There’s been a buzz around my home town of Maidstone recently, rumours were circulating that we were getting our very own Gourmet Burger Kitchen, GBK Maidstone! Yes, the rumours are true, it’s now open and ready for action. The up market burger restaurant is situated in the popular Lockmeadow leisure complex near the river, in the centre of Maidstone in Kent. It’s located in the front of the complex, and work is underway to provide an outdoor terrace that’s set to be popular over the summer. Lockmeadow is home to the cinema, bowling, Gravity and other bars and restaurants, giving you maximum choice.
Parking at Lockmeadow Maidstone
The parking is pay and display, if you have no change you can pay by phone, prices start at £1.50 and it goes down to a £1 charge after 6.30pm for the evening. On market days (Tuesdays and Saturdays) there is less parking available, but it’s still plentiful.
We went on a Thursday evening at 6.30pm, to the pre-launch press evening. It was very exciting, we tend not to go out as a family to restaurants because a) it costs too much and b) we have a toddler, but I was willing to try! Daniel was in that state where he was hyperactive before the passing out stage. He decided he didn’t want to sit and colour thank you very much, he wanted to run up and down the bench like seats. We sat at round tables that shared benches with other diners, and I was a bit embarrassed he kept running up and down them, he was having a great time though!
The decor is very american, as you would expect for a burger restaurant, there were tomato shaped ketchup dispensers, 50’s styling and a retro feel.
Money off vouchers and codes for GBK
First tip I’d say is to download the app before you go, and ask your friends if they have it, because you get free burgers and sides on every other visit, so ask around. Also, in Gravity and the Odeon cinema, they have cards at the reception desks offering a free side dish code, so pick one up before you go.
Ordering at GBK Maidstone
The next tip is you have to write down or remember your order and then go and physically order it at the cash desk – I’d never been to a GBK before so I didn’t know what to do, which meant we sat waiting a while before asking when we would be served. The children’s menus have colouring and puzzles on them, one side is for younger kids and the other side for older ones, a nice touch and kept the older two happy while we waited.
Once we figured it all out and ordered enough for several large families, it wasn’t long before the food arrived. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We had to take Daniel off on several walks to keep him from being a complete nightmare. I liked the way you could see the open kitchen, the smells were divine!
I had a delicious burger with avocado and bacon, it was really tasty, I’d definitely have it again. We ordered the truffle cheese fries which sounded interesting, when they came I wasn’t so keen on the taste of the truffle cheese sauce, but my husband enjoyed them. The kids had skinny fries, which were the thinnest chips I’ve seen yet they were still fluffy and crunchy. The chips I liked best were the plain fries that we ordered for Daniel. We also had onion rings, which come on a pole all by themselves and are crunchy, real onion rings. It’s one way to get the kids eating onions! Just as the food came I’d had enough of Daniel running amok and decided to offer the back up of the boob – I haven’t breastfed in public for a long time, just because it’s only morning and evening now. He only needed a small amount and he passed out – no-one batted an eyelid or noticed. I had to eat my meal with a toddler draped over my lap, but that was better than a noisy toddler who won’t sit down. Here’s some gratuitous food pics:
We also all loved the milkshakes, they were so creamy and full of flavour. The corn on the cobs were a hit and I couldn’t get enough of the home slaw, which had pomegranate seeds on top which made the flavours pop.
So, GBK Maidstone, we’ll be back one day I’m sure – maybe we’ll leave the toddler with someone else…
Disclosure: we were provided with the meal and drinks and I was under no obligation to write this review.
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