The last time I enjoyed a mutton burger was two decades ago, right before the fast-food eatery concerned went south in quality. So it was full-on taste nostalgia at Wendy’s in Gurgaon, adjacent to Delhi—the first Indian outpost of the 46-year-old chain founded by Dave Thomas.
The good stuff
Wendy’s has a fairly large menu with chicken, mutton and vegetarian options. And they serve at the table after you order.
What they call “old-fashioned”, I call home-made, and that’s one of the USPs here. Everything, from the burger to the fries, tastes like it has been made at home; nothing seems synthetic. I was surprised to see brioche buns as the bun base for many burgers on the menu—and even more surprised at the Indian spin: It contains extra butter, a pinch of turmeric but no eggs, keeping vegetarians in mind. Also, all their burger buns are square, “because they don’t cut corners”.
The Ultimate Mutton (Rs.199) contains a 114g mutton patty, perfectly ground and grilled, so it neither crumbles off the bun nor squishes into it. It’s topped with fresh lettuce, onion rings, tomato and pickle on a yellow brioche bun, and crowned with a thick garlic aioli. It is soft, succulent and easy to eat; no monster-sized buns that barely fit into your mouth.
Those ready to throw artery-blocking caution to the winds can order the Baconator (Rs.199), a glorious grilled patty of chicken with cheese and two strips of fat-sizzling fried bacon strips. It comes in a chilli brioche bun, with a melted cheddar slice and mayonnaise.
We loved the Spicy Aloo Crunch (Rs.59), crisp mashed baby potatoes, breaded and coated with a secret desi, or local, spice and topped with fresh coriander and ghost chilli (read bhut jolokia) sauce. It was one of my favourite dishes in terms of crunch and tang. The Greek Falafel (Rs.99), a falafel patty atop a sesame bun with a perfectly spiced tzatziki sauce, is a light and healthy vegetarian option. They also had paneer, or cottage cheese—a lot of it, actually—but we steered clear of it.
The Bacon & Cheese Fries (Rs.89), fat fries topped with runny cheese and bacon bits, is, by the way, a ticket to carb coma.
Of all the fast-food outlets in town, Wendy’s shows the most promise, and although I rarely frequent chains, I know I will go back for the Ultimate Mutton.
The not-so-good
The much-hyped Cheesy Mushroom (Rs.119) probably works better as a cutlet, without the sesame buns. It came with no condiments or garnish, giving it a dry, chewy texture (on complaining, I was told they had forgotten the mayo). The Watermelon Cooler (Rs.89), a basic Sprite with syrup, and the Cherry Cola (Rs.89) were so sweet that had I been a child, I would have been bouncing off the walls.
Don’t forget to check what you order to ensure accuracy because the order taker at the cash counter got ours wrong—twice.
Talk plastic
We paid Rs.1,673 for six burgers, four drinks and three side dishes.
Wendy’s India, Shop 19, City Centre, Sector 29, Gurgaon. 10am-11pm.
