Harold's Hamburgers
Harold's Hamburgers opened in Verbier in December 1975, making it one of the first dedicated burger joints in Switzerland. Today at La Petite Auberge in Versegères, near Verbier in the Val de Bagnes, Alan Woolman is once again serving Harold's original homemade burgers, updated with local ingredients such as Bagnes cheese and artisan buns. A proper, cooked-to-order burger – not fast food.
All our burgers come with salad and house cocktail sauce and are served with a duo of French fries.
Also available to take away with a 10% discount.
Learn about our special Friday Burgers offer
| Hamburger | Price |
|---|---|
Shepherd's Burger 140g Bagnes lamb, Bagnes ewe cheese |
22.– |
Haroldburger 140g of beef, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions |
22.– |
Cheeseburger 140g beef, Bagnes cheese |
22.– |
Blueburger 140g of beef, Bagnes blue cheese, caramelised onions |
23.– |
Baconburger 140g beef, smoked pork neck |
22.– |
Funghiburger 140g beef, mushrooms |
23.– |
Eggburger 140g of beef, fried egg |
22.– |
Doubleburger 280g of beef, Bagnes cheese, tomatoes, onions |
29.– |
Gargantua 280g of beef, 2 x Bagnes cheese, 2 x smoked pork neck, fried egg, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions |
35.– |
Burgers – questions
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Are your burgers available to take away?
Yes, all our burgers are available to take away with a 10% discount.
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Can I ask for my burger to be cooked more or less?
Yes, you can ask for your burger to be cooked more or less. Please let us know your preference when you order.
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Do you have options for allergies or gluten-free diets?
We do our best to adapt bread and accompaniments when possible. Please inform us of any allergies or gluten-free needs when you order.
The Story of Harold's Hamburgers
In December 1975, Harold's Hamburgers opened in Verbier, making it one of the first dedicated burger joints in Switzerland, shortly after the Road Runner in Geneva and a couple of months before the first McDonald's.
After an initial period of success – despite local reluctance toward this "foreign American fast food rubbish" – the business was placed under management while the owner focused on other ventures. On the verge of bankruptcy, it was taken over by Alan Woolman in December 1979, who doubled turnover within two years. In the following years, revenue continued to grow and doubled once again.
By the end of the 1980s, the original premises were far too small to cope with demand. An opportunity arose to move to larger premises on the central square of Verbier, and the new Harold's opened in December 1991. The first years were difficult as the tourism sector entered a long recession, but from 1998 onwards the restaurant became a major success, helped by the addition of a cybercafé and satellite TV showing major sports events.
In 2016, the business was forced to close after the landlord cancelled the lease in favour of his son, and no viable alternative location could be found.
After the closure in Verbier, Alan and his wife Viviane finally settled at La Petite Auberge in Versegères in July 2022, after six years in Bruson. It was only natural that he brought the original Harold's menu with him and integrated it into the restaurant's menu.
The concept was simple: good homemade patties using freshly ground beef and a house recipe, grilled to perfection. In those early days, the McDonald's of this world were serving basic burgers with either cheese or vegetables, while Harold's was innovating with burgers that included bacon, mushrooms, fried egg and, especially, blue cheese and caramelised onions. Some of these ideas have since become standard worldwide, including the double burger; others remain unique.
Also developed in the early 1980s was the famous Harold's Cocktail Sauce. After all these years, it is as popular as ever, and no one has managed to re‑create it precisely – the Coca‑Cola of cocktail sauces.
At La Petite Auberge, where guests are looking for a more authentic product and less of a quick snack, the recipe has been adapted to include local products such as Bagnes cheese and locally baked buns.