small raw jelly bits in your mouth. It would be a blessing if that was the only issue but alas, while you’re pulling a face working out what it is you’ve just put in your mouth you’ve got oil to contend with. So. Much. Oil. At first you might think “wow this is a juicy burger” but the more you look at it the more you realise it’s not juice, it’s oil. So much oil it starts pooling in the lid of the container it’s served in. The burgers are wet which makes the entire process of eating it a messy, disgusting task. My daughter was particularly grossed out as it was pooling in her hand before running into the carton and pooling there.

The chips were just that. Chips. Nothing particularly special there except their incredibly high price point considering they are the size of a medium McDonald’s chips.

Would I ever go here...

George is just this dude who really loves burgers. Local Wollongong man who's been in the community for ages, has vacationed in the States many times and has always wanted to start a burger shop back at home and here it is. The inspiration is both from mid-last century New York dining hall interiors, 1950-60s jazz bars, etc, combined with but the love for American burgers like Shake Shack's, he tells me. His burger is NOT a Shake Shack dupe and don't let anyone tell you it is lol. Different bun, larger-sized, more heavily seasoned (borderline tuning required, feedback given!) and quite noticeably much more beefy-tasting! It reminds me more of holding a classic Aussie milk bar burger in hand, if you take out the beetroot and add in better meat and sauce. Uncle Georges is a month old only, so I'm excited to see how they keep it up over the next few months. It's a small menu of three different burgers and tacos, hot chips (they have a salt and vinegar available or chicken salt!), and these fantastic gelato thick shake swirls that are definitely less shake and more a thick gelato soft serve. The flavours are great, really rich, super thick. They're more dessert than beverage to me and hence are really good for the price. About $10 for that and $20 for the burgers. Also noting that the gelato flavours are batched fresh and the patties are minced daily with Aussie beef (wagyu and black angus mix) if you appreciate that level of...

Uncle George’s is hands down one of the best burger joints around. I’ve been twice now and both times the burgers have been absolutely on point. Cooked perfectly, packed with flavour, and none of this “oil pooling everywhere” business that others have mentioned. My experience has been the exact opposite: well-balanced, juicy and enjoyable from the first bite to the last.

The vibe here is great, really chilled and welcoming, and the customer service is excellent. The staff genuinely make you feel looked after, which is rare these days.

I also want to push back on some of the criticism I’ve seen about pricing. $20 for a burger is the norm now. Whether you’re at His Boy Elroy, Sneaky Burger, or any other local decent burger place, that’s the going rate. Complaining about price in 2025 doesn’t really stack up when it’s industry standard.

Overall, if you want a top-notch burger in a good atmosphere with great service, Uncle George’s is the spot....