Foodie Review: Christmas at Ben's Canteen, Battersea

Back at it again with another foodie review to sink your teeth in to and today I'm super excited to be reviewing a local Aussie-inspired diner. With Christmas quickly approaching, myself and Jack headed over to Battersea to sample the special Christmas menu at Ben's Canteen...

Famed for their burgers and small plates, Ben's Canteen*, combines a laid back setting with gourmet dining. Located just a short walk from Clapham train station, they offer a whole selection of exotic burgers, Korean BBQ, cocktails and even milkshakes. After a day's shopping, myself and Jack popped in to try out a few small plates and Ben's exclusive Christmas Menu including the very special Christmas Burger. 

The first thing we noticed when we arrived (besides the fun decor) was just how friendly and attentive the staff were even though it was a pretty busy evening. Having taken our seats near the bar, we ordered ourselves up some starters. Jack opted for the Spiced Duck Nuggets (pictured above) - which are, as you'd expect - fried duck nuggets served with a spicy sauce. I don't eat duck very often but I really liked how crispy and crunchy they were on the outside before biting in to a super moist, meaty middle. Definitely worth trying for yourselves. I went for a similar dish with Crispy Prawns, Chorizo & Jalapenos which again is all those things, deep fried. I'm a bit of a wimp so Jack kindly ate the jalapenos for me but both the prawns and chorizo were excellent.

Had we known just how big our main was going to be, I don't think we would have even thought to order sides or starters. The real challenge was defeating The Christmas Burger; sage and shallot buttermilk turkey breast served in a seeded bun with squashed stuffing ball, slow roasted honey and mustard ham hock, cranberry sauce, buttered Brussels tops, melted brie and garlic mayo. It was sensational. Now Jack and I have had a lot of burgers but this was easily in the top five and whilst we totally couldn't finish the whole thing, I loved every bite. The melted brie is delicious, whilst the cranberry makes for a fantastic sweet amongst a lot of savoury. The turkey itself was a great cut and the stuffing was very moist. It was fantastic and worth venturing to Ben's if only for that burger. 

We were completely stuffed but couldn't resist leaving without trying Ben's famous Doctor's DIY Doughnuts. Served on a wooden board with syringes of strawberry jam, chocolate sauce and maple & vanilla custard, these doughnuts were amazing. Perfectly warm and doughy, they reminded me of the kinds of doughnuts you get at Thorpe Park - except even better. Simply inject your desired flavour in to it and enjoy. 

Overall, I was super impressed with Ben's Canteen and also a little surprised that I hadn't been there sooner. Having scanned their usual, non-seasonal menu, there was so much stuff in there that I'd love to go back and try. The staff were so friendly and all-in-all, it just made for a wonderful evening of food and drink. 

If you're reading this and considering trying the Christmas Burger, I'd love to hear if you managed to finish it and see what you thought. The Christmas Menu is available now and over the course of December so be sure to try it out before it's gone. Have you been to Ben's Canteen yet? Do you have a favourite festive foodie menu? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones down below. 

Until next time fellow foodies, 

Disclaimer*: This post was created in collaboration with Ben's Canteen. All product mentioned in this post was provided to myself in return for review; all opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the brand.