THE much-expected hot weather slapped Pub Spy round his well-anointed jowls this past Monday when he popped out of the office for a bargain bite to eat and a soothing pint.

Whilst finding a decent enough watering hole to cool my chops in was like shooting fish in a barrel, the prospect of a course to go alongside it seemed to be off the menu.

Panicking, Pub Spy was forced to bend the rules somewhat and step into a restaurant that serves a good selection of drinks rather than sit at a pub that also serves good quality food.

Han Bao, sat comfortably in Foregate Street is a suitable welcome to Worcester for anybody hopping off the train and a must-visit, a must-gorge for everyone from St Peters to St John's.

Whilst we're on the subject of admissions, this is not the first time Pub Spy has eaten at this fine burger establishment but his second time was even better than the incredible first.

Han Bao is fairly dark on the inside, the music is constant and almost always excellent. Burgers are served in Chinese steamers from a small hatch at the back of the building. Cocktails are tall and intricate. There is graffiti on the walls, an interesting choice of light fixture and chairs made of wire.

Pub Spy can see as many bottles of homemade sauces as he can spirit bottles behind the bar.

It was excruciating for this huge Wu-Tang Clan fan not to opt for the ODB burger but nostalgia took over and Pub Spy was feeling hugely county-proud and plumped for the WR1 dish instead.

What a perfectly formed triumph.

The WR1 burger is a huge mouthful of two aged burgers steamed in our most famous condiment. The Worcestershire sauce adds a wonderful bite of umami that you never really knew you needed until you had tried this.

The meat was pink in the middle - an immediate tick in my book - and the bun was soft and fluffy and buttery but still held everything together,

Pub Spy would usually be inclined to opt for the cheapest cut of cheese imaginable in a burger - that's just my personal preference and it seems to melt better - but in between the WR1's two burgers is a perfectly melted slice of Worcestershire Gold, mature and smoky and with plenty of bite and crunch.

But the pear chutney, OH THE PEAR CHUTNEY. What a glorious streak of genius. Never before has Pub Spy had pear on his burger nor would he ever have suggested it but now he cannot live without it.

We could stop there and I'd still be sticking gold stars all over it but we've still got a luscious lashing of roasted garlic mayo to talk about.

Han Bao take your idea of a great burger and amp it up to 11, then 12 and up to 13.

On the side, I picked the pork belly bites - smoky, sweet, chewy, soft, crunchy, fatty. Glorious bits of barbecued meat that I could have happily swallowed by the bag-load and devoured by the plate-full.

If burgers are your bag, and Han Bao has plenty of choices, you won't find many better in Worcester. Go now, you will not be disappointed.