It was a return visit to one of the best burgers since I started this whole writing about burgers thing. Five years ago as I drove in to Temecula, CA a sign on the side of a building boasted Best Burger. It was Mad Madeline's. We saw Madeline's on Triple D. Cool. Looking back in my Burger Manual (hand written entry), it was April 2009. I didn't write much more than, the burger was big enough for two. All present recall it being tasty.
Fast forward to November 19th, 2014.
On a quest to score some of the best Asiago infused Olive Oil I headed back to Temecula, know full well that Madeline's was still there. Olive Oil shopping complete, we headed over for the burger. Still sporting the signage and newer smaller statements of grand burgers. (2014 Inland Empire Best of)
Just a cheeseburger and fries for me.
Wow, this is not what I remembered. Great story, my dad was along and had the bacon cheese burger. I didn't have the heart to say it but, dad did... he told the waitress that the burger was not even good. No flavor, dry and the bun was sort of dry. The waitress suggested that maybe it was the person cooking that day. No excuse! I wish I had that out when I need it.
Maybe it was an off day. Maybe our memory of that wonderful day back in 2009 was messing with our ability to truly judge this round.
Trust me when I say that each time I enter in to one of these taste n tell situations, I clear my mind and just try to let it happen.
California visit: 2 of 2 burgers not able to rate.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
In/Out that's all. 11.2014
This is going to be one of those disclaimer kind of posts, I can feel it.
For years I've seen guys at car shows walking around with In/Out Burger T-shirts. I get the nostalgia. In/Out has been around since the golden day of the drive-in burger joint. It's a great story also.
So, here is my take.
I flew in to LAX where I was picked up by a friend. I mentioned that I have never been to an In/Out and asked how close one might be. He quickly came up with seven different exits that might get us to one on our way to Anaheim Hills. "You wanna go?" Of course I wanna go!
The line in the drive-thru was super long. I'm not a fan of drive-thru. Maybe it's old school to make eye contact with the person taking my order and then getting your order handed to you, hot and ready to munch down. The first fry that's too hot still, the smell of the burger cooling down in it's little paper wrap.
Where was I? Drive thru. Our order was taken by a person standing outside with a laptop. Slick. I'm still not sure if that was a time saver. Five maybe six minutes later we arrive at the window. Get our stuff and start driving to where I'm staying. It's only a couple of minutes away so, I hold off on munching.
Long story short, not what I expected.
Did the order go through faster than it should have making it somewhat stale before we were to the window? Was it a mistake to wait?Even cold, a burger should have some flavor. The fries should also do well on the first microwave warm up.
I haven't given up on I & O. Next time, inside ordering and eat straight from the bag. I know it will be good.
Right now, I can't rate it.
For years I've seen guys at car shows walking around with In/Out Burger T-shirts. I get the nostalgia. In/Out has been around since the golden day of the drive-in burger joint. It's a great story also.
So, here is my take.
I flew in to LAX where I was picked up by a friend. I mentioned that I have never been to an In/Out and asked how close one might be. He quickly came up with seven different exits that might get us to one on our way to Anaheim Hills. "You wanna go?" Of course I wanna go!
The line in the drive-thru was super long. I'm not a fan of drive-thru. Maybe it's old school to make eye contact with the person taking my order and then getting your order handed to you, hot and ready to munch down. The first fry that's too hot still, the smell of the burger cooling down in it's little paper wrap.
Where was I? Drive thru. Our order was taken by a person standing outside with a laptop. Slick. I'm still not sure if that was a time saver. Five maybe six minutes later we arrive at the window. Get our stuff and start driving to where I'm staying. It's only a couple of minutes away so, I hold off on munching.
Long story short, not what I expected.
Did the order go through faster than it should have making it somewhat stale before we were to the window? Was it a mistake to wait?Even cold, a burger should have some flavor. The fries should also do well on the first microwave warm up.
I haven't given up on I & O. Next time, inside ordering and eat straight from the bag. I know it will be good.
Right now, I can't rate it.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Red Dot (Tosa) Hits the Spot!
11.06.2014
The plan for the night was to hit a couple of art exhibits and then head home for some grill time. Specifically, burgers on the grill. As you might guess, because of this entry, we never made it to our home grill.
Turns out, that's okay because we decided to check out the Red Dot in Wauwatosa. It's been on the list of places to go for some time. The big draw was the idea that they serve French-Canadian cuisine. Poutine, a crazy mix of fries, cheese and gravy. I don't blog about Poutine. I blog about burgers...
Using our fancy phone and the internet, we research the menu as we headed West from Riverwest. They list quite a few burgers. Now I'm interested! The Classic seems like the correct one to select. A burger, bun and some veggies on top of the patty. Or should I go for the Bacon Cheese Burger?
When we got there the place was hopping. While waiting we noticed chalkboards with specials listed. The one board listed something called the Gordo Burger. Time to go big or go home! This puppy has a burger topped with pulled pork, caramelized red onion, roasted garlic and lettuce.
Gordo it was. The smokey flavor of the pork really bumped the taste buds to a different place than I expected. The patty itself, pretty good. I always snitch a piece without any stuff on it to get the true taste of the burger. From there, game on. Everything together. The combinations of garlic, caramelized onion and buttered bun just melded with the pork and beef. Hold on, was this a pulled pork sandwich with a burger or a burger with pulled pork? The pork was on top so, it's a burger. Really yummy.
Rate It:
3.5++ of 5
$11 was fine. Burger proper was fairly tasty. Maybe a little seasoning to the patty. All the items on it were done perfectly. The bun had great flavor and seemed to be very fresh. Atmosphere was pretty decent. The bar was cramped. The dining area, although we were in the middle of the room, had a cozy feel. I plan to return when the patio is open again.
The plan for the night was to hit a couple of art exhibits and then head home for some grill time. Specifically, burgers on the grill. As you might guess, because of this entry, we never made it to our home grill.
Turns out, that's okay because we decided to check out the Red Dot in Wauwatosa. It's been on the list of places to go for some time. The big draw was the idea that they serve French-Canadian cuisine. Poutine, a crazy mix of fries, cheese and gravy. I don't blog about Poutine. I blog about burgers...
Using our fancy phone and the internet, we research the menu as we headed West from Riverwest. They list quite a few burgers. Now I'm interested! The Classic seems like the correct one to select. A burger, bun and some veggies on top of the patty. Or should I go for the Bacon Cheese Burger?
When we got there the place was hopping. While waiting we noticed chalkboards with specials listed. The one board listed something called the Gordo Burger. Time to go big or go home! This puppy has a burger topped with pulled pork, caramelized red onion, roasted garlic and lettuce.
Gordo it was. The smokey flavor of the pork really bumped the taste buds to a different place than I expected. The patty itself, pretty good. I always snitch a piece without any stuff on it to get the true taste of the burger. From there, game on. Everything together. The combinations of garlic, caramelized onion and buttered bun just melded with the pork and beef. Hold on, was this a pulled pork sandwich with a burger or a burger with pulled pork? The pork was on top so, it's a burger. Really yummy.
Rate It:
3.5++ of 5
$11 was fine. Burger proper was fairly tasty. Maybe a little seasoning to the patty. All the items on it were done perfectly. The bun had great flavor and seemed to be very fresh. Atmosphere was pretty decent. The bar was cramped. The dining area, although we were in the middle of the room, had a cozy feel. I plan to return when the patio is open again.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
A Lofty Claim-MKE Sail Loft
It's a birthday dinner. She wants their Meatloaf and says, "hunny, they are known for their burgers" Did you see the hook just get set?
Located on the river front (Milwaukee River) with a view of the Hoan Bridge it definitely seems like a great place to grab lunch on a warm Summer day. This wasn't one of those days. Raining and windy it became our refuge.
Appetizer: Rustic Bruschetta She: Karl's Meatloaf Me: Paradise (Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, American, Brioche)
Pow! Did not expect that. Tasty and the Brioche thing, great touch.
I can't talk much about the visuals on cooking the patty but, smells were good. The place wasn't so over ventilated that I couldn't smell something cooking.
Rate it!
3.5++ of 5
$10 is not crazy these days. Location, cool. 3rd Ward Milwaukee is always fun. Everything else we had was done right. Washed down with Sanpellegrino Limonata.
Located on the river front (Milwaukee River) with a view of the Hoan Bridge it definitely seems like a great place to grab lunch on a warm Summer day. This wasn't one of those days. Raining and windy it became our refuge.
Appetizer: Rustic Bruschetta She: Karl's Meatloaf Me: Paradise (Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, American, Brioche)
Pow! Did not expect that. Tasty and the Brioche thing, great touch.
I can't talk much about the visuals on cooking the patty but, smells were good. The place wasn't so over ventilated that I couldn't smell something cooking.
Rate it!
3.5++ of 5
$10 is not crazy these days. Location, cool. 3rd Ward Milwaukee is always fun. Everything else we had was done right. Washed down with Sanpellegrino Limonata.
Strip Mall Food-Damn Right! A trip to Tom & Eddies
I'm pretty sure it was a mall. Strip variety, I guess. No matter. Modern food experience for sure.
Captive in Lincolnshire, Il for a car show and wondering what to eat? Hmmm.
The first night was Real Urban BBQ, same strip mall. That's how I found Tom & Eddie's. Well, it found me. Again, a sign in the window that said something about awesome burgers. Good taste in everything they make.
Lunch it is! I got the Classic with just the simple stuff. American Cheese, Onions, Pickles. A little ketchup and brown mustard (the stone ground stuff).
The kitchen is open for viewing. The staff has such a rhythm. Great entertainment while you wait. Grabbed the burger when it came and headed over to the Beer Market to eat with some friends. The Beer Market doesn't make food so, bring your own! Forgot the fries so I had to run back and get 'em.
The burger was pretty darn good. No, very darn good. Not excellent but it really had good seasoning and was moist. Cooked almost exactly the way I wanted it.
Being honest, I'm not a fan of the build your own burger. It feels like I'm ordering a latte' or something. It's hard to recall when a burger just showed up ready to eat. Throw back stuff I guess.
Let's rate it.
3.5+ of 5.0
The restaurant itself wasn't much to talk about. Clean. The staff was friendly and helpful. Burger and fries were a decent value.
Captive in Lincolnshire, Il for a car show and wondering what to eat? Hmmm.
The first night was Real Urban BBQ, same strip mall. That's how I found Tom & Eddie's. Well, it found me. Again, a sign in the window that said something about awesome burgers. Good taste in everything they make.
Lunch it is! I got the Classic with just the simple stuff. American Cheese, Onions, Pickles. A little ketchup and brown mustard (the stone ground stuff).
The kitchen is open for viewing. The staff has such a rhythm. Great entertainment while you wait. Grabbed the burger when it came and headed over to the Beer Market to eat with some friends. The Beer Market doesn't make food so, bring your own! Forgot the fries so I had to run back and get 'em.
The burger was pretty darn good. No, very darn good. Not excellent but it really had good seasoning and was moist. Cooked almost exactly the way I wanted it.
Being honest, I'm not a fan of the build your own burger. It feels like I'm ordering a latte' or something. It's hard to recall when a burger just showed up ready to eat. Throw back stuff I guess.
Let's rate it.
3.5+ of 5.0
The restaurant itself wasn't much to talk about. Clean. The staff was friendly and helpful. Burger and fries were a decent value.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Return to Fred's in Burlington WI
I can't imagine that I didn't already post about Fred's in Burlington WI. But, alas I did not.
The first time I went to Fred's was at least two years ago. Friends that live in the area were adamant about getting me to go there. As I recall, it was worth it.
Fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago. As part of helping our friends move a computer desk to their place in Lake Geneva it was suggested that we stop at Fred's. Scott & Pat both know I blog about burgers and thought it was time to blog about Fred's. To assure the best blog post, I agreed to stop. (you know they didn't have to twist my arm)
The place was hopping. Families, couples and a few stray Packer fans that decided a burger & fries my complement a game on the big screen.
I snooped around to get a better feel of things. I got a glimpse of the staff working in the kitchen area. Big patties of beef on the griddle top. Baskets of fries, onion rings etc. I was impressed that the patty looked rather fresh packed.
Cheddar Cheese Burger, raw onion and fries with a root beer for me. The wife got the Garlic Burger. Both were delicious. The Garlic Burger was a bit much once your buds adjust to it. My cheese burger was cooked just a tad too much but, flavor was still there. A wonderful and tasty bakery bun brought the flavor all together.
The staff was attentive and cheerful.
Overall, if I'm near by and had a moment, I would stop in again. And now that I know it's sort of on the way to a friend's place, I might visit Fred's more frequently.
4 of 5
Price is reasonable. Great little shop. Cheerful staff. Tasty food.
The first time I went to Fred's was at least two years ago. Friends that live in the area were adamant about getting me to go there. As I recall, it was worth it.
Fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago. As part of helping our friends move a computer desk to their place in Lake Geneva it was suggested that we stop at Fred's. Scott & Pat both know I blog about burgers and thought it was time to blog about Fred's. To assure the best blog post, I agreed to stop. (you know they didn't have to twist my arm)
The place was hopping. Families, couples and a few stray Packer fans that decided a burger & fries my complement a game on the big screen.
I snooped around to get a better feel of things. I got a glimpse of the staff working in the kitchen area. Big patties of beef on the griddle top. Baskets of fries, onion rings etc. I was impressed that the patty looked rather fresh packed.
Cheddar Cheese Burger, raw onion and fries with a root beer for me. The wife got the Garlic Burger. Both were delicious. The Garlic Burger was a bit much once your buds adjust to it. My cheese burger was cooked just a tad too much but, flavor was still there. A wonderful and tasty bakery bun brought the flavor all together.
The staff was attentive and cheerful.
Overall, if I'm near by and had a moment, I would stop in again. And now that I know it's sort of on the way to a friend's place, I might visit Fred's more frequently.
4 of 5
Price is reasonable. Great little shop. Cheerful staff. Tasty food.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Frank about Syl's Midtown, Sheboygan WI
I'm not all too familiar with Sheboygan Wisconsin so I was lucky to be hanging out with a local. Frank Juarez knows his eats in town. After attending an opening at the UW Sheboygan campus a small group of us were going to head out for some food. Fine dining wasn't on the radar. Everybody was up for some classic pub grub. Frank offered a long list of potential establishments. Syl's rose to the top of the list.
Nothing fancy, just a clean brightly lit bar in downtown Sheboygan. The menu is pretty simple. Burgers, sandwiches and a decent list of appetizers. You know I'm checking the burgers. The price for a burger, $2.90! It doesn't come with fries. Those are $2.50. I decided to have onion rings, $3.25.
The burger came on a delicious bun that reminded me of a potato bun. Lighter, not so dense. Good. The burger, hand packed and cooked almost perfect. The one thing that got me was that they weren't afraid to season it. There was a lot of flavor without adding condiments. Speaking of condiments, Syl's has the stone ground brown mustard at the table. Not Pupon or Honey mustard.
All of us enjoyed the meal.
Overall, a decent value. I probably won't return only because there are so many other places to go in Sheboygan for food.
3.5 of 5
Tasty, great bun/roll, onion rings were tasty too! The bright lights sort of took away from the atmosphere.
Nothing fancy, just a clean brightly lit bar in downtown Sheboygan. The menu is pretty simple. Burgers, sandwiches and a decent list of appetizers. You know I'm checking the burgers. The price for a burger, $2.90! It doesn't come with fries. Those are $2.50. I decided to have onion rings, $3.25.
The burger came on a delicious bun that reminded me of a potato bun. Lighter, not so dense. Good. The burger, hand packed and cooked almost perfect. The one thing that got me was that they weren't afraid to season it. There was a lot of flavor without adding condiments. Speaking of condiments, Syl's has the stone ground brown mustard at the table. Not Pupon or Honey mustard.
All of us enjoyed the meal.
Overall, a decent value. I probably won't return only because there are so many other places to go in Sheboygan for food.
3.5 of 5
Tasty, great bun/roll, onion rings were tasty too! The bright lights sort of took away from the atmosphere.
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