Copping Some Kopp's-01/14/2026

Is there a day that isn't good for a Kopp's cheeseburger? Even better, a nasty, Wintry, snow covered road kind of day. Kopp's reminds me of Summer days when I was a little boy on the North side of Milwaukee. When the budget allowed, our family could indulge in some custard from Kopp's at Appleton Avenue and Locust. That location close 30 years ago. Today, it's the Greenfield location at South 76th and Layton Avenue, now made famous because Hugh Jackman stopped by to serve custard as part of his visit to Milwaukee promoting "Song Sung Blue". My reason to stop there was unrelated. Nor was there a crowd waiting in line to see me. I was actually on my way back from picking up my younger sister and her husband from Mitchell Airport. It was nearly noon and all of us were thinking it might be nice to stop for a bite somewhere. Like that, Kopp's was across the intersection from us. It was a "sign". We pulled into the snow covered parking lot unsure if we were parked between the lines. 

I ordered my "usual", cheeseburger, plain with onion rings. I love a plain cheeseburger, especially a Kopp's cheeseburger. You get all that buttery flavor of the bun that gets toasted on the griddle. No onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard. I have to say that it took a bit longer than usual. Not like they were very busy at the time. No matter, it arrived in it's white paper wrapping along with a similar paper bag full of onion rings. First bite and every bite after, one of my favorites. Being honest, I know that these are frozen patties ordered in the mass amount. They just taste good.

Rate it: 4of5. Consistent flavor over the years. Still a value at $7.00. Nostalgic to a kid from Milwaukee.

 

Season Tradition & Favorite: Nite Owl Drive In 09/27/2025

 In Wisconsin we have quite a few "seasonal" things. Outdoor (Drive-In) theaters, Outdoor Farmer's Markets, Dining El Fresco, Beer Gardens and Burger Stands. The Nite Owl falls into the last. I'm never sure when Nite Owl might open or close for the season. I'm sure it's similar each season. I guess I like to be surprised. The season passes faster than I like. I've got a couple of other burger stops that are similar. Wayne's in Cedarburg has a similar season. Nite Owl is just a bit more quirky. Not only do they have a short season, their hours are challenging. On top of short hours, you can never know if they "sold out" for the day. They grind all the meat fresh daily. When they run out, they shut down. Some days that can be just a couple of hours.

This post is mostly about the "joy" of Nite Owl. I think they make a great burger especially for $8. There is a certain value to standing in the parking lot waiting for your order. The crowd is usually pretty friendly. Yes, they too are waiting for their order which on certain days can take a while. It's "cash only" so don't try your fancy charge card, paypal, apple pay or whatever you like to use at other places.

This time I got a cheeseburger with onions and a pickle. No ketchup or mustard. Simple. It's a hefty patty placed on a decent roll. I'm not going to say it was packed with flavor but it was a good mix between the cheese, onion, meat and bun. Cooked nearly perfect for my tastes. The fries were a bit soggy.

Rate It: 4 out of 5 Still a great burger. Always cool to get the old school vibe. You pay when you get your order. Is that because they might run out before they get to yours? I'll be back next year. Hopefully more than once.

 

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.

10/02/22 - Wayne's Drive-In, Cedarburg WI - Seasonal Favorite

Wisconsin like the rest of the upper midwest has a restricted outdoor dining season. Over the years, businesses like drive-ins have adapted their property to serve all year round. Others, they just keep it seasonal. Wayne's is one of them. No complaints. I hope they enjoy the time off.

Wayne's is one of my seasonal must haves. Is it because it's the best burger? Not really. I think that because Wayne's is seasonal and I can only have it during the warmer months, my mind associates them with that warm feeling of the sun shining down while you lean against your car munching a cheeseburger fresh off the griddle. The building adorned with memories of the history of Wayne's and all the kitschy items new and old that cover the walls. Generations come for meals together to share this. The staff is always working hard, friendly and helpful. It would be interesting how many of the current staff may have a link to past staff members. See what I mean? You got to support this stuff! Families, generations of friends and neighbors. 

Oh yes, I did have a burger. Well, a cheeseburger. With American cheese, tomato and raw onion. It was dang good. They don't use words like grass fed or organic. I think they just get the best beef patties they can. I'm cool with that. Fresh condiments, bakery (buns) are a plus. It was really juicy.

Rate it: 3.5 of 5 Always a decent burger, good price, great service (could be a 4 of 5?)

Wayne's website

Cruise In to an excellent burger! 07.05.2020

It's a seasonal thing. Roadside burger stands in Wisconsin are only open for a short time so, you'd better get 'em while you can.
My younger brother Robb knows I like a good burger. He told me, if you get a chance stop at the Cruise-In. It's on highway 45, town of Marion. I've seen it but, it was never open when we drove past. Probably because it was too early or late in the year. This time, smack in the middle of the season!
I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with crinkle fries.
Delicious all the way! Not only was the burger tasty, the bun and condiments really worked well. The fries were longer and more slender than most crinkle fries, making them sort of a hybrid towards shoe string.
Total bill was less than $8. Considering the quality, that's a good price.
If I find myself driving through Marion Wisconsin during the Summer, I will stop again. Maybe I'll try something different and get some ice cream too!
4.5 of 5
I really enjoyed it. Fresh bun, tasty beef, cool location. Really fun to watch all the others that decided to stop and get something for themselves or families that were sitting at the picnic tables in the shade.

Raised Bar, Chicago IL

It was a super cold night in downtown Chicago. Windchill at -10 degrees. We had a room at the Marriot Renaissance for the night. In town for the Interpol concert at the Chicago Theater, across the street.
Most of the time, I wouldn't dine at the hotel restaurant just because the prices and a lot of times, the food is good but not worth the $$$.
Throw that one out the window! I'm glad we were afraid to go out in the cold to scavenge for mediocre food. Nice and warm with a view of downtown Chicago. During the warmer seasons, the rooftop is made available. We started with Edamame and a drink. I had a Tequila based "Old Fashioned" I plan to stick with Whiskey or Brandy in the future. The Edamame, something I've never had before was delicious. When it came time to order dinner the choice was clear, a burger. Grilled beef, smoked bourbon pork belly, pickled slaw and butterkase (cheese) on a seeded brioche bun. Presented beautifully and cooked perfectly. What a burger! I'm thinking this may have been one of the best I've had. At least the top five.

4.75 of 5
Forget the price. It wasn't that high anyway. What you get is worth it. I took part back to the room and warmed it up later, still delicious!

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

Mazo's (I'm on a roll, buttered & toasted)

Started back in 1934, Mazo's has got the history, for sure. The restaurant is a neat place. Smaller and not too chic, it's one of the hidden gems of Milwaukee. Unless you are looking for it as you are driving North on 27th near Oklahoma Avenue, you might not see it.
Going to Mazo's has been on my list for a couple of years. Check it off. Was it worth the wait? I would say, yep! When we got there it was around 11:45AM. There were people at a couple of tables and a some folks at the counter. By noon, it was packed.
I have to say, it was what I had hoped for. The bun was buttered and toasted. I had the double cheeseburger. That's two 1/3 pound patties, fresh packed with American cheese and raw onions. The burgers could have been cooked a little less but, flavor was still there. The combo includes two sides. I chose fries and baked beans. Both were excellent. The beans made me think they were scratch created. Sort of a smoky/bacon edge to them.
The rest of the group all agreed that the food was tasty. Patty Melt and Strawberry Shake both made it on the "glad we ordered it" list.

Five of us ate and the total bill was around $45. I'd say we got a decent value for the investment.

4.5 of 5
Tasty food. Decent value for the $$. I'd go back/tell others about it.

Surfing the Webb's - New Year's Day lunch!

Hey, I just have to post that on New Year's Day (2014) while on my way back from dodging the Polar Bear Plunge, I stopped at the George Webb's on West State Street, Wauwatosa. My friends enjoyed breakfast while I, the burgereater, enjoyed a classic Webb cheeseburger. Guess what? Delicious! How do they do that for so many years? What intrigued me most, the bag of burgers! Whoa!
Price is still decent. Burgers and fries are wonderful.
4 out of 5. Darn good stuff. ;)

Meaty-ocre

Well, just when I thought it would be a long time between blogging about burgers I'm back on! It was a trip to Madison WI to meet up with a relative. The internet is our friend. It knows where to go for food in just about any city. Madison is no exception. Relative proximity made Morty's Blue Plate a perfect choice. Breakfast all day, dinner style setting. It's an old Texaco station converted. I think the menu had something for everyone. My choice is always pretty simple, how about a burger? It was a busy day at the diner. The wait was almost 20 minutes. Luckily, the place has quite a bit of stuff on display to look at. We watched all the activity. Just about every kind of person. Young, old, hip and square. The neighborhood was there. I can imagine what it might be like when there is a show across the street at the Barrymore. (I saw the Fall play there back in 1989) Back to the food. I took my burger with fries, medium rare. Meanwhile, the guy next to me gets his burger... yummy looking. My burger arrives. Just grab a chunk sans-bun & cheese. Pretty good. The meat looks pre-pattied and tasted a bit smoke flavored. Personally, if it's not cooked over flames, it shouldn't taste like smoke. I didn't see the grill. I should have stuck my nose in! So, what the call? Pretty good. I'm not going out of the way to get another one. I probably would order it at one of their other restaurants. The fries were seasoned and tasty.
Let's go 3.5 of 5

Dasburgereater.

I'm already looking at 2012, for burger-ventures

At this time of the year, in Wisconsin, food consumption is kept indoors. The patios are closed down and in most cases, the grill is put away. You know mine will be out all winter. Matter of fact, I was cleaning out a garage space where I park my classic car and uncovered a nearly new Weber Smokey Joe grill! I asked the lady who owns the garage if it was hers (totally hoping it wasn't) She said "no" it came with the house and she had no need for it. It's mine now. The other Smokey I've been using is a "frankenstein" of three other Smokeys. They have a tendency to deteriorate.
So, here's the 2012 plan.
Scour all the Milwaukee county and the surrounding counties munching burgers. We've got some great places in the Milwaukee county area that I have never been to or visited recently. Eat and review. As soon as the nicer weather returns. I like to sit outside or at least be in t-shirt and jeans when I'm chowing a burger.
Continue checking in during the winter months. I plan to grill some tasty burgers in the snow cave!

Happy Holidays,
Dasburgereater