Last time I was in Sofia, a month ago I asked the community where should be the next place I go. The overwhelming answer was Vivenda. I have heard the recommendation before so it was time for me to visit. It is a premium butchery that has a burger truck next to it and I love the idea. What better way to show the quality of your meat than a burger? I had higher than usual expectations and I’m really glad they were met and exceeded.

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How tasty is the Motherf*#$&r? – 9.5/10

After I sat down for lunch, I soon realized there was a huge queue forming for seating and take away, even though the burger joint is not at the most convenient spot. This is always a good sign.

The burger had:

  • Beef Patty
  • Crispy Bacon
  • Caramelised Onions
  • Jalapeno
  • Burger Sauce
  • Blueberry Sauce
  • Lettuce
  • White Bun

This was some really good beef. The quality was there together with a good amount of spices which had a Bulgarian feel to them. The cut was fatty enough and the patty was very juicy and full of flavour. This was a great example of high-quality beef mixed with the right amount of spices. This is an unpopular and un-purist way of cooking burgers that I think works much better overall. You should be a purist only if you are doing very simple burgers and this wasn’t the case, so good job! The bacon was well integrated into the beef’s flavour profile. They weren’t clashing but rather complementing each other. I love the fact that the entire meat story of the burger was spot on!

Caramelised onions is always a great partner with beef and bacon. I was surprised that there was no cheese in the burger but I respect that. It is difficult to balance it out with the rest of the ingredients and if it interferes with the recipe or is obsolete then don’t put it. Going back to the caramelized onions they had the right level of sweetness and tanginess that was in contrast with the powerful jalapeno peppers. Frequently the jalapenos chefs use are not the most potent ones and they lose a lot of the charm and spiciness but this wasn’t the case.

I’m so happy the lettuce was shredded as this was a very saucy burger. It was going to be a shame to see all the sauce drip away. The lettuce was plentiful and tasty so did act as a pallet cleanser.

I couldn’t put much attention to the blueberry sauce and the burger sauce they had. It was kind of being lost in between the heavy flavours. I believe the burger sauce had a carrot base and on its own was tasty but the caramelised onions, jalapeno, beef and bacon were overshadowing it. My biggest gripe with the burger is the bun that got very soggy from all the sauces. It was crispy on the outside which was great but very quickly it became difficult to handle, I would have loved a bit more toast on it.

Burger joint venue and overall experience? – 7/10

I was pretty happy with the choice of drinks, sides and other meals. The fries were nice you have a selection of craft beers and overall good quality of meat.

Quirkiness level of the experience? – 5/10

The atmosphere is nice. Nothing strange in the experience. Having a burger joint in the form of a bus to market the premium butchery is a smart idea though!