Der Fette Bulle — Restaurant in Frankfurt

My comments are offered in the context of the concept for this restaurant. I believe they are going for a "gourmet" burger experience.

I ordered the daily special which was a cheeseburger with tomato, pickle and red onion with French fries or a side salad for 8,99€. The special runs from 11:30-3pm. I felt this was a great price point.

I found my burger to be over cooked and underseasoned. It was actually well done (cooked throughout with maybe a hint of pink) and therefore not very juicy. The flavor would have been much better with just some salt and fresh ground pepper after cooking. IMO, burgers should be cooked to medium if not medium rare for optimal juiciness.

While there was nothing wrong with the fries, I like my fries thinner and crisper than these were, so they weren't my favorite. As for the homemade ketchup- ok, if you want to replace a well known and already good product (like ketchup), you should replace it with something that is even better. I didn't love it. It tasted more like tomato sauce and less like ketchup. Perhaps it needed more vinegar.

The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. Oddly enough, you don't smell the burgers cooking- for me, smelling the burgers on the grill makes me feel even hungrier to eat a burger!

Service: As in most German restaurants, the service mentality is to stay away unless the guest calls you to the table. I don't agree with this approach, and feel it misses an opportunity to build rapport with the guest, not to mention that it's also an opportunity to check on the meal and make sure everything came out as ordered and intended. If my server would have done that, I would have shared that my burger was overcooked. As it turned out, my server didn't ask about the meal until he came to clear the plates. Too late to fix anything. Even while taking my order, my server neglected to ask what temperature I wanted my burger cooked to. Even if all burgers are automatically cooked to medium-well, say, the server should still let the diner know and ask if he/she would like to deviate from that.

Also, the menu doesn't mention that the burgers come with ketchup as well as a special sauce/dressing on them. That information is important for people with food allergies to know. Also, it would be great if they offered a burger on top of salad greens for those who do not or cannot eat gluten.

A small thing: perhaps the grind on the meat is too fine for burgers that are cooked on a griddle (and not pressed down). When the grind is coarser, the burger crisps up better and is juicier IMO. Maybe just by adding a higher percentage of fat to the mix and not cooking past medium temp you could also achieve superior results.

Gourmet starts with the best ingredients and goes from there. The preparation must be spot on and the service should either be great or not there at all/no waitstaff. Leveraging from the concept of many outstanding gourmet burger places in the US, I would not have a waitstaff and I would increase my prices by 2-3 euros. Have customers order at the cashier and take a number back to their table. Then you only need one or two runners to bring food to the tables and to clean up the tables afterwards. Since the menu is limited to burgers plus a few other items, this should not deter from the overall customer experience.

Overall, I liked it ok but it was not great for me. Since it's the only gourmet burger restaurant I've tried in Germany, my only comparison points are based on my experience in the US. I hope they make some small changes that will make a big difference in the food and in the experience. It seems like they really want to listen to their customers and do better. With that in mind, I would give this restaurant...

Great quality, huge tasty burgers. As an American I've had my share of good burgers. I pride myself in making a killer burger and having had the pleasure to have had a few good ones around the world. I was in the Frankfurt main station area, hungry looking for a good place to catch a filling bite. So I entered this place based on other reviews. The ambiance was great, the service attentive, and the burger options different but great. I forget the name but had one of their larger signature burgers. It had 2 huge, juicy, thick and tasty patties. A bakery type brioche bun. Beef bacon (which was a first for me), chili bbq sauce , cheddar cheese, tomatoes and a bio-egg. Needless to say it stood beautifully 7 inches tall not sloppy. This is a Guy Fierri type burger, I couldnt even put my mouth over it so I had to cut it in half. I got it with delicious seasoned steak fries. For a person with a big appetite like myself this did the job. I couldnt even finish the fries. Not a bad value. This burger was 10.99 euro plus $3 for fries. Considering the location, ambiance and quality of the food a good value, not expensive. Hope to visit again next time...

If you're looking for one of the best burgers in Frankfurt, Der Fette Bulle is the place to be! From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by a relaxed, urban atmosphere with friendly staff who are always happy to help. The menu offers a great selection of burgers, including classic options and some creative variations that will satisfy any burger lover.

The quality of the ingredients is what sets this place apart. The beef patties are juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The brioche buns are soft yet sturdy enough to hold everything together. I personally tried the BBQ Bacon Burger, and it was an absolute delight—perfectly crispy bacon, smoky BBQ sauce, and a generous portion of cheese. The fries are also worth mentioning: crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and served with a variety of dips. Even when the place is busy, service remains efficient, and the food arrives fresh and hot. The pricing is reasonable for the quality you get. If you're in Frankfurt and craving a high-quality burger, Der Fette Bulle is a must-visit. Highly recommended, and I will definitely be...