Boss Burger Co is a firm favourite with Geelong locals. Long-time burger fiend Tim Harrison paired up with the team from Launch Espresso to start the venture in early 2016. A Waurn Ponds location followed in 2017.
It’s a walk-up-and-order operation with minimal seating, which means you’ll sometimes run into a queue. Don’t worry: it moves quickly.
The American-style burgers use yellow cheese and sweet brioche buns. Choices include the meatless Don Veggio; fried-chicken burger Tommy the Chook; the Boss Deluxe with double beef and cheese. The beef mince blend is a secret, so don’t bother trying to find out what it is.
There’s also a big range of sides, such as loaded fries, mozzarella sticks, mac’n’cheese balls and pork ribs. If you still have room, finish with a nostalgic or modern shake, from strawberry and blue heaven to Oreo and Nutella.
The black and white chequered floors recall the atmosphere of an American diner. Dim lighting and dark timber detailing are a good canvas for the neon pink sign reading “burgers and dreams”.
A mural by local artist Ian Lowe spans the length of a whole interior wall. Customers eat under the watchful eyes of a host of pop culture “bosses”, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michael Jordan and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones.