00:00 I'd like to stress that this is not just for me.
00:02 These are the kind of burgers that you just want to be alone with.
00:05 My outright winner, drum roll please.
00:08 I'm Jimmy, a journalist, a restaurant critic and now a judge in the best independent restaurant
00:16 of the year category at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards.
00:20 I am off on a tour to find the national winner from your nominees.
00:26 And what better place to start than here,
00:28 on my home turf, South East London, White Men Can't Jerk.
00:32 White Men Can't Jerk is such a kind of iconic spot on brand,
00:39 but once it means a new guy, we just massive words this night.
00:42 As our famous jerk chicken and chips.
00:46 The meat is just falling apart, it's uncompromising in the best possible way.
00:51 To crown the winner, we will be judging our restaurants on five categories.
00:56 What an unbelievable way to kick things off.
01:00 Next stop, one of my absolute favorite cities, Bristol, Benin.
01:05 Hello Jimmy, welcome to the Dhamaka.
01:06 What's the story of Dhamaka?
01:08 Dhamaka is a Hindi word which actually means an explosion.
01:12 Everything is vibrant, loud.
01:14 Wow.
01:15 Most of the Indian restaurants, they have this one pot kind of sauce,
01:18 whereas our butter chicken sauce has been very different to a chicken.
01:20 There it is from the tandoor, look at that char.
01:23 No shortcuts, I love it.
01:24 And that's all just for me.
01:26 Oh, the cream, the thickness of that.
01:28 Oh my goodness.
01:31 The quality of the food is really what has clearly made Dhamaka such a local favorite.
01:38 We have arrived in Dublin, a place synonymous with good times,
01:45 and I'm here to meet a very special restaurant.
01:48 So push.
01:50 Hi Jimmy, welcome to Euros.
01:53 What is the thing about Euros that you think is special?
01:56 The passion that we have to bring Greek food to Dublin.
02:00 I've always wanted to do this.
02:02 I've got the job.
02:06 Let's start with this here.
02:07 Mmm, oh my god, absolutely brimming.
02:10 It's a meal in a pitta.
02:11 Vibrant sunshine flavor.
02:15 The feedback is off the charts good.
02:18 So I mean, got my head's up.
02:23 Welcome to Edinburgh.
02:24 Alex.
02:25 I'm Jimmy, nice to meet you.
02:26 What is the Luxford Burgers secret sauce as it were?
02:30 Everything is done in-house,
02:31 thinking about every single layer that goes into that burger.
02:34 Let's go in.
02:35 These are the kind of burgers that you just want to be alone with.
02:40 Cauliflower bites.
02:41 Mmm, intense indulgent flavors.
02:44 We're in Sheffield, Steel City, Slap and Pickle.
02:50 We've kept the industrial vibe.
02:52 It's just a great place to eat a burger.
02:53 What is it that sets Slap and Pickle apart?
02:56 I have to say the beef.
02:57 Our beef's at least 29 months
02:59 and it's obviously where that flavor comes from.
03:01 And here we are.
03:02 Oh my goodness, look at this.
03:04 Quote, the best cheeseburger on the planet.
03:08 Amazing.
03:08 See that?
03:09 Wow.
03:11 That is an outrageously good cheeseburger.
03:16 It's going to be very exciting to see how this all pans out.
03:21 So here we are, I'm on the train home after an incredible trip,
03:25 visiting some amazing restaurants,
03:27 all offering something really special,
03:30 all really close.
03:31 It's a matter of a few points here and there.
03:33 But the winner, the outright winner for me, drumroll please.
03:39 Miro's.
03:41 I just was absolutely blown away by each aspect of what they're doing.
03:46 Brand personality, flavor in every little pocket,
03:49 biodegradable packaging,
03:51 taking a club sandwich and turning it into a Greek inspired pizza.
03:56 Masterful stuff.
03:57 But congratulations to Miro.
03:59 Congratulations for being the winner.
04:02 I loved what they stood for.
04:03 I loved what they represented.
04:05 And you, of course, get to see the best of the best every day.
04:08 Next time I'm in Dublin, I'm definitely doing it.
04:09 To be honest, I needed backup with some of those plates of food.
04:12 Thank you.
04:12 Thank you.
04:13 My pleasure.
04:13 Does sell.
04:14 It's really good.
04:15 I did.
04:16 The way you described it, I got so excited.
04:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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