In Yangon, many bars and restaurants are cautiously reopening amid the “new normal” of COVID-19 prevention measures. Among these are Garbo, a bar inside the Melia Yangon Hotel, which has introduced a new Giant Burger Set menu, as well a Beer Buffet, to announce its comeback. This enormous set menu offers Yangon’s first genuinely “giant burger”.
The Irrawaddy accepted an invitation to a food tasting a few days ago at Garbo. At the entrance to the hotel, staff checked the body temperatures of all those wishing to enter and requested that we clean our hands with sanitizer. Located on the ground flood of the Melia Yangon Hotel, Garbo has a classic, stylish, dazzling atmosphere, but the staff are friendly.
The bar is spacious and filled with luxurious furnishings. During our visit, the bar wasn’t busy and we were the only diners requesting a table. So, even with the soft background music, the bar was quieter than usual, but we enjoyed the fully chill vibe.
To observe social distancing, the tables have been spaced widely apart and have a limited number of seats. All the staff wore face masks.
When the weather permits, diners can also sit in the bar’s outside area, though there is no view.
While waiting for our Giant Burger we started with a beer, taking advantage of the bar’s Beer Buffet, a free-flow beer package available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day. The cost is only US$10 (about 13,700 kyats) a person, plus government tax and service charge.
We didn’t have to wait long for our Giant Burger Set, a creation of Garbo’s chef that includes a super-sized burger, french fries and one liter of Myanmar draught beer.
When we saw the burgers, everyone in our group was shocked at the size of them and gasped: “Oh my god!” Honestly, the burgers were bigger than our mouths.
Between two golden homemade buns were stuffed 1 kilogram of juicy beef, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheddar cheese. The smell of the patty was mouthwatering. For ease of eating, the chef sliced each burger into eight pieces; each piece seemed to be the size of a regular patty.
From the first bite, the homemade bun and tender, juicy beef patty with a perfectly pinkish-red center were absolutely delicious. The mixture of crispy bacon, onion, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and Garbo’s secret homemade burger sauce combined perfectly on the tongue.
The burger is juicy, rich and flavorful. The problem for us was the sheer size of it; each portion was equal to two normal burgers, and we weren’t able to finish ours. In reality, one piece is enough for one person, so five or six friends could probably share a set.
The Giant Burger Set will be available starting Friday for $45 a person, not including tax and service charge. It’s worth it given the size of each plate, and makes for an enjoyable occasion to share with friends.
So, if you want to go a bar with friends but are still wary of crowded places because of the pandemic, Garbo might be the perfect choice—and its Giant Burger Set is a must try.
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