Showing posts with label Local. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
"Insert something witty about rebirth and heat"
So, last time I was in San Mateo I was told there are two burger places I had to try. Last time I tried one of them. This time I tried the other. Apparently Godfather's draws a lot of comparisons to Jack's Prime when it comes to the age old debate of "greatest burger in San Mateo". I know all of you are riveted by that topic of conversation. Since last time I had Godfather's, my friend decided this time I needed to try Jack's Prime. He indicated that it was perhaps in a more accessible location, and was bigger overall so he went there more often. I, however, being a self-proclaimed burger snob, must then go by the actual burgers themselves, no matter the convenience.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
An Offer I Couldn't Refuse
At this point in time this little blog has become something of a novelty to my friends. They know I keep it and thus are always encouraging me to post more, oftentimes going out of their way to recommend burger places to go eat just for the sake of my blog. It's not a bad thing. Frankly, given my love of burgers, I personally don't really mind that much. It saves of thinking of another place to have to go eat. Thus, during another visit to the Bay Area, my good friend indicated that when you're talking about burgers in the San Mateo/Peninsula area two places invariably pop up, generally in comparison to one another. I only went to one, so I can only write about that one, granted in the context of all the other burgers I've had. This place was called Godfather's, named and themed after the hit 1972 Francis Ford Cappola film.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Tex Mex Burger... Interesting...
I'm not sure this really counts, given that even though the place is called a tex mex place, it's pretty much all BBQ. Of course, I'm probably ignorant of whatever it is that makes things either Tex Mex or BBQ. We had stopped by Kettleman City for a lunch break during a drive down from Northern California to Southern California, and decided, that perhaps it would be worthwhile to try out Wild Jacks Tex Mex BBQ instead of In-N-Out. While I have had mixed feelings regarding whether or not BBQ places can really make good burgers, I did opt for the WJ Tex Mex BBQ Cheddar Cheeseburger over the normal BBQ fare. Others ordered the more typical ribs and brisket sandwiches, but I decided to give this a go.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Almost Deluxe
It was a simple burger. It's not really a knock on it, but I can't really say that it stood out either. When a burger comes without condiments I'm usually half-scared and half-excited. Why? Simply because they either expect the burger to be good enough without any condiments or they expect you to use ketchup. Nothing against ketchup, I like ketchup, and sometimes the goodness is in simplicity, and ketchup is the base condiment that is safe and you can always fall back on. However, everyone can get/use ketchup. Even when you make your own burgers at home. So that being said, Jimmy's Deluxe Burger at the Colonie Diner was a good burger, a good homemade style burger.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
There is some doubt
So as a final pit stop in my recent visit to Seattle, I decided to meet up with a bunch of friends at a fairly centralized locale (for us) to grab dinner and generally just hang out. That place was Elliott Bay in the Lake City area, which was newer (relatively), meaning that it wasn't there when I left (about two years ago). It was a fairly typical brewery type restaurant, which meant generally pub type food. I decided that since they were a brewery to get the No Doubt Stout BBQ Burger, which is made from their No Doubt Stout ale.
Everything was fairly well prepared, the burger came with cheese, onions straws, lettuce, tomato, onion, and BBQ sauce. Unfortunately, this particular burger proved (at least for me) that burgers aren't really BBQ items. While you might cook a rack of ribs or brisket on a grill like a burger, the flavors you are going for are different. That being said, while I like meaty burgers, I also understand that you don't want your burger to be too dense, otherwise it becomes kind of bogged down and dry like a meatloaf sandwich. That's part of the reason you don't necessarily want to use the leanest cut of meat for your burgers. Now, it wasn't that the meat here was dry, but rather that the BBQ sauce was designed for something slightly tougher, such as a brisket or a tri-tip, not a burger. It wasn't that the sauce was bad, it just didn't fit the burger schema. In short, the BBQ sauce was too sweet, the flavor really overwhelmed everything else on the burger. Maybe some people like it that way, but for me, it made things really hard to taste on the burger, and thus, sort of ruined the burger experience.
The fries were good, not much else needs to be said here. It's pretty hard to ruin fries. Nothing special, but sometimes simplicity is best. I'm not going to say Elliott Bay is a bad place to eat, from what I saw of everyone else's food, it all looked good. Conceptually, this burger made sense, it was safe, but unfortunately, execution marred the concept.
Everything was fairly well prepared, the burger came with cheese, onions straws, lettuce, tomato, onion, and BBQ sauce. Unfortunately, this particular burger proved (at least for me) that burgers aren't really BBQ items. While you might cook a rack of ribs or brisket on a grill like a burger, the flavors you are going for are different. That being said, while I like meaty burgers, I also understand that you don't want your burger to be too dense, otherwise it becomes kind of bogged down and dry like a meatloaf sandwich. That's part of the reason you don't necessarily want to use the leanest cut of meat for your burgers. Now, it wasn't that the meat here was dry, but rather that the BBQ sauce was designed for something slightly tougher, such as a brisket or a tri-tip, not a burger. It wasn't that the sauce was bad, it just didn't fit the burger schema. In short, the BBQ sauce was too sweet, the flavor really overwhelmed everything else on the burger. Maybe some people like it that way, but for me, it made things really hard to taste on the burger, and thus, sort of ruined the burger experience.
The fries were good, not much else needs to be said here. It's pretty hard to ruin fries. Nothing special, but sometimes simplicity is best. I'm not going to say Elliott Bay is a bad place to eat, from what I saw of everyone else's food, it all looked good. Conceptually, this burger made sense, it was safe, but unfortunately, execution marred the concept.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Sort of a burger
There's a lot to like about Katsu Burger. Really, there is. Yet still, a small part of me feels like this is more of a Chick-Fil-A type joint rather than a burger joint. I suppose, that's what makes me a burger snob, because I'm certain there are a ton of people that would consider Chick-Fil-A a "burger" place as everything is on a bun, but I think it's more than that, but that's not something I'll get into a whole lot now.
While the patty itself was beef, it was deep fried in the Japanese katsu style. Now, I'm a huge fan of katsu, but it's not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when I think burger. So the texture itself kind of threw me off. There were jalapenos and a slaw as extra fixings on the burger which offset it really well. I don't know if it's a hang up for me, but ultimately, it still didn't really "feel" like a burger simply because it didn't really have that sort of substantial feel that you would come to expect out of a burger. Not to say that it wasn't good, it was good. The beef was high quality and well done, just, don't go expecting a traditional burger, which is pretty much what they're going for here.
It seems weird that I feel like I'm knocking this place when I like burgers and I like katsu, but I'm trying to be honest with my reflections. I liked the nori fries, though personally I like a little more substance (perhaps that's what I'm looking for) in my fries, so I like crisp as opposed to crunchy (I don't know if that makes sense), but I like heartier fries with a firm edge, as opposed to smaller fries that are kind of crunchy all around. They also had some pretty cool and unique house-made dipping sauces. That being said it was all in all a good experience, just don't expect a typical "burger" when you come here.
BTW, the shake was good too.
While the patty itself was beef, it was deep fried in the Japanese katsu style. Now, I'm a huge fan of katsu, but it's not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when I think burger. So the texture itself kind of threw me off. There were jalapenos and a slaw as extra fixings on the burger which offset it really well. I don't know if it's a hang up for me, but ultimately, it still didn't really "feel" like a burger simply because it didn't really have that sort of substantial feel that you would come to expect out of a burger. Not to say that it wasn't good, it was good. The beef was high quality and well done, just, don't go expecting a traditional burger, which is pretty much what they're going for here.
It seems weird that I feel like I'm knocking this place when I like burgers and I like katsu, but I'm trying to be honest with my reflections. I liked the nori fries, though personally I like a little more substance (perhaps that's what I'm looking for) in my fries, so I like crisp as opposed to crunchy (I don't know if that makes sense), but I like heartier fries with a firm edge, as opposed to smaller fries that are kind of crunchy all around. They also had some pretty cool and unique house-made dipping sauces. That being said it was all in all a good experience, just don't expect a typical "burger" when you come here.
BTW, the shake was good too.
Monday, August 19, 2013
If only it were happy hour
So it's kind of weird to me that the most anticipated blog post I've probably ever had on this blog is going to be about a burger I had at a supermarket. Okay, so it's not exactly a supermarket, but rather, a dining establishment that was attached to a supermarket. Long story short, I was visiting Rochester and my friends decided that we ought to try The Food Bar at Wegman's, and because their burgers were supposed to be pretty good, and I had a burger blog, I should review it. We went, and it was a nice place, the more I think of it the more it actually was designed kind of like a bar than an actual restaurant (given the wine dispensers in the dining area).
Anyways, I'm not a big drinker, actually, I don't drink (alcohol) at all. However, I know that generally speaking happy hours are great places to get burgers, and in all honesty that's really what this burger was, a happy hour burger. Don't get me wrong, the burger was well done, the ingredients were fresh and it was prepared quite well. Served with the slice of tomato, leaf of lettuce, melted cheese, and Thousand Island, there was a certain elegance to the simplicity of the concept. A burger, made well. However, that being said, the burger kind of took that concept to the extreme. Beyond that, you were really paying full menu price for a happy hour burger The meat was well prepared and hearty, the Pub Burger being a 1/2 lb patty, however despite the simplicity of the ingredients it was something of an underwhelming burger in all honesty. The main detraction I had was that the bun was more of a roll than a bun, meaning that it was a bit airier than the typical bun which, while not a huge detraction, was not typical for a burger. Additionally, the heavy char used on the burger and the grilled bun, again, while a nice addition, completely stifled the flavor from the Thousand Island.
Part of what makes going out to eat a treat is partially that you don't have to really work to prep the food or clean up, but another part of it is largely to get what you can't really make at home. While I don't believe necessarily that I can as consistently crank out a burger this well prepared, I believe that I can get close enough. Again, I want to reiterate that this was a well-done burger, but what makes the experience largely not worthwhile is simply that the product is not worth the price. Normally at this point of the review I'd be making some generic comment about the fries, which I cannot do here, because the burger doesn't come with any, and I'd already paid for a full meal for just the burger and a drink. I know it's a nice half-pound patty, but the mark-up was pretty ridiculous in my opinion. While I know this is a blog about the quality of the burger, the price tag does markedly affect the overall perception and dining experience. It's a nifty dining experience, and it's good, for a supermarket, but in all honesty, if you're in that plaza hankering for a burger, you'd probably do better at Cheesecake Factory.
Anyways, I'm not a big drinker, actually, I don't drink (alcohol) at all. However, I know that generally speaking happy hours are great places to get burgers, and in all honesty that's really what this burger was, a happy hour burger. Don't get me wrong, the burger was well done, the ingredients were fresh and it was prepared quite well. Served with the slice of tomato, leaf of lettuce, melted cheese, and Thousand Island, there was a certain elegance to the simplicity of the concept. A burger, made well. However, that being said, the burger kind of took that concept to the extreme. Beyond that, you were really paying full menu price for a happy hour burger The meat was well prepared and hearty, the Pub Burger being a 1/2 lb patty, however despite the simplicity of the ingredients it was something of an underwhelming burger in all honesty. The main detraction I had was that the bun was more of a roll than a bun, meaning that it was a bit airier than the typical bun which, while not a huge detraction, was not typical for a burger. Additionally, the heavy char used on the burger and the grilled bun, again, while a nice addition, completely stifled the flavor from the Thousand Island.
Part of what makes going out to eat a treat is partially that you don't have to really work to prep the food or clean up, but another part of it is largely to get what you can't really make at home. While I don't believe necessarily that I can as consistently crank out a burger this well prepared, I believe that I can get close enough. Again, I want to reiterate that this was a well-done burger, but what makes the experience largely not worthwhile is simply that the product is not worth the price. Normally at this point of the review I'd be making some generic comment about the fries, which I cannot do here, because the burger doesn't come with any, and I'd already paid for a full meal for just the burger and a drink. I know it's a nice half-pound patty, but the mark-up was pretty ridiculous in my opinion. While I know this is a blog about the quality of the burger, the price tag does markedly affect the overall perception and dining experience. It's a nifty dining experience, and it's good, for a supermarket, but in all honesty, if you're in that plaza hankering for a burger, you'd probably do better at Cheesecake Factory.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Onion Burns Bright
Well, I was in Seattle for a wedding and my friends and I decided to go to Blazing Onion for dinner before catching a movie (not on the wedding day). I was informed that this place had good burgers (and bottomless fries, which never hurts). I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but the overall ambiance of the place seemed nice and the burger menu looked very legit.
I was ultimately torn between the Wild Boar, Buffalo, and Texas Heat burgers, because, frankly, they all looked good and the concept of wild boar meat was intriguing, and I knew for a fact that buffalo meat was good. However, I stuck with the Texas Heat as it was my first time here and I wanted to get a good gauge of the place overall as a burger joint. As they were 1/3 lb patties, I opted for an XL (2 patties). The first notable difference from the typical burger was that it was served on an Asiago onion bun rather than your typical bun or roll. While this added a nice touch, I didn't notice it making a significant impact on the burger itself (maybe it was too subtle for me). The patties were really juicy and well cooked. The burger was topped with Chipotle mayo and salsa as well as the normal fixings as well. Overall it worked pretty well as a whole. However, generally speaking, I didn't really taste any salsa, and the only real noticeable thing about it was that it made the burger kind of runny.
The fries were solid, they added some nice seasoning on the first batch and the next few batches after were at the least fresh from the fryer. Overall, I would say that this place is a solid place to go out and get a burger. Definitely better than Red Robin has been in recent memory.
I was ultimately torn between the Wild Boar, Buffalo, and Texas Heat burgers, because, frankly, they all looked good and the concept of wild boar meat was intriguing, and I knew for a fact that buffalo meat was good. However, I stuck with the Texas Heat as it was my first time here and I wanted to get a good gauge of the place overall as a burger joint. As they were 1/3 lb patties, I opted for an XL (2 patties). The first notable difference from the typical burger was that it was served on an Asiago onion bun rather than your typical bun or roll. While this added a nice touch, I didn't notice it making a significant impact on the burger itself (maybe it was too subtle for me). The patties were really juicy and well cooked. The burger was topped with Chipotle mayo and salsa as well as the normal fixings as well. Overall it worked pretty well as a whole. However, generally speaking, I didn't really taste any salsa, and the only real noticeable thing about it was that it made the burger kind of runny.
The fries were solid, they added some nice seasoning on the first batch and the next few batches after were at the least fresh from the fryer. Overall, I would say that this place is a solid place to go out and get a burger. Definitely better than Red Robin has been in recent memory.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
It Translates Quite Well
So, back on my burger quest, I had heard about Morrette's King Steak House online in regards to having a fairly good burger. Namely, because it was considered one of the places one could procure one of the finer cheesesteaks in the area, and the beef used for the cheesesteak and the burgers were the same. So, given that incentive, and it being fairly conveniently located around where I normally venture, I opted to go for it. Wanting something with a bit more variety than your typical All-American Cheeseburger (read: just lettuce and tomatoes and onions) I picked one of the newer items on the menu (it said "new" next to the item, though the menu itself was kind of old), the "Southwestern" Steak Burger.
All in all, it was pretty good. You could tell that the beef was used for making cheesesteaks as it was generally pretty lean. For a place that had kind of an old diner feel, the lack of greasiness in the meat was fairly nice. It gave a full beefy flavor. This burger was then topped with cheese, which being a cheesesteak place was melted quite nicely, grilled onions, a hickory BBQ sauce, and jalapenos. Overall the execution was pretty good, though I do have to say that the concept behind the burger itself wasn't extraordinarily well thought out. The ingredients sort of clashed for flavor, and for the first few bites I couldn't quite decide what to make of the contrast between the jalapeno kick and the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, which in and of itself I thought was slightly overpowering. Overall though, I thought the burger pretty good.
The fries were pretty "well-done" for all you In-N-Outers out there. They were left in the fryer a little longer and came out crispy, but not overly so, which was good. Overall, a pretty nifty novelty place, what with all the historic pictures on the wall and that, but I'd probably go with the steak sandwich more than the burger next time.
All in all, it was pretty good. You could tell that the beef was used for making cheesesteaks as it was generally pretty lean. For a place that had kind of an old diner feel, the lack of greasiness in the meat was fairly nice. It gave a full beefy flavor. This burger was then topped with cheese, which being a cheesesteak place was melted quite nicely, grilled onions, a hickory BBQ sauce, and jalapenos. Overall the execution was pretty good, though I do have to say that the concept behind the burger itself wasn't extraordinarily well thought out. The ingredients sort of clashed for flavor, and for the first few bites I couldn't quite decide what to make of the contrast between the jalapeno kick and the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, which in and of itself I thought was slightly overpowering. Overall though, I thought the burger pretty good.
The fries were pretty "well-done" for all you In-N-Outers out there. They were left in the fryer a little longer and came out crispy, but not overly so, which was good. Overall, a pretty nifty novelty place, what with all the historic pictures on the wall and that, but I'd probably go with the steak sandwich more than the burger next time.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Juicy is good
Invariably living now in the Capital Region (of New York) I got the great idea of looking up the best burgers in the Capital Region on Google. This place came up a whole lot. Before I jump into the review as a whole, I want to break down the general premise that I have going into a brief thing about what I look for in general from a burger joint. There are two basic things that I look at going into a burger joint: concept and execution. The concept is the amount of thought and consideration that goes into the creation of the menu. It's easy in particular for burger joints to create a generic menu of five or six burgers that most places generally will have. I have nothing against that, but there is something to be said about consideration for originality. The second is how well this is pulled off, this is generally what I'm reviewing when I'm talking about the overall taste and each component of the burger, essentially, how well they pull it off. As of right now there is only one place that has done both well, unfortunately, Juicy's Burgers and More was not one of them. However, if this is the best that the Capital Region has to offer, they could certainly do a lot worse.
The burger was done really well, that much is true. The burger was in fact quite juicy. The Cajun Burger that I got was done well, it was well spiced to bring out the overall flavor of the burger. I'm not sure if there was like a special mayo on it, but hey it was good. The other fixings were quite well done, it had some tang with the pickled chiles. The bun was a kind of hard roll which was well done. Kind of light and fluffy, but well toasted.
The fries were pretty run of the mill, though they were called Yukon Gold fries so I'd imagine those were type of potatoes used. Overall, it's a good place to go and grab a burger. It's a little pricier than what I think is warranted as everything is paid for separately (i.e. burger, fries, and drink), there are no real combos, but hey, the burger is good. I'd come out for it again, sometime. Should probably try the other sides too.
The burger was done really well, that much is true. The burger was in fact quite juicy. The Cajun Burger that I got was done well, it was well spiced to bring out the overall flavor of the burger. I'm not sure if there was like a special mayo on it, but hey it was good. The other fixings were quite well done, it had some tang with the pickled chiles. The bun was a kind of hard roll which was well done. Kind of light and fluffy, but well toasted.
The fries were pretty run of the mill, though they were called Yukon Gold fries so I'd imagine those were type of potatoes used. Overall, it's a good place to go and grab a burger. It's a little pricier than what I think is warranted as everything is paid for separately (i.e. burger, fries, and drink), there are no real combos, but hey, the burger is good. I'd come out for it again, sometime. Should probably try the other sides too.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
It's only doubled nominally
Okay, so as a slight disclaimer, I split this burger four ways. It wasn't that I couldn't finish it, but it was more because there was also a large deep dish pizza and an order of pot roast sitting on the table at the time, which we decided we would like to split (between four of us). That being said, the main reason I wanted to go to BJ's Brewery was more for the pizookie than a new burger review (though I did want to do a new burger review).
However, only having a quarter of the burger was sufficient for me to get a good idea of the burger. The onion straws were good, the bacon was a good touch. The patties were well cooked, but I did notice a major disparity between the first and second patties, not necessarily in quality but in size, the second was significantly smaller. They supposedly had a special brewhouse sauce on the burger, but the flavor from the onion straws kind of over powered it.
They have wedge fries, which are always a plus, which are essentially jo-jos, which are a plus. Jo-jos are always a plus.
However, only having a quarter of the burger was sufficient for me to get a good idea of the burger. The onion straws were good, the bacon was a good touch. The patties were well cooked, but I did notice a major disparity between the first and second patties, not necessarily in quality but in size, the second was significantly smaller. They supposedly had a special brewhouse sauce on the burger, but the flavor from the onion straws kind of over powered it.
They have wedge fries, which are always a plus, which are essentially jo-jos, which are a plus. Jo-jos are always a plus.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Big name to live up to
Granted I understand that this is a BBQ joint, being called L.T.'s Grill, it makes sense that I should've ordered BBQ (i.e.pulled pork) of some sort instead of a burger. However, I ordered a burger because, well, I'm a burger snob. Understandably, The Hoss, was a big burger, as its name somewhat indicates. Not that BBQ places can't make good burgers, but it's just not their go-to thing, so I can't say that I was disappointed as I wasn't really expecting a whole lot.
The burger in and of itself was pretty well made, the patty large and juicy, and it was grilled (duh) with a nice char. However, after that, there really was absolutely nothing to distinguish this burger from its smaller counterpart found at a local picnic BBQ. It was just a hunk of ground beef cooked on a professional grill. Served with lettuce tomatoes, two large cups of ketchup, and a side of fries. Not bad, not great, certainly not worth the price. So if you ever venture here, get some BBQ, not a burger.
The burger in and of itself was pretty well made, the patty large and juicy, and it was grilled (duh) with a nice char. However, after that, there really was absolutely nothing to distinguish this burger from its smaller counterpart found at a local picnic BBQ. It was just a hunk of ground beef cooked on a professional grill. Served with lettuce tomatoes, two large cups of ketchup, and a side of fries. Not bad, not great, certainly not worth the price. So if you ever venture here, get some BBQ, not a burger.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Is it a burger, is it a sandwich?
I do get good burgers at work, that I have to say. The special for the day was a Reuben burger which to me is intriguing because it's sort of up to interpretation in regards to what exactly would be a Reuben burger. Is it a burger with a Reuben sandwich on top? While generally everyone agrees that you need to have saurkraut and Russian dressing and Swiss cheese, do you include the pastrami/corned beef or do you just use some kind of seasoned ground beef patty? Do you use grilled rye bread or a standard bun? Well, my place opted to go with the former on the first and the latter on the second.
It was a good burger, Bob, the expert burger maker in the cafeteria does a great job of making sure my burger is done just right somehow by just poking it. I don't know the secret either. Maybe he has a magic finger thermometer. All in all it was a good burger, though the cheeses and sauces my work cafeteria use are of a more mild flavor in general. The fixings are always fresh, the saurkraut good but also a little on the mild side for my tastes. Overall it's what I've come to expect from the place, good, high quality burgers without a lot of fuss or frills.
The fact they have freshly fried steak fries does make for a good side as well. If you ever do visit while I am working, I will make sure you can try one.
It was a good burger, Bob, the expert burger maker in the cafeteria does a great job of making sure my burger is done just right somehow by just poking it. I don't know the secret either. Maybe he has a magic finger thermometer. All in all it was a good burger, though the cheeses and sauces my work cafeteria use are of a more mild flavor in general. The fixings are always fresh, the saurkraut good but also a little on the mild side for my tastes. Overall it's what I've come to expect from the place, good, high quality burgers without a lot of fuss or frills.
The fact they have freshly fried steak fries does make for a good side as well. If you ever do visit while I am working, I will make sure you can try one.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Back to basics
So, I work now at the corporate headquarters of Price Chopper supermarkets, and they have a subsidized cafeteria, which, is run by the locally well-known Mazzone group, a management group that runs several gourmet restaurants in the area. I've heard the burger was good, so I opted just for a simple straight forward cheeseburger.
Well, the burger was well made, the fixings were fresh but plain, and the bun just a straight-forward burger bun. I added ketchup and deli mustard myself. It was interesting that they used a mild white cheddar when I asked for cheddar. Overall, it was a good burger, but nothing exceptional. The meat was good and well cooked, but it lacked some kind of flair, some kind of distinction, but I'm not going to get super nitpicky about this.
Unfortunately, while waffle fries were exciting, they were overcooked, and super crunchy. I know they fry these with their homemade chips and stuff, but it wasn't pretty. You can visit if you want some, but all in all, I'd say, lets go somewhere else for a burger.
Well, the burger was well made, the fixings were fresh but plain, and the bun just a straight-forward burger bun. I added ketchup and deli mustard myself. It was interesting that they used a mild white cheddar when I asked for cheddar. Overall, it was a good burger, but nothing exceptional. The meat was good and well cooked, but it lacked some kind of flair, some kind of distinction, but I'm not going to get super nitpicky about this.
Unfortunately, while waffle fries were exciting, they were overcooked, and super crunchy. I know they fry these with their homemade chips and stuff, but it wasn't pretty. You can visit if you want some, but all in all, I'd say, lets go somewhere else for a burger.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The grace of simplicity
I had this burger in the town in the middle of southern Minnesota called Wells. Literally, there was no place that I could check-in on Yelp for like 30 miles. This is probably one of the two dining establishments within that distance as well, the other being a Dairy Queen a couple blocks the other way. That being said, you figure I'd go for pizza at a place called Jake's Pizza, but I noticed that enough of their stuff used hamburger steaks to figure that their burgers should be pretty good too. I oped for the Canadian Bacon Cheeseburger variety (as opposed to the American bacon kind) which essentially was a ham and Swiss sandwich with a burger patty underneath. That's pretty sweet.
The patty itself was juicy and well cooked, gave a full meaty flavor, which was something of a surprise for this type of a joint, but when you think about it, it's just good old fashioned home cooking. The bun was your run of the mill bun. The ketchup and mustard I added myself, the pickles were pretty normal pickles, the Swiss was nice and melty under the three slices of grilled Canadian bacon. All in all, good times. The bacon wasn't too stringy, and everything had a very full, hearty, natural flavor to it.
The fries were your run-of-the-mill frozen kringle cut fries, which, when deep fried are very good. I did have to salt and pepper them myself, but it's hard to go wrong with kringle cut. I would never say that anyone would have to go all the way out to Wells, MN just to try a burger at this pizza joint, but I must say it was a good burger. I know it's not saying much since there are only like two places to eat around the area, but it is a pretty dang good place to stop and eat if you're there. Well done Jake, well done.
The patty itself was juicy and well cooked, gave a full meaty flavor, which was something of a surprise for this type of a joint, but when you think about it, it's just good old fashioned home cooking. The bun was your run of the mill bun. The ketchup and mustard I added myself, the pickles were pretty normal pickles, the Swiss was nice and melty under the three slices of grilled Canadian bacon. All in all, good times. The bacon wasn't too stringy, and everything had a very full, hearty, natural flavor to it.
The fries were your run-of-the-mill frozen kringle cut fries, which, when deep fried are very good. I did have to salt and pepper them myself, but it's hard to go wrong with kringle cut. I would never say that anyone would have to go all the way out to Wells, MN just to try a burger at this pizza joint, but I must say it was a good burger. I know it's not saying much since there are only like two places to eat around the area, but it is a pretty dang good place to stop and eat if you're there. Well done Jake, well done.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
I totally needed this
I had heard nothing but good things about Uneeda Burger out in Fremont. Why the heck does all the good food have to be in Fremont? I guess it's the happening place. First the best sandwich (Paseo) and now the best burger. I kid you not, this is definitely one of the best if not the best burger joint I've ever been to. I came with my small group before heading out back to the East Coast, and I can tell you, I was not disappointed at all, even with all the hype. We had a lovely conversation with a very amicable general manager who knew his stuff. After hearing that his personal favorite burger was the Sonora (#5 on the menu) I opted to get it.
My first take on the burgers were that they were all very well thought out. There isn't as extensive a selection as some other burger joints would boast, but I would posit that there was definitely something for everyone there. The meat was cooked to perfection. Full beefy flavor, not too greasy, not undercooked so that it bled, just the right amount of tenderness and juiciness to fully appreciate the quality of the meat. The Sonora also was served on a nice artisan bun, grilled well, not overloaded, not overwhelming. The fixings included a chili-relish made from roasted Anaheim peppers among other things. While I was originally hesitant because I prefer a kick over a slow burn, the latter of which was used to describe the chili relish, it worked. It wasn't overwhelming, it in fact, did what it was supposed to, complement the burger. The mixture of onions and cilantro and whatever they put in the relish gave it a nice tang, almost like a ceviche but not quite. It's hard to describe and just saying that it was good hardly does it justice. The relish, in addition to being a fixing was something of a condiment in and of itself, mixing with the cilantro to give a nice tangy flavor with that hint of burn afterwards.
While I was disappointed to find that they no longer served waffle-fries, I certainly was not disappointed in the least by the fries. This was my first poutine experience, and I must say the Canadians are on to something here. While it does trend towards the heavier side it was good. Additionally, the beer-battered onion rings had a great sweetness in the batter, and the regular (now hand-cut) fries were great as well. All in all, everything about this place was well thought out and executed nearly perfectly. I know I don't say this much, but this is definitely a place you have to go out of your way to go to if you're looking for a quality burger in the Seattle area. Best burger in Seattle, I don't care what Oprah says.
My first take on the burgers were that they were all very well thought out. There isn't as extensive a selection as some other burger joints would boast, but I would posit that there was definitely something for everyone there. The meat was cooked to perfection. Full beefy flavor, not too greasy, not undercooked so that it bled, just the right amount of tenderness and juiciness to fully appreciate the quality of the meat. The Sonora also was served on a nice artisan bun, grilled well, not overloaded, not overwhelming. The fixings included a chili-relish made from roasted Anaheim peppers among other things. While I was originally hesitant because I prefer a kick over a slow burn, the latter of which was used to describe the chili relish, it worked. It wasn't overwhelming, it in fact, did what it was supposed to, complement the burger. The mixture of onions and cilantro and whatever they put in the relish gave it a nice tang, almost like a ceviche but not quite. It's hard to describe and just saying that it was good hardly does it justice. The relish, in addition to being a fixing was something of a condiment in and of itself, mixing with the cilantro to give a nice tangy flavor with that hint of burn afterwards.
While I was disappointed to find that they no longer served waffle-fries, I certainly was not disappointed in the least by the fries. This was my first poutine experience, and I must say the Canadians are on to something here. While it does trend towards the heavier side it was good. Additionally, the beer-battered onion rings had a great sweetness in the batter, and the regular (now hand-cut) fries were great as well. All in all, everything about this place was well thought out and executed nearly perfectly. I know I don't say this much, but this is definitely a place you have to go out of your way to go to if you're looking for a quality burger in the Seattle area. Best burger in Seattle, I don't care what Oprah says.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Good ol' home cookin'
Well, I can't say I expected too much, I mean, Burney Bros BBQ makes a point to be a BBQ place, but I figure their burger can't be all that bad. I mean, it's another piece of grilled meat right? In retrospect, it may not have been the wisest decision, but I had neglected my readers long enough. I made my homage to the BBQ sign in downtown Lake Forest Park by getting the BBQ burger, which was actually surprisingly good. Had I decided to check-in before I ordered, I would probably have noted that the two other establishments in the food court had check-in deals and you wouldn't have this review.
The meat was juicy, very, very juicy. It's topped off with a grilled BBQ sauce and the guy gives you a dipping BBQ sauce on the side. I opted for the spicy sauce, which was good, but once you dipped it, it kind of was all you could taste. It wasn't bad, but not super ideal for a burger. Lettuce and tomato were the iceberg and slice affair, nothing fancy. If you want, they have condiment packets. The bun was your typical sesame affair, did a good job holding up, amazing what difference a well toasted bun makes.
The fries were your typical bulk order frozen fries. Since there didn't appear to be space for a food warmer in the back, they have to fry them fresh, which is a plus. Crispy, lightly salted, all-in-all what you expect from the typical burger side.
I have to say that I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this place, but it's not bad, and I think it's one of the two places in downtown Lake Forest Park you can get a burger, the other likely being Lake Forest Grill, which seems like a more sit-down establishment. If I come back, I'd probably opt for the brisket sandwich or something, but if you're craving a burger, this isn't a bad option.
The meat was juicy, very, very juicy. It's topped off with a grilled BBQ sauce and the guy gives you a dipping BBQ sauce on the side. I opted for the spicy sauce, which was good, but once you dipped it, it kind of was all you could taste. It wasn't bad, but not super ideal for a burger. Lettuce and tomato were the iceberg and slice affair, nothing fancy. If you want, they have condiment packets. The bun was your typical sesame affair, did a good job holding up, amazing what difference a well toasted bun makes.
The fries were your typical bulk order frozen fries. Since there didn't appear to be space for a food warmer in the back, they have to fry them fresh, which is a plus. Crispy, lightly salted, all-in-all what you expect from the typical burger side.
I have to say that I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this place, but it's not bad, and I think it's one of the two places in downtown Lake Forest Park you can get a burger, the other likely being Lake Forest Grill, which seems like a more sit-down establishment. If I come back, I'd probably opt for the brisket sandwich or something, but if you're craving a burger, this isn't a bad option.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A rush of stuff, not quite a touchdown
Maybe a field goal? I've been to Mike's Cafe once before for brunch and wasn't overly impressed with the spread, but it's pretty close to the church I attended in Palo Alto and so I figured it'd be worth a shot, that and it was convenient as I was visiting. I came with a friend with the intention of getting brunch, but since I've had a number of eggs benedicts recently and not quite so many burgers (I apologize to my neglected reading audience).
The Blitz I suppose is fairly aptly named. It's on a 1/2 lb patty, which was pretty good, nothing spectacularly done about it. On top was some generic cheddar, two strips of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and two hefty onion rings. I imagine the onion rings would've been good separately, but they didn't go too well with the burger as neither the batter nor the onions were very strong. BBQ sauce was nice and sweet and tangy, but did taste like fairly generic out-of-the-bottle BBQ sauce, I added a couple of dabs of jalapeno Tabasco for good measure. The bun was a bun, a fairly normal sesame affair.
The fries were also pretty typical, seemed kind of like a frozen variety of McDonald's knockoff. Not as oily, not as salty, you need to season it a little yourself for some flavor. Overall, it's not bad, if you're in the neighborhood and you're hungry it's not a bad place to stop by.
The Blitz I suppose is fairly aptly named. It's on a 1/2 lb patty, which was pretty good, nothing spectacularly done about it. On top was some generic cheddar, two strips of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and two hefty onion rings. I imagine the onion rings would've been good separately, but they didn't go too well with the burger as neither the batter nor the onions were very strong. BBQ sauce was nice and sweet and tangy, but did taste like fairly generic out-of-the-bottle BBQ sauce, I added a couple of dabs of jalapeno Tabasco for good measure. The bun was a bun, a fairly normal sesame affair.
The fries were also pretty typical, seemed kind of like a frozen variety of McDonald's knockoff. Not as oily, not as salty, you need to season it a little yourself for some flavor. Overall, it's not bad, if you're in the neighborhood and you're hungry it's not a bad place to stop by.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Experimental failure
Okay, maybe my title is a bit too harsh, but in my opinion, this place certainly wasn't worth all the hype it had going into it. Seriously. I came to Lunchbox Laboratory with high expectations, perhaps too high. Despite it being happy hour, and my coworkers treating me out, I still can't really honestly say that I would ever feel justified returning here. Not to say it was bad, but I personally don't think it was good enough to justify the price you pay, at least for the Tear Jerker.
The patty was a regular patty. They say kobe beef, and I'm sure the quality is better than your run-of-the-mill stuff you'd find elsewhere. Maybe I just got the wrong burger (again). The fixings on the burger were again nondescript. Your standard iceberg lettuce, a slice of tomato, a thick pickle wedge, some cheese. Of course being the Tear Jerker, it came with roasted jalapenos and some other stuff. The sauce was a buffalo sauce base, meaning: hot sauce and butter, basically the stuff you put onto hot buffalo wings. The bun was a bun, it served well enough. To be honest, the burger was spicy, and it was a good spicy, but there was so much of it you tasted only the buffalo sauce and jalapenos, the burger itself only adding texture. For all I knew, I could've been chewing on boca slathered in hot sauce on a bun.
All in all it wasn't bad. The tater tots were a nice touch on the side, though you could get sweet potato fries as well, which were a plus. I'm not a huge fan of shoe string fries, but they have them as well. It's a decent place to go, but frankly, to me, way too overpriced. The burgers are a bit small and frankly not really worth the menu cost. It's a novelty place, but that's about the only reason I'd go back.
The patty was a regular patty. They say kobe beef, and I'm sure the quality is better than your run-of-the-mill stuff you'd find elsewhere. Maybe I just got the wrong burger (again). The fixings on the burger were again nondescript. Your standard iceberg lettuce, a slice of tomato, a thick pickle wedge, some cheese. Of course being the Tear Jerker, it came with roasted jalapenos and some other stuff. The sauce was a buffalo sauce base, meaning: hot sauce and butter, basically the stuff you put onto hot buffalo wings. The bun was a bun, it served well enough. To be honest, the burger was spicy, and it was a good spicy, but there was so much of it you tasted only the buffalo sauce and jalapenos, the burger itself only adding texture. For all I knew, I could've been chewing on boca slathered in hot sauce on a bun.
All in all it wasn't bad. The tater tots were a nice touch on the side, though you could get sweet potato fries as well, which were a plus. I'm not a huge fan of shoe string fries, but they have them as well. It's a decent place to go, but frankly, to me, way too overpriced. The burgers are a bit small and frankly not really worth the menu cost. It's a novelty place, but that's about the only reason I'd go back.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Bang for your buck
I still posit that In-N-Out is still the best deal around for burgers, but given that I do not have access to a double-double, this may have to do, probably not. Anyways, when P.C. Catering gives you a BBQ bacon double-cheeseburger (called the Texas Cheese) with fries for $5, you figure you'd give it a go.
Anyways, everything is pretty run-of-the-mill. Patties I think were frozen. Bacon is bacon, add some BBQ sauce, some grilled bell peppers and onions, melted pepper jack cheese, you get... well, the Texas Cheese.
Same could be said for the fries. Frozen, from a bag, into a deep fryer, add some Jack's All-Purpose Seasoning, and you get, fries. Good, not great, and sometimes, that's good enough.
Anyways, everything is pretty run-of-the-mill. Patties I think were frozen. Bacon is bacon, add some BBQ sauce, some grilled bell peppers and onions, melted pepper jack cheese, you get... well, the Texas Cheese.
Same could be said for the fries. Frozen, from a bag, into a deep fryer, add some Jack's All-Purpose Seasoning, and you get, fries. Good, not great, and sometimes, that's good enough.
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