What do buses and gourmet burger restaurants have in common? You wait for ages and then two come along at the same time...

The Comet: James Creighton outside Taste, the new American diner in Stevenage Old Town.James Creighton outside Taste, the new American diner in Stevenage Old Town. (Image: Archant)

One of Stevenage’s new burger bases is in the High Street, with the Old Town also welcoming a traditional pie and mash shop in recent weeks.

James Creighton, who runs American diner Taste, said: “There wasn’t anything like it in the Old Town.

“It offers all fresh food, it’s all hand-made every morning, our burgers are 100 per cent beef and we offer a good product.”

As well as burgers, there are hotdogs and chicken wraps on the menu.

The Comet: Geoff Darlow from Lambert's Grill in Great Ashby.Geoff Darlow from Lambert's Grill in Great Ashby. (Image: Archant)

James, 27, says business has been booming since the doors opened a fortnight ago.

He said: “We wanted to open quite a while back but we had setbacks and we wanted to get the food perfect.

“We didn’t want to do it half- heartedly so we had quite a few dry runs. Since we opened business has been great.”

James is now working on creating Man versus Food style challenges, with enormous burger and extremely hot spicy chicken wings as potential challenges for punters.

The Comet: A look inside Taste in Stevenage High Street.A look inside Taste in Stevenage High Street. (Image: Archant)

He hasn’t decided on a name for them yet or exactly how the challenge will be completed but hopes to make an announcement soon.

Over in Great Ashby, Geoff Darlow is also going great guns after opening Lambert’s Grill just off Whitehorse Lane last month.

The 38-year-old said: “I used to be a plumber. I was just a really keen home cook and went to college for two years to study hospitality and catering where I fell in love with street food.

“Growing up I loved eating foods at McDonald’s and Wimpy, and I have always loved a burger.

The Comet: A tasty burger at the new Old Town restaurant.A tasty burger at the new Old Town restaurant. (Image: Archant)

“I was kind of obsessed about it. I used to think: how can I make the perfect burger? I spent a couple of years trying different recipes before I was satisfied.”

Geoff ran a burger van for two years before opening and hand makes all of the store’s sauces and specialises in halloumi chips and a vegetarian Clint Eastwood burger.

For more about Lambert’s Grill visit www.lambertsgrill.co.uk.

For more about Taste visit www.tastestevenage.com.