Tucson, AZ-Where's My Lindy's on 4th? 02.25.2025

 Tucson Arizona has been a favorite place to go back to. Over the years we've found a couple of things that we have to do. We stop by the "Hut" bar to get a picture of the Easter Island statue out front, Goodwill on 4th Avenue, check out the "Hippy Gypsy" and grab a burger at Lindy's. Well, Lindy's has moved down the street (avenue) into a larger space. They now have more indoor seating and a nice outdoor dining space. It's sort of all grown up now. The old place was pretty simple, a hole in the wall. I can appreciate the upgrades.

I'm at Lindy's for the burger. I fell in love with their burger a long time ago. I can even recall how long ago it was. I'd like to say it was in the mid 0's. Again, a funky shop that offered crazy burgers at a decent price. Not only did they have fries but tater tots too! Did the move change things? The only difference was the location and the idea of sitting and waiting for your waiter to visit. That took a bit. We were alone on the patio for some time before our server stopped by. I ordered the Shroomin' Cow. Sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and a pickle. It came out fairly quick. A bit of a surprise but not a bad surprise anyway. I'm not going to say it was loaded with flavor but it wasn't flat. The combination of flavors worked well together.

Rate It: 4 of 5 I'm going low on this one. Again, a tasty burger but I was expecting just a bit more flavor from the patty. The price is up, just like most places.

 

Leff's Again?? Yep, Burgers With Brothers! 03/24/2025

 It's that time again, Burgers With Brothers! It was the younger sibling's choice this time. He had recently dined at Leff,s and recalled they have a dang good burger. He wanted to put it to the test. Bring the brothers. Not that either of us is such an expert or critical thinker when it comes to burgers. We do enjoy them. I've been to Leff's plenty times. I don't always blog about the burger I had. You know I have a hard time not ordering a burger especially when they are a decent value.

Let's get down to it. Right? It was $8 Build Your Own Burger night. They offer quite a few toppings as part of the $8 deal. (see the pic of the list) I opted to have a double bacon cheeseburger because a guy near us had one and it looked awesome. So, that's the $8 BYOB with an additional patty for $4. I'm still ahead of the game financially. Their patties are 6oz each. I kept it simple, nothing but bacon and cheese. I'd add some spicy brown mustard and a drip of ketchup later after I taste the pure version. Yum! Tons of flavor without anything else on it. That's what I'm talkin' about. The condiments only enhanced it.

Rate It: 4.5 of 5 Flavor was there. Price was right. Overall a great burger.

Leff's

 

Barrio Brewing Tucson, AZ 02.24.2025

 We're back in Tucson, AZ! Tucson is one of those ever changing cities. It's been some time since I last visited Tucson and there are definitely more choices for dining in the area. What's even better, there's a brewery that serves some good grub. A friend of ours now lives in the Tucson area and suggested we meet at Barrio Brewery for dinner and a beer. He said that he's heard good things about the burgers. Whoa! If that isn't a challenge, I'm not sure what it is. Barrio is a cool scene. It's situated across a parking lot next to a railroad track. When a train goes by, beer is a $1 off! Well, I'm here for the burger. Let's get started. I got the Cheese Burger. Pretty straight forward. No frills. Cheddar was the choice. I'm going to cut to the chase, it was okay. Overall decent flavor. I was a little concerned that the bun may have been on the edge of being stale. Tasty fries.

Rate It: 4 of 5, maybe. Like I said, I think the bun could have been fresher and just a bit more flavor. Never be afraid to season your patty.

Barrio Brewing 

 

Pheonix, AZ-The Collins: A Fine Burger

 We were back in Arizona for some sunshine and warm temps. It was also our friend Beth's birthday. We decided to go out for dinner, someplace nice. I'm not sure why I always end up getting a burger when I'm at a place like The Collins in Pheonix, AZ. Their menu had quite a few wonderful offerings. No matter, I chose the Bistro Burger. (havarti . vine tomatoes . red onion . dressed arugula . dijon . mayo . noble brioche) It seemed to have more "basic" ingredients than the King's Burger. Cooked nearly perfect for my liking. I took a pinch of the patty alone to get the facts. What does it taste like without all the condiments etc. Pretty decent. A lot of smoke. The noble brioche? I wasn't sure what that is. A little research and I found that they are using a local bakery, Noble Bread based in Pheonix. Nice touch. 

By the way, Alice Cooper was in the booth right next to us.

Rate It: 4 of 5. I thought is was decent. Everything seemed fresh. I just wasn't feeling amazed. Maybe I was set up for something other world based on how good it looked?

The Collins

It's Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward. Must be time for some Wicked Hop! 01.17.2025

 It was the 3rd Friday in January. That means it's Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward, Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sometimes it's a very cold night. Not this time. Temps were in the 20's. (balmy for WI) I was hanging out with my friend Rob. We chose the Wicked Hop because, in the past, they've done right with the burger and beverages.

Burgers it is! "Build Your Own" Cheeseburger. Cheddar for me and Blue Cheese w/bacon for Rob. It was a quick turnaround on the order. Before we knew it, the burgers were delivered. Both of us were quite pleased with the amount of "pink". Too often, it doesn't go that way. All the toppings are on the side so you can choose what to add and where they go. I did everything but the pickle. Only a small amount of ketchup. I forgot to ask for some stone ground mustard. No matter, I pushed forward. It was pretty decent. Maybe not as good as the last 8 times. Something was different. Maybe it was an off night for my taste buds? I didn't hate it, that's for sure. Juicy, seasoned enough. The toppings were all fresh. The fries, delicious.

Rate It: 4 of 5 $18 for a very good burger has become the normal. I'm not a fan. It's the same burger or maybe less for more. That doesn't change the overall flavor. It was still great. Just not wow great.

Surprise! Hollaner Burger Hits the Spot! 12/22/2024

 I'm pretty sure I've blogged about Hollander Wauwatosa and the other Lowland Restaurants. I am also relatively sure that I didn't say anything outstanding about the experience. Well, that changed last Sunday evening. I just can't pass up the chance to enjoy a burger out. In the past the burger at Hollander has been at least satisfying. Not to much a gamble. I will like it. I ordered the "Sconnie". Pickles, bacon, Wisconsin aged cheddar, bier cheese aioli, cheese curds on a pretzel bun. (yes, meat too!) When it arrived it looked unlike other burgers I've ordered at Lowland restaurants. It's not a new selection. The curds tower on top of the bun. I cut it in half, perfect color. There's a lot of cheese. Remember, I'm not a fan of the Pretzel bun. The bun totally works with the flavors. I don't think another choice would stand up to all of what's going on with the Sconnie. Good combo.

Rate It: 4 of 5 (4+) Price was the usual. Flavors worked well together. Not too much sauce. Cooked to the perfect temp. I wish I took a picture. (thought I did) I'm sharing their picture from the Hollander website.

The Diplomat on Brady Street (Burgers w/Brothers!) 11.20.2024

 It was the third installation of the Burgers w/Brothers 2024. The eldest made the choice to go a bit more upscale for his burger. Not that we've been hanging out at dives or dumps. We've enjoyed quite the range of locations and varieties of burgers. His choice, The Diplomat. Located just East of Van Buren on Brady street. Cool vibe as soon as you walk in. There is a front space/bar area that's pretty chill. Around the corner is the dining room area. Well done. Warm, almost cozy space with plenty of art and little vignettes with interesting items. Our server was Roxanne. The menu is very simple, not many items. The idea is shared plates. I'm just not a fan of the term "small plates". Shared I can handle. Anyway, there is only one burger to choose from so that's what we all had. "The Diplomac". Prime beef burger, tomato, lettuce, American cheese, "1000 Island Dressing", pickle and red onion. (their description) $17 without a side.

How about that burger? Dang, it was good! I don't know if it was because I was surprised by how tidy it looked or the choice of roll/bun. No matter, it all worked together perfectly. The "1000 Island Dressing" is nothing like the Kraft foods version. All the condiments were freshly created on site. It made a difference for sure. The sandwich held together bite after bite. Nothing sliding out the back or slopping on to my plate or lap. I took a snitch off the side, just meat. Not crazy seasoned. Could have had a bit more flavor but maybe the rest of it makes up for that. We shared a plate of the Diplomat Fries. These aren't your average fries. Blanched and then fried 3 times. Light and crisp.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

Overall great taste. Fresh ingredients made for a great mix of flavors. If I'm paying $17 a burger it should be like this.

https://www.thediplomatmke.com/