We have a new culinary obsession over near the Portuguese Parliament, more precisely at the restaurant XXL by Olivier.
One of Olivier da Costa’s oldest—but also most popular—restaurants has just launched a new item, “O 57,” a multi-layered burger featuring an unprecedented collaboration with the most famous ketchup brand, Heinz.
But that’s not all: the restaurant will serve only 57 of these burgers per day, at lunch and dinner; once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Launched less than 24 hours ago (through the 21st of the 10th month of the 26th year since its launch, for a total of 57), we immediately set out to see if the hype lives up to what’s already being said on social media.
One thing is certain: the golden rule is to arrive early!
Just one more fun fact about the number 57: it’s also the door number of the XXL restaurant, located at Calçada da Estrela 57. Are the stars aligned or not? It seems to us that they are, and judging by our experience, “O 57” has everything it takes to be a success.
It was, without a doubt, one of the best burgers we’ve ever had in Lisbon. Delicious, extremely well-stuffed, and—the hardest part with these kinds of dishes—it doesn’t get cloying with every bite.
Under the watchful eye of Olivier da Costa himself—who made a point of observing our reaction to the first bite—we quickly realized why it took so long to develop: “O 57” isn’t a burger thrown together in a hurry to capitalize on a marketing campaign; it took about six months of testing until the recipe was “just right.”
The anatomy of a (potentially) perfect burger
The secret lies, as always, in the ingredients. Here, you won’t find thin, textureless patties. The highlights of “O 57” are two patties of Galician castrated beef, aged for 40 days (80 grams each), paired with a selection of three premium cheeses: American cheddar, British cheddar, and an exquisite Comté, aged for 18 months.
The contrast in textures comes from the onions, served in two ways: pickled red onions (to cut through the fat) and onion rings, lightly cooked until they reach that perfect balance between caramelized and crispy.
The climax, however, only happens when “O 57” arrives at the table. The fried egg arrives intact, and the yolk is poured right then and there over two crispy slices of bacon.
To top it off, the recipe includes black pepper, chives, and a trio of Heinz sauces (ketchup, mustard, and baconnaise).
All of this is sandwiched in the best burger bun we’ve ever tasted (even better than Stack’s), made from potatoes (Potato Bun), which makes it incredibly light and able to soak up all the juices from the meat.
Get your hands dirty with the XXL? Sure, why not?
Served alongside it are the famous fries from the restaurant’s iconic Steak & Frites dish, but the real treat is the tactile experience.
This is one of those burgers that’s a blast to eat with your hands, no utensils needed. It was probably the messiest we’ve ever gotten while eating at a restaurant with a sophisticated atmosphere like XXL’s, but it was worth every drop that dripped down our hands.
In the end, our appetites got the better of us, and we ended up ordering a second round—not because the first serving wasn’t enough, but simply because no one wants this pleasure to end when the food is this good.
If you want to try your luck, just remember one thing: there are only 57 burgers per day, and we don’t take reservations.
Useful information:
Address: Calçada da Estrela 57 (next to the Assembly of the Republic)
Hours: daily from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to midnight
Price: €25 (includes a side of fries)
Rules: only 57 per day (numbered from 01 to 57); no reservations; first come, first served
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