There could probably be reams of paper wasted on how hopeless I am at following directions. Even though the eatery 13B has the very street number in the lane, I was the person looking around confused and scowling with a facial expression that reads “Where is that damn place?”.
I finally figure out where I am and enter the black walled and small eatery with some quirky, whimsical touches. The lunch menu has a total of 14 items including some version of pizzas and sandwiches which do sound awfully good. But me I’m just besotted by the current slider and mini burger trend and the fact that the burgers come with fries (which I feel all burgers really should). Formerly called The Safe House it has been renamed to 13B because of course that is the number where it sits on Burton Street in Darlinghurst (not that that helps me). There are black walls and ornate gold candlesticks and the atmosphere is welcoming and warm.
Chai $6
The chai tea comes in a teapot with a milky loose leaf Elmstock chai tea. I had to ask for the honey which was quickly furnished and a teaspoon was all I needed for a sweet, aromatic cup of milky chai.
Mini burgers $13
The burgers come out on toasted slightly hard buns with a herbed pork and veal mince which is moist and juicy like a sausage mince filling with a good amount of garlickly aioli sauce, caramelised onions for sweetness, tomato, lettuce and melted tasty cheese. They’re very good and even though I only meant to eat one of these I ate both quite happily. The only thing that I would possibly change is the buns to be a softer bun as they were a little harder to bite into. The chips are more oven baked wedges which have just the right amount of seasoning via some rosemary and salt on top.
Prawn risotto $18
It’s not often that you can say that the saffron content of a dish is very strong. Indeed most chefs use it quite sparingly and a little goes quite far of the distinctive metallic honey tasting flavour. But if you take a look at the vivid colour of the risotto you can see that the saffron in this packs quite a punch. I tried some of the risotto which was strong in saffron with the garlic, white wine and parmesan playing a back seat to the aromatic spice.
Rare roast beef salad $16
I try a little of the rare roast beef salad and the beef tenderloin has a lovely texture to it and is appealingly cooked pink in the centre and sliced as strips. There are salad leaves, red onion, shredded carrot and a tangy and sweet vinaigrette dressing on top.
There’s no time for dessert today and besides which I have tow slider burgers and chips rumbling around in my tummy. Still, it’s good to be able to slot an eatery into the $20 or less category, a category that is getting rarer and rarer these days!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you try and eat a light lunch and more at dinner or the other way around?
13B
13b Burton Street, Darlinghurst, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9356 8718
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42 Comments | Add your own
Too much saffron is one of my husband’s bugbears – he finds it makes a dish too metallic too! The mini burgers look like a nice lunch!
The burgers sound wonderful. Makes me want to to do a shop and get cooking!
Gee, when I saw the colour of the risotto my first thought was whoa there on the saffron! Ekk, I can just imagine that overpowering taste of it. Lovely area you visited here!
Great photography. Would love to be presented with a plate containing two burgers and those fries look awfully good. There is a saying, ‘Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a pauper’ but I live the other way round.
That prawn risotto looks delish! Good to see the burgers are just “mini” ones and not “sliders”.
And I’m definitely a big dinner person.
It varies. I have just eaten too much at the wine festival in Montalcino.
I usually have a heavy breakfast and a moderate lunch to make up for the light almost non-existent dinner.
Those mini burgers look so good! I want one now
YUM! The chips looked like they were seasoned to perfection!! I usually like to have a smallish lunch unless it’s really good food! Usually we go out for dinner so i save my stomach space for then
Oh i forgot to ask how are you enjoying NZ? which part are you in?
I’m very fond of a good mini-burger and, of course, chips are mandatory. I find that if I go out for lunch I seldom want dinner – a fact that doesn’t make my family very happy as they then have to fend for themselves.
I get lost easily, too. LOL Boy, good thing we are never together in the same spot or it could be very dangerous.
Those burgers are too cute, but I’d go the salad.
I love how you described about chai and I’m interested in drinking that. I’m a big fan of chai. =) The food looks great. I love the mini burgers and cheese are coming out… french fries… that will be a happy lunch for me!
Since I live in the country and work from home, a very light breakfast is followed by an early full lunch [wine and all!], with a light ‘high tea’ and fruit/yogurt/tea supper. Suits me to perfection when alone and is a pretty healthy way to enjoy food
! Methinks it’s time for the old 5th Amendment as far as the rest goes 
!
Nowadays, I can’t eat as much as I used to, so if I eat out for lunch , I can only eat a light dinner or vice versa.
Oh I wish I was with Debra Kolkka in Montalcino with all those Italian delicacies !
Can u really have too much Saffron?
On our way to Oysters at the Opera House to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary.
Don’t worry Lorraine, most people get lost from time to time, but many of them don’t admit it. Plus you travel so much more than the average person, so you are quite ok.
I usually have a light lunch, so that I can concentrate well in the afternoon. I tend to eat a largish dinner because if I’m even the slightest bit hungry in the night, I won’t sleep well.
It’s hard to get a saffron risotto and sliders at the same place. Different “chef” mind sets. With burgers and fries, more is better. With Saffron, less is best.
It’s hard to break with good ol’ tradition. As we are both career minded our days are slotted in around work activities but always end with a main dinner together at evening. Weekends are usually a bit different and sometimes we enjoy a combination of breakfast and lunch depending on social engagements. I’m envious of Debra in Montalcino attending the wine festival!
Susie Q
I eat so much for dinner I find it lasts me till lunch the next day lol!
That depends on what I’m doing for dinner. If I’m going out then I’m likely to eat a small light lunch but if I’m just going to be at home I’ll have a regular lunch.
Scrap that rule if I’m lunching out, then I’ll have a bit lunch and little dinner.
Eating and balancing it is quite a science isn’t it?
I could get lost in a paper bag, honestly. I love little places you can just run to and have a goood bite to eat… you are so right that they are becoming extinct. You either have to spend a lot or eat fast food which is too bad. In NY, we have food trucks and some ethnic joints that pick up the slack for good quality at low prices.. thank heavens for them!
Oh they look yummy.
If I’m out, I tend to grab lunch then and enjoy it.
Then I have something really light for dinner, like salad or soup at home.
That’s supposed to be better for the Boombah and I don’t need to cook really either. For The Win!
Hard buns on my burgers are one of my bug bears too! It ruins a good burger for me.
I tend to eat a bigger dinner than lunch – lunch at the moment tends to be salad or something else I can eat one handed while trying to rock the baby to sleep. It’s a hard life.
K x
Looks like a great eatery at the right price. I tend to eat a heavier dinner because it’s hard at work to have a full on lunch.
—Dear, L.
)) x
The tea looks Grand.
btw, i’m the same way w/ directions. I NEVER know where I’m going. A metaphor for my life perhaps!
Oooh, I’m a big night-time eater! Really should stop snacking so much and then maybe I’d be hungrier during the day
I love having a light dinner but I suppose it’s all about portions for me at dinner, not so much ‘light’ food options. LOVE the mini burgers here. They look awesome. I adore a big salad for lunch, with quinoa or freekeh. mmmmmmmm.
Heidi xo
Unfortunately, I always eat a bigger than lunch and I don’t plan it that way! But now that I’ve started this silly diet, we’ll see
ouch- am not very disciplined – it’s a mood, appetite and daily schedule thing …..tsk
Looks like a great little lunch place. Moody and interesting, with well priced food. Looks OK
Same as Doris! Mood and appetite are the primary factors.
The mini burgers look cute…and tasty. So I can see why you ate both!
Hi Celia-Yes it does doesn’t it! They were very cute-I do love a slider
Hi Victoria-Hehe I bet you’d do a great version!
Hi Lizzy-There really was although that’s not the usual state is it?
Thanks!
Hi Hotly Spiced -thanks so much!
Oh I wish I lived like that too but I’m the opposite also 
Hi joey-Oh you don’t like sliders?
Hi Debra-Haha well that’s a good thing!
Hi Michelle-I wish I ate like that!
Hi leah-Haha me too
Hi Kimberley-Yes that’s what I try to do although it’s hard when you have a big lunch and dinner too! Full of risk!
Hi Amanda-Yes burgers without chips are missing something vital! haha well they can learn to cook right?
Hi Carolyn-Haha could you imagine that? That would be hilarious!
Hi Fiona-the salad was actually pretty good!
Hi Nami-I love chai too!
Yes now that’s a happy meal right there! 
Hi EHA-Wine and all! How fabulous!
well that sounds very delightful indeed! 
Hi Matilda-Yes wouldn’t that be nice? I always try and have a light dinner if I go out for lunch but it just doesn’t work at all
Happy anniversary Matilda! 
Hi Margaret -Oh phew!
you are sweet, thank you so much! Yes a large lunch makes me tired, really tired. And I’m the same,
I love to be full when I go to bed.
Hi angela-I know, it’s not your usual menu is it?
Hi Susie-Yes I love brunch too! Yes Debra sounds like she is having a great time!
Hi Jen-Haha yes me too
Like after a three course meal I just had some cake 
Hi Claire-Yes I try and not eat too much if I know I’m going to eat out a lot. It is, it would be great if there was a counter!
Hi deana-haha you and me both!
I really wished we had some food trucks. Now that would be fun! 
Hi Bronnie-Oh I wish I had such discipline! I try to do that but it doesn’t really work
Hi Sian-I’m glad I’m not the only one! I’m sure it it quite a challenge!
x
hi Cakelaw-That’s true, unless you’re eating out at a restaurant, it’s hard to get elaborate!
Hi Kim-thanks! Haha you, me and others!
x
Hi Hannah-hehe but cereal at night time is fun isn’t it!
Hi Heidi -Ooh a big salad. I love them for dinner and I can’t wait to have more during summer!
x
Hi msihua-Oh good luck with the diet! Let us know how it goes!
Hi Doris and Hannah-Hehe me neither!
Hi MelbaToast-I couldn’t help it, I need more discipline
haven’t been back for a while but the mini burgers looks delicious! might have to try that next time!
Chai and sliders in a single meal?! (And those look like gorgeously done sliders, by the way.) How I envy you at the moment!
i’ll be staying around darlinghurst for a night soon and i think you’ve just given me an idea of where to have lunch
can’t wait to try the burgers!
Haha love the name of this place, 13B. When you have no ideas, just call it what it is!
I thought the mini burgers looked AWESOME til I saw you said the buns were hard. what’s up with that???? The wedges they come with look good though 
Wow, they were generous with the saffron indeed! I know it’s not the healthiest, but I prefer a bigger dinner- maybe because I usually share dinner with others than at lunch time?
What a cute little spot, Lirraine. I love sliders too. I try to eat lighter during the week, both lunch and dinner because we tend to out more during the weekends. It’s all about moderation.
Lighter lunch & not too heavy a dinner so I can fit a treat or two. I’d make an exception for those burgers
This is ridiculous. It’s 8:48 in the am. I should not be craving tiny burgers.
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