Ziggy’s – The Overview…
Food: Moo Burger, Cheez Burger, Ziggy’s Fries
The details…
Inside, the loud music and busy kitchen make Ziggy’s a vibrant environment. It’s mostly catered to solo dinners or couples, although there are a few larger tables – both towards the back and outside. At the heart of their menu are their range of creative burgers. There’s also salads, sides and wraps. Being their mainstay we opted to try a couple of the burgers.
Now even though Ziggy’s have begun to expand, with a second store now in South Melbourne, there’s still a lot of heart to everything they do. You’ll enjoy 100% grass fed burger patties, and everything you find on these burgers is made right there in store. This includes all of their sauces. Try and make sure you sample their popular signature Ziggy’s sauce, whether that’s on your burger or with a side of the Ziggy’s fries.
While it’s largely self service – you order at the counter etc, it’s easy to see the passion of the staff who are always attentive and helpful. This is difficult to convey when you’re this kind of venue and Ziggy’s do this really well. Our burgers came so quickly and we watched them being promptly whipped up from scratch in front of us. It’s a great spot for an affordable, quick eat – ideal for on the way home from work or before a night out.
There’s a good balance of ingredients on the burgers, and they’re not outrageous (honestly, I’m so over out-there burgers, I want something I can actually eat with my hands). The burger patties themselves are a little bit herby, a little bit peppery and it allows them to stand their own against the well flavoured sauces. I loved the classic-ness of my moo burger but with that tangy bbq sauce to just give it a little point of difference.
The cheez came drooling with smoked cheese sauce. Fortunately it looked messier than it was and after a few initial drips it became an easy eat. The cheese sauce was quite mild – bringing that subtle smokiness without dominating the burger. It really emphasised that classic bacon and cheese combo. As with all their burgers, they’ve focused on taking those legendary burger flavours and passionately, thoughtfully creating their own spin. Other choices that also caught our eye were the ZFC (southern fried chicken) and the halloumi – which one of the chefs has declared the best burger they’ve ever eaten (despite being a dedicated meat eater).
The crispiness of the fries surprised me and even naked (the fries, I’m not suggesting you arrive to Ziggy’s clothes-less) I reckon these would taste pretty good! The Ziggys sauce however gives them a great uniqueness. On first impressions you think you’re enjoying a typical burger sauce you’d find anywhere. But then you taste the sharp tanginess before being left with a spice in the back of your throat. They’re not for the faint of heart as that sauce has a decent kick, but they’re definitely yummy!
Everything else…
Website: http://ziggyseatery.com.au/
Address: 195 Carlisle Street, Balaclava
Opening Times:
Mon 11:30am to 9:30pm
Tue 11:30am to 9:30pm
Wed 11:30am to 9:30pm
Thu 11:30am to 10pm
Fri 11:30am to 10pm
Sat 11:30am to 10pm
Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Parking: We parked in one of the side streets nearby, and found a spot pretty easily. You’ll struggle to park outside the door, but will definitely get somewhere just a few minutes walk away.
Getting here on PT: It’s about a 2 minute walk from Balaclava Station on the Sandringham line, it’s also directly on the 3, 3A and 16 tram routes (alight at Balaclava Station), and a short walk from the 78 tram (alight at Carlisle Street).
Disclaimer: We dined as guests of Ziggy’s, Balaclava. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a restaurant won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.