The story of the pharmacist who dispenses prescriptions by day and crafts gourmet burgers by night

Indeed, Ettore Vivo is a pharmacist and recently received a medal from his professional order for twenty-five years of service. He runs a thriving pharmacy along the main street of his hometown, Marigliano, in the province of Naples. A highly regarded professional, he has always had three enduring passions: gastronomy, soul-rock, and the fascinating world of Lego and Action Figures. Bringing all these together, he spends his days dispensing prescriptions, providing medicine, and offering advice to patients after their doctor visits. By night, he transforms into the host of Soul Burgers, his burger joint, welcoming customers amidst vibrant displays of "action models" and creations made of "bricks and pieces." If there's no small band performing live, you’ll hear powerful tunes from a HiFonics audio system blaring iconic hits from Prince and Springsteen.

Ettore Vivo’s philosophy on the perfect burger

Ettore Vivo coined a mantra: «Stop al crocchè nel panino!» (“No crocchè in the bun!”) Partly to challenge the still-prevalent trend of "hard food porn" and partly to refine the burger from its "greasy paper" image — which, as he explains, potatoes can absorb and disguise, sometimes masking subpar ingredients. He stresses that a burger is not a jumble of random ingredients but a fully cooked dish, crafted like a recipe often rooted in local tradition, but also inspired by global fusions and creative experimentation.

Soul Burgers

It’s a bold vision, realised through meticulous research and selection of meats, vegetables, seafood, and especially bread from small, niche local producers. This effort is complemented by poring over gastronomic texts, especially Neapolitan classics, and exploring renowned dining spots — both in Italy and abroad — to refine his palate and ideas. At Soul Burgers, it’s Ettore who writes the "prescriptions" and designs the recipes. In the kitchen, on the grill, and in the dining room, a team of young staff carries out his vision under his expert guidance.

What Soul Burgers is all about

Soul Burgers is more than a burger joint; it’s Ettore Vivo’s home. The entire ground floor and garden have been redesigned to welcome guests. There’s the Secret Garden, a cosy outdoor area perfect for summer evenings or winter nights spent in warm wooden cabins nestled among trees and flower beds. Inside, there’s a dining area with just a few tables, dim lighting, and spotlights highlighting the Lego and Action Figures collection. In one corner stands a bar with a cutting-edge drink machine for those stopping by for an aperitif.

The menu features paddle pizzas, poke bowls “our way,” plated specialities, fried bites, and an extensive burger list. Drinks include infusions, craft beers, and select wines.

Among the must-try burgers are: “Definitive Ragù”: Meatballs in ragù, ragù sauce, aubergine parmigiana, provola cheese, served in rustic bread — no ketchup, just Neapolitan “Rraù.”

'Ragù definitivo'

“Carbonaro!”: Scottona beef burger, crispy guanciale, and homemade carbonara sauce.

'Carbonaro'

“Barocco Genovese”: Slow-cooked meat and onion ragù following a classic Neapolitan recipe.

“Fri-bacc”: Broccoli, provola, battered fried cod, and Japanese mayonnaise.

Christmas Scarol: the holiday special surger

'Christmas Scarol'

This creation is inspired by a beloved Campanian tradition: stuffed scarola (endive) pie for Christmas. Recipes for this dish vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood and home to home — some use shortcrust pastry, others bread dough. Some opt for one of the four Neapolitan scarola varieties — Riccia, Schiana, Paparegna, or Cecoregna — and fill it with pine nuts, raisins, and walnuts. Others add figs, anchovies, olives, or capers.

The Christmas Scarol burger reflects this culinary heritage. It features fried battered cod or a sausage patty, paired with sautéed scarola cooked with raisins, walnuts, anchovies, pine nuts, and smoked provola cheese. Bitter, sweet, crunchy, savoury — it’s a blend of flavours, aromas, and childhood memories evoking the quintessential Campanian Christmas table.