Wednesday, September 28, 2016

It pays to ask: "Richie's Up Ur Alley", Mayville WI

It was Labor Day weekend. We just finished a two night stay at Mauthe Lake, North Kettle Moraine. We decided we would stop in Mayville for lunch. It was a bit off course but, we haven't been through Mayville in several years. Quaint little place just down the road from the Horicon Marsh.
Our first thought was the Audubon Inn. A historic hotel that has been restored over the years. All they offered was a "All U Can Eat" brunch. Brunch wasn't on our minds. We were looking for a burger.
We asked the girl at the desk at the Audubon. She said Richie's was the place for the best burger in town. For all we know, the only place that had a burger that day.
About two blocks down Main Street was Richie's Up Ur Alley. A four lane bowling alley. Actually, the bowling alley area had all the full size features, just four lanes. Really cool. They had a host of arcade games and a pool table. Amazing there was room for people dining a bar and an area dedicated to cook what is rumored (at this point of the story) to be the best burger in town.
We grabbed a table and were promptly greeted. She got a beer, I got Root Beer. I would like to say there is something special about the root beer. It's a local product. Just can't recall. No menu online.
Alright, the burgers arrive.
Cooked perfect. Just a slash of pink. Juicy. The pretzel roll is fresh as ever. I'm normally not a fan of the pretzel roll, often served sort of stale. All the flavors mixed together. The nicely seasoned patty, sweetness from the roll, condiments etc. The fries were fresh cut and cooked perfect also.
Is this a "hole in the wall" or "hidden gem"?
The results:
4.5 of 5
Quick and responsive staff. Actually, very nice folks. Quaint setting. Clean enough for me. How cool was it that they only have four lanes and run leagues! Price wasn't crazy off the charts, especially since it was great food.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Keg Steak House, Irving TX

 I needed a place to grab a bite to eat. It was Sunday night, Irving TX and far away from the regular city life. Strip malls and office buildings with a couple of Extended Stay places sprinkled in.A little upscale for grabbing a bite but, not many other choices, I stopped at the Keg Steakhouse.
Why didn't I have a steak? Sure, steak at a steak place is a no-brainer. But, I like my burgers.
The Keg Classic. Keg's own fresh blend of chuck, brisket and sirloin. Crisp lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles, Jalapeno maple aioli, applewood smoked bacon and cheddar cheese.
Served with Keg fries.
The great thing about having a burger at a place that is all about meat, it's usually as good as the steak. Decent size, not too monstrous. Cooked near perfect for my taste. Could have used a bit more seasoning but, I think that's what the jalapeno sauce is for. I had it brought out on the side so it wouldn't interfere with the flavor. After a couple of bites I tried some of the sauce with the burger. I didn't think it did much for it. Maybe even took away from the taste a bit.
Rated:
4 of 5
Not that it wasn't excellent. A bit pricey. I would say it's on the way towards a 4.5

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Fast Food Challenge: P.Terry's Burger Stand

It's always difficult to not be a little affected by other people's listings for the "Best Burger" in Austin, TX. P.Terry's showed up on a couple lists. Their story is one that makes me want to assure they stay around. If they are that good maybe some day, they will be opening stores in the Midwest.
In the heart of downtown Austin, on street level, right next to a parking ramp you can find the P.Terry's Burger Stand.
I sort of wish I had gone to the original location. Although the shop was clean and clever, I didn't get the "burger stand" feeling. It was more like a food court location.
The burger was good, could have been a little warmer. Not sure if the air conditioning cooled it fast or maybe it sat for too long before I got it. The fries were obviously fresh cut. Just a small remnant of the peel, which I like. Matter of fact, while we sat and ate, a guy brought around a bunch of potatoes and began the process of cleaning, tumble and slice.
Everything on it was fresh. No complaints there. Decent size and price.
No flame but, that's okay. The patty was probably mechanically formed but, according to the story, same day. 
I had fries and a shake to finish off the challenge. Both were excellent.

Ratings:
4 of 5

Fast Food Challenge: WHATABURGER

I'm in Texas. Where everything is BIG. Whataburger didn't let me down on that. My choice was to go with a classic Whataburger with cheese. Fries and a drink to complement.
Well, it was tasty. I can't say it's the best I've ever had nor the worst. They didn't claim to grind it daily, hand pack the patties etc. It was a prepared patty. Cooked right. Fresh bun.
The fries were actually quite tasty also.
I would go to a Whataburger if I were on the road in the South.
Truth told, I'm a fan of flame broiled/cooked.
My only critique might be to lighten up on the mustard. That may have been the employee's choice to add over the top.
Price didn't seem too crazy.
I will be kind and say, for Fast Food, Whata does a good job.
Ratings:
3.5 of 5

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Jonesing for a burger? try Burger Jones Minneapolis MN

Disclaimer, I saw a clip on Youtube that showed this incredibly crazy burger, "Meat your Maker" that the folks at Burger Jones built. Onion rings, chicken fried bacon just about everything in the kitchen.
Put that visual aside. To make the most of my visit to the Minneapple, Jones seemed like a must have kind of place.
Upon arrival, the place looked like it might be fun. A patio/deck area outside on the road side of the building was packed. The inside was neatly laid out. Just inside the door, I was greeted by two staff that suggested I might like to grab a spot in the bar. Not because they were judging me. It was because I was alone and just wanted a burger and not a big sit down experience. Business to take care of, you know?
The bartender was over right away. Pleasant, fun. Ready to answer all my questions. Coke, fries and the original Burger Jones with American cheese.
The order came out quick. Juicy, seasoned and of course the bun was branded with their logo. Pretty cool.
3.5 of 5
The restaurant/bar was just another eatery. Some cute display items. I can see hanging out afterwards for a drink. The staff was on task. Prices weren't crazy. The burger was very good. I'd go back/suggest it to others. I picked the location closest to where I was. Turns out, the area is quite nice. A lake, Uptown district.
Burger Jones

Crazy about Psyco Suzi's

Like most large cities, Minneapolis offers quite a few places to go enjoy some food or a drink. For me, it was a 350 mile drive and I wanted to make the most of it. Before heading out, I checked the internet for burger joints in the metro area. Suzie's popped up.
A match made in heaven. I love all things Tiki (most) and they have a decent list of burgers to boot! Even more interesting/challenging is the fact that the online reviews were all over the chart.
Time to see for myself.
Snuggled in the warehouse district and backed up against the Mississippi river, Suzie's Motor Lounge has an instant cool vibe.
I was greeted by two people that gave me the lay of the land. Lower lounge, upper lounge and two decks. I was by myself so I headed to the deck on the lower level. There is a seating area that runs the edge of the deck on the railing. Bonus, I had a perfect view of the river.
First order, a Mai Tai. The burger was simple "I'll have the Suzi Burger".
The burger came cooked perfect, just a little pink. First bite, flavors abound. It's almost a bit of a "heat" effect. The herb butter and caramelized onion combine and mellow together. I had the red pepper mayo on the side but found that it went great with all the other components. Tater tots complete the order.
The whole scene was well done. If you are looking for a bright, all corners are 90 degrees kind of place, don't stop here. If you want to do some crowd watching, spend a little cash and get a decent burger swing on through.
Prices were average to high. Normally, I would have sticker shock. I just enjoyed the staff and watching the river go by.
4 of 5.
Pricey yes. Service was responsive even when busy (super busy because there was also an artwalk that night) Burger was a special treat. I haven't had a burger with such punch. I'm inspired to try the herb butter treatment at home.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Got to the Cudahy Burger Joint

Purveyors of the burger are popping up all over the place. North side, downtown, western suburbs and now Cudahy!
Will our city soon be know as a place for beer, cheese and burgers?

Although I had the address, google maps and drive by visuals, The Joint is a little difficult to find. The sign is nearly flat to the wall and sort of blends in with the stone exterior of the building. The windows are high up and make it impossible to look inside from in a car or walking by. They are new, the building is old. Maybe the exterior isn't what's important. I'm not going to say that the front door screams let's eat burgers! Once inside, I found myself trying to figure out the decorating scheme. Eclectic? The one wall has a picture of Packard Avenue back in the day. Pretty cool. Then, random things like a guitar made from wire, pictures of Elvis and an old Pepsi clock. Again, just getting going, maybe they weren't able to find all the things they envisioned.

The menu was simple. None of the "build your own" stuff. Just the facts. The waiter was helpful and took our order shortly after we sat ourselves. (near the door to the street) I chose the All American Cheeseburger with fries. Cooked medium.

A short time later, we got our burgers. The bun was nice and shiny from melted butter. I'm already liking this. Big pieces of bacon hanging out the edges of the sandwich. Inside, cooked nearly perfect for my liking. I pinched a piece of just straight meat with a little cheese. I often do this so I can get as close to the true flavors. A little light on the seasoning. Cheese had a classic taste and texture.
Overall, it was good stuff. The price was appropriate.

I was temped to have a shake or malt but was quite full by the time I finished the burger and large order of fries.

I could see myself returning. I might try the blue cheese burger or something a little more crazy.
3.5-4 out of 5.
I didn't get the impression that I was at a "joint" or that the burger was everything. The decor didn't shout "You are in a burger joint". More like Subway sandwiches.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Okay, I Got the Point. (Point Burger Bar)

03/28/2016
I've been wanting to get out to the Point Burger Bar since I found out that Point Brewing was planning to open at the Park Place location.
Is it a Burger Bar? or a bar that has burgers? I'm going with a Burger Bar. They have quite the selection. Some of the basics, with their naming. Then there's Duck, Lamb, Turkey, Veggie, Bison and Salmon. That could be fun, I guess. It is supposed to be and upscale eatery/bar.
I came in thinking go basic to get the "real" flavor. Upon looking at the menu I decided maybe I should get the one that bears the name, Point Burger ($13.95) Prime Angus, Sarvecchio Montamore Cheese, Nuke’s Bacon, Truffle Mayo, Brioche Bun. Would I be considered out of line to say, I'm sick of the word Brioche. So, order I did. I requested to have the Truffle Mayo on the side. "You can't do that, you will need to Build Your Own Burger." Really? I'm paying $14 for a burger, put the sauce on the side! Well, I got the Classic (Prime Angus, American Cheese, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Kaiser Bun) because I didn't want to fill out a card explaining my preferences. Did you see that the "Classic" is served on a Kaiser roll. Hmm.
When it arrived, I was pleased to see that the meat was cooked just right, a little pink. Not terribly appealing appearance-wise. Sort of looked too formed. Flavor was good. The cook wasn't afraid to use some spices. Cheese was a bit lacking for flavor.
I'm not going to complain about particular things. It was cooked how I like it. Seasoning was good. Roll seemed fresh as did the tomato, red onions and lettuce.
The decor wasn't much to write about. The wall covered with kegs was pretty cool. I think they might cozy it up a bit. Totally my taste.
Rate it: 3.5 of 5
Not bad. Not mind blowing. Price is within the modern restaurant burger range. I'm already on record for whining about what we get for $10 these days. Service was a mixed bag. When she was at our table, she seemed attentive.
I might go back. It might be a while because more of these burger joints are opening around town. Financially and caloric-ally difficult to get to all of them.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Kon Tiki, Tucson AZ-Taste of Paradise

http://kontikitucson.com/index.htmlKon Tiki is a throwback to a time when folks in the U.S. were fascinated with all things Polynesian. The menu reflects it. The food is named to make you think of the Big Island. (The Big Kahun, Monkeys On A Stick) They serve Tacos and burgers as well.

Keeping with tradition, I asked the people I was with my standard question, "Should I get the burger?" The Tiki Burger w/Cheese.
Seasoned nicely with a fresh and slightly sweet bun, which I like. It could have been more on the rare side for my liking.

Did I mention that I think burgers should be priced at around $7.50? Well, this came close. A half pounder w/fries for $8.25!

This review was not at all influenced by the Mai Tai that I had.

The bar & restaurant really have great "tiki" decor and playing some Les Baxter or anything close would have created the ideal scene. Instead the music being broadcast was current pop. Keep in mind, it was the lunch hour. Maybe the night time is different.



My Take:
Burger & bun were very good. Fries, delicious. Love the Tiki lounge theme. Very well done. Price made me happy. Different music, burger not as well done
4 of 5.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Tubac Jack's a pleasant surprise

When you go to Tubac, AZ you are usually heading there to do some shopping. Tons of galleries and shops to buy all kinds of items. Typically, a place like this offers food that is just good or pretty good but, at a price. Not so at Tubac Jack's. $10.50 got me a half pound mushroom swiss burger.
Cooked a little more than I prefer but, flavor was right on. The roll it was served on was fresh and shined from being buttered before toasting it. Juicy, all the flavors came together just right. I couldn't stop eating the tasty fries.
All this in the midst of what might be a bit of a tourist trap. Nice.
My take:
Great wait staff, a bit playful. The patio made you feel like you were somewhere other than near all the shopping. Price was decent, I'm still a cheap ass and think burgers should be $7.50 or less so, don't pay too much attention to my whining about price.
4 of 5

Diablo Burger, Flagstaff AZ. Great mission, so-so burger

Sorry about the "so-so" but, when you have all kinds of people giving you awards/recognitions for the best or one of the best burgers, you'd better prove it.
Diablo has a great story. The trust they started in 1993, the challenge to stay local and fresh. I dig that. It was one of the things that made it a burger to have. What could be better than chowing down a delicious burger and supporting a cause.
Rather than getting the simplest burger I took on the Wrigley Field. Bacon, Swiss, Grilled onions and Honey Mustard sauce, which I had them set on the side so I could add at my discretion. Medium rare. It comes with fries. I got a root beer to wash it all down.
The burger arrived cooked to the exact pinkness I like. I was apprehensive of the English Muffin bun/roll. Sort of cool, it gets branded with their logo. Fries looked great and were plentiful.
My take:
Meat wasn't seasoned much or not at all. I'm not sure of the way they make their burgers but, I got the impression that they use bread crumbs and eggs mixed in. If not, I'm not sure what I was tasting. Smoky bacon gave it a boost of flavor. The English muffin bun really didn't do much for the flavor, it was fairly bland also. The fries were as good as they looked. Peel on and seasoned nicely. I used my Honey mustard for dipping. Yum.
I took a look at our bill and found myself short of breath. Maybe I'm supposed to think it was a great burger because it cost more than most any other I've had at a restaurant/eatery? 
My take:
Pros: Cooked to spec, great fries, cool branding Con: Not much seasoning, not sure about the English muffin thing, price
3.0+ (the fries)
I'm hoping that it was just an off day for the cook staff. I think that on a different day, they might impress me. I'm just not sure if I want to gamble more money to find out.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Happy at Hefner's Custard, Cedarburg WI

(02.05.2016)
There's nothing like a wonderful drive through a couple of the nicest towns on our shoreline, Cedarburg/Grafton. What could be more wonderful you say? How about stopping for a fresh burger on a cold winter day!
I've been to Hefner's before. Probably stop there again. I'm not going to say it is the best burger I've ever had either. I just love the location, building, story okay and the burger. (love might be stretching it, maybe like it alot?)
I did the double cheeseburger with fries. Dang good stuff. Again, it's a flat top grill so, that's the flavor. Not a lot of depth but the onions etc helped. Just a little ketchup.
Priced at just over $5 you can't beat it.
I still chuckle when I see the name of the one burger, The Huge Hefner. Maybe that will be my next selection.
I'll go there again. Still nostalgic. Nice staff. Great price.
3.5 of 5

Two Fingers-Super Yummy @ Lindy's on 4th Ave, Tucson

(02.24.2016)
Yep, back in Tucson. You might need to check me in to the psych ward if I didn't stop at Lindy's for a burger.
In classic fashion, Lindy's didn't let me down. My wife was kind enough to accept the challenge of consuming a Classic Burger with some tater tots. I decided to go a bit off the path and enjoy a "Two Finger Peeka-a-boo". Mushrooms, onion ring, swiss, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion & Lindy’s sauce sandwiched between two grilled cheeses.
I can't say I am crazy about the Lindy's sauce. Really, I'm just not a fan of sauces. Ketchup, brown mustard. I can do that. When it heads towards being a BBQ sauce, well it's on the wrong sandwich. This time, it worked well. I think the two grilled cheese played well with the sauce. The burger was cooked to nearly perfect to my liking.
Recently, price has been a sore spot for me. Everyone is jumping on the $12 burger wagon. This bad boy came in under $10! (fries included) I washed it down with a $3 PBR.
Overall, I dug it. I probably won't have it again just because I'm not a fan of all that extra stuff hanging on to my burger. That doesn't mean I won't try one of the other crazy burgers on the menu. Maybe the "Fat Bastard"?
The facts:
Still love the price, atmosphere, the fries and of course the burger stands alone.
4.25 of 5

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A sign from the Universe-"Deal of the Day"

 I met a friend at Mr P's to get some new tires for her car. She was hungry and wanted to go someplace nearby for a bite. She mentioned that the Midwest Diner served homemade soup daily. I already had lunch but, agreed to go along and maybe grab some coffee.

Certainly not a "fancy" place. Matter of fact, pretty basic. Quirky. We sat at a table, grabbed the menus and I gave it a once over for future reference. Like any smart diner, the specials are in a holder on the table. Usual stuff. Soup & sandwich combos. Part way down the list I see: Double Cheeseburger, Fries & cup of Soup for $5.95?

Remember, I had lunch. No matter, I couldn't pass it up!

Ordered the special without soup.
This isn't some fancy restaurant where they claim award winning beef and rolls. I don't think Guy Fieri will be stopping by soon.

Everything was wonderful. The meat could have had a bit more seasoning. Cooked on a grill top without a flame, flavor doesn't get cooked in. The bun was fresh and tasty.

Rated:
3 of 5
Price was right. Fries were just right. Cheese had that old school food supplier flavor/texture.
Sort of wish I would have tried some soup.


Midwest Diner
2321 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207