Riding on the success of its first outlet in Orchard Road, German gourmet burger chain Hans Im Gluck opens its flagship branch in the bustling heart of Raffles Place. Catering primarily to the office folk, the restaurant has expanded to occupy two levels in Republic Plaza—donning the same magical, forest-inspired decor it first became famous for.
The idea behind the CBD outlet was to invite the working crowd to step away from their daily material stresses (which we’re assuming are plentiful), and into the calming respite of a forest in the city. Amongst the birch trees, enjoy the premium patties sandwiched between multigrain or sourdough buns, available in a staggering variety that includes vegetarian and vegan options. If you can’t decide, the beef burgers Geissbock (with feta cheese, bacon and fig jam, $17) and Elsaesser (with brie and lingonberries, $17) are safe yet still innovative bets; the latter might remind you of Ikea’s meatballs, thanks to the lingonberries. Or else order the Alsdann ($17), which supplements its juicy beef patty with grilled pear, mild blue cheese sauce and walnut with an almost alcoholic tang.
A diet-inclusive brand, Hans Im Gluck outdoes itself with vegetarian and vegan options that are just as flavorful as its meat ones; more even. For a truly creative burger, the Starker Tobak ($16) is a must-try for its intricately marinated olive patty with spicy sauce and sour rockets. Vegans will be pleased to know that the sauces (we’re pretty partial to the Barbecue) are entirely vegan too.
The lunch sets are certainly value-for-money—top up $5 and you’ll get a free side, coffee or tea, and a thirst quencher (we recommend the Mint Elderflower, Fruit Salad Ice Tea, and Cucumber Basic Ice Tea). But come Tuesdays, dinner gets exciting too. A Ladies Night promotion exclusive to the Raffles Place outlet entitles all ladies to free-flow cocktails from 5:30-8pm on Tuesdays. Choose from the Aperol Spritz (Prosecco, Asperol and Sparkling Water), Hugo (Prosecco, Elderflower, Mint and Sparkling Water) and White Wine Spritzer—at absolutely no cost at all. Now that’s one way to chase away the previous day’s blues.
