Tommi Tómasson is known as the guy who brought hamburgers to Iceland. He’s made and lost two fortunes flipping burgers in Reykjavík and has now expanded his Icelandic burger empire from Iceland to Sweden, to London and now Rome! So, if you’re looking for something a little different in the Eternal City and the sound of a juicy burger (meat or vegetarian) would hit the spot, then don’t settle for a commercial McDonald’s standard burger, Tommi’s is the place to be! Here’s why we recommend it as one of the best burgers in Rome.
Best Burgers in Rome
On the 17th November 2016, Tommi opened up his newest burger joint in Rome, bringing a taste of Iceland to Italy. Well, we couldn’t be happier!
As soon as you enter Tommi’s you get that homemade, quality, local feel. Everything from the makeshift wooden counters, to the hand painted and hand-drawn menu on the wall, makes you realise that a lot of love has gone into making this place feel relaxed and welcoming. And the staff, well, they are the sauce on the burger (cherry on the cake – you get my drift, they’re fab).
You may wonder why we’re recommending an Icelandic Burger Joint on The ROMAN Foodie blog. Well, André Franco from Uniplaces explains its perfectly:
Who hasn’t wandered around a new city, having either just moved there or while spending long vacation there, and suddenly, the hunger bell rings? But on that day, you don’t feel like trying something new, and you are not looking for something healthy.What you really want is comfort food – something to satisfy your stomach and soul at the same time? What about a burger?Rome, of all places in the world, doesn’t seem like it could be home to one of the best burgers, but the guys from Uniplaces disagree! Tommi’s Burger Joint has the best burgers in all of Italy!”
The Team!
Hildur, Ivanka, Valeria, Michal, Oli and Donato run the show. Most of them are Icelandic and Valeria is Spanish, together, they are #TheATeam of burgers. People say the service in Italy isn’t great. I don’t 100% believe or agree with that and I’ve lived here for quite some years now. It’s not always THE BEST, but the gang at Tommi’s give THE BEST service. They are like a family, and as soon as you walk in they make you feel at home. Staff also speak English which is always a plus when you don’t speak Italian or Icelandic!
The Burgers!
With a focus on fresh, quality and tasty food, Tommi’s offers a selection of different burgers. I suggest taking a friend to this place so you can try their top 3, each one as good as the other.
Burger 1 – Beef (€7.40)
A picture speaks a thousand words. This. Burger. Is. Great.
Make sure you pick up some condiments, like fried onions and “baconnaise” (yes, bacon mayonnaise) to accompany your juicy burger. Tommi’s have some great condiments
“Try it, be adventurous, live a little!” – Hildur
In our experience, Italians don’t tend use many condiments with their food. Perhaps because they don’t fee like they need more than some oil and a little salt, and they’re right! But condiments are all part of the fun when eating a burger. Yes, it would taste delicious with or without, but the building process and customization of your burger is all part of the experience at Tommi’s.
Burger 2 – Chicken (€8.90)
I have some friends who always choose to get a chicken burger, and I’ve never understood why. Well, round 2 of burger eating was me walking back up to the counter and ordering a chicken burger. I admit, I did share my Beef Burger with my fellow foodie friend, Sian, so I definitely had room for another half of something.
I get it now. Chicken burgers are good! I almost expected to not like it and for the chicken to be dry with the bready bun. But no, it was great! It was made with fresh chicken breast that was cooked right in front of us at the grill behind the cash desk. But don’t just take my word for it, Sian was drooling too! When I’m back at Tommi’s with friends next week, I may just indulge for a second time.
Burger 3 – Vegetarian (€6.90)
Now, I used to be a vegetarian myself, so I know just how many burger joints neglect their vegetarian options. Too many times have I eaten a mushy defrosted glob of what could once have been vegetables, covered in breadcrumbs and put inside a burger bun. Too many times have I gotten my hopes up, just to be disappointed.
Round 3 (OK, so now I may have taken it too far, but if I’d already tried 2, then it would have been rude if I didn’t taste the 3rd option). Lucky, my fellow foodie was there to help me out.
Vegi-licious. Just look at it. Real vegetables. I was so pleasantly surprised! It actually had some bite and you could taste all of the vegetables used in there. Another round of applause for Tommi-s team!
Sides!
Burgers should never be eaten without fries. Sweet potato or regular. We had both.
I must admit, we couldn’t finish the fries. We wanted burgers so much that we didn’t leave room for all of them. But, the fries we did have were delicious. The sweet potato fries tasted almost like maple syrup. Definitely try dipping them in some of their homemade Cipotle sauce. And the regular fries, well, nothing to complain about there! #ILoveFries
Mmmmmmilkhakes! (€4.90)
Yes, how else would you end a meal of 3 burgers, fries and condiments but with a sticky and sweet ice cream milkshake. This was the closest I had been to a food coma, but it was so worth it. Everything was so good! So, naturally, Sian and I ordered one each. A vanilla and a caramel. Well, need I say much more. I’ve expressed my love for this place enough in this post that I might as well stop writing and shout it from the rooftops.
#NomNom #ChowTime #FoodieLover
Get Your Own!
Address: Viale Giulio Cesare, 193-195 | Phone: +39 06 3973 0902 | Website: www.burgerjoint.it | Price: €€ | Hours: Mon-Sun 07:00-22:30
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