Harboring A Fugitive Burger? Bartolotta Take Out at Harbor House 08/13/2025

 

It was another beautiful night in Milwaukee. We headed to the "Live At The Lake" concert down at Discovery World. The plan was to meet up with my son and his family to check out the show and grab some food from the food trucks. The venue's website said there would be food trucks. When we arrived we noticed a lack of previously mentioned food trucks. There were none and none were expected to turn up at any time. We had to figure out what to do for dinner. GrubHub or some other delivery service? We sort of joked about take out from the Harbor House Restaurant that was across the street from the venue. Food at Bartolotta's is not really "casual" nor are the prices, generally speaking. We decided to check it out. Yes, they do have take out. We ordered the Harbor House Burger to share. It's topped with Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Sciortino’s Bun and includes French Fries. All that for $15? I guess so. 

The burger was so good that we didn't even need any condiments. Lettuce and a big fresh tomato did the job. Perfect seasoning and cook to perfection. This was a great burger and a wonderful surprise. The fries were enough to feed three of us. Very satisfying. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

I have to admit that Bartolotta's has been one of my favorite burgers over the years. They used to have a place in downtown Milwaukee called the Rumpus Room. Best burgers. The Rumpus Room has been closed since Covid. The staff was super helpful and the price was pretty amazing too!

Harbor House Restaurant 

 

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/

Not to wine but... Michael-David Winery (06.16.2021)

 It was day five of our California trip. Our next stop after Anaheim would have been the Sequoia Nation Park Lodge. The fires in the forest surrounding the lodge caused the lodge to close and cancel our visit. We took a detour to Lodi. Pretty cool because I've always enjoyed the song "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Just off the highway, on the outskirts of Lodi is the Michael-David Winery. One of my wife's favorite wines is their Freakshow Petite Petit. What a great chance to see and taste it at the source. The winery tours were full until the following day. We were on the road for some time and it was just past lunch hour. So, we decided to grab a bite. There's a cafe' with outdoor seating. Nothing too fancy especially considering the site. We ordered. She had the Black and Blue Steak Salad. Me, well, a cheeseburger. 

I'm going totally by memory on this one... it wasn't anything to write home about. It was a decent burger for the dollar. It came with a bag of chips which was a bit of a let down. All the photos on their website show fries on the plate and people in a beautiful setting. 

Rate it: 3.5 of 5

The burger was decent. The setting, not what I would expect from a place like Michael David. Maybe it was that way because the pandemic?

Burgers in Lalla Land (09.14.2021)

 Lalla Oceanside Grill is on Monterey's Cannery Row. The setting is picturesque. The bar and restaurant space, inviting for sure. As you can guess Lalla's is know for it's seafood dishes. I'm not a fan of seafood. Well I do like baked trout, grilled salmon, tilapia and fish sticks. I couldn't help it, the burger sounded delicious. So, I ordered it. Was I glad I did?

The burger was a cooked almost perfect, well seasoned. The bun, Brioche. Pretty straight forward. The cheese was creamy and coated the patty. First bite, tasty. As I ate more the flavor seemed to "drop off". Maybe there was more seasoning on the edge where I first bit into? 

Rate it: 4 of 5.

I'm not going to lie, $19 for a cheese burger is a bit much. It's Kobe beef yes. I don't think they did the meat justice. I thought it was decent overall but not memorable.

Quaint throwback in Plymouth-Chester's (07.21.2019)

Each year my brother and I make sure we attend at least one race event at Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin. We also include at least one night of tent camping at Long Lake State Park in Fon du lac County, Wisconsin. A chance to hang out, watch races during the day and cook over the fire at night. Often, as is common during Summer in Wisconsin, the weather doesn't cooperate with what is planned. The night at camp was challenging. Storms with gusting wind, rain and thunder passed through several times during the night. The morning offered sunshine and the opportunity to cook breakfast. Then, off to the races! Within 45 minutes of our arrival, another storm came through. This was a big one. The sky blackened. Temperatures dropped. Winds picked up to the point where a Port-A-Potty got flipped. We decided to split.
As we left the area, we passed through the city of Plymouth. Near the edge of town is Chester's. It's one of those places I've always wanted to stop at but, never had a real need. This day, I needed to get some food for lunch. Perfect.
A double cheese burger. Sounds good. We pulled in under the canopy. A young lady approaches and takes our order. Anticipation.
The food arrives. Nice and hot, fresh. Great overall taste. I will go as far as maybe saying it had a "classic" taste to it. Maybe the type of cheese or the bun? No matter, good stuff.
Rate it:
4 of 5
Prompt service. Decent prices. Fun venue. Small town all the way.

Old school. (not my photo)

AJ's Not Bombing-AJ Bombers Mayfair Collection (06.2019)

Well, I'm way behind on my blog. The season has been very busy. A lot of burgers to write about. That's Summertime in Milwaukee.
06.2019
AJ Bomber's was my Burgers With Brothers choice. I wanted to try the Big Boy Tribute.
Marc's Big Boy was a family restaurant in the Milwaukee area back when I was younger. By the late 70's maybe the early 80's, the Big Boy was no longer available. Then, recently, AJ Bombers got the rights to share a burger that pays homage to the Big Boy. It had been more than 45 years since I had a real Big Boy. Would I recognize it? I didn't have to pay for it in the old days so, I would just scarf it down, with a shake, of course. I've seen pictures of what the original looked like. The photos were taken at an angle to make the sandwich seem huge. Back then, relative to my person, it was huge.
When it arrived, I did my normal burger snob stuff. Pinched off a piece that was condiment free. It was fine. Not heavily seasoned. Then, the combination of just the burger and bun. Better. Finally, I got to chomp a bite of the complete ensemble. I liked it. Does it scream Big Boy on spec? I have to believe they have done everything they could to replicate the experience. (Dave Marcus talks about the recipe)
I don't regret the choice. I'm not running out to tell Milwaukee and the world to get it while they can either. It's a decent burger. I think that daily, several other venues serve a similar burger. Nostalgia gives this one a bit more value.
Rate it:
4 of 5
AJ's does burger well. Price is in the ballpark. Service can sometimes be a bit challenging. Glad I did it. Glad to share with my brothers.

Burdines Waterfront Marina (& Burgers!)

Recently, we spent a few days in the Florida Keys. There is plenty of fresh fish items on all the menus. Burdine's Waterfront Marina has fish and more. I was surprised to see how many variations they did on burgers. That made me think they might be a valid burger to check in to.
Our hotel was only a couple of blocks away so, we walked over. Easier said than done. Hwy 1 doesn't stop for pedestrians. Once across the road, we passed a little Cuban Cafe'. Behind the cafe', in a fenced area was a small village of trailers and campers. I would guess that they were regular housing. The outsides were all decorated nicely. As we walked along the parameter down the road to Burdine's, we got to glimpse in to a couple of them. Families watching television, eating. Far out. Then, a rooster and chickens! What a nice little added bonus to the night's adventures.
The walk turned out to be about 3/4 of a mile back in to the dock/port area. Burdines is obviously about the people that use the dock service and some locals that no where the good food is.
The restaurant is atop the dock service store and office. The posts are wrapped in license plates from all over the place. The bar area is decorated in an island theme.
How about the burger? Well, it's a fairly large patty and bun. First thing I did was pinch off just the meat to get the true flavor. Cooked just right, seasoned nicely. Not bad for a fish joint, right?
As we ate, the sun set on the bay. Smaller boats were still coming in giving us a postcard like moment.
Rated: 3.5 of 5
It was really good. I wasn't blown away. The fries are tasty. Location is special, hidden from the whole "Keys" experience. Nice.

07.12.2018 Burgers With Brothers @ Fuddrucker's

It was my birthday. (thanks for all the well wishes) and my turn to call where my brothers and I were to have burgers together. I chose Fuddrucker's.
If you are familiar with our Burgers with Brothers. Three brothers. Three birthdays. One in March, July and the other in November. So, we have a guarantee that at least three times during the year, we'll will get together, just the guys, for food and conversation.
It's been more than 15 or 20 years since the last time I was in a Fuddrucker's.
All three of us were not sure what to do upon entering. Lucky for us Wes was at the register and more than willing to help us through the process. It's something between a full-service and self-service place. More self than full.
We placed our order. 1/2 lb Mushroom Cheddar, 1/2 lb Mushroom Swiss and my 1/3 lb Cheddar Bacon. Two fries and one Onion Ring. They give you a cup for the beverage of your choice dispensed from a crazy machine. The choice of beverage was incredible. If you can't find what you want in the machine they have tea and coffee.
We grabbed a table in one of the dining rooms. The buzzer went off. Three plates with the burgers open faced to receive the topping of our choice. For toppings they have almost a salad bar. Jalapeño peppers, diced red onions, raw yellow and red onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle, relish to list what I can remember.
Sauces, about the same. Ketchup, mustard (5 kinds), BBQ Sauces and Mayo.
All of agreed that the burgers were delicious.
I don't know if I'm getting to be a burger snob but, the facility and the way you serve yourself most of the meal sort of got to me. It was noisy. A bit of a surprise, a guy came by and took our plates away for us. Were we supposed to leave a tip? I was concerned that it might not make it to that guy. I know that they are sort of going with the nostalgia thing but, dated is different. One thing I did like, the kitchen and grill. Older equipment but clean. The cook staff was working hard. Again, Wes at the register was very helpful without sound like he thought we were fools.

4 of 5
The burger was great. Price for the service, I'm not sure about.

At the Shack 01.19.2018

It was Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward, Milwaukee. I was showing my work across the street from a somewhat recently opened Shake Shack.
I didn't want to go in alone but, my favorite sidekick, the wife wasn't available.
As I stood across the street looking in at the line formed three lanes wide, I asked myself. Is this a good idea? How long will this take. What should I get? Will they think I'm weird if I just want a cheeseburger?
I made the move. Walk signal gave me access to a crosswalk that can be difficult to navigate, at times, especially on Gallery Night. People and cars are distracted easily by the scene and fashion.
Once inside the restaurant (?) I took a quick look up and down the menu. Again, I had to ask myself why the same sandwich has to be called something so different. Well, a cheeseburger is just that.
The girl at the counter was very empathetic to my old school issue of a burger and cheeseburger being about all you had to contemplate.
I asked, "is there just a cheeseburger with tomato, lettuce and onion? Maybe not listed but, available.
My order went in at 7:26PM. I got it at around 7:36PM. For some reason, they give you one of those electronic devices that is supposed to notify you when you stuff done. Like Olive Garden. My thing didn't buzz but, the girl called my name over the din of the crowd.
I took my bag full of grub back across the street to a secluded space for consumption.
Bite number one. A lot of pickle, tomato and onion. The bun, delicious. Second bite, I decided to just pull a little beef off the sandwich. Pretty decent. I'm guessing it's not hand formed. Griddle top, frozen? Good flavor no matter. Third bite was from the combination of the bun, veggies and meat. Really good flavor, fresh veggies. I was surprised, I must say.
I think the crowd told the story. A lot of students, some families and people that just had an interest in what it was all about.
The numbers: 3.5+ of 5
Staff was very responsive, helpful and present. Not so normal for semi-fast food. The price, not bad but, for the final product, I'm not sure. Culver's, Kopp's etc can give me the same speed or faster and offer similar price and pace.
Still, I had fun watching the crowd.
I checked out the Wiki page. I like the story. At times I too think, I just want to be a funky guy blogging about burgers. Don't really care that much about how many people follow me etc. But, trust me, if I was approached by someone that said we can make this more than what it is, I might jump.
Fear this will never happen because at that point, I don't think it would be as fun.

Fontina in Foenix

As part of our family's vacation in the Phoenix area Wednesday was scheduled as a spa day for the girls and a visit to Desert Valley Auto Parts and a burger at Joe's Farm Grill for the guys.
My nails looked fine.
Joe's was recommended by a friend from Waukesha WI. They saw it on Diners, Dives and Drive Inns.
I never heard of Fontina cheese before I saw it listed on the menu at Joe's.
The description read like this:
6 oz., roasted red pepper, grilled mushrooms, field greens, farm made pecan pesto and imported fontina cheese
Wow, what a combo. If the burger is good to great, these flavors are going to make it outstanding.
The place was packed when we got there. Maybe not too surprising, it was around 1:15PM. Upside of a crowd, fresh food!
We put in our orders and then took a seat outside in the little grove of trees out back of the restaurant. The farm was our back drop.
A short time later, the buzzer went off. Time to find out.
Fries and onion rings looked excellent. The burger, stacked and beautiful. I snitched  a piece of just burger off the one side. Mmm. Pretty tasty. A little overcooked for my liking but, seasoned nicely. As I thought, the flavors all really came together.
The price was a bit steep but, it's really fresh everything. I won't pick at it too much. The staff was very helpful. They seemed to understand that not everyone has been to Joe's before. The outside area was clean and really just a great place to sit and take in the scene.

4 of 5.
Price and a little too done had an effect on my rating.

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

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.

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.

Parkside 23-Anniversary dinner

Parkside 23 is one of those places I've been wanting to go to for some time. The curb appeal is really something. Outdoor seating wasn't an option because it was cool with a chance of rain. Maybe next time.
You already know how classy I am so, this won't be too surprising... I went for dinner with my wife to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary and had a burger. (Loser!) She's cool with that. Actually, it might put some flags up if I didn't order a burger.
The menu has quite a few interesting dishes to order. Brats, bacon & mac. How good does that sound? Maybe it should be on a burger?
It's always best to go with the basics. Parkside really only offers one burger. Simply called "Burger with cheese". That is fine with me. I won't have to take away all the extra stuff to get to the meat.
The burger arrives. Fresh fries (peel on potato) bun shining from a buttery touch, vegetable accessories on the side-tomato, pickle, lettuce. A little cup of ketchup on the side. I ordered medium rare with cheddar. It was a little more towards rare but, not a lot.
I cut a little chunk to get the taste. Nice. Butter, onions and seasoned without fear. I tried the onions by them self, exceptional. All of the flavor came together when I added the tomato and lettuce (both very fresh and crisp)
4 of 5
Price was relative to modern pricing on burgers, scene was okay-we had a corner table, a little more private

3 Burger Weekend (or as I call it heaven!)

It wasn't my intention to have three different burgers in one weekend but, let me tell you how it happened.
Junior's Custard Milwaukee, WI
Hunger and nostalgia drove the first burger. Now called Junior's Custard, the food stand that's been at the intersection of 60th & Appleton Avenue in Milwaukee has been a custard stand serving Jumbo Burgers since 1950 when Elsa & Karl Kopp opened their first stand. Will Junior's deliver the same quality Jumbo burger? I had to find out. The lot was empty when I arrived. I thought maybe they weren't open yet. The menu is quite different than the days when it was Kopp's or Robert's. Chicken, Fish, Gyros, Rubens etc. I went straight for the classic, Jumbo cheeseburger. When it arrived, I so ready to eat it. I sat in my car and had the first bite. Pretty decent. I wasn't having the nostalgic taste bud reaction that I thought I would. It was different. Was it because of all the anticipation? I decided to wait until I got to a place where I could sit and just enjoy it. Not much of a difference. The burger was okay. The bun, a bit dry. The seasoning was alright but didn't really do much for over all flavor.
2.5 of 5
Price was fair. Restaurant was clean and staff was pleasant. Not amazed with burger. Actually not as Jumbo as I recalled.

Trocadero Milwaukee, WI
The next experience was truly unexpected. Dinner and the theater. We decided that Trocadero, Milwaukee would be a nice place to dine at. Their menu offered choices for all of us. Little did I know, they had a burger on the menu. Was I silly to order a burger at a place that serves Sordfish or Marengo Chicken & Lobster sandwiches? Not at all. Everybody knows that I've passed up some delicious menu items to test the burger. No regrets. The cook/chef wasn't afraid to season the patty or to cook it to near perfect for my likings. My choice, Au Poivre Burger.
4+ of 5
Pricy, Excellent flavor, Not embarrassing to eat a burger while others have the fancy stuff.

Within 24 hours, I was sitting for the third and final burger experience of the weekend.

Red Dot Wauwatosa, WI
I went straight for the Classic with cheese. I've been to Red Dot for a burger before. It was quite good. (will I have to look at my own blog?) This was per-meditated. I came seeking a burger. A burger I got. Simple and tasty.
4 of 5
Price is appropriate, scene is swell, staff took good care of us.

Factory Food (04.04.2015)

I've always wondered what happens inside of the Cheesecake Factory. A stand alone structure, usually near a mall of some kind. You might think that upon entering, you would find yourself in a Willy Wonka like environment of cheesecakes. It wasn't.
The decor is sort of like a set from Raiders of the Lost Arc. We were seated immediately in a booth in a really neat little room off the main floor. (did they know who I was? I doubt it.)
It's hard to believe how many different dishes they serve at any given time. The cocktail and wine list was even more vast. Fresh bread and refreshments to get started.
I got the Factory Burger. The description seemed closest to a regular burger. My only concern was the bread/bun. The sample piece at the table was tasty so, what the heck.
Medium rare, as usual. The burger arrived. Hold it, it wasn't a round patty? Trust them. First bite, these folks aren't afraid to season their food. Black pepper and grill flavors mixed with sauteed onions and a fresh tomato. The bread was interesting, a little crunchy. The salty edge of the bread sort of tied everything together. So, I'm not complaining.
Cooked the way I like. My only thing was the shape of the "burger". To my taste buds, this was something slightly different than a burger. I can't put my finger on it. Was it the shape or bread?

The rating:
3.5 of 5
I would almost like to call this sandwich something different than a burger just for the fact that it is elongated. Overall, I liked it. I'm not sure if I would go back specifically to have a burger. The fries were tasty and just enough quantity. Price was the same as it is all over these days. (old guy talking)

Rumpus Room - 3rd Time is a Charm? (03.27.2015)

I think it's always an added challenge to return to one of the places that I gave a glowing review. It has been some time since I was at Bartolotta's Rumpus Room. My last review on the Rumpus was a bit whiny. Must have been a bad day.
It was a Friday evening, sort of cool outside. The plan, Firefly in Wauwatosa for appetizers and a celebration for Jim Gehrke, Rumpus Room for dinner and Slim Jim Phantom's Rockabilly Circus at Potowatomi Casino Northern Light theater.
All went smooth. Keeping our schedule, we arrived at the Rumpus Room and were able to grab a spot at the bar. I ordered my burger. Medium rare and all the extra stuff on the side. I prefer to add my own amount of condiments. (talk later about that choice) We ordered drinks and only moments later, our food arrived.
I did my usual and decided to snag the burger with their name on it. Rumpus Burger. $12.50. I'm pretty sure that price had not changed since the last time. If so, maybe a $1 difference. Everything was as I remembered. Yummy. The only thing that may have boosted the flavor, just a little more cooked. Pretty red. Still, tasty.
Considering every place I go these days, including some "fast food" places charge me $10 or more dollars for a 1/3 - 1/2lb burger this is still a great value. The venue is always wonderful. The inside of the restaurant is really something else. Being downtown is always a different energy. Not something you get from a food court or stand alone chain.

The rating:
Still rocks! I would just order medium well maybe.
4 of 5
Price, venue and consistent quality and service.

Winter oasis with fries on the side at the Huntley Dairy Mart

It was a cold Sunday morning in February. Wind chills were to be in the sub-zeros. My friend Curt and I were headed to St Charles IL for a auto parts swap meet. The journey would take nearly two hours each way. One of the great things about driving down the road with Curt, he's always looking for an adventure. Interesting buildings, stuff for sale along the way and food. We knew that we would be heading home in the early afternoon so, we made note of the different restaurants along the roadside. There was the usual places, Burger King, McDonald's, Culver's, a Hot Dog place and one place that grabbed our attention, Huntley Dairy Mart. The Dairy Mart looked like it might be closed for the season. They opened their doors in 1955, a day when little drive-ins could make it without having to worry about the McDonald's directly across the street.
It was our lucky day! They were open for business, on a cold winter day! A small heater warms the metal building that's attached to the main building. The menu is incredible. What don't they make? I went classic, Double Cheeseburger and fries. Curt got a Tuna Melt and some Cream of Broccoli soup. It took a couple of minutes to cook up but, came out fresh and hot. To my surprise, the burger is hand-packed. I was guessing they used a frozen patty. I won't say the flavor was off the chart but, it tasted like a burger made fresh and cooked on a griddle. (I'm more of a flame broiled fan) Fries were plentiful and tasty. Curt's Tuna Melt got high ratings also.
I can't remember exact prices but, I didn't feel like it was expensive and once I started eating money didn't matter.
Did I mention that people were stopping in for ice cream? 11 degrees outside, people still have to have their Huntley Dairy Mart ice cream.
I wiped the grease off my face and hit the road back home. By the way, just down the road is another favorite place of mine in Richmond, IL the Dog N Suds.

Here is my take:
I'd go back, if I'm in the area.
Price for what you get, perfect. The scene, especially on a cold winter day, cool place.
3.5-4 stars

Duke's in Malibu (Not so legendary) 11.2014

It's the second full day of my visit to California. Heading up to Malibu from Anaheim. Through L.A. and up the CPH1!
I'm meeting my niece, who now lives in California, for lunch a Duke's. Duke's has come a long way from back in the days when the surfing crowd were the only inhabitants of the waterfront.
Valet only parking. I think that's because the parking along the highway is premium, limited.
The building is beautiful. There are three sections. Outdoor casual, indoor casual and indoor upscale. Upscale is the dinner level of visit. We opted for outdoor casual. The view of the homes along the shore and the ocean itself, beautiful.
She a selected Pulled Pork sandwich and I got the Charbroiled Cheeseburger.
When the food finally arrived it looked really great. Although her Pulled Pork looked more like a piece of Tuna.
Turns out, the Pulled Pork was tasty.
My burger was tasty enough. My buds were really on high alert. Duke's is supposed to have great meat and fish.
Rated:
3.5 of 5
Staff messed up order and didn't really seem to feel bad about it. Burger was tasty but, not flavorful. Maybe order some fish stuff. The view is awesome. If I lived near by or was staying down the road, I would hang out in the Barefoot Bar and enjoy a couple of drinks. The indoor lounge area has a spectacular view also.