Fred's on Vliet 06/21/2024

 It's that time of the year, get to all the seasonal burger joints around the area. One of my favorite places to go has been Fred's Frozen Custard on West Vliet street in Milwaukee. Fred's is the classic small stand that has been operating in the same location for what seems like forever. The stand has been there since the late 50's and it has been Fred's since 1967. New owners took over a couple of seasons back and brought some changes to the traditional Fred's "experience". Read more

I could have placed my order online but I wanted to get the whole experience of face-to-face ordering and hanging out waiting for my order. You never know who might stop by. It's a neighborhood thing. I was a little bummed when I saw that the old entrance was marked "employees only". My only option was to approach a window on the side of the building. I was greeted by a pleasant young lady with an electronic pad of some sort. She took my order. Simple, cheeseburger (American cheese) with raw onions. No other stuff. I opted for onion rings as my greasy side. Tip included, it was a $15 venture. Hmm, not what I expected. Prices have gone up quite a bit since the last time I visited. So, how about the burger? I was a little disappointed. A lack of seasoning and slightly overcooked. The bun lacked "character" also. Just sort of a ho-hum kind of mix. I was expecting the burnt edges on a slightly skinnier patty. 

Rate it: 3.5 out of 5. I'm not saying that it wasn't a decent burger. I just think that the personality of the smash burger of the past has left the theater. I'll go back with different expectations some day and do a re-check. The price doesn't match the meal. I can go for sit down at other places and get more, better for less.

 

Kickin' it at the Kiltie 06/20/24

 The Kiltie has been on my list of my must have burgers. The problem with a place like the Kiltie is that I rarely go out that way and the season goes by fast. It's also difficult to find. Large trees block the view of their sign from the highway. I finally decided to use GPS to locate it. It's on what might be considered a frontage road along Highway 16 near Oconomowoc Wisconsin. I stopped by last year just to see the building and signage. This season I finally made it a point to stop during hours of operation. I'm glad I did.

The Kiltie is a throw back with car hops and cash only sales. You can either do take-out or park. I did take-out because I was in the middle of a busy day. The folks on either side of me had the old school tray on the window. Pretty cool. I ordered a cheeseburger and small fries. It didn't take much time before my order was ready. As I drove away, my car was filling up with the smell of the food. I pulled into a parking lot to eat. I should have just stayed at the restaurant. The fries have an outstanding seasoning on them. No chance I'd mess it up with ketchup. The burger was super thin. I was concerned that it might not be what I hoped for. It surprised me. Fresh toppings helped matters. The combination of flavors worked well together. 

All in, $10. That's tip and all. The girl that took my order was very nice and asked all the right questions like "ketchup, napkins?" I think the only thing I would change might be get a double cheese instead.

Rate it: 4 out of 5. It's a pretty good burger and deal. The nostalgia adds to the experience. The surroundings are a bit odd. I think it would be cool to go for dinner and see the building all lit up.