French burger chain Big Fernand joins the limited casual dining scene at IFC, Central. Though Asian Twist (its predecessor) was initially sorely missed, there’s nothing sad about the French invasion here, as Big Fernand makes some of the tastiest burgers in town, although at a pretty hefty price too.

Juicy burger with delicious sauces and cheese

Their menu is pretty simple – they have a few meat options (lamb included) and a vegetarian option too; you can also build your own burger. I went for the more epic-sounding beef burger, Bartholome. The burger was super juicy and they incorporate their own sauces in there which matches the whole affair quite perfectly. The cheese is also worth mentioning; it was gourmetly delicious – none of that cheap sliced cheese nonsense! The patty is thinner than ideal, but they nevertheless still managed to cook it with a “pink” centre (for “medium”) and the meat was not dry at all.

Pricey for a self-service restaurant

Big Fernand is a casual self-service restaurant; you line up to order and pay for your burger (then wait for it too). The line was a little long (8-10 people) when I visited during lunch hours (1pm) and didn’t move too quickly either. For that reason, HK$135 for the burger alone (+HK$40 for a set with fries and a drink) is a pretty big price tag for what it is. But then again, it’s IFC and it tastes good! So… I’ll probably be back!

Big Fernand is located on P2 of IFC mall (next to Crystal Jade, above the Airport Express station). It’s HK$175 for a set with burger, fries and a drink. Expect a 10-15 minute wait to order your burger during lunch hours.