tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71025740364495496342024-03-14T03:51:40.151-05:00The Quest for the Ultimate BurgerRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-2054896163572250042016-01-25T11:01:00.000-06:002016-01-25T11:01:13.165-06:00Alamo Springs Cafe - January 23, 2016<e><br />
Last Saturday was a beautiful winter day so I decided to take a road trip to eat some barbeque and try the #3 burger on the Texas Monthly Top 50 Burger list - <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alamo+Springs+General+Store+%26+Cafe/@30.1021067,-98.8207116,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x865b932363581b5f:0x393af403e437afba">Alamo Springs Café outside Fredericksburg Texas</a>. The café is about 11 miles from Downtown Fredericksburg off Old San Antonio Road near Old Tunnel State Park. The restaurant is fairly small with both indoor and outdoor seating. Upon entering I was immediately met with the wonderful smell of meat cooking on the flattop, fries and onion fries cooking in hot oil and the sounds of a guy on a guitar singing Pancho and Lefty. I was pointed to a table by a server who told me that my server would be by the table momentarily and that I should help myself to the honor system drink station which consisted of a selection of sodas, iced tea beer and wine. The <a href="http://www.alamospringscafe.com/menu.pdf">menu</a> was placed in a container of salt, pepper, Sriracha and ketchup. While I was there for the burger, I would love to return and try some of the other offerings including chicken fried steak, po-boy sandwiches, pork tenderloin sandwich and milkshakes. After getting a glass of water, I ordered a fried avocado and a bacon cheddar burger on a jalapeno cheese bun. I thought about ordering the green chile burger but I needed to stick with the same order I have done at previous burger places. Total price for the burger, fried avocado and water was $21.30. After enjoying most of the fried avocado, the following burger arrived approximately twenty minutes after ordering it:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhrgIDSu5zE/VqZPKaaPhcI/AAAAAAAABAs/a8OPt3kCwAo/s1600/20160123_201257.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhrgIDSu5zE/VqZPKaaPhcI/AAAAAAAABAs/a8OPt3kCwAo/s400/20160123_201257.jpg" /></a><br />
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The smell of the griddled meat and black pepper was intoxicating and the toppings were fresh. I was a little disappointed to see shredded cheese but it melted very quickly on the half-pound patty. I took off the lettuce and tomato and took my first bite of the burger. The slighty sweet slightly spicy soft bun contrasted well with the smoky crisp bacon, the peppery patty, the tang of the mayonnaise and the sharp cheddar cheese. The hand-formed patty was not too densely packed and each bite was full of juice and flavor. The bottom bun soaked up the juices from the patty and it stayed together throughout eating the whole burger. I really enjoyed this burger from start to finish - each bite let the ingredients shine but they all came together to form a wonderful burger experience. <br />
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Overall, I had a wonderful of eating bbq and burgers on a beautiful drive from Dallas to Fredericksburg. I really enjoyed the food at Alamo Springs Café and look forward to returning to the area in the near future especially when the weather is a little warmer and I can sit on the patio.<br />
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Ratings (1-25:)<br />
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Bun - 21, soft, flavorful bun, not overwhelming amount of heat form the jalapeno, held up very well<br />
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Meat - 21, perfectly cooked patty, good amount of black pepper, bacon complemented the bun and meat<br />
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Appearance - 21, great char on the patty and toast on the bun, ingredients were fresh, slight amount of juice on the plate from the patty<br />
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Taste - 21, really enjoyed each bite of the burger, the beef and bacon flavored and the bun complimented the burger perfectly<br />
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Overall - 84<br />
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Bonus Pics of the Fried Avocado:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlK8GRoeXfc/VqZUi99Bh5I/AAAAAAAABBA/yN3R3apewNk/s1600/20160123_195826.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlK8GRoeXfc/VqZUi99Bh5I/AAAAAAAABBA/yN3R3apewNk/s400/20160123_195826.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CM3JUQFHShM/VqZUj9NpQbI/AAAAAAAABBI/bODV1fr-Jnk/s1600/20160123_195919.jpg"
imageanchor="1" ><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CM3JUQFHShM/VqZUj9NpQbI/AAAAAAAABBI/bODV1fr-Jnk/s400/20160123_195919.jpg" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-83007273004112278122012-07-25T14:02:00.002-05:002012-07-26T09:08:05.660-05:00Beck's Prime - July 24, 2012It has been a crazy few months and the Quest for the Ultimate Burger was unfortunately put on the back burner for a while. Also after trying eighty burgers in the D/FW area, we needed a small break to allow some new places to open and get recharged to get back on the quest. This week's burger quest took our group to the recently opened Beck's Prime. The location at the northwest corner of Preston and Forest is the 13th location of Beck's Prime to open and the first in the Dallas area. The restaurant is a fast casual restaurant with a menu featuring mesquite grilled burgers, sandwiches, grilled meat plates, salads and steaks. The Dallas location has taken over a former Jack in the Box and they did a good job of adding a patio as well making the inside warm and inviting with the open dining room and hardwood flooring. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted the General Manager who told us about the freshness of the meat and the philosophy of the restaurant. He then pointed to the menu above the cashiers and encouraged us to try the burger. I had a variety of burgers to choose from but decided on a bacon cheddar burger with grilled onions, a regular sized fry and a large iced tea which cost $17.16. One of the expeditors gave me my drink along with a buzzer to let me know when my burger would be ready. After a short wait, the buzzer went off and the following burger and fries was delivered to my table:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujOVWBwvD5I/UBAttrM0kkI/AAAAAAAAA14/Q6wR-fbhOX8/s1600/becksprime1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujOVWBwvD5I/UBAttrM0kkI/AAAAAAAAA14/Q6wR-fbhOX8/s320/becksprime1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UkX5QZO6WrE/UBAtvIpoUeI/AAAAAAAAA2E/ybgh5Dncogw/s1600/BecksPrime2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UkX5QZO6WrE/UBAtvIpoUeI/AAAAAAAAA2E/ybgh5Dncogw/s320/BecksPrime2.jpg" /></a><br />
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The first thing that I noticed was the abundance of juices that was dripping off the burger and the smell of the hickory wood smoke from the patty. The sesame seed bun was lightly toasted and both sides of the bun were slathered with mayonnaise. The bottom bun was topped with cheddar cheese, the patty and then another thick slice of cheddar cheese. Lightly grilled onion rings were placed on the top slice of cheese and then two small crispy slices of bacon topped the grilled onions. Taking my first bite, I enjoyed the combination of fresh beef and cheddar cheese. The cheddar wasn't overpowering but it was nicely melted and added a nice texture and flavor to the medium cooked patty. The patty was lightly seasoned so that the flavor of the beef was the primary focus in each bite. I was a little disappointed that the flavor of the bacon and grilled onions didn't really stand out in this burger. Both were good on their own; however, I would have liked another slice of bacon and for the onions to have been caramelized slightly more. Finally I thought that the thick hand cut fries were cooked very well. They were served crispy and unseasoned but with the salt and pepper grinders on the table, it was easy to add a little salt and pepper to them. <br />
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Overall, I thought that Beck's Prime served a really good but expensive burger. It will be sticker shock to some when they go through the drive-thru but the product is definitely a step above most drive-thru burger places. The meat is fresh ground every morning and cooking over mesquite gives the burger a great flavor profile. I will be visiting to try the sandwich offerings and possibly even the sixteen ounce grilled ribeye steak.<br />
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Ratings (1-25:)<br />
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Bun - 20, lightly toasted, good flavor, held up to very juicy burger<br />
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Meat - 20, fresh beef patty, cooked well, lightly seasoned, bacon was average<br />
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Appearance - 21, very good looking combination of beef cheese and bun, fresh ingredients<br />
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Taste - 20, very good showing from a new restaurant, good flavors, enjoyable burger<br />
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Overall - 81<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1688767/restaurant/North-Dallas/Becks-Prime-Dallas"><img alt="Becks Prime on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1688767/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-37024108713024025722011-11-08T08:46:00.011-06:002011-11-14T13:45:56.932-06:00Liberty Burger - November 7, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to the Northeast corner of Forest and Inwood to try the burger offering at Liberty Burgers. Liberty Burgers is the creation of Mariel Street and its menu features a dozen burgers, salads, grilled cheese sandwich and a grilled chicken breast sandwich. Their beef patty is a blend of chuck, brisket and tenderloin but they also have a turkey, bison or vegetarian option for the patty. Entering the restaurant, I was impressed with the change from Roma's Italian to Liberty Burger. The space is very open with menus on the wall by the entrance, a bar featuring beer, wine and alcohol and an open kitchen behind the registers where you can see your burgers being cooked on the flattop. While the specialty burgers intrigued me, I ordered The Liberty Burger with bacon, grilled onions and cheddar cheese with a side of skinny fries and an iced tea which cost $11.91. I was handed a number for my order and a cup for my drink and after getting my iced tea, I waited about ten minutes and the following burger was brought to my table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sfzoYxWRpE/TrlBEAkfqrI/AAAAAAAAAu0/by-R2QD63XI/s1600/LB1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sfzoYxWRpE/TrlBEAkfqrI/AAAAAAAAAu0/by-R2QD63XI/s320/LB1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672636742778202802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxGLHqj6e7w/TrlBEamm9NI/AAAAAAAAAvE/mjEJOuuCHN0/s1600/LB2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxGLHqj6e7w/TrlBEamm9NI/AAAAAAAAAvE/mjEJOuuCHN0/s320/LB2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672636749766390994" /></a><br /><br><br />All of the burgers are served with a knife stuck in the middle so that you can slice it in half yourself. I was glad to see that they gave the diners the option instead of slicing in half and having all of the juices run out on the plate. While I didn't order any vegetables on my burger, the lettuce, tomato and pickles were very fresh and made for a nice side salad especially paired with Liberty's homemade mustard which tasted like a blend of mustard, mayonnaise and dill. The homemade bun was toasted crispy and then topped with a hand formed patty. A thick slice of cheddar cheese covered the patty and was topped with several rings of grilled purple onion, three slices of crispy bacon and the top bun which had a light amount of mayonnaise. Taking a bite of the burger, the flavor of the lightly seasoned patty was very evident. The meat was fresh and juicy and the texture of the beef worked well with the crispiness of the bacon and light flavor of the bun. The cheddar cheese had a light flavor and was slightly overpowered by the beef and bacon. The grilled onions were cooked to a point where they were slightly crispy but there weren't enough of them to really add flavor to every bite. Next the bun was the perfect bun for this burger. It was light and fluffy but didn't fall apart while eating the burger. The bun soaked up the juices from the patty but kept its shape and texture. Finally the fries were very thin extra crispy matchstick style fries. They were very good in the first few bites while hot from cooking but quickly grew lukewarm on the plate. <br /><br><br />Overall, I enjoyed my burger at Liberty Burger. The dedication to featuring a high quality blend of beef for the burgers and trying to be as Eco-friendly as possible is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I thought the burger was very tasty and really enjoyed the homemade bun. I enjoyed the sides but wish they could have stayed hotter longer. I look forward to visiting Liberty Burger again in the future and trying the other burger options such as the Napa Burger with Gorgonzola, wild arugula and olives or the Amore which features Parmesan cheese crisp, ham, cantaloupe and spinach.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 21, fresh homemade bun, toasted well and could handle the very juicy burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, fresh meat, lightly seasoned, good blend of brisket, chuck and tenderloin<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, very pretty burger, fresh ingredients which were layered nicely<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, good tasting burger, dedication to quality ingredients<br /><br><br />Overall - 82<br /><br><br />Bonus Pictures of Napa Burger, Nooner Burger and Onion Rings:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNOdUYImGTE/TrlBFJRVMPI/AAAAAAAAAvc/hXGNtLwKoj0/s1600/LB4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNOdUYImGTE/TrlBFJRVMPI/AAAAAAAAAvc/hXGNtLwKoj0/s320/LB4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672636762293612786" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0Vo_Iqx_kw/TsFv3gdp_QI/AAAAAAAAAvk/R4G9w-DaeA0/s1600/lb5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0Vo_Iqx_kw/TsFv3gdp_QI/AAAAAAAAAvk/R4G9w-DaeA0/s320/lb5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674940004861345026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXAt18DR5G4/TrlBFL64e_I/AAAAAAAAAvM/cq_gpSwdvEo/s1600/LB3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXAt18DR5G4/TrlBFL64e_I/AAAAAAAAAvM/cq_gpSwdvEo/s320/LB3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672636763004763122" /></a><br /><br><br /><br><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1629860/restaurant/North-Dallas/Liberty-Burger-Dallas"><img alt="Liberty Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1629860/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-81524297776840236292011-11-02T07:53:00.006-05:002011-11-03T09:18:11.329-05:00Stackhouse - November 1, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to Gaston Avenue to visit Stackhouse. The menu at Stackhouse features 6 ounce single burgers or 12 ounce double burgers, sandwiches including a Pulled Pork Cuban, Chicken Club or a Grilled Tilapia, a quarter pound hot dog and a variety of salads. Sides that are available include chips and salsa or dips, french fries, onion rings, mac and cheese and sweet potato fries. For what it is worth, I did hear one of the employees tell a guest that the sweet potato fries were a frozen product while the regular fries were cut fresh and were better option. Stackhouse is housed in a renovated home that has a very open floor plan on the bottom floor, plenty of seating outside both on the ground floor and on a very spacious second floor patio. TV's featuring sports are scattered throughout the space so that you can watch your favorite game while you enjoying a burger and one of Stackhouse's beers on draft. When you enter the restaurant, you are pointed to the cash register and are shown the menu which is posted on the wall. Burger choices are very simple - do you want one or two patties and do you want extra toppings including cheese, bacon, chili, avocado, grilled onions or fried egg. I ordered a single bacon cheddar burger with grilled onions which cost $8.95. Just like at Maple and Motor, you are given a choice of pink or not pink. I went with pink. Once you are finished ordering, you can hear and smell the fresh patties cooking on the griddle. About ten minutes later, the following burger was brought to my table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SntErLbT9Gw/TrE9qu5wbDI/AAAAAAAAAuc/3ic7sUPrWeg/s1600/SH2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SntErLbT9Gw/TrE9qu5wbDI/AAAAAAAAAuc/3ic7sUPrWeg/s320/SH2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670381210190244914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bncMnK5ansQ/TrE9qWbTNSI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/TXUk1Vo4uug/s1600/SH1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bncMnK5ansQ/TrE9qWbTNSI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/TXUk1Vo4uug/s320/SH1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670381203620050210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_o88RZC-bk/TrE9rBi8VnI/AAAAAAAAAus/mUpzntnSGJc/s1600/SH3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_o88RZC-bk/TrE9rBi8VnI/AAAAAAAAAus/mUpzntnSGJc/s320/SH3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670381215194830450" /></a><br /><br><br />The bottom bun was buttered and lightly toasted and topped with lettuce, tomato and long thin slices of pickles. The salad was then topped with the patty that was completely covered with melted cheddar cheese, a generous serving of grilled onions and three slices of crispy bacon. I removed the salad from the burger and enjoyed the healthy fresh vegetables as a nice contrast to the burger. Taking a bite of the burger, I was pleasantly surprised at the juiciness of the patty. Unlike Maple and Motor which is closer to medium, pink at Stackhouse was just a step below medium rare and it allowed the flavor of the beef to shine through. The patty was lightly seasoned and was made from a proprietary blend of brisket and chuck that is freshly ground every morning by Patterson Meats. The cheddar cheese had a mild flavor and added creaminess more than anything to the burger. The bacon was crispy and flavorful and complemented the flavor of the patty. The bun was light and fluffy and soaked up all the juices from the patty and bacon. I kept expecting it to fall apart but it stayed together until I finished my burger. My least favorite part of the burger was the grilled onions. They had a good flavor with a nice sweetness to them but they had been cooked just past the point where they still had a little crispiness in each bite. Finally the fries were fresh cut and were cooked crispy and served without any salt on them. I could taste the fresh potato flavor and after adding a little salt, they made a good side to the burger. On my next visit, I would like to try the onion rings to see how they stack up.<br /><br><br />I didn't realize that I was trying Stackhouse on its opening night. I thought that they had been open for a little over a week but I was impressed with the efficiency of the staff and the quality of the burger. I have a feeling that this burger will be ranked highly in listings of top burgers in Dallas. <br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 20, light and fluffy, good flavor<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, very juicy patty, good beef flavor<br /><br><br />Appearance - 21, glistening bun, melted cheddar completely covering patty, nice contrast between bacon, patty and grilled onions<br /><br><br />Taste - 21, very good flavors, beef bacon cheddar melded nicely in each bite<br /><br><br />Overall - 83<br /><br><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1628947/restaurant/Deep-Ellum/Stackhouse-Dallas"><img alt="Stackhouse on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1628947/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-19558831019730568902011-10-25T10:28:00.010-05:002011-10-26T10:02:22.112-05:00Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House - October 24, 2011This week's burger quest took us to east Dallas to visit Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House which is next door to Good 2 Go Taco on Peavy Road. Goodfriend is a neighborhood bar that features a great line up of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and appetizers to pair with drinks from their full service bar. After we parked, we noticed a large crowd seated on the large outdoor patio enjoying drinks and watching the beginning of Game 5 of the World Series. Since all the seating was taken, we stepped through the large doors into a very open room with couches and tv on one side, a large bar in the middle and table seating on the other side. Seating was first come first serve so after a short wait, we were able to snag a table. A few moments later, our server came by with water and took our drink orders. The menu featured 10 different burgers ranging from vegetarian options to lamb burgers and five different beef burgers but I decided to go with The Coop burger which came with lettuce, tomato over-easy egg, grilled bacon and brie. All sides are served a la carte so we decided to go with the Pig Pile which is Goodfriend's version of cheese fries. About fifteen minutes later, the following burger was served to me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bf7t0sFYA_U/TqbaZCC94TI/AAAAAAAAAqY/lLUSSG3kqj8/s1600/GF3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bf7t0sFYA_U/TqbaZCC94TI/AAAAAAAAAqY/lLUSSG3kqj8/s320/GF3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667457304673247538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H76N_Y5c9m4/TqbaZTHz_8I/AAAAAAAAAqo/2H52lVf4nxc/s1600/GF4.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H76N_Y5c9m4/TqbaZTHz_8I/AAAAAAAAAqo/2H52lVf4nxc/s320/GF4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667457309256974274" /></a><br /><br><br />The burger was served on a very fluffy lightly toasted bun and I enjoyed the grill smells when it was placed before me. Three crisp slices of bacon were placed on the bottom bun which were then topped by the juicy hand formed patty on which you could see the black pepper that it had been seasoned with while cooking. A thick slice of brie was melted on the patty and the burger was then topped with an over-easy egg. Taking my bite of the burger, I tasted the earthiness of the brie and the grass-fed beef that contrasted nicely with the smokiness and crunch of the bacon. The egg also combined with the brie to give the burger a unique richness and flavor. I am not a big fan of over-easy eggs but it did add a nice touch to the overall burger. The patty was seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked to a perfect medium. The hamburger bun was one of my favorites so far in the burger quest. It was light and fluffy with just enough sponge to hold up well to every bite of the very messy juicy burger. Finally the Pig Pile was good but could have been cooked slightly less. The cheese was cooked just to the point of being crispy but the overall order of cheese fries was still very tasty. My favorite part were the jalapeno peppers. They had been cured in a sweet tangy vinegar that mixed with their heat perfectly. I will have to order some of them on my next burger.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Goodfriend served a very tasty burger and the atmosphere inside is very welcoming. They are trying to use high quality ingredients to make burgers that reflect a variety of flavor profiles and cultures. I look forward to returning and trying one of the other offerings such as the Fungus Among Us, Pepper Bomb or Loretta burger.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 21, great bun, lightly toasted, sponginess soaked up juices but didn't fall apart<br /><br><br />Meat - 20, great bacon, flavorful patty, cooked and seasoned well <br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, great looking burger on the plate, fresh ingredients<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, very flavorful burger, great contrast of flavors between the components<br /><br><br />Overall - 81<br /><br><br />Bonus Pictures of Menu and Pig Pile:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7-OMikvTP0/TqbZ5askCKI/AAAAAAAAAqE/f_sELINE5Rk/s1600/gf1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7-OMikvTP0/TqbZ5askCKI/AAAAAAAAAqE/f_sELINE5Rk/s320/gf1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667456761534351522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7f9rB8sUvcc/TqbayQshMpI/AAAAAAAAArM/ehPPCGMmY70/s1600/GF5.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7f9rB8sUvcc/TqbayQshMpI/AAAAAAAAArM/ehPPCGMmY70/s320/GF5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667457738102354578" /></a><br /><br><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1626946/restaurant/East-Dallas-Lakewood/Goodfriend-Beer-Garden-and-Burger-House-Dallas"><img alt="Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1626946/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-76717512991857532822011-09-27T13:33:00.003-05:002011-09-27T14:13:27.571-05:00Jack's Chowhound (Food Truck) - September 27, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to Jack's Chowhound - one of the food trucks that have started making their way around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. When we arrived the truck was parked in front of the Preston Commons office building. The deli inside the building is undergoing renovations so the building management has invited a different food truck to show up each day. Jack's menu features a variety of sandwiches, a hot dog and hand-cut fries. I placed my order at the window for a cheeseburger with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and grilled onion with a side of Cajun fries for $9. There was a large crowd waiting for food so about fifteen minutes later, my number was called and I was given the following burger and fries:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4-b0skn3x8g/ToIXJtkf3iI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/rdgX9oEq-eM/s1600/JCH1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4-b0skn3x8g/ToIXJtkf3iI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/rdgX9oEq-eM/s320/JCH1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657109537549704738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXs-IWN2egM/ToIXKB2kN6I/AAAAAAAAAlY/D6hVcPLnf-o/s1600/JCH2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXs-IWN2egM/ToIXKB2kN6I/AAAAAAAAAlY/D6hVcPLnf-o/s320/JCH2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657109542994196386" /></a><br /><br><br />Opening the Styrofoam container, I was met with wonderful smell of beef and fries fresh from the fryer along with a slight scent of pepper from the Cajun seasoning. The hamburger appeared to be a basic quarter-pound preformed patty. The patty appeared very juicy and a nice crust had formed on both sides of the meat. The patty was placed on top of a very lightly toasted hamburger bun which had a thick slather of mayonnaise. A small slice of cheese was melted on top of the patty which was then topped with thick rings of caramelized white onion, fresh tomato and a few leaves of lettuce. The burger was then topped with the top bun. I would have liked to have seen a better quality of bun but the standard picnic style bun did bring me back to days of burgers at the lake after a long day of swimming. Taking a bite, I tasted a patty that was very juicy and cooked to a perfect medium. It had nice beef flavor that was complimented with a little bit of salt and pepper. The cheese slice was a little too small to be prominent in every bite but in the bites that did have cheese, it had a good flavor. I ended up taking off the lettuce and tomato but they were fresh made a good salad. I did enjoy the generous portion of grilled onions. They had a hint of sweetness from the browning but still had the bite of white onion in each bite. Finally, the fries were served very hot and had a great flavor. They were cooked slightly crispy and the Cajun seasoning added a nice bite of heat in each bite.<br /><br><br />Overall, I enjoyed the burger offering at Jack's Chowhound. The food truck used good ingredients but I thought it was priced a little high for the style of burger. That being said, I would return to Jack's and order their burger again as well as try their other offerings. I like the idea of food trucks roaming our city and bring home cooked favorites to the public. The pulled pork grilled cheese sounded really good and people in line were raving about the Steak Frites - rare tenderloin sliced thin and served on a bed of garlic Parmesan fries.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 18, standard hamburger bun, lightly toasted but held up well to the juicy burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, good quality meat, lightly seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium <br /><br><br />Appearance - 21, nice presentation of ingredients, good char to burger<br /><br><br />Taste - 19, good flavors, great burger to eat outside on a beautiful fall day<br /><br><br />Overall - 77<br /><br><br />Bonus Pictures of Truck, Menu and Texas Dog:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZfAAvtCp_U/ToIXKa0BwuI/AAAAAAAAAlg/It00u-jCD14/s1600/JCH3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZfAAvtCp_U/ToIXKa0BwuI/AAAAAAAAAlg/It00u-jCD14/s320/JCH3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657109549694436066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxn_S2Q9bOU/ToIXKT-pcLI/AAAAAAAAAlo/APSlPkdJSQY/s1600/JCH4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxn_S2Q9bOU/ToIXKT-pcLI/AAAAAAAAAlo/APSlPkdJSQY/s320/JCH4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657109547859931314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eVQpXX6gJo/ToIXKrjSVkI/AAAAAAAAAlw/3_dWbve-fdc/s1600/JCH5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eVQpXX6gJo/ToIXKrjSVkI/AAAAAAAAAlw/3_dWbve-fdc/s320/JCH5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657109554187621954" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-52374207566362841562011-09-22T21:58:00.008-05:002011-09-23T08:59:29.979-05:00JC's Burger House Addison - September 22, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to JC's Burger House in Addison Texas. JC's has locations in Addison, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco and Richardson. The menu features burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and chicken strips along with tator tots, fries and sweet potato fries. Walking into the restaurant, we passed the dining area featuring two tops and four tops and made our way to the register to place our order. The friendly cashier too my order for a bacon cheddar burger with mayonaise and grilled onions, fries and an iced tea for $10.11. I looked behind the cashier to the open kitchen and noticed a large flat top where burgers where cooking for all the patrons. Ten minutes later my name was called and the following burger was brought to my table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hd9jO1vdL5o/Tnv2B2koVRI/AAAAAAAAAi4/TBBLYNm0F58/s1600/jc3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hd9jO1vdL5o/Tnv2B2koVRI/AAAAAAAAAi4/TBBLYNm0F58/s320/jc3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655384268783244562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jxQzJuz464/Tnv2CIroSSI/AAAAAAAAAjA/OJ8yV2JGV1o/s1600/jc4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jxQzJuz464/Tnv2CIroSSI/AAAAAAAAAjA/OJ8yV2JGV1o/s320/jc4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655384273644439842" /></a><br /><br><br />The burger was simply presented next to a side of fries in a plastic red basket. The half pound patty was placed on top of a buttered bottom bun and then topped with a layer of cheddar cheese then grilled onions, bacon and top buttered bun. Unfortunately the kitchen forgot the mayonaise but taking my first bite, I didn't miss it all. I tasted a very juicy patty that was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and had a small crust from the being griddled. The grilled onions were very sweet and contrasted nicely with the abundant amount of crispy bacon on top of the cheese and onions. The patty fit nicely on the bottom bun and you could taste the fresh flavor of the fresh ground beef. I was impressed with the nice contrast of beef, bacon, cheese, onions and bun. The only disappointing part of the basket was that the fries really weren't anything special. The thick cut fries were served hot and crispy but they really weren't any different than the standard frozen fries served by many places. I was told the tator tots were very good and next time I will definitely order them.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought JC's served a good burger. I am not sure if it is deserving of the best burger awards that it has won but I wouldn't turn down an opportunity of visiting the restaurant again. The burger was fresh tasting with a nice presentation of beef, bacon, cheese, onions and bun. I would have liked to seen a better order of fries but the burger was well prepared and tasty.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 19, nicely toasted buttered bun, held up throughout entire burger eating<br /><br><br />Meat - 20, well cooked patty with good seasoning, bacon was abundant and crispy<br /><br> <br />Appearance - 20, good looking burger, nice contrast of textures and colors<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, nicely seasoned burger, good flavors of beef, onion, cheese and bacon<br /><br><br />Overall - 79<br /><br><br />Bonus pics of Chili and Burger with Tator Tots:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RakeQ7Eorrc/Tnv2CVjuEmI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/naeoB1XvWLU/s1600/jc2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RakeQ7Eorrc/Tnv2CVjuEmI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/naeoB1XvWLU/s320/jc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655384277100925538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fiWsDNjM6ts/Tnv2CXTFs2I/AAAAAAAAAjI/5elKVmc0Sag/s1600/jc1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fiWsDNjM6ts/Tnv2CXTFs2I/AAAAAAAAAjI/5elKVmc0Sag/s320/jc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655384277568041826" /></a><br /><br><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1541589/restaurant/Farmers-Branch/JCs-Burger-House-Addison-Dallas"><img alt="JC's Burger House Addison on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1541589/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-41775621234348534782011-09-07T08:33:00.004-05:002011-09-12T17:39:00.798-05:00Sevy's Grill - September 6, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to Sevy's Grill in Preston Center. The last time I was at Sevy's was when Nancy Nichols hosted her SideDish Supper Club featuring seafood from Steve Connolly Seafood out of Boston, Massachusetts. I had been meaning to go back and this week at lunch I had my chance to try their burger offering. Sevy's has been open since 1997 and is owned and operated by Chef Jim Severson and their menu features a variety of steaks, seafood, pastas along with a weekend brunch. After being seated by our server and ordering drinks, I placed my order for The Sevy Burger which was priced at $10 and featured bacon, sharp cheddar cheese and homemade coarse ground mustard. About ten minutes later, the following burger was placed before me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftQgI0wB8BY/TmdzMb1_uQI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/j-fIYNY0MsE/s1600/Sevy1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftQgI0wB8BY/TmdzMb1_uQI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/j-fIYNY0MsE/s320/Sevy1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649610915029432578" /></a><br /><br /><br />The burger was served on a salad of lettuce, tomato and pickle along with a side of crispy fries and ketchup and mustard. The burger was simply presented on a lightly toasted bun and topped with melted cheddar cheese, grilled onions and two slices of bacon. Normally I prefer mayonnaise with my burger but I tasted the mustard and put a small layer on the top bun. Taking a bite, I tasted a very juicy burger that had a little bit of smokiness to it. The beef was very fresh tasting and contrasted nicely with the cheese and the sweetness of the grilled onions. The onions had been sliced in large chunks and caramelized to a crispy outside and soft inside. Although they were not listed on the menu, the onions presented a nice flavor in each bite and were a welcome addition. The bacon was cooked crispy but I would have liked to see another piece on top of the burger to add a little more pork to each bite of the burger. Next the bun held up well to each bite of the burger. It was a traditional white bun and did not detract from the flavors of meat and cheese. Finally the fries were shoestring style fries that were lightly salted and served hot and crispy. <br /><br /><br />Overall I enjoyed the burger offering at Sevy's Grill. It was a well prepared burger in an upscale Park Cities location with a surprisingly low price for the location. I would definitely try the burger again but I could easily be swayed by the blackened red fish poboy or the tenderloin wedge salad.<br /><br /><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br /><br />Bun - 19, nicely toasted bun, good flavor<br /><br /><br />Meat - 20, well prepared patty, well seasoned, crispy bacon<br /><br /><br />Appearance - 20, pretty mix of onions, melted cheese and beef<br /><br /><br />Taste - 20, flavorful burger, juicy patty, good onion beef and bacon flavor in each bite<br /><br /><br />Overall - 79<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/168456/restaurant/Park-Cities/Sevys-Grill-Dallas"><img alt="Sevy's Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/168456/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-60865367811111772202011-08-29T14:10:00.008-05:002011-09-12T17:38:40.983-05:00The Second Floor Bistro-Bar - August 25, 2011Last week's burger quest took our group to the Westin Galleria Hotel to try the burger offering at The Second Floor Bistro-Bar whose kitchen is headed up by Chef J. Chastain and overseen by Scott Gottlich owner of both Second Floor and Bijoux. At lunch Second Floor features a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and entress such as hand rolled fettuccini, risotto and house made gnocchi. As intriquing as those dishes sounded, we were there were burgers and a few moments after sitting, our server took our drink and lunch orders. I ordered the Second Floor Blue Burger cooked medium which featured blue cheese, pancetta and grilled onions for $14.50. The regular cheeseburger comes with white cheddar, gruyere Swiss or jack cheese. About 10-15 minutes later, the following burger was placed before me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jVpvK8l23U/TlvkeZbZGhI/AAAAAAAAAgo/ujSYVtP6PcQ/s1600/SF1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jVpvK8l23U/TlvkeZbZGhI/AAAAAAAAAgo/ujSYVtP6PcQ/s320/SF1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646357768712034834" /></a><br /><br><br />I didn't expect the side salad to come with the fries but it was a welcome addition to the plate after tasting. The mix of field greens was topped with a flavorful vinagrette and added a healthy foil to the decandent burger. If you wanted some greens with your burger, they would add a different flavor and crunch to this burger. The burger was served simply with a fresh bun topped with a patty topped with a generous portion of blue cheese, pancetta and red wine grilled onions. Taking my first bite, I was overwhelmed with the flavor of the blue cheese but after removing a portion of it, I really enjoyed the burger. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium and and crispy smoky pancetta was offset with the sweet grilled onions. I think that the blue cheese is great in concept but a little bit goes a long way. In the future I would choose the cheddar or the gruyere option. The pancetta was cooked crispy and gave a unique alternative to the typical bacon placed on a burger. It had a nice smoky flavor and melded well with each bite of the patty. The onions were cooked to a very soft texture and picked up the flavors of the red wine that they were cooked in. Next the patty was very juicy and seasoned lightly with salt and pepper. I thought that the patty held up well to the burger. Finally the fries were thin style and cooked crispy. They were seasoned with salt, pepper and a few herbs and were a welcome side dish to the burger. <br /><br><br />Overall, I thought that the Second Floor served a really good upscale burger. The patty was cooked perfectly and seasoned to provide a nice flavor in each bite. The blue cheese was tasty but tended to overwhelm the flavors of the pancetta, onions and beef in each bite. Ultimately I think it is difficult to balance all the rich flavors that a blue cheese burger provides. I would definitely order a burger again at Second Floor and look forward to trying the other options such as the Friday night molecular gastronomy drinks and bites.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 20, stood up well to the very juicy burger, nice flavor<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, perfectly cooked, pancetta added nice dimension to each bite<br /><br><br />Appearance - 21, beautiful presentation, nice contrast between cheese, greens, fries and onions<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, blue cheese overpowering at first, great flavor of beef, pancetta and onions<br /><br><br />Overall - 82<br /><br><br />Bonus Pic of Cheeseburger with Cheddar:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEkTNdcsKvI/TlvkeK2RFNI/AAAAAAAAAgg/myuLUS3Vc80/s1600/SF3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEkTNdcsKvI/TlvkeK2RFNI/AAAAAAAAAgg/myuLUS3Vc80/s320/SF3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646357764798223570" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/711331/restaurant/North-Dallas/Second-Floor-Dallas"><img alt="Second Floor on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/711331/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-83543842544104283732011-08-10T16:30:00.004-05:002011-09-12T17:38:20.743-05:00The Coffee House Cafe - August 10, 2011Last week's burger quest took our group to Jeff Rockow's new gig - Coffe House Cafe at Frankford and Preston in North Dallas. Chef Rockow was formally the head chef at Rex's Seafood Market and is now working at Coffee House. The restaurant is open from 6-4 M-F and 8-4 on weekends and specializes in typical diner food done in Rockow's style. When we entered the restaurant, we were pleasantly greeteed by the hostess and seated at our table. A few moments later our server came to our table and took our drink orders. After bringing my ice tea, I ordered a 8 ounce Akuashi burger cooked medium with bacon, cheddar, grilled onions and mayonnaise. It seemed pricey at over $14 but I was curious to see what Chef Rockow could serve after being a regular at Rex's Seafood Market. About fifteen minutes later, the following burger was brought to the table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSDOcpKqYxM/TkL5VA3geUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/zIoUcJc3NsQ/s1600/Coffee2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSDOcpKqYxM/TkL5VA3geUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/zIoUcJc3NsQ/s320/Coffee2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639343822826666306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOBxvuuzyOo/TkL5U3g_O_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/hVGa9zcAJIE/s1600/Coffee1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOBxvuuzyOo/TkL5U3g_O_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/hVGa9zcAJIE/s320/Coffee1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639343820316294130" /></a>\<br /><br><br />The whole wheat bun was lightly toasted and red wine sauteed onions were placed on the bottom bun and then topped with the half pound patty. Cheddar cheese was then melted perfectly over the hamburger patty and then the top bun was placed on top of the burger. For some reason neither bacon nor mayonnaise made it on the burger and after I was almost done eating the burger, the server came by and asked how we were doing and said he would bring some mayonnaise. I declined at that point but it was a little disappointing. When I took my first bite of the burger, I was impressed at how juicy the patty was and how the cheese and onions worked really well in the bite. The onions had been sauteed in red wine and were caramelized nicely and were definetly a highlight of the burger. Akuashi beef is a Kobe style beef that is well marbled and while I had never had Akuashi beef before; I had seen it on several menus around town at a high price point. The patty was very juicy, was seasoned well and was cooked to a perfect medium. I would have liked to have had bacon on the burger to add even more richness to the burger but it really wasn't needed. Finally the burgers were served with kettle chips instead of fries. I know it is easier to pour chips out of bag but when serving a burger made from Akuashi beef, you would think that Coffee House Cafe would serve a great side of fries with the burger.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Coffee House Cafe served a really good upscale style burger. The patty was extremely juicy and cooked perfectly. I was a little disappointed in the service issues but I think with time, they will work out the kinks. This was an upscale burger that can compete with some of the better burgers in town. I will be back to Coffee House Cafe to either get a burger or try some of their other menu offerings.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 19 - nicely toasted bun, prefer a white bun as opposed to wheat bun<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, great blend of fat and beef, very flavorful<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, good looking burger, cheddar cheese melted perfectly on top of patty<br /><br> <br />Taste - 20, great representation of upscale burger, cooked well and tasty grilled onions<br /><br> <br />Overall - 80<br /><br><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1608368/restaurant/Far-North-Dallas/Coffee-House-Cafe-Dallas"><img alt="Coffee House Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1608368/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-42188704898741007702011-07-25T09:08:00.008-05:002011-09-12T17:36:57.945-05:00Stratos - August 1, 2011Last week's burger rave took our intrepid group to Nick Rizo's restaurant Stratos which specializes in Greek food. Greek specialties include gyros, soulvaki, moussaka and spanakopita. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly hostess and seated at a marble topped table near the main bar. Our server took our drink orders and I ordered Max's Greek Burger cooked medium rare which featured sauteed red onions and feta cheese and cost $9.99 on the menu. This isn't my normal choice of burgers but I was interested to taste the speciality burger of the house. About ten minutes later, the following burger was served to me:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viADkTESKpk/Ti15OEwX5PI/AAAAAAAAAbU/gvD0zaE6KY8/s1600/st3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viADkTESKpk/Ti15OEwX5PI/AAAAAAAAAbU/gvD0zaE6KY8/s320/st3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633291991612122354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DzY0Mywm2I/Ti15N772zEI/AAAAAAAAAbM/WPyFu6NISx8/s1600/st2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DzY0Mywm2I/Ti15N772zEI/AAAAAAAAAbM/WPyFu6NISx8/s320/st2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633291989244365890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNB35zPNZzg/Ti15OnniTTI/AAAAAAAAAbk/xHDioWdvUB8/s1600/st5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNB35zPNZzg/Ti15OnniTTI/AAAAAAAAAbk/xHDioWdvUB8/s320/st5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633292000970296626" /></a><br /><br />The half pound patty was placed on top of a lightly toasted hamburger bun and and few slices of barely caramelized red onion. The patty was then topped with a generous handful of feta cheese and then topped with the buttered top bun. I was a little leery at first at the amount of feta cheese on the burger but taking my first bite I was pleasantly surprised at the earthiness of the feta cheese. The hamburger patty appeared to be a frozen patty which had been cooked over open flame but it was fairly juicy and cooked to a nice medium temperature. The patty was seasoned lightly and worked well in each bite with the cheese. I was slightly disappointed in the amount and doneness of the sauteed onion. I would have expect slightly more caramelization on the onions but instead they were crispy with a slight amount of warmth from cooking. The hamburger bun was a typical Mrs. Baird style bun but it had a nice crunch from being buttered and toasted and it held up well to the patty and feta cheese. Finally the fries were battered and seasoned fries and were cooked to a nice crunch but they were nothing special and were very similar tasting to Arby's curly fries.<br /><br />Overall, I thought that Stratos served a decent burger. I probably wouldn't order it again as I enjoy the Meat Lovers Gyro much better; however if you aren't an Gyro fan, the burger is a good choice for lunch or dinner. I will be back to Stratos to enjoy their daily drink specials and Greek specialties but for now I won't be ordering another cheeseburger.<br /><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br />Bun - 19, nicely toasted; held up well while eating the burger<br /><br />Meat - 19, cooked well, good flavor, would have liked a non-frozen patty<br /><br />Appearance - 19, nice contrast of feta cheese, sauteed onions and patty<br /><br />Taste - 18, decent flavors, cooked well; feta added a different flavor to the burger<br /><br />Overall - 75<br /><br />Bonus Pictures of regular cheeseburger and Dancing Cow :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sliUbvezMtg/Ti15OSQFb2I/AAAAAAAAAbc/LFlEH9Av400/s1600/ST4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sliUbvezMtg/Ti15OSQFb2I/AAAAAAAAAbc/LFlEH9Av400/s320/ST4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633291995234791266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eivOVDZfW_A/Ti15NluAazI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Ag8axrgyPRI/s1600/st1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eivOVDZfW_A/Ti15NluAazI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Ag8axrgyPRI/s320/st1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633291983280696114" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/169173/restaurant/Preston-Hollow/Stratos-Dallas"><img alt="Stratos on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/169173/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-85742362805869307702011-07-08T10:58:00.008-05:002011-09-12T17:36:30.206-05:00Company Cafe - July 5, 2011This week's burger quest took us to Lower Greenville to visit Company Cafe. The menu at Company Cafe features natural fresh items that strive to be organic and healthy. Items on the menu include burgers, ground beef and vegetarian tacos, a gluten-free chicken fried steak, salads and steak frites featuring grass-fed beef. When we entered the restaurant, we were told to sit at any open table and after sitting, our server took our drink and lunch orders. I ordered the Belmont Burger cooked medium with raw cheddar cheese and bacon which cost $12. A few minutes later the following burger was placed in front of me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9K_OTKkf60/ThcpSUK2hDI/AAAAAAAAAa8/0mhTKkPKOgs/s1600/CC2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9K_OTKkf60/ThcpSUK2hDI/AAAAAAAAAa8/0mhTKkPKOgs/s320/CC2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627011654051333170" /></a><br /><br><br />The first thing that I noticed was that the burger was served on Texas toast which was a little unexpected but gave the burger an interesting twist. Our server told us that they serve all the burgers on their Challah bread unless we wanted a gluten-free bagel. The lettuce and tomato on the burger was very fresh and made a nice side salad to go along with the sweet potato fries. The thick hand-formed patty was placed on top of the bottom slice of toast and then two slices of bacon were placed on top of the patty. Both meats were then topped with a slice of melted cheddar cheese. Taking a bite of the burger, I really liked the Challah toast and the texture that it added to each bite of the burger. I thought that the patty was very juicy and cooked perfectly but overall the patty really didn't have much flavor. The cheese and bacon complimented the burger well but the grass fed beef could have used a little more seasoning. A little more fat content to the beef might have helped as well. The bacon was two slices that had been applewood smoked and cooked crispy before placing on the burger. Finally the sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly in olive oil and lightly seasoned. Normally I don't order sweet potato fries but I really enjoyed these fries and I have a feeling they work really well in the loaded fries which cover them in melted cheese, bacon, green onions and jalapenos.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Company Cafe prepared a fresh healthy burger. The Challah toast and fries were my favorite part of the burger but it is nice to know that there is a healthier choice for a burger in Dallas. I look forward to trying the Challah French Toast in the future and will return to Company Cafe in the future to try their other menu items.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 21, loved the Challah bread Texas toast, great flavor<br /><br><br />Meat - 18, great bacon, patty needed more seasoning and fat content<br /><br><br />Appearance - 19, good looking burger, fresh ingredients<br /><br><br />Taste - 18, healthier burger but still juicy, cooked well, fries and vegtables were flavorful<br /><br><br />Overall - 76<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1593396/restaurant/East-Dallas-Lakewood/Company-Cafe-Dallas"><img alt="Company Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1593396/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-27573632899636838732011-07-08T10:50:00.007-05:002011-09-12T17:36:04.898-05:00Top Golf Dallas - June 30, 2011Last week's burger quest took us to the Dallas location of Top Golf which is located on Park Lane near Abrams Road. The menu at Top Golf features a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pizza, breakfast items including Migas and granola with Greek yogurt, appetizers and a specialty golf themed drinks. After we hit a bucket of balls, we went to the open dining area on the first floor where we seated at a table and our server took our drink orders. Upon returning with my iced tea, I orderd the bacon cheddar burger cooked medium. About ten minutes later the following burger was placed in front of me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_7aOEpdHh8/ThcnihI53CI/AAAAAAAAAas/JN6JbhM6VM4/s1600/TG2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_7aOEpdHh8/ThcnihI53CI/AAAAAAAAAas/JN6JbhM6VM4/s320/TG2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627009733387476002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVLwBtfdeN4/ThcniTNFVQI/AAAAAAAAAak/Fi9vebkNrZY/s1600/TG1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVLwBtfdeN4/ThcniTNFVQI/AAAAAAAAAak/Fi9vebkNrZY/s320/TG1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627009729646908674" /></a><br /><br><br />I liked the presentation of the burger and I could smell the aromas from the hamburger patty and bacon. The fries were lightly salted and then topped with chopped herbs. The sesame seed bun was lightly toasted and the thick half pound patty was placed on the bottom bun. Two slices of bacon were placed on top of the patty which was then covered with melted cheddar cheese. The top bun was then slathered with mayonaise and placed on top. I took my first bite and enjoyed the juicy patty that had been seasoned with salt and pepper and the smoky peppery bacon. The melted cheddar added a nice texture and earthiness to each bite of the burger. The bun held up well with each bite of the burger and was light and fluffy and had a good flavor. Finally the fries were hot and crispy and had a great salty flavor with each bite. The chopped herbs really didn't add anything to them but looked nice on top.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Top Golf served a pretty good burger. The ingredients were good quality and the hamburger was seasoned well. I really enjoyed the flavor of the bacon and the cheddar. It is not a burger that I will crave over and over but it is a great choice after hitting a bucket or two of balls.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 19, lightly toasted, light and fluffy<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, nicely seasoned, juicy patty, thick crispy bacon<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, fresh ingredients, cheese melted over bacon and patty<br /><br><br />Taste - 19, good flavors, well cooked<br /><br><br />Overall - 77<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1601692/restaurant/Top-Golf-Allen"><img alt="Top Golf on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1601692/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-7282270990606237182011-06-17T10:57:00.002-05:002011-06-17T11:03:09.102-05:00Ratings Through June 10, 2011Updated Ratings through June 10, 2011<br /><br><br />83 – Club Schmitz<br />83 - Dairy-ette<br />83 - Restaurant Ava<br />82 - Angry Dog<br />82 - Marquee Grill<br />82 - Meddlesome Moth<br />82 – Roasters ‘n Toasters (Now Closed in Dallas)<br />82 - Screen Door<br />82 - Ye Ole Butcher Shop<br />81 - Barley House<br />81 - Maple and Motor Burger and Beer<br />81 - Chips<br />81 - Ozona<br />81 - Melios Brothers Char Bar<br />81 - Nova<br />81 - Tramontana<br />81 - Yourway Burgers<br />80 - Cisco Grill<br />80 - Elevation Burger<br />80 - Grazing Cow<br />80 - Neighborhood Services Bar and Grille<br />80 – Riverside Grill<br />80 - Smashburger<br />80 - The Commissary<br />80 – Wingfields Burgers and Breakfast<br />79 - Another Broken Egg Cafe<br />79 - Del's Charcoal Burgers<br />79 – The Burger Girl<br />79 – Kellers<br />79 - John's Cafe<br />79 – Park<br />79 – Taco Diner<br />78 – Back Country Bar B Q<br />78 - Jake's<br />78 – Scotty P’s Hamburgers<br />77 – Burger Spot<br />76 - Alee<br />76 - JG’s<br />76 - Mooyah<br />76 - Nosh Euro Bistro<br />76 - Razoo's<br />76 - Twisted Root<br />76 – Burger House<br />76 – Village Burger Bar<br />75 - 12 Burgers<br />75 - Flaming Burger<br />75 – Grape<br />75 – Snuffers<br />75 - Stephan Pyles<br />74 – Five Guys Burgers and Fries<br />74 - Goff's<br />74 - Lakewood's 1st and 10<br />74 - Stroker's Ice House<br />73 – Adair’s Saloon<br />73 - Flying Fish (Preston Center)<br />72 – Ball’s Hamburgers<br />72 - Hole in the Wall<br />72 - Mighty Fine Burgers (Round Rock)<br />72 - Central 214<br />72 – Tre Amici<br />70 - Peggy Sue's BBQ<br />69 - Kuby's Sausage House<br />68 - Buck's Prime<br />68 – Loon<br />67 – Gazeebo Burger<br />66 – Lucky’s Cafe<br />66 – Pappy’s Old Fashioned Hamburger Company<br />65 – Dunston’s Steakhouse<br />65 - Midway PointeRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-58437352551355877822011-06-13T08:52:00.005-05:002011-09-12T17:35:43.518-05:00Marquee Grill - June 10, 2011Last Friday's burger quest took me to Marquee Grill, Tre Wilcox's restaurant that recently opened in Highland Park Village. Marquee Grill is open for lunch and dinner and features two different menus depending on the time of day. At lunch, the menu features items that are quicker to prepare and eat such as salads and sandwiches so that diners can return to work while at dinner, the menu features more complex entrees. As our group entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who brought us to our table which was located near the open kitchen. Marquee Grill is a two story very open restaurant with the kitchen on the first floor and an expansive bar on the second floor. After we were seated, our server asked for our drink orders and then he explained the features of the day. He returned with our drinks and I ordered the Marquee Grill Burger which features caramelized cipollini onion, Neuske's bacon, smoked cheddar cheese and fries for $15. After a short wait, the following burger was placed before me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmS67rjkBxk/TfYYAaGBExI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Zd6XzqcZzr8/s1600/MQ1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmS67rjkBxk/TfYYAaGBExI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Zd6XzqcZzr8/s320/MQ1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617703980474897170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWvvkN-QAqE/TfYYA_Tmz4I/AAAAAAAAAac/5lkhMl6CoaA/s1600/MQ2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWvvkN-QAqE/TfYYA_Tmz4I/AAAAAAAAAac/5lkhMl6CoaA/s320/MQ2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617703990464008066" /></a><br /><br><br />While I was waiting for the burger to be cooked, I could hear it cooking in the kitchen and it smelled wonderful when it arrived. The cheese was melted nicely on top of the patty while the bottom bun soaked up the juices from the half pound patty. The onion was lightly caramelized and served on top of the cheddar cheese. The burger was crowned with two crispy slices of bacon and the toasted top bun. Taking a bite, I was impressed with the layers of flavors and textures of ingredients from the smoky and crispy bacon, the earthy smoky cheese, the sweetness of the onion and juicy hamburger patty. I am not sure what kind of beef was being used in the patty but it was cooked medium and was seasoned with salt and pepper and lightly coated with a ancho-bourbon sauce which gave each bite a little bit of heat. I would have liked the bacon to have been cut slightly thicker and cooked a little less crisp but it had a good flavor and complimented the burger. One of my favorite parts of the burger was probably the cipollini onions which were sweeter than typical red or yellow onions and added a unique dimension to the burger. Finally the fries were thick cut fries that were crunchy and salty.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Marquee Grill served a very good burger especially in the high-end burger category. They used high quality ingredients in the entire burger and the flavors worked well together. It is definitely not an everyday burger but on a hot summer day in Dallas, it was a tasty splurge. I would order the burger again but I would also like to try the other offerings from Tre Wilcox and Jermaine Brown as well as try one the drink concoctions created by Jason Kosmas at the bar.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 20, light fluffy bun, held up well to a very juicy burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, flavorful high quality patty, crispy smoky bacon<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, good presentation, nice contrast of cheese meat and onions<br /><br><br />Taste - 21, very tasty burger, sweetness of onions complimented beef, cheese and bacon flavors<br /><br><br />Overall - 82<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1602633/restaurant/Park-Cities/Marquee-Highland-Park"><img alt="Marquee on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1602633/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-17355909091571606142011-06-08T08:43:00.004-05:002011-08-10T16:30:12.978-05:00The Commissary Dallas - June 6, 2011This week's burger quest took our group to One Arts Plaza to visit The Commissary - John Tesar's new restaurant. At lunch, the Commissary's menu features small plates, salad and a variety of burgers including ones made with short ribs, braised pig tails and pork belly, duck eggs and lamb among other ingredients. While the other burgers sounded intriguing on the menu, I decided to go with the Magic Burger which featured an eight ounce grass fed beef patty and apple wood smoked bacon. I ordered the burger medium and served on a brioche bun instead of the standard English muffin. All burgers come with skinny fries and the half pound Magic Burger cost $9.74. After placing my order with the friendly server, the following burger arrived fifteen minutes later:
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOT1i00hidc/Te9-uAUhCyI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Iyn01rIx1F4/s1600/TC1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOT1i00hidc/Te9-uAUhCyI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Iyn01rIx1F4/s320/TC1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615846589179431714" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI_3pX50TdA/Te9-uWSc9mI/AAAAAAAAAaM/XwAvNrsVZh4/s1600/TC2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI_3pX50TdA/Te9-uWSc9mI/AAAAAAAAAaM/XwAvNrsVZh4/s320/TC2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615846595076355682" /></a>
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<br />I was slightly disappointed to see that the burger had been cut in half but overall the presentation of the burger, fries, homemade pickles and condiments was very pretty. The burger was smaller in diameter than I had expected due to the thickness of the hamburger patty. The thick brioche bun had been lightly toasted and the patty, bacon and cheddar cheese was stacked neatly on the bottom bun and then held together with toothpicks for serving. Since the burger had been cut in half, you could see that it had been cooked to a perfect medium. Taking a bite, I could taste the freshness of the beef that had been seasoned with salt and pepper along with the earthiness of the cheddar cheese. The patty was still juicy but I wonder if it would have been even juicier if it hadn't been cut in half. The top of the patty had a nice crunch from finishing on the griddle. The bacon was crispy and added crunchiness to the burger but bacon flavor wasn't prevalent in every bite. Next the cheddar cheese was high quality and added a nice contrast of flavor to the overall burger. Also the brioche bun was light and fluffy, soaked up the juices from the burger but held together with every bite. Finally the fries were very good. They were thin and crispy style that were well salted.
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<br />Overall, I liked the Magic Burger at The Commissary. I thought that the fresh grass fed beef was seasoned well, cooked perfectly and had a great flavor. This is not your typical hamburger but it was definitely a high quality well prepared upscale burger. The fries and homemade pickles were excellent and I would like to go back and try some of the other offerings such as the tandoori burger, the ancho chili rubbed burger or even the Sunday Lobster Bake that will be held every Sunday afternoon during the summer.
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<br />Ratings (1-25:)
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<br />Bun - 20 - fresh light and fluffy bun
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<br />Meat - 20, grass fed beef, cooked and seasoned perfectly
<br /><br>
<br />Appearance - 20, well presented burger and fries, cheese melted nicely over bacon and patty
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<br />Taste - 20, good seasoning, good beef flavor, cheese and bacon complimented patty
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<br />Overall - 80
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<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1591715/restaurant/Oak-Lawn-Uptown/The-Commissary-Dallas-Dallas"><img alt="The Commissary - Dallas on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1591715/biglogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:34px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-84925714942914755792011-05-26T09:38:00.004-05:002011-09-12T17:35:14.322-05:00Flaming Burger - May 24, 2011Last week's burger quest took us to East Dallas to visit Flaming Burger which has been open now about six months near the intersection of Garland Road and Jupiter Road. Walking into Flaming Burger you can hear and smell the burgers cooking in the small kitchen behind the register. The restaurant is very open with televisions tuned to ESPN and tables and booths throughout the restaurant. I placed my order at the register for a Bacon Double Cheeseburger with grilled onions, fries and a drink which cost just over $9.00. Other items on the menu included a variety of burgers and chicken sandwiches. After placing my order, I saw the cook put two patties on the flattop and about ten minutes later, my number called and I picked up the following burger:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZCHMAoi0h8/Td5mSMH3jXI/AAAAAAAAAZw/THHpLbzO9xc/s1600/FB1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZCHMAoi0h8/Td5mSMH3jXI/AAAAAAAAAZw/THHpLbzO9xc/s320/FB1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611034648428121458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzTwtiaAyG8/Td5mSVxpkuI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/hkwVdlWQyPQ/s1600/fb2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzTwtiaAyG8/Td5mSVxpkuI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/hkwVdlWQyPQ/s320/fb2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611034651019285218" /></a><br /><br><br />The presentation of the burger reminded me of Jake's Hamburgers. The poppy seed bun was toasted extra crispy and the bottom bun was lightly coated with mayonnaise and then topped with a cheese covered thin patty and three slices of bacon. The top cheese covered patty was then topped with lightly grilled rings of onion and topped with the crispy poppy seed bun. Taking a bite, I was met with a contrast of the crispy bun which could have used a little less toasting and the juiciness of the patties. The patties were lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and had a few crunchy bits from the flattop. The bacon and onions were both cooked so that they were slightly crunchy and they both added a good flavor to each bite of the burger. Next, the buns were either over cooked or slightly stale but they were a little too chewy and detracted from each bite of the burger. Finally the french fries were thick cut skin-on fries that were cooked crispy. The fries were not fresh-cut but had a good flavor and complimented the burger. Next time, I would probably go for the tator tots but the fries are a good choice as well.<br /><br><br />Overall, I thought that Flaming Burger prepared a good thin style patty burger. If I wasn't in that part of Dallas, I would probably head towards Jake's or Dairy-ette first but Flaming Burger will serve you a good burger combo at a good price.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 18, poppy seed bun, chewy, toasted too long<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, thin style patties, good seasoning, bacon had good flavor<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, well presented burger, nicely melted cheese, golden color to toasted buns<br /><br><br />Taste - 18, good fresh flavor to beef, bun slightly chewy, bacon gave a nice pork flavor to each bite<br /><br><br />Overall - 75<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1538251/restaurant/East-Dallas-Lakewood/Flaming-Burger-Dallas"><img alt="Flaming Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1538251/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-34545812598488315322011-05-12T07:57:00.001-05:002011-09-12T17:34:51.671-05:00Mooyah Burgers and Fries - May 9, 2011This week's burger quest took us the newest location of Mooyah Burgers and Fries on Northwest Highway just west of Hillcrest Road. Mooyah is a fast casual Dallas based burger chain that serves burgers, fries and shakes. When you enter the restaurant, signs encourage guests to place their order before finding a seat and guests are directed to a counter with pens and menu pads. Options for burgers include a one patty or two patty beef burger, turkey burger or a veggie burger and all burgers are served on a choice of fresh baked white or wheat buns. I ordered a double burger with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, bacon and mayonnaise, a small fry (enough for one according to the menu) and a drink for $11.32. After paying for my order, the cashier called out the number of patties and they were then placed on the flat-top griddle by the cook. I filled my drink cup and about five minutes later, my name and number were called and when I went to the counter to pick up my order, a fry container was dropped into the bag and then filled with fries as I watched. Sitting down at my table, I pulled out an aluminum foil wrapped burger and then opened the following burger:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LaczHA1kgs/TcvZQfaZwuI/AAAAAAAAAZg/MgQzoN36yOs/s1600/my1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LaczHA1kgs/TcvZQfaZwuI/AAAAAAAAAZg/MgQzoN36yOs/s320/my1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605813038526087906" /></a><br /><br><br />Two thin slices of bacon were placed on the bottom bun which was then topped with the two patties and two slices of cheese. Diced grilled onions were then placed on the top slice of cheese and a small layer of mayonnaise was smeared on the top bun. Taking a bite, I could taste the fresh beef and the flavor of the fresh baked bun. The patties were lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and were cooked well done. I am not sure you could cook them any other way due to their size. The cheddar cheese had a very mild flavor and complimented the overall flavor of the burger. The bacon on the burger was crispy but the slices were too small to add much flavor to the burger. The onions had been diced before caramelizing and added a slightly crunchy texture and a nice taste to each bite of the burger. Next the bun was probably the highlight of the burger, it was light and fluffy and perfectly proportioned to the burger. Finally the fries at Mooyah are fresh cut every day in house. They are a thicker cut fry and after frying they are dusted with a house blend of salt, pepper, a little sugar and some other spices. I thought they had a good flavor but had a little too much salt for my tastes.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought Mooyah Burgers and Fries presented a pretty good fast casual burger. The meat for the patties and the bun were very fresh and had a good flavor in each bite; however, the burger didn't wow me as being a unique burger. While I liked the idea of cooking the patties to order and using a house baked bun, the burger did not stand out to me especially at the price point. If I was with a group of people who wanted to eat at Mooyah, I would gladly tag along and enjoy another burger.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25:)<br /><br><br />Bun - 21, fresh and fluffy, good flavor, held up to a double meat burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 18, fresh beef, seasoned well, thin style patties<br /><br><br />Appearance - 19, nice contrast of cheese meat and bun<br /><br><br />Taste - 18, good beef flavors and representation of fast food style burger<br /><br><br />Overall - 76<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1469439/restaurant/Park-Cities/Mooyah-Burgers-Fries-Dallas"><img alt="Mooyah Burgers & Fries on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1469439/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-81809764027661598932011-05-02T13:16:00.004-05:002011-09-12T17:34:01.848-05:00Screen Door - May 2, 2011It's been a crazy few months so the Quest for the Ultimate Burger has been put on hold but today we started back and the quest took our group to One Arts Plaza to try the burger offering at Screen Door. Screen Door specializes in a modern take on southern classics and features items on their menu such as gumbo, shrimp and grits, fried catfish, pulled pork sandwiches, meat loaf and southern classics for dessert such as bread pudding and banana creme pie. We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated by a friendly hostess. Our server came by a few moments later and brought us menus and asked for our drink orders. After bringing our drinks, he took our lunch orders and I ordered the Angus hamburger cooked medium and added two slices of bacon and a side of house fries. According to the menu, the meat for the burgers is ground fresh daily and all burgers are served with sharp cheddar cheese and caramelized onions. The burger is listed at $11 on the menu and bacon is an additional $2. While we waited for our orders, the server brought us a basket of warm cornbread and brown sugar scones with a side of butter and apple butter. After enjoying a piece of cornbread and a scone, the following burger was brought to the table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxTymTKiw-U/Tb71OnAfi5I/AAAAAAAAAZY/W4uiLkODQ1o/s1600/sd3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxTymTKiw-U/Tb71OnAfi5I/AAAAAAAAAZY/W4uiLkODQ1o/s320/sd3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602184617833499538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTEEmL-0Ga0/Tb71ON_bIxI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/K0qf7-nrShI/s1600/SD2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTEEmL-0Ga0/Tb71ON_bIxI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/K0qf7-nrShI/s320/SD2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602184611118129938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dssv1oRzyrc/Tb71NsPzq7I/AAAAAAAAAZI/n7HqqcxBnIo/s1600/sd1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dssv1oRzyrc/Tb71NsPzq7I/AAAAAAAAAZI/n7HqqcxBnIo/s320/sd1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602184602060041138" /></a><br /><br><br />The burger was served on a pain au lait hamburger bun which had been lightly toasted. The hamburger patty was placed on top of the bottom bun and two fairly thick slices of bacon were criss-crossed on top of the patty. The bacon was then covered with cheddar cheese and a good sized stack of caramelized purple onion. A slather of mayonnaise coated the top bun to finish off the burger. Taking a bite, I tasted of combination of smoke and the freshness of the beef flavor of the patty intertwined with the peppery bacon, the tangy cheddar cheese and the sweetness of the onions. The bacon was thick enough that it gave a little chew to every bite of the burger. The onions were soft and sweet and nicely complimented the beefy flavors of the hamburger. The patty was juicy and cooked to a perfect medium with a layer of pink in the middle of the patty. The cheese provided a nutty earthy flavor to each bite of the burger. It was not the typical cheese found on most hamburgers but it worked really well for this burger. The hamburger was light and fluffy but held together throughout the whole burger even after soaking up the juices from the patty. Finally, the French fries were average frozen fries that had been seasoned with a semi-hot spice blend. They were hot and crispy and while they didn't detract from the burger, they weren't my favorite french fries at a burger place.<br /><br><br />Overall, the burger at Screen Door was a very good representation of an upscale burger. The fresh ground meat was lightly seasoned to show off the beef flavor, the cheese and bacon were flavorful and worked well on the burger and the onions were caramelized to a perfect softness with a good sweetness in every bite. I would order the burger at Screen Door again but I also want to try the other menu items that I saw being served to other patrons around the restaurant.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 20, light and fluffy, great hamburger bun<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, fresh flavors, smokey peppery bacon, cooked perfectly<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, well prepared burger, ingredients nicely stacked on burger<br /><br><br />Taste - 21, great flavors of meat, cheese, bacon and onions<br /><br><br />Overall - 82<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/622567/restaurant/Oak-Lawn-Uptown/Screen-Door-Dallas"><img alt="Screen Door on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/622567/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-776106945850741612011-01-13T08:42:00.003-06:002011-09-12T17:33:39.455-05:00Elevation Burger - January 12, 2011This week's burger quest took us to Elevation Burger which recently opened at the northwest corner of Hillcrest and Northwest Highway next to PK's Liquor Store. Elevation is a small chain that was founded in Virginia in 2005. Elevation Burger's slogan is "Ingredients Matter" and according to signs all around the restaurant, they focus on ingredients that are organic, sustainable and fresh. We entered the restaurant and noticed a clean, well-lit restaurant with a short line of people waiting to place their order at the register. While we waited, we looked over the menu which featured burgers including both beef, veggie and vegan, salads, shakes featuring Blue Bunny ice cream and side item choices of fresh cut fries cooked in olive oil or mandarin oranges. When it was my turn, I ordered an Elevation Burger which features two patties and real cheddar cheese (according to the menu) with caramelized onions, a side of fries and an ice tea for $11.47. I asked about adding bacon but I was told that there are no organic bacon producers in the US that could supply to the restaurant. I would think that if Chipotle can feature a more humanely raised pork that Elevation could use similar suppliers. Since all burgers are cooked to order, we waited about ten minutes before our name was called and the following burger was brought to the table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8Pnygda9I/AAAAAAAAAYY/H2S4Lwc_-UU/s1600/EV4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8Pnygda9I/AAAAAAAAAYY/H2S4Lwc_-UU/s320/EV4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561681241073085394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8PnYDYmTI/AAAAAAAAAYI/69bl6AWF-SM/s1600/EV2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8PnYDYmTI/AAAAAAAAAYI/69bl6AWF-SM/s320/EV2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561681233971812658" /></a><br /><br><br />At first I was surprised at how small the burger looked but I loved the appearance of melted cheddar, beef and caramelized onions on a fluffy hamburger bun. Both patties on the burger were coated a with good sized slice of cheddar and then the onions were placed on the top slice of cheese. I would estimated the patty was probably a quarter-pound before cooking. The bun had been lightly toasted on each side. Taking my first bite, I noticed a slight sweetness from the onions, earthiness from the cheddar but the flavor of the beef was featured foremost in this burger. The patties were lightly seasoned and while cooked medium-well, they were still very juicy in each bite. The flavor of the burger is hard to describe but I enjoyed it. I could really taste the gaminess of the beef which melded well with the other components on the burger. Next, I enjoyed how well the cheddar cheese, onions and bun complimented the burger in each bite. You could taste all three components but the flavor of the beef was still featured in each bite. Finally, I was skeptical at first about cooking the fries in olive oil. I wasn't sure that you could get olive oil hot enough to get a good crisp on the fries but the fries were excellent. They had a nice crunch in each bite and were salted perfectly. I really liked that Elevation sliced the fries fresh in small batches before cooking them. <br /><br><br />Overall, I thought that Elevation Burger cooked a really good burger using fresh ingredients. This flavor of the beef may not be for everyone but I enjoyed the freshness and gaminess of it. The cheese was melted into a nice gooey consistency and blended well with the beef and onions. It was a well prepared burger that was served by the friendly staff of Elevation Burger who did a good job of checking on the guests. I will be back to try another burger at Elevation Burger and hopefully sometime in the future they can find a bacon purveyor.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 18, light fluffy bun, didn't fall apart<br /><br><br />Meat - 21, good quality grass fed organic beef, cooked well, very juicy<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, smallish sized burger, nice layers of meat cheese and onions<br /><br><br />Taste - 21, beef flavor foremost, lightly seasoned, high quality cheese, sweet onions<br /><br><br />Overall - 80<br /><br><br />Bonus Picture of Menu Board:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8PnLtBR8I/AAAAAAAAAYA/gZYK4cImf1k/s1600/EV1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TS8PnLtBR8I/AAAAAAAAAYA/gZYK4cImf1k/s320/EV1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561681230656784322" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1572094/restaurant/Park-Cities/Elevation-Burger-Dallas"><img alt="Elevation Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1572094/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-91747930962403133882010-12-29T16:10:00.003-06:002010-12-30T11:10:48.165-06:00Alee Burgers - December 29, 2010Our final burger quest of 2010 took us to Alee Burgers which is a recently opened burger and wing restaurant at the southeast corner of Forest Lane and Webb Chapel. Alee Burgers is a no-frills restaurant with seating for about twenty people and an open kitchen behind the register. It appears to have been a Subway in a past life. There were a few people waiting in line to order and when it was my turn, I ordered a half pound bacon cheese burger cooked to medium which at lunch is served with fries and a drink for $5.68. Behind the register, I saw that all the burgers were cooked on a small shiny flattop. Aftr I paid for my order, the server took notice where I was sitting and then went to work on cooking my burger to order. About ten minutes later, the following burger was brought to my table:<br /><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TRux7r35mlI/AAAAAAAAAX4/_pijd0SProE/s1600/Alee.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TRux7r35mlI/AAAAAAAAAX4/_pijd0SProE/s320/Alee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556230204239223378" /></a><br /><br><br />Shredded lettuce and slices of tomato were placed on the bottom bun which had been very lightly toasted and then salad was topped by the patty which reminded me of the patties at Smashburger. A single slice of slightly melted American cheese was then placed on top of the patty and the topped with a large serving of diced grilled onions and two crispy slices of bacon. The top bun was also lightly toasted and was slathered with mayonnaise. Taking a bite, I could tasted the salt and pepper used to season the patty but the flattop needs time to build up the seasoning which gives those nice crusty bits that only come from a well seasoned cooktop. The patty was cooked to medium-well but it was still somewhat juicy in every bite. The American cheese really didn't add anything to each bite of the burger since it only covered a part of the patty and was pretty flavorless in itself. The bacon was cooked to a nice crunch and the grilled onions were cooked perfectly to a nice golden color with just a slight crunch in each bite. The bun was a standard seedless hamburger bun but it did not fall apart and gave a good flavor to each bite of the overall burger. Finally the fries were probably my favorite part of the whole burger. The were medium cut skin-on fries that were hot and crispy and seasoned with a spicy seasoning salt. I am usually not a fan of this style of fries but I will be back to try them again. <br /><br><br />Overall, Alee Burger was a good burger made even better by it's price point. It's hard to find a half-pound burger with fries and a drink for less than six dollars. I really liked that the burgers were cooked to order and with time, the flattop grill will get used and the patties will have even more flavor. The staff was very pleasant and seemed to be interested in serving up great food. I will definately be back to try the other burgers on the menu at Alee Burger and I look forward to having some more of their fries.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 18, standard hamburger bun, lightly toasted<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, nicely cooked patty, lightly seasoned, crisp tasty bacon<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, smashed style patty and great grilled onions looked really good on the platter<br /><br><br />Taste - 19, good flavors, time will make the burgers even better<br /><br> <br />Overall - 76Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-58402946666485370042010-12-10T15:43:00.003-06:002011-09-12T17:32:56.635-05:00Nosh Euro Bistro - December 7, 2010It has been a busy time with work so the burger questing has unfortunately been taking a back seat lately but on December 7, we were able to visit Avner Samuel's newest restaurant, Nosh Euro Bistro which is on Oak Lawn Avenue. Nosh is a very open restaurant featuring lots of light, warm colors, open kitchen and a large flat screen television which gives patrons a better view of the food being cooked. Our group was seated by a pleasant server who went over the features of the day and asked us for our drink orders. Unfortunately Nosh only serves bottled ice tea which I found strange so I stuck with reliable Dallas tap water. When the server returned with our drinks, I ordered the Nosh Stacked Kobe Burger which featured a 1/2 pound of house ground Waygu, a blend of cheddar cheeses and fries for $14. While we waiting for our main courses, we tried the Spiced Beef Cigars and Crushed Avocado Crostini. The cigars were perfectly cooked but their delicate flavor was overpowered by the pear chutney served on the side. According to the menu on their website, it looks like they might be serving the cigars with a lighter sauce now. I really enjoyed the Crostini - The crushed avocado was lightly seasoned and then topped with a nice amount of Spanish Chorizo, olive oil and sea salt. I could snack on those all day long as the fattiness of the avocado was nicely offset by the spice of the chorizo. After we were done for our small plates, the following burger was placed on the table:<br /><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKfQcm_GbI/AAAAAAAAAXU/IKYHn2C-lFw/s1600/Nosh1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKfQcm_GbI/AAAAAAAAAXU/IKYHn2C-lFw/s320/Nosh1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549172795780307378" /></a><br /><br><br />The thick patty was placed on top of a well toasted sesame seed bun and was the patty was then topped with a blend of melted white and yellow cheddar cheese. The burger was then finished off with an average blend of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and thinly sliced pickles. I removed the salad blend, took my first bite of the burger and tasted a lightly seasoned but somewhat dry burger. You could taste the flavor of the Waygu but overall it just didn't taste like a burger. It reminded me a lot of a chopped steak plate but in burger form. The cheddar cheeses had a great flavor and were melted nicely over the patty. I am not sure if the bun was made in house but it was toasted perfectly, had a good flavor and texture and did not overpower the rest of the burger. Finally the french fries were my favorite part of the whole burger. They were crispy thin-style fries that was seasoned with salt and fresh herbs and I enjoyed dipping them in the remoulade sauce served with the burger.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought the Nosh Euro Bistro prepared a decent burger but when I return in the future, I think I will stick with the other offerings. The small plates that we had were great and I tried a little bite of the other main entrees and they were wonderful. If you are craving a upscale burger when you visit, then its worth trying but I think you'd enjoy Avner's other offerings on the menu at Nosh better.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 19, nicely toasted, liked the sesame seeds<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, high quality meat, just not enough burger flavor<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, very pretty presentation of burger and fries<br /><br><br />Taste - 18, decent upscale burger, fresh meat used in patty<br /><br><br />Overall - 76<br /><br><br />Bonus Pic of Crushed Avocado Crostini:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKfRJ6JGKI/AAAAAAAAAXs/yRntJaKhA7I/s1600/Nosh4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKfRJ6JGKI/AAAAAAAAAXs/yRntJaKhA7I/s320/Nosh4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549172807940249762" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1547863/restaurant/Park-Cities/Nosh-Euro-Bistro-Dallas"><img alt="Nosh Euro Bistro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1547863/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-85958286704564624272010-12-10T15:32:00.005-06:002011-09-12T17:32:36.702-05:00Restaurant AVA - November 20, 2010The Saturday before Thanksgiving took the burger quest to Downtown Rockwall to try The "AVA" Burger at Restaurant Ava. Ava is owned by Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate and the restaurant strives to use locally sourced ingredients in their dishes. I entered the restaurant from the back entrance and walked past the open kitchen where I saw a burger cooking over open flames. The smells coming from the kitchen were wonderful and I was glad I had made the trek to Rockwall. I was seated at a table in the main dining room which had a nice view of the shops in Rockwall. A few moments later, the server took my order for The "AVA" Burger cooked medium which is one of the less expensive gourmet burgers at $12. I could hear and smell my burger cooking and after a short wait, the following burger was brought to the table:<br /><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe9j7o2MI/AAAAAAAAAXE/w-WO_l4ZEQs/s1600/AVA2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe9j7o2MI/AAAAAAAAAXE/w-WO_l4ZEQs/s320/AVA2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549172471328463042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe9PmqROI/AAAAAAAAAW8/CVOI2GLtxoE/s1600/AVA1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe9PmqROI/AAAAAAAAAW8/CVOI2GLtxoE/s320/AVA1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549172465871766754" /></a><br /><br><br />The presentation of the burger was very pretty - thick slices of purple onion, homemade pickles and mixed field greens were served on the side next to a large cup of thick house-cut fries. The bun was lightly toasted on the top and bottom and a thick hand-formed patty was placed on top of the bottom bun. A slice of lightly melted white cheddar was on top of patty and the burger was finished with two thick slices of bacon that were made in house from Niman Ranch pork belly. The server told me that the meat for the patty was ground from steak scraps and the bun was baked in-house as well. Taking my first bite, I tasted a lightly seasoned, very juicy patty that was infused with smokiness from being cooked over a wood fire and it was cooked to a perfect medium. The cheddar cheese gave a mild nutty flavor to each bite. The bacon was extremely good but it wasn't a typical crispy bacon but it added a welcome layer of texture to each bite. Unless I am wanting Maple and Motor's crispy bacon, this would be the bacon I would want on my burger and is some of the best in the Dallas area. The homemade bun was light and fluffy but held up well to each bite of the burger. I would have expected it to fall apart from the juicy patty but I never had to pick up my fork and knife. Finally the fries were seasoned well and cooked to a nice crisp. Although I prefer a thinner style fry, the had a good flavor and were great dipped in the homemade mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup.<br /><br><br />Overall, Restaurant AVA served a great burger using fresh ingredients prepared in house. The flavors melded together nicely and it was a great showing of what can be done with a gourmet burger. If you aren't in the Rockwall area but are looking for an outing on Saturday, I would recommend visiting the shops in downtown Rockwall and then having The "AVA" Burger.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 19, lightly toasted bun, good flavor in every bite<br /><br><br />Meat - 22, great patty, thick slices of bacon, well cooked<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, fresh ingredients, well cooked burger, great presentation<br /><br><br />Taste - 22, great flavors in each bite, tasty burger<br /><br><br />Overall - 83<br /><br><br />Bonus Picture of Homemade Condiments:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe-GNSV8I/AAAAAAAAAXM/20wngjDYN-w/s1600/AVA3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQKe-GNSV8I/AAAAAAAAAXM/20wngjDYN-w/s320/AVA3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549172480529291202" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1437193/restaurant/Restaurant-AVA-Rockwall"><img alt="Restaurant AVA on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1437193/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-84058595542688956552010-12-09T08:22:00.004-06:002011-09-12T17:32:14.261-05:00Another Broken Egg Cafe - November 18, 2010Another Broken Egg Cafe recently opened its second location in Dallas on Greenville Avenue just north of Lovers Lane. Another Broken Egg is open for breakfast and lunch and features a variety of breakfast items, sandwiches, soups and burgers on their menu. Our group arrived shortly after noon and patrons were scattered at tables around the restaurant. We were promptly seated by our friendly server who returned a few moments later with our drink orders. I ordered the Bacon and Cheddar Burger with grilled onions cooked medium. All burgers are served with a pickle spear and country potatoes. After a short wait, the following burger was placed in front of me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr2r5EgCI/AAAAAAAAAWk/p4aUlHj6zSQ/s1600/ABE1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr2r5EgCI/AAAAAAAAAWk/p4aUlHj6zSQ/s320/ABE1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548694065648009250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr3bB6AZI/AAAAAAAAAW0/yj7eZlw74bI/s1600/ABE3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr3bB6AZI/AAAAAAAAAW0/yj7eZlw74bI/s320/ABE3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548694078301536658" /></a><br /><br><br />A hand formed patty sat on top of crispy golden bun and was topped with bacon, melted cheddar cheese and lightly grilled onions. The grilled onions has a light caramel color on them and were still crisp in each bite. Taking my first bite, I tasted fresh ground beef that was lightly seasoned intertwined with the smokiness of the bacon and the cheddar cheese. The onions really didn't add much flavor to the burger. If they had been cooked longer, their sweetness would have come through more. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium and stayed juicy until the last bite. It was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and had a nice crunch from being cooked on the flattop. The bacon was cut into thick slices and was very crispy and hot on the burger. The bun was very buttery and had been cooked extra crispy. It reminded of buttered french bread you eat at Italian restaurants. It was a different style of bun but it worked for the burger and added a different layer to the flavor profile with the buttery crispy bun. Finally, the country potatoes were good but didn't seem to go as well with the burger as tots or fries would have. They were cooked crispy and were tasty lightly salted and peppered but I like country potatoes with my scrambled eggs not my burger. <br /><br><br />Overall, I thought that Another Broken Egg cooked a good burger using fresh ingredients and a crispy buttered bun. I would have liked the onions to be caramelized more but they did add flavor to each bite. If you aren't craving fries and aren't interested in breakfast fare, Another Broken Egg Cafe served a good burger at a reasonable price.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 20, crispy buttered bun, held up well while eating burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 19, handformed patty, nice crust from flattop, good seasoning, crispy bacon<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, nice looking patty, cheese melted nicely, golden toasted bun<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, well seasoned, tasty burger<br /><br><br />Overall - 79<br /><br><br />Bonus Picture of Hamburger:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr3OzklII/AAAAAAAAAWs/ksKCLxuk-ns/s1600/ABE2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TQDr3OzklII/AAAAAAAAAWs/ksKCLxuk-ns/s320/ABE2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548694075020186754" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1555825/restaurant/North-Dallas/Another-Broken-Egg-Cafe-Dallas"><img alt="Another Broken Egg Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1555825/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102574036449549634.post-91223488441176462982010-11-16T07:16:00.005-06:002011-09-12T17:31:47.214-05:00Nova Restaurant Dallas - November 14, 2010Last week's burger quest took our group to Nova, Kelly Hightower's restaurant at 1417 West Davis Street in Oak Cliff. Nova has been open since mid-July and I have been told by multiple people that a great burger was to be found there. In a prior life, Nova's building was a Dairy Queen but the owners have completely transformed the location into a modern restaurant while still keeping the feel of a throwback to a hip diner. When we entered the restaurant, we were promptly seated and menus and a water with a slice of cucumber was brought to our table. We were shown the drink list written on the chalkboard and menus featuring small plates, pizza and a selection of entrees such as pasta with Jimmy's Italian Sausage, Nova's twist on Pho, a pork chop, a New York Strip and a lamb burger. I was hoping for a beef burger but was glad to try something different. I ordered the lamb burger cooked medium and an order of house smoked salmon potato skins and after the table enjoyed the potato skins, the following burger was placed in front of me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TOKFn1SPz5I/AAAAAAAAAWc/avLrPTBFLpA/s1600/nova1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PfSk-61M91M/TOKFn1SPz5I/AAAAAAAAAWc/avLrPTBFLpA/s320/nova1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540137410984136594" /></a><br /><br><br />A layer of baby spinach was placed on the bottom bun and then topped with the lamb patty. The patty was then topped with a blend of tatziki sauce and feta cheese and then topped off with a brioche bun. It was a very simple but pretty presentation for a burger. Taking a bite I tasted a blend of Mediterranean spices and the creaminess of the tatziki sauce, little bit of bitterness from the spinach and a slight saltiness from the feta cheese. The feta cheese was present but it didn't over power the flavor of the burger. The tatziki sauce was well seasoned and contrasted nicely with the slight gaminess of the lamb meat. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium and while not as juicy as a beef patty, it stayed juicy in each bite. The brioche bun was one of the better buns I have had while eating burgers in this quest. It was light and fluffy and it surprised me by not apart while I was enjoying the burger. With the amount of sauce placed on top of the patty, I would have expected it to disintegrate before I finished with the burger. Finally the fries served on the side were crispy and seasoned with a light dusting of salt, pepper and an herb blend. They had a good flavor and it was hard not to stop using the tatziki sauce as a dip for the fries.<br /><br><br />Overall I thought that Nova's lamb burger was very tasty and fit well with the atmosphere of the restaurant. It was a nice mix of Mediterranean flavors and was cooked perfectly. While it wasn't the typical bacon cheeseburger that I try on this quest, I would return to Nova to try the burger and I look forward to seeking what the next version of the burger will be when Chef Hightower decides to change up the menu again.<br /><br><br />Ratings (1-25):<br /><br><br />Bun - 21, light fluffy Brioche bun, nicely toasted, held up well to saucy burger<br /><br><br />Meat - 20, well seasoned lamb, cooked medium, juicy patty<br /><br><br />Appearance - 20, golden bun, cascade of sauces, nicely grilled patty<br /><br><br />Taste - 20, flavorful non-traditional burger, good seasoning throughout<br /><br><br />Overall - 81<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/1545503/restaurant/Bishop-Arts-District/Nova-Dallas"><img alt="Nova on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1545503/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07163675710535261869noreply@blogger.com0