There are new burgers in town and they rival Nottingham’s greatest. Bomba is rejecting gourmet fillings and towering stacks for the nostalgia of a simple American burger. Food co-editor Lucy Campion shares her thoughts on their new Wild-West-inspired menu.
Smash burgers take the spotlight on Bomba’s latest food menu, which recently launched at Bunkers Hill pub. The menu features eight burgers, all named after figures from the American West, and each with its own distinct character.
Bomba is run by Jody Capuano and Ben Webb, who have grown their independent business into the crowning jewel of Bunkers Hill. Their burgers are a welcome alternative to the increasingly tall and elaborate offerings dominating the street food scene. I have always preferred a burger you can actually get your mouth around (using cutlery just feels wrong), and thankfully Bomba agrees.
The smash technique is central to their success. Each patty is flattened on the grill, creating crispy, caramelised edges while preserving the juiciness of the beef. Crafting a burger that holds its own against local heavyweights, like Bohn’s Burgers and Mesa’s double cheeseburger, requires time and devotion, and Ben spent many hours perfecting his patties. That dedication saw Bomba’s smash burger become a customer favourite, inspiring the shift away from Italian street food.
Jody explains: “We’re not gourmet and we’re not fast food – we’re in the middle. We keep it simple with the classics on the menu, and add our own twist, with the more adventurous peanut butter and jelly combo in our Malaysian satay sauce and chilli jam.”
I love peanut butter but usually find it overpowering in burgers. However, the ‘Jesse James’ hits the sweet spot – a thin layer of satay sauce provides just enough salty peanut flavour without being sickly.
Adding to the nostalgia, every burger is served with Bomba’s signature cowboy salt fries. Remember when chips with a burger came at no extra cost? Those were the good days!
“Our goal is simple: good burgers with nostalgic flavour.” Jody says. “We have a simple cheeseburger with ketchup on the menu, because that’s what people ask for – we like giving people what they want.”
Adding to the nostalgia, every burger is served with Bomba’s signature cowboy salt fries. Remember when chips with a burger came at no extra cost? Those were the good days!
Game day for the Nottingham Panthers always has fans spilling out the doors of Bunkers Hill. The love affair between sports fans and burgers is universal, making Bomba a great fit for their pub kitchen. The two independents also share a ‘local first’ ethos. Jody explains: “Bunkers Hill is a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a pint and proper burger. There are locally brewed craft beers behind the bar, while our beef comes from Sneinton Market’s Harvey’s Butcher and our buns from Adkin’s Bakery.”
My favourite burger, ‘Wyatt Earp’, is inspired by the world-famous Big Mac. American cheese, chopped onions, pickles, and of course burger sauce, but Bomba’s version easily surpasses the original in flavour.
Despite stepping away from street food, Jody’s Italian roots still shine through, especially in her famed tiramisu. With regularly rotating flavours, from pumpkin spice to cookies and cream, it may not be traditional but it is one of the tastiest desserts in Nottingham.
Other dishes to survive the cull include fried lasagna and mozzarella sticks. The lasagna is good but the mozzarella sticks deserve real hype – supersized and perfectly seasoned, there is no better cheese pull in the city.
Bomba’s homage to the nostalgic is a win for the Nottingham food scene, and proof that simplicity and quality ingredients are still a recipe for success.
Visit Bomba at Bunkers Hill, 36/38 Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FP.
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