In Short
A good burger does not need much fuss. A juicy patty in a brioche bun, a generous portion of fries and a matching drink are often more than enough. That is exactly why we visited Ruff’s Burger on Lange Reihe. The selection is extensive, the combinations are fun, and vegetarians and vegans will have no trouble finding something too. Overall, we enjoyed the food, even if not everything completely blew us away.
Otto’s Becomes Ruff’s
Anyone who has been following Hamburg’s burger scene for a while may still know the location on Lange Reihe by a different name. What used to be Otto’s Burger became Ruff’s Burgersome time ago. Ruff’s now has several locations in Hamburg, including in Schanze, Grindelhof, Ottensen and, of course, on Lange Reihe.
The St. Georg branch is right in the middle of the buzz of Lange Reihe and offers seating both inside and outside. When Hamburg weather is on its best behavior, you can easily take your burger outside. Inside, the atmosphere is straightforward and modern. It all fits the concept well: relaxed burger dining, ordering a few drinks and not too much fuss around it.
Smash or Classic? It is Hard to Choose
One thing we really like about Ruff’s Burger is the extensive menu. Alongside classic beef burgers, there are smash burgers, chicken options, as well as vegetarian and vegan alternatives. There are also salads, various fries and other sides. A particularly nice touch: many burgers can also be ordered with a vegan patty.
If you want a little more, you can upgrade your burger with extras. One particularly tempting option is the warm cheese dip. You get 150 grams of warm cheese sauce served at the table for dipping. Other options include truffle mayo, sour cream, guacamole and more sauces.
It is also worth checking the offers if you visit at lunchtime. On weekdays until 3 pm, there is a lunch menu with selected burgers, fries and homemade lemonade. In the evening you can also combine a burger with fries and a cocktail as a set menu. That makes Ruff’s a good option both for a quick lunch and a relaxed burger night with drinks.
There are sooo many more great burger places in Hamburg. If you want to discover more, take a look here !
What we Had on the Table
We tried our way through burgers, fries, drinks and dessert:
- BBQ Burger – €12.90: Brioche bun with beef, bacon, balsamic onions, cheddar, cucumber, lettuce and tomato, plus a smoky BBQ sauce
- Holy Guacamole – €12.90: Brioche bun with beef and bacon, combined with lettuce, sour cream and guacamole
- Truffled Fries – €8.50: Belgian fries with Parmesan, grilled mushrooms, truffle oil and truffle mayo
- Paloma – €9.90: Tequila meets grapefruit, lime and orange
- Aperol Spritz – €7.90
- Caramel Nut Brownie – €7.50: Warm brownie with chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream
Solid Burgers, Truffle Fries with Plenty of Punch
Let’s start with the burgers. Both the BBQ Burger and the Holy Guacamole were tasty and generously topped. With bacon, cheddar, sweet and savory onions and the smoky sauce, the BBQ Burger delivers exactly the hearty combination you would expect from the name. Thanks to the guacamole and sour cream, the Holy Guacamole leans a little more toward the creamy side without becoming light. We enjoyed both burgers, but for us they were only slightly above average.
Things got considerably richer with the Truffled Fries. Belgian fries, Parmesan, mushrooms, truffle oil and truffle mayo make for a pretty intense combination. In terms of flavor, we thought they were really good, although they were also very oily. If you love truffle and rich fries, you will probably enjoy them. But as a small side with a burger, the portion should not be underestimated.
Dessert is an easy choice because during our visit there was only one sweet option, the Caramel Nut Brownie. Visually rather simple, but much stronger in flavor: warm, chocolatey, sweet and, together with the sauce, whipped cream and ice cream, quite heavy. The vanilla ice cream could not quite keep up in terms of quality, but overall we thought the brownie was tasty. Best shared, especially after a burger and truffle fries.
Our Verdict on Ruff’s Burger in Hamburg
For us, Ruff’s Burger on Lange Reihe is an easygoing spot for burgers, fries and drinks in Hamburg-St. Georg. We especially like the wide selection: smash burger or classic burger, beef, chicken, vegetarian or vegan, plus plenty of sides, sauces and extras. Pretty much everyone should be able to find something here quickly.
Everything we ate was tasty, although Ruff’s did not quite make it to the very top of our list of favorite burger places in Hamburg. The burgers were solid, the truffle fries were strong in flavor, but quite oily, and the brownie was a rich, sweet finish. Overall, we would say: Definitely worth a try. Ruff’s is a particularly good fit if you are out with a group of people, want to accommodate different burger preferences and maybe head out for another drink on Lange Reihe afterwards.
Overall Rating
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