Matt Binney of Yarra Glen's Heartswood is the latest chef to throw his hat in the burger ring, opening Lulu's Burgers across the road from his 40-seat restaurant after three years of eyeing off the site.

While wagyu doughnuts and whipped feta with pickles are typical Heartswood dishes, Lulu's is all about American-style burgers given a chef's touch, from the Flinders & Co patties (a 50-50 check-brisket mix) to the fluffy Hokkaido milk buns from Brasserie Bread.

Beef burgers have crisp edges thanks to being pressed slightly while cooking (not quite a smash burger, but close). Four other burgers feature fried chicken – buttermilk or Nashville-style for daredevils – mushroom schnitzel or a Beyond Meat patty.

Binney says until now people have had to travel to Healesville or Chirnside for a decent burger. He hopes Lulu's - named after his daughter - will be a magnet for locals, especially the courtyard which has the best seats on sunny days.

"We just want it to be a fun place for everybody, a fairly casual place where you can get noisy and carried away if you want," he says.

Alongside burgers, which start at $13, there's more Americana such as fried chicken with waffles or mac and cheese croquettes. Two beer taps join a truckload more craft brews in cans and a wine list of younger Yarra Valley producers like DCB. The Heartswood cellar is also at your disposal.

"We can send someone across [the road] for a bottle of champagne if you want to splash out with your fried chicken," says Binney.

Inheriting a dark room, he and partner Bianca added contrasting pops of colour via a neon Lulu's sign and a large mural by Justine Millsom (a.k.a Juzpop). It seats 48 inside, 20 outside and online takeaway ordering is on the way.

Open Thu-Fri 4pm-late, Sat-Sun noon-late

Shop 6, 36 Bell Street, Yarra Glen, 03 8288 3206, Instagram: @lulusburgers_yg