Brodburger finds a home at the Glassworks

Controversy sells. Mr Brod has embraced this and run with it.

There was first the issue of illegal parking of his big red money spinning van. Then there were talks of it being a money laundering front for organised crime. The cherry on top was the part owner Public Servant who was investigated for using undue influence.

It’s quirky, filled with controversy, next to the gorgeous lake and in trendy kingston and serves a damn good burger. What’s not to love?

Anyone catch WIN News last night? I flicked on in the middle of a piece on the Brodburger relocation to hear some numpty spouting off about how “a red caravan on the shore of the lake was not in Walter Burley Griffen’s plan for Canberra”.

Funny, that hasn’t ever stopped the NCA from developing any number of eyesores.

The constant cultural bleaching of Canberra to make way for artificial and regulated urbanity will prevent us from ever having a warm and vibrant city.

How bout lease a premises like everyone else ya free loader

I’ve never heard of it or seen the Brodburger caravan before until now.

Ahh Ralph’s at the BP!! I used to love that place!! Mmmmm chips and gravy

I miss the Doghouse.
The NCA wants Businesses to use those dead shells on the shore by the National Gallery, not exactly accessable.
I’ve always thought the red van against the green grass and blue water/fairy lights was charming.
The NCA have no asthetics.

While the hype and the crowds that followed were nauseating, the burgers are that good. The best.

Brodburger was also one of the few Canberra restaurants to be included in the Age Good Food Guide for 2011.

That’s an achievement for any restaurant, let alone a burger van on the lake.

To be compared to Grill’d or any other cheap burger van is laughable.

Grow up, if you don’t like the product, vote with your wallet.

as others have said, i too have voted with my wallet – but how dare you come on the riot act and rant at us to stop ranting. sheesh, the irony of that. have we had flame [grilled burger] of the week yet?

These poor buggers are just copping the same bulls*** that “The Doghouse” copped in the early-mid 2000’s. The Doghouse was a Canberra favourite for over 30 years from the early 1970’s and spawned a number of others (Dolly’s, Ralph’s, Tampico Hut, Marty’s) and ran in a number of places in Civic until our fantastic local government couldn’t decide on a site for the van and Dave ended up relocating to Young, N.S.W. I have driven from Canberra to Young to get a Doghouse hotdog!!

Arielle said :

Actually, it’s an educated debate and expression of opinion, it’s not a rant, rant is what people do when they have nothing better than to complain that someone is succeeding in a small business and being lauded for it. ‘News time’ is supposed to be what? Is it limited to the majority rules on who decides what is most important for discussion? No, it should be both a celebration of what is good and information on current events, however perplexing they may be found. Perhaps you may find more success with the Department of Looking For Actual Topics Worthy of Complaint.

Well, time will only tell how good their business model is now that they have to fend for themselves in a cafe-style arrangement amongst potentially fussy eaters.

@ Arielle

Do these sentences sound like they constitute a “rant” or an “educated debate”?

1) You are perpetuating your own lack of ideals about free publicity

2) You hypocrites seem to be against popular opinion and are only looking for justification for your own wingy(sic) winy(sic) self satisfied anti-liberalism

3) You’re probably eagerly awaiting some sort of revolution so that you can squash the media and decide what’s important for the world

4) You probably think the Government is out to ‘get us all’

hmmm… you tell me

(ok, I’m a bit bored tonight)

Arielle said :

Actually, it’s an educated debate and expression of opinion, it’s not a rant, rant is what people do when they have nothing better than to complain that someone is succeeding in a small business and being lauded for it. ‘News time’ is supposed to be what? Is it limited to the majority rules on who decides what is most important for discussion? No, it should be both a celebration of what is good and information on current events, however perplexing they may be found. Perhaps you may find more success with the Department of Looking For Actual Topics Worthy of Complaint.

It wasn’t a complaint, it was an observation, and I challenge you to point out where anybody actually complained about this business having some success. Somebody expressing their view that they don’t see what all the fuss is about is vastly different from somebody being vindictive about anothers success. Wake up to yourself.

Mr Evil said :

I’m wondering what hours they will be able to operate, as I assume that they won’t be able to open at all hours of the night/morning anymore if they are within the Glassworks compound?

Exactly what I was going to say. I know a lot of people who cruise over for a late night munchies on a Friday night..

Holden Caulfield said :

Otherwise, we go to Grill’d at Belconnen which has a much greater range and the added bonus of the world’s best chips (oh and gluten free buns for Toby and Seb).

Also at Woden!

Actually, it’s an educated debate and expression of opinion, it’s not a rant, rant is what people do when they have nothing better than to complain that someone is succeeding in a small business and being lauded for it. ‘News time’ is supposed to be what? Is it limited to the majority rules on who decides what is most important for discussion? No, it should be both a celebration of what is good and information on current events, however perplexing they may be found. Perhaps you may find more success with the Department of Looking For Actual Topics Worthy of Complaint.

I’m wondering what hours they will be able to operate, as I assume that they won’t be able to open at all hours of the night/morning anymore if they are within the Glassworks compound?

herbie said :

I for one will be interested to see whether the hipsters-who-love-it-cos-it’s-a-red-caravan-and-somehow-that-makes-it-an-icon will actually make the effort to go to the Glassworks to get these mythically superior burgers…

+1

Arielle said :

It’s great to see that you are all discussing the van and the price of the burgers and your respective opinions on quality. I think it’s also great that you are perpetuating your own lack of ideals about free publicity, you hypocrites seem to be against popular opinion and are only looking for justification for your own wingy winy self satisfied anti-liberalism. You’re probably eagerly awaiting some sort of revolution so that you can squash the media and decide what’s important for the world. Give them kudos I say, they decide to put into the open market a product which is obviously liked by so many that it keeps them in business, and more so because the majority that provide them with ongoing business do so not because of any publicity – but because they have a demand for the product. To think that any of this is elevating a ‘humble hawker’ is naive in the same way that you probably think the Government is out to ‘get us all’. Grow up, if you don’t like the product, vote with your wallet.

Wow, what a rant! Anti-liberalism haha.. And yes I have voted with my wallet – went there once and won’t go again, and it seems that you are opposed to opinion, popular or not. But you’ve missed the point I think. Many people are perplexed by the amount of news time given to this story (this is the bit where you accuse us of contributing to the story and call us hypocrites, right?) It seems you are most offended at the proprietor being called a “humble hawker”. I’ll ask someone from the “Department of Coming up with Stupid Names that are Politically Correct” to help out with this.

I for one will be interested to see whether the hipsters-who-love-it-cos-it’s-a-red-caravan-and-somehow-that-makes-it-an-icon will actually make the effort to go to the Glassworks to get these mythically superior burgers…

Cool – I also want to start up a burger van and then have the Minister and her department find me an awesome place to put it.

mouthface said :

The ongoing saga of Canberra’s answer to Harry’s Café de Wheels continues, but I have never understood the appeal of this business, or its ability to make the headlines on a regular basis. Yes there are people out there who gush about their burgers, to the point of attributing all sorts of cures to ailments, the performance of miracles and their first multiple orgasm after having consumed them, but really, they are just burgers – and expensive, considering they are sold on the side of the road out of a rickety old food van. Maybe the point of all this kerfuffle isn’t really about the service or the miraculous qualities of the food, but about the fact that Canberrans – so eager to embrace something that just sprouted, like some giant red mushroom, on the side of the lake, rather than been planned to within an inch of its life, passed through an environmental impact study, and rubber stamped by at least 150 people on 25 separate committees – are elevating this humble hawker to great heights to protest the over-regulation of every aspect of their neat and tidy little existence in the nanny state. Well they just lost their fight, because the van will be no longer, and it will have been tucked away neatly in the well designed and no doubt sterile environment of a government run amenity. I’m sure the rent will go up substantially for the proprietors, which will finally justify the price of their product.

Perhaps a couple of Waaaaaaaaahhh-burgers to go with French Cries!

It’s great to see that you are all discussing the van and the price of the burgers and your respective opinions on quality. I think it’s also great that you are perpetuating your own lack of ideals about free publicity, you hypocrites seem to be against popular opinion and are only looking for justification for your own wingy winy self satisfied anti-liberalism. You’re probably eagerly awaiting some sort of revolution so that you can squash the media and decide what’s important for the world. Give them kudos I say, they decide to put into the open market a product which is obviously liked by so many that it keeps them in business, and more so because the majority that provide them with ongoing business do so not because of any publicity – but because they have a demand for the product. To think that any of this is elevating a ‘humble hawker’ is naive in the same way that you probably think the Government is out to ‘get us all’. Grow up, if you don’t like the product, vote with your wallet.

mouthface said :

The ongoing saga of Canberra’s answer to Harry’s Café de Wheels continues, but I have never understood the appeal of this business, or its ability to make the headlines on a regular basis. Yes there are people out there who gush about their burgers, to the point of attributing all sorts of cures to ailments, the performance of miracles and their first multiple orgasm after having consumed them, but really, they are just burgers – and expensive, considering they are sold on the side of the road out of a rickety old food van. Maybe the point of all this kerfuffle isn’t really about the service or the miraculous qualities of the food, but about the fact that Canberrans – so eager to embrace something that just sprouted, like some giant red mushroom, on the side of the lake, rather than been planned to within an inch of its life, passed through an environmental impact study, and rubber stamped by at least 150 people on 25 separate committees – are elevating this humble hawker to great heights to protest the over-regulation of every aspect of their neat and tidy little existence in the nanny state. Well they just lost their fight, because the van will be no longer, and it will have been tucked away neatly in the well designed and no doubt sterile environment of a government run amenity. I’m sure the rent will go up substantially for the proprietors, which will finally justify the price of their product.

+100 to the hundredieth

I tried a Brodburger once, and don’t understand what the fuss is about. They were ok, but not 12 bucks worth.

Does that make him a sellout?

After growing tired of the stupidly long waiting times we’ve taken to making our own burgers at home, which taste pretty damn good.

Otherwise, we go to Grill’d at Belconnen which has a much greater range and the added bonus of the world’s best chips (oh and gluten free buns for Toby and Seb).

Might have to try a Brodburger again to see if we can regain the love.

The ongoing saga of Canberra’s answer to Harry’s Café de Wheels continues, but I have never understood the appeal of this business, or its ability to make the headlines on a regular basis. Yes there are people out there who gush about their burgers, to the point of attributing all sorts of cures to ailments, the performance of miracles and their first multiple orgasm after having consumed them, but really, they are just burgers – and expensive, considering they are sold on the side of the road out of a rickety old food van. Maybe the point of all this kerfuffle isn’t really about the service or the miraculous qualities of the food, but about the fact that Canberrans – so eager to embrace something that just sprouted, like some giant red mushroom, on the side of the lake, rather than been planned to within an inch of its life, passed through an environmental impact study, and rubber stamped by at least 150 people on 25 separate committees – are elevating this humble hawker to great heights to protest the over-regulation of every aspect of their neat and tidy little existence in the nanny state. Well they just lost their fight, because the van will be no longer, and it will have been tucked away neatly in the well designed and no doubt sterile environment of a government run amenity. I’m sure the rent will go up substantially for the proprietors, which will finally justify the price of their product.

Do they cater for gluten and yeast free? I also don’t eat mushrooms or asparagus. I drive past the van and I’m temped to stop and have a look, but I just don’t know if they cater for people with intolerances. And it’s not just people with odd sounding names…

cubicle01 said :

emd said :

I like beans on toast. Almost as much as lentil burgers on cous cous with a soy chai latte.

The key is fatty bacon, a little bit of fresh chilli and some worcestershire sauce.

oooh

emd said :

I like beans on toast. Almost as much as lentil burgers on cous cous with a soy chai latte.

The key is fatty bacon, a little bit of fresh chilli and some worcestershire sauce.

I like beans on toast. Almost as much as lentil burgers on cous cous with a soy chai latte.

I like the burgers, and I hope this is a good fit, but this just seems to be a victory for the obstinate who disregard the rules. NCA is certainly has its issues but it concerns me that there wasnt a forcible removal of the van.

I have a pop up camper trailer and a gas stove, anyone think there is a market for beans on toast at Reconciliation Place? 🙂

A burger joint at the Glassworks – that’ll go down a treat with the arty types!

“May I have a double-decaf soy latte, and a soy and lentil burger on a bed of cous cous, please.”

“Is your chicken and beef free-range and sourced from certified organic farmers?”

“My sons Edgar, Sebastian and Tobias have allergies to everything, do you have anything on the menu that they can eat?”

I give them six months before they go bust.

Apparently they are building a fantastic new park on the lakes edge in front of the glassworks. Only a 100m away or so. Check out Near map for a recent aerial shot of the precinct.

Google maps tells me that it’s 550m.

Brodburger – the masters of garnering free advertising. Personally I’m kind’ve sick of hearing about it.

In the CT they said the van will be moved to the Glassworks for a short while.

Katy was telling us how good it was on the radio this morning but I have to disagree, it was so nice to be able to grab a burger & plonk yourself down in the park next to the lake. They have taken that away. They say its only 200m away but I suggest it will be further, time will tell.