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Just Ask Restaurant of the Month for February - BuJo, Sandymount

The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for February is BuJo, Sandymount, Dublin 4

BuJo burger

BuJo (‘Burger Joint’) is a cool modern fast casual restaurant with a slow food ethos beating at its sustainable and eco-friendly heart. There's no phone and no email - you just rock up and make yourself comfortable - and, once there, Michael Sheary’s neighbourhood burger joint is an exceptional casual dining destination.

The choices are very simple with just a few options for burgers and fries. But the Irish beef burgers created by respected Euro-Toques executive chef Gráinne O’Keefe (known for her cooking at restaurants such as Pichet, Bastible and, most recently, Clanbrassil House) are no ordinary burgers - and (believe it or not, this is unusual) the chips are made only with Irish potatoes in season.

And, while fans flock here for the beef burgers, vegetarian and vegan burgers - a collaboration between award winning plant-based Chef Mark Senn and Gráinne O’Keeffe - are also available.

It may be unconventional in some ways, but the minute you see the menu boards and supplier information flagged big and bold on the walls you know that a lot of thought has been given to every aspect of this restaurant.

All the beef used in the burgers is 100% grass-fed and sourced from Bord Bia Quality Assured Irish farmers such as Jimmy Hennessy in Charleville, Co Cork. The excellent bacon is very special too, as it comes from Luke Bogue’s rare breed Hampshire pigs in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, while the glossy, sweetly soft burger buns come from Coghlan’s Bakery in Newbridge, Co Kildare.

BuJo Suppliers

The attention to detail is also seen in BuJo’s firm commitment to sustainability. All packaging, including the disposable ‘plastic’ cups (which are actually made from plants) and cutlery, is 100% compostable, the electricity used is 100% renewable and even the staff t-shirts are sourced from a humane and ethical manufacturer. Sustainability beats at the very heart of this venture and BuJo is the only burger-centric restaurant in all of Ireland & the U.K. to achieve a 3 Star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

But after all, it’s all about the burgers. Cooked to order over an open grill that gives out tantalising aromas while its flames lick around the juicy burgers, the twin patty Irish beef burgers are superbly flavoursome and deliciously charred - and that superb bacon gives it a more-ish finishing touch. Accompanied by those crisp, triple-cooked fries or the crunchy panko-coated fried pickles, it’s a testament to the goodness of simplicity.

For drinks, kids can enjoy one of the house speciality milkshakes (hand spun using ice cream from Coolhull Farm in Co. Wexford) or a preservative- and additive-free cordial, while adults can choose a craft beer by Wicklow Wolf, Dan Kellys cider from Co Louth, or one of the carefully selected wines available on tap. All very simple - and very good.

BuJo Menu
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VIEW ALL JUST ASK RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH WINNERS

“Just Ask!” is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from, and encourages chefs to provide this information on their menus. The programme supports both large and smaller artisan suppliers, encouraging both Irish diners and visitors from abroad to support restaurants that are in turn supporting their suppliers.

Here at Georgina Campbell Guides we have always been avid supporters of the ‘eat local’ concept, and we always enjoy reading menus that have a real sense of place. The dining experience is greatly enriched by knowing that the food on your plate is inspired by the produce and traditions of the area, and sourced nearby – and we would love to see more chefs sharing that precious information with their guests.

If you are a visitor to the area, learning a little about local food and the people who produce it adds a special extra dimension to the visit – and, for residents, it reinforces a natural pride in the good things of their locality and makes a meal all the more enjoyable.

So, we are delighted by the high standard of menus that continue to be submitted for our ' “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month Competition', menus that really speak of the best of Irish foods – and the dedication of both the people who make them, and the chefs who select them to create wonderful dishes with real Irish flavour for our enjoyment.