Public Market: Foltz Family Market

 I was downtown for a program at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) and decided to grab some food at the Milwaukee Public Market. I saw something about a place that was supposed to have a decent burger. The online information said that they were only doing online and phone orders. Thankfully, they were very present and taking orders at the Foltz Family Market. Mostly a butcher shop but also a restaurant and bar! (I'll mention that later)

I wasn't sure what to expect. They seem to be good at pizza too. Not always a partnership with a good burger. I ordered the "Classic Burger" with cheddar. No fries. I paid for the burger and slid over to the bar to wait. Before the burger arrived, I had ordered a Jack n Coke. My favorite combo. The cocktail was fairly inexpensive for a "call" mixer. How about the burger, right? Well, I looked at it and thought, pretzel bun. Did I miss that in the description. I'm not a big fan of the pretzel bun. That's how they serve it, that's how I'm eating it. First bite. Wow! Flavor(s) just bursting out. The surprise flavor, arugula. Combined with the tomato and creamy cheddar cheese, it works well. The pretzel roll actually made it happen. Stiff yet soft inside with a heavier texture. Yum.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

This is ranking in one of my favorite burgers of 2023 if not all time. The flavors were on point. The fresh from the butcher beef, juicy and flavorful. Priced right.

https://foltzfamilymarket.com/about/

Holiday Dinner at the Mason Street Grill (Pfister Hotel MKE)

 Keeping with tradition, a group of us headed to the Mason Street Grill for dinner after a showing of "A Christmas Carol" at the beautiful Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee. I'm always temped to order something different off the menu but once I see their burger listed, I can't help myself. A restaurant known for top level meat and fish will very often have an excellent burger. Also, I know for a fact they do a burger justice. (Previous blog 12.11.2021) 

The Mason Street Grill is such a great setting for a special dinner outing. The staff is usually hustling around making sure everything is on point. It's the kind of place you feel like you should be dressed a bit more formal. Not tuxedos but make sure your shirt has a collar and if you do wear jeans, make sure they don't look like you schlepp around the house in them. 

I ordered the Mason Street Grill Burger, a 10 oz. Black Angus Chuck and Sirloin, Honey Glazed Onions, Muenster Cheese, House Relish. Still priced at $18 and served with fries. I ordered medium as I often do. No fear of the meat being a bit pink at this level. The food arrived. I cut the burger in half to check the insides. Pretty decent. I was psyched. A small pinch off the side to test the meat without all the stuff, okay. The overall flavor of the combined cheese, relish and onions was pretty good. I felt like the seasoning on the burger may have been too heavy. The meat didn't have the charbroiled flavor. Hmm. The roll was fresh and soft.

Rate it: 4 of 5

I don't think it's as good as it used to be. Still, it's one of the better burgers I've had. Returning to places can sometimes be a let down. Sort of like a sequel. Priced at $18 it should be a bit above the others.

 

So Many Burgers, So Little Time... "Burger Round Up"

 It's been some time since I wrote about chowing down a burger. Hey, I'm a relatively busy guy. Anyway, I have had several let's say, not amazing burgers in the past month or so. Some were places I'd been before. Others were new and I probably won't return to. I'd rather not "bash" anyone for a bad burger day. Maybe it was me? Was I expecting something that can't be delivered? My memory might be off on some. Who knows. I will say that I was glad that I stopped and grabbed a burger with a friend or family member.

Here are some random photos for your enjoyment:

Cary Ale House serves a "Smash" Burger (and I liked it!) 09/08/23

I'm not sure if I've ever had a "smashed" burger or at least it may not have been referred to as such. No matter, I was pleasantly surprised. 

We traveled to Crystal Lake IL for an Oldsmobile car show at the Holiday Inn. We always like to get a group of Olds club members and check out some local eats. There's a place in Cary, IL that fit the bill. They've got a little of everything Fish, Ham, BBQ and Burgers. I chose the Smash Burger, A double patty pressed thin, with smashed onions, chipotle remoulade, house pickles, candied bacon, butter lettuce and American cheese. I had no idea what I ordered but man, I'm glad I did.

The whole sandwich just fit together perfect. Enough of everything listed but not of it excessive. Flavor, spot on. Juicy patties, fresh bun.

Rate it: 4 of 5 (very strong 4)

I don't know why but this really hit the spot. Overall flavor worked so well.

Cary Ale House

 

 

 

Iron Horse = It's Weight In Gold! 08/24/2023

 The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee is known for it's top notch service and food. They lived up to their reputation. Great scene on the patio area. Fireplace, lounge like couch and tables. We stopped by for a drink and a late night bite. (8:30pm-ish) My friend Scott was looking at the burger. He knows that I write about them and consume them in quantity. We had already dined earlier in the evening so we decided to split the IHH Burger (house blend beef, aged cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, secret sauce) 

Beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

Everything about this was wonderful. Price was on par for quality. Seasoned and cooked near perfect (for me)

Harbor House Does it Right! 09/07/23

 The Harbor House in Milwaukee is known for fish and steak dishes. Wedged in the menu you will find the Harbor House Burger. Pretty straight forward, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Sciortino’s Bun.

I built it the way I like it, onion then tomato and lettuce. Just a little ketchup. No mustard. I do like stone ground brown mustard but this time I decided to keep it simple.

Thick and juicy. Seasoning was just enough. Fresh roll and veggies. That's a great sandwich.

Rate It: 4.5 of 5 

It's been some time since I had a burger that made me glad that I skipped eating a different dish. 

 

Leff's @ Tosa Tonight 06/28/2023

 It's that time of the year again when all of Wauwatosa attends the "Tosa Tonight" events at the Rotary Performance Pavilion. Warm Summer nights, great music and food.

There are a few different vendors ranging from pizza by the slice to down home southern cooking. I landed somewhere in the middle at Leff's Luckytown. Leff's offers some straight forward options, hot dogs, brats and burgers. Simple fare at a reasonable price. You know that I went for the burger. (Duh)

Trust me, the other vendors offer up Jambalaya, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwiches etc. but, if you follow my blog, you will know that I'm a fan of Leff's burgers. This time I got a cheeseburger. Leff's doesn't dumb it down for the outdoor event, it's still up to standards. Priced at $9, potato chips included. The flavor was on par with the brick and mortar version. 

Rate it: 4 of 5

It was very tasty, fairly juicy, just a bit of the "kept warm until sold feel". Otherwise, great deal for the buck. It would be hard to find such a deal and taste from any other mobile kitchen.

Let's Go To Sluggo's! 06/27/2023

So many burgers, so little time!

For 40 years, Sluggo's in Brookfield Wisconsin has been cooking up grub for it's loving public. The proof is verified by the large crowd on a Tuesday night in Summer.

My brother-in-law had driven past Sluggo's several times and noticed that, no matter what day or time for that matter, Sluggo's lot was pretty full. They must be doing something right to make them that popular. For that reason, he wanted to celebrate his birthday there. His vision, a Sluggo Burger. My kind of vision!

I chose the Cheeseburger with bacon. (there isn't a bacon cheeseburger) It's a 1/2 pound patty, hand formed as far as I could tell. Nicely charred on the outside, pink inside. Just the way I like it. I ordered it Medium Rare. Everything about it was on spot. Just enough bacon and cheese leaving the burger to shine. The seasoning was really good, done with confidence that it would enhance the flavor and not over power it. The brioche roll was fresh and buttered up a bit, yum.

Prices have gone up quite a bit over the past couple of years at Sluggo's but the burger stepped up to the plate. At $14.99, it isn't a cheap burger but, I've had less tasty ones for just as much or more. The bar/restaurant itself is a throw back, nothing fancy but well kept. The crowd added to the experience.There's a lot of hungry people in our town.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

It's one of the better burgers I've had recently. Sorry, I didn't get a picture.

Cancery Restaurant-Legendary? 03.07.2023

 Wow, the Chancery Restaurant. I can't recall the last time I went to one for a burger. There used to be several in the area when I was growing up. The Pub Burger was sort of a staple in my diet because my friend was a cook at the one just half a mile away from where I lived. Up until all but one of the restaurants closed down, the Pub Burger was my answer to the question "What's your favorite burger?" I never said it was the best, just consistent. It was a $6 burger back in the day when places like Culver's, Five Guys etc hadn't even started selling in the Milwaukee area. I'm not sure they were even around.

It was lunchtime on a Tuesday. Part of the morning was spent with my son, his wife and my grandson. They know I've been thinking about heading to the last remaining Chancery to see about the burger offerings. So, they suggested we head there to have some lunch. I had the Bucky with cheddar cheese. It was listed as a Classic on the menu. Sweet potato fries as my side. The food arrived. It looked decent. I snagged a little pinch of meat without anything else. Seasoned nicely. Cut it open. Not bad. A bit less cooked would have been better. Taste, pretty good. Not a mind blower. I wasn't expecting it to be. Was it the burger I knew when I was younger? That's a tough one. I have to believe that they honor the history of the burger. I should have ordered the regular waffle fries.

Rate it: 4 of 5 Pricey in my opinion. It's a $10 burger even in modern times. $12 after adding cheese. So, not a huge discretion on price. Overall, just sort of decent burger. That's what I expected.

https://www.thechancery.com/

Grabbing food on a "hot lap" to Indiana 03.04.2023

 Our niece lives in Indiana. She's a creative person. Recently, she created a piece of art for the "Love and Chocolate" show at Studio 659, in Whiting Indiana . The show was ending and we wanted to see the artwork in person. It's a 2+ hour drive to Whiting. We decided to drive down, check the show and head back home after grabbing a bite. The show was great. So many different interpretations of the theme. Ashley's artwork was fabric but looked like it was a painting. Amazing.

After viewing the show, we headed down the main street to the Grillers for a bite to eat. Ashley mentioned that they serve a decent burger. Really? It's difficult to look at a menu without a burger bias after such a statement. Grillers is cool little joint. There's big menu board behind a counter that's staffed with folks ready to take your order. The menu is quite expansive. Behind the staff at the counter is a guy at a griddle cooking up a storm. Piles of veggies, burger patties etc. sizzling away. The cheese on burgers gets the steamed under a lid trick. I'm not sure why the menu says "broiled" because I'm pretty sure it was all flat top stuff. No matter, good food. I got the "Talk of the Town". Fries were my side. The wife got tots. The burger brought some of the flavors from the flat top which was okay. All fresh ingredients, cooked almost exactly the way I like it, a little pink. The fries were okay. I'm sort of a straight forward shoe string or regular waffle fry guy.

Rate it: 4 of 5 Decent price. Pretty darn good burger and fries. 

https://studio659.org/ and http://www.grillersrestaurant.com/

 

 

Friday Fish Fry Burger Night-State Fair Inn 03.03.2023

 Hey, it's another Friday Night Fish Fry in Milwaukee! That's cool. I had my fish fry a couple weeks ago. How about a burger? 

The State Fair Inn has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 100 years! Formerly a Schlitz Brewing company bar up until 1921, State Fair Inn hasn't changed much in some time. No need. They do what they do well.

My review might have a bit of skew to it because Fish Fry doesn't always equal yummy burgers. This burger was decent. Spiced up right, juicy. The bun was fresh and went well with the burger. I think the burger set me back about $12. Fries included.

Rate it: 4 of 5 I wouldn't go out of my way to get a burger at the State Fair Inn but, if you happen to stop by, it's a decent bet you'll like what you get.

Just remember, they are closed on the weekend and only serve food between 5-8:30PM when they are open. 

http://www.statefairinn1921.com/aboutus.html

Contracted Lunch-Bliffert Contractor Event at Potowatomi Casino 03.03.2023

 This isn't going to be any kind of super burger experience. It's more a documentation of a burger consumed. Again, the meal was part of a free event that Bliffert Lumber/Hardware does for contractors each year. It's a day long event that offers breakout sessions about decking, siding, roofing, insulation etc. Vendors hawk from behind tables to get you to look at their stuff. Lunchtime is a time to connect with others and discuss the day's activities and eat.

That being said, Potowatomi Casino has decent catering and a decent burger for the masses. I could have enjoyed some kind of brat but really, there's burgers! It was the classic case where you get the plain burger in a warmer. Making it a cheeseburger means putting a cold piece of cheese on top of a fairly warm burger. A side of  Mac N Cheese and a delicious brownie. Price wasn't a factor. Atmosphere wasn't bad considering we were in a massive conference center. Staff was pleasant and helpful when the ketchup ran out on one of the buffets.

Rate it: 3.5 of 5

I don't have a picture to share. I think the others at the table would have thought I was weird. ;) Here's the sponsor's logo anyway. Great lumber, knowledgeable staff.

Back at Leff's Lucky Town 02.16.2023

 Hey, it was Valentine's Day 2023. What better way to celebrate but to consume a burger at Leff's. The past couple years we've bought our Christmas tree at Leff's because it's a fundraiser for a local baseball league and we get a coupon for a "Buy One Get One" meal. There's a hitch, you need to use the coupon before March 1st. Valentine's Day is one of those days that we respect the idea but just aren't fans of the actual day's activities. Overpriced flowers, no chance to dine out etc. So, we adjust the day. Thus the celebration two days later. Same intent. Just more convenient. A bit of a bonus, it was lousy weather helping keep the crowds down! (selfish?)

What about the burger? It was the classic tasty burger I get almost every time I go to Leff's. It was cooked a bit more than I prefer but still had all the flavor and fresh tomato, onions etc. The bun is just enough to manage the burger patty and also fresh and tasty. I can talk about the price, even though we got a free meal. Still priced in the appropriate range for a burger at a place like Leff's. (a bit classy for a bar) I don't think I'll ever have a bad burger at Leff's. Consistent, priced right, clean place and always a great staff. I had the Cheeseburger, add bacon for $2.

Rated: 4 of 5

Hopped in to the Wicked Hop (Again!)

 It's tough to be in downtown Milwaukee's 3rd Ward without a stop at the Wicked Hop. They make an awesome Bloody Mary as well as an outstanding burger. Again, I'm not sure how many times I've had a burger at the Hop, a lot. There's never been a time that I didn't want to write about the experience. The staff is always wonderful. The bar is cool. There's an additional space called the Jackalope Lounge that is a chill space for hanging with your friends and having a drink. I've seen live acts, participated in a version of Karaoke.

I had some time before a meeting at a gallery down the street so, time to grab a Cheeseburger and maybe a Jack N Coke. I had the Hop Burger with Cheddar cheese and all the regular veggies (tomato, lettuce, onion) A half pounder is a bit much sometimes. Well, I ate it all anyway! From the first bite to the last, glad I indulged.

Always great service. Always great food. Prices are within the normal range. Parking can be a problem but, walking down Broadway is always interesting.

4 of 5

Sorry, no picture. :(

Here's a stock one...

Hollander Tosa Made Me Happy (finally) 01/10/23

 Don't get me wrong. Hollander and Lowlands Group do fine food. I'm just not always blown away buy it.

We went for lunch which is a bit different. It should be soup and salad or some kind of wrap, right? I still look at what kind of burger I can have. This day I notice something a bit different listed for sandwich choice. "The Rye Swiss and Shroom". Sort of sounded like a Patty Melt. What the heck! I was really glad I chose it. Other than being a bit over cooked, the flavor was really different. I think the shrooms, onions and horseradish really made it happen. There was a strong cracked pepper finish. I had to share some with my son and my wife.

A bit overcooked but flavor was there. Love the Rye roll. Price, eh, what can I do these days?

4 of 5

 

Cloud Red. Sort of self serve. Great burger. 11/2022 (BWB)

 I'm still trying to get used to "Cloud Red" instead of "Red Cloud". I didn't ask or research the name. Maybe I should before writing this? No matter, Cloud Red is a cool little joint in Shorewood Wisconsin. It's got very subtle signage. I drove past it twice. The inside is sort of a funky/cool vibe. There's a huge handwritten menu on the wall near the bar. They didn't seem to have printed menus. Maybe because they have to change the menu too often? I think the food is somewhat reliant on seasons.

It was a Burgers with Brothers outing. The elder brother chose the location. We started with the Buffalo Cauliflower. Really tasty. Plus, you can act like you are eating healthy! I ordered a bacon cheeseburger. I must say, it was done near the way I like it with just a bit of pink. 

I'm still having a hard time with doing most of the work except cooking and still having to pay/tip like they are doing it. The new normal.

I'll admit, price shock and the demand for 15% tip automatically added are still tough to adjust to. It was very good food. They offer quite a few dishes you might not find elsewhere. They use Ney's meat, a local farm & family.

4 of 5 Self serve hasn't settled in for me. 

https://cloudredmke.com/

 

 

Back in the Winner's Circle 01/05/23

 This is a quick one. Oscar's Winner's Circle has yet to let me down. This time I had a straight up Cheddar Cheese Burger. Near perfectly cooked-just a little pink, seasoned to perfection. These folks know what they are doing. Everything seems fresh from the veggies to the roll. The price is spot on.

4.5 of 5 Consistently delicious. Sorry, no picture this time.