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In-N-Out Burger
http://www.in-n-out.com-

Burger Tyme Road Trip #5 – In-N-Out Update (Provo, UT) -

Sweet merciful burger. As fate would have it, our burger road trip has been blessed! By divine burger providence, an In-N-Out has opened in Provo, UT! Fortunately for my wife and I, it was only five minutes from where we were staying for the night. Speaking of last night, we had just enjoyed the delicious pastrami filled Crown Burger and were preparing to hit the road again, turning south to Moab, UT. I have not had In-N-Out since 2005 when I visited Las Vegas for my brothers wedding (his wife is from there). My ultimate plan was to meet up with some friends at In-N-Out, confirm if my delicious memories of this place were accurate, and then hit the road to Moab. My wife pleaded, begged, and reminded me that I had had a burger only 13 hours prior to the creation of this master plan. I reminded her that the Crown Burger is more of a pastrami sandwich, so in my mind it had been days since I had a burger. With this sound logic in my mind, and an eye roll on my wife’s face, we said our goodbyes to our kind hosts and headed out again!

Memories-

Ah memories! I love that no matter where the In-N-Out is that you go to, it feels like you are in exactly the same place. The lay-out is the same, the workers look exactly the same, the menu is in the exact same spot…. comforting. We arrived at exactly 11 am. We were able to walk right up to the counter and place our order. I was impressed by the number of people working behind the counter on a Thursday morning.  I counted at least 10. There may have been more but since they all looked alike I might have started counting them twice. Everyone was chipper and happy to take my order. I couldn’t wait! I was not the most hungry so I only ordered the single cheeseburger instead of the much beloved Double-Double. Of course I got it Animal Style, with a side of fries, and a chocolate shake… I guess I was hungry after all. My wife, in protest to my burger gorging, ordered a water. I asked if they could make that animal style so they put extra ice in it. The lunch rush must start at 11:05 because by the time we finished ordering the line was almost out the door. With my number in hand, I politely stepped aside and watched everyone bustle frying burgers, cutting fries, and making milk shakes. I wasn’t sure but I think I felt a tear fall from my eye.

In-My-Mouth-

My number was called and I was handed my perfect red tray of food. Even though I had had a burger as recently as the night before, my anticipation for this one was as high as it could be. I picked it up, briefly savored the aroma of the grilled onions, and bit in. O-M-B (Oh My Burger)! This was as good as I remembered it!  The fries were also amazing. Some people say the fries are “wimpy” but I have to give props to the fresh cut and light taste that they have. Maybe it was the burger euphoria speaking but the shake seemed amazing. The combination of all three made for  a wonderful classic burger experience on which In-N-Out has built their reputation.

The Wrap It Up-

Go! Go now! If you live any where near In-N-Out I hope you appreciate it! I feared that my memory might have inflated how good this burger actually was since I was not the burger “connoisseur” that I am today when I first had it. Having tried dozens (if I said hundreds you would either think I’m a liar or a glutton, so well stick with dozens) of burgers from all over the country, this burger stands up as an extremely good chain burger. Yes, I’ve had better burgers, but usually they cost $8 more and require a significant time commitment. I am amazed at how In-N-Out can turn out the most appealing and delicious burgers thousands of times a day.

Once we finished this heavenly detour, we were off to Moab to enjoy Arches National Park and other beauties of nature!

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Crown Burgers
http://www.crown-burgers.com/

Burger Tyme Road Trip #4 –Crown Burgers  (Salt Lake City, UT)-

Once we left THE GRAND CANYON, we made our way to beautiful Zion National Park in southern Utah. Of all the places we visited on this trip, this was my favorite. It was amazing and I would recommend to anyone who asks, to go visit and see for yourselves. We hiked the really cool Angel’s Landing trail which, at one point, required that we scale the side of a cliff with only chains to hold on to. Very cool. After a few days there we were a little road weary and were in need of a hot shower and a soft bed. Fortunately we have family in Provo and Salt Lake which was only a few hours North of Zion. Also fortunately for us, there are a few burger places that I have been wanting to try in Salt Lake. We made our way up Highway 89, which was a pretty drive through small towns that sit in a green valley. We made a quick side trip to Bryce Canyon and saw the odd rock formations. We didn’t stay long because there was tons of snow and it was freezing. Once in Provo, we enjoyed some hot showers, visited with family, and asked for some burger joint suggestions. After much deliberation we settled in on Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City. I had heard of this place as it was the only burger in Utah featured in George Motz’s Hamburger America . I was also intrigued by the concept of a pastrami burger.  With the destination in mind, we set the Garmin and hit the road for the short drive to Salt Lake. We arrived around 9 o’clock at night and this place was still busy. That is always a good sign. The menu was a cross between a typical burger joint and a Greek and Lebanese restaurant.  You could order gyros, baklava, burgers, sweet potato fries, etc. It was quite exciting.

The Royal Treatment –

So, if you didn’t know this about me, I love burgers… I also love pastrami sandwiches. Wouldn’t you know it, the special of Crown Burgers is… the Crown Burger featuring a 1/4 pound patty and and equal amount of savory, delicious pastrami. This was a no brainer. “One please”, I said almost without thinking. A drink and fries were also ordered although that part does not stick in my memory as strongly. While I waited. I admired all of the “Best Burger” awards and other memorabilia about the founders of  Crown Burgers (see picture, top right). With much anticipation, my order was ready. I grabbed my tray and made a quick stop to get ketchup and, of course, FRY SAUCE (You have to have fry sauce when in Utah)! I joined my wife in a booth in the corner and beheld one of the most appetizing (to me) sights! I really couldn’t see the beef patty but I definitely could see the pastrami. With both hands I dug in. This burger/pastrami sandwich was AMAZING! The seasoning and texture of the pastrami added so much to the overall burger package. The lettuce and tomato were good quality and added a nice, fresh touch to the burger. The bun was sufficient for the job at hand which was to act as the burger vehicle. The fries were crispy, like I like, but were nothing special compared to the burger.

The Wrap It Up-

What did I think of this meaty mash-up? I think it is quite obvious that it was great! If you like pastrami sandwiches and want to try it with something other than rye bread and coleslaw, this is for you. It is unique, it is memorable, it is worth having more than once. I will definitely go back the next time I’m in Salt Lake City (ski season perhaps?). This burger was a perfect break from the grueling road schedule we had been following for over a week. Now that the Crown Burger was sitting comfortably in my stomach, we made the sleepy drive back to Provo for a good nights sleep. We would need it b/c the next day we were off to Moab and more BURGER TYME ROAD TRIP ADVENTURES!

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Blake’s Lotaburger
http://www.lotaburger.com/

Burger Tyme Road Trip #3 –Blake’s Lotaburger  (Gallup, NM)-

The open road. It still calls my name as I sit behind my desk, reminiscing of the sights, sounds, and burgers I encountered. Now finished at Lincoln National Forest, my wife, my sweet dog Pearl, and I headed to our next destination… THE GRAND CANYON!!! On the historic Route 66 we drove and admired the kitschy attractions along the way. There were many places to pull off and stay at old motels, purchase some Native American souvenirs, as well as see some beautiful (even though dry) mountainous terrain.  So while on our way I noticed a place called Blake’s Lotaburger. There were a lot of them in New Mexico and it turns out that it is an original New Mexico Chain that started in Albuquerque in 1952. It was reminiscent of California’s In-n-Out or Texas’ Whataburger. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to try a burger unique to New Mexico, we stopped in Gallup, NM to try it for ourselves. We made our way up a hill in what appeared to be downtown Gallup to the 2nd street location. It was a “burger stand” style with only a couple of picnic tables outside for dining. There was a very distinctive sign of a long legged man (Blake?) guiding us in to the parking lot. We parked and I walked in. There menu was pretty straight forward for a fast food restaurant. They had burgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers. They also had the New Mexico twist by offering green chile on everything. Being that this place isn’t called Lotahotdog or Lotafingers I wasn’t tempted by any option other than the Lotsa Combo, which includes the Lota Burger, large fries and a large drink. There was a pretty good line of about five people in front of me, so I took that as good sign. I patiently waited my turn and made my Lotsa Order to the lady behind the plate glass window!

Get Your Kicks, on Route 66-

Once my order was placed I took a step back and watched all of the action behind the glass. There were about five people bustling around, some taking orders, some preparing food. With all of the bustle the wait was still about ten minutes. I’m OK with waiting as long as the payoff is a good burger. So, after my ten or so minute wait I received my Blake’s Lunch bag and drink cup both featuring the long legged fellow with who I was now very acquainted. I went outside and took a seat at the picnic table in the shadow of the fifteen foot tall Blake sitting out front. As I began unpacking my bag ‘O food the first thing I noticed is that the fries looked fresh-cut! That’s always a plus. Unfortunately the rest of the meal was not so inspiring. The burger was rather unimpressive. While it was “large” it was dominated by the bun… and not even a very fresh one. I bit into it and the bun was a day or two beyond fresh. The patty was relatively thin and as such was not very juicy. I was able to save my meal by putting additional ketchup on the burger but that is more of a burger band-aid than a burger cure. The veggies were chopped onions, shredded lettuce and a slice of tomato. They did little to improve the burger. The cheese was cooked on to the patty well enough but really didn’t manage to stand out from the rest of the items on this burger. The fries were pretty good but could stand to have been a little crisper. Again, I did like that they were fresh cut.

The Wrap it Up-

Thank goodness I had a large drink. The best way I can describe this Lotsa Combo is ‘DRY’. The bun, the patty, the veggies were all lacking in moisture, not to mention any real flavor. Sadly this was a disappointing Burger Tyme on the road to  THE GRAND CANYON. This place had so much potential with the iconic look of the burger stands, and the fact that this is a chain unique to New Mexico. Unfortunately I was only passing through and would not have time to give this place a second change. If it is any consolation, the fact that this place was busy the entire time I was there indicates that I may have had an anomaly of an experience and that typically, it is actually quite good. Perhaps some loyal Burger Tymers from New Mexico can fill us in.

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Red Mill Burgers
http://www.redmillburgers.com

Washington State Burger Tyme #1 – Seeing Red Mill Again-

Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! So what did I do with the time that I had off? Well, I went with the wife and her family to Washington. I had never been so I looked forward to the trip. Of course I did a little planning and found a few potential Burger Tyme locations! I’m always searching for the best burger and was looking forward to branching out to the northwest! So our flight arrived in Seattle late and we made it to the Hotel at around 11:30pm. I didn’t have time to eat that night and slept late the following morning so needless to say by lunch time I was ready for my first WASHINGTON STATE BURGER TYME! For this edition we made our way, in laws and all, to the supposed Best Burger in Seattle, Red Mill Burgers. This was also rated one of the TOP 20 Burgers you HAVE to eat before you die by GQ magazine. I read some mixed reviews from locals who warned me of the Cash Only and No Cell Phones policy (I like to show up prepared).  After weaving our way through hilly downtown Seattle we headed north-ish to 1613 West Dravus St. When we pulled up I saw a line of people that was to the door. This is always a good sign that we’re in for a good Burger Tyme. We parked, walked up, and got in line. The menu was pretty straightforward with a wide variety of burgers and sandwiches. Burger Tyme’s vegetarian member would have been pleased to see the number of Veggie Burger options. Then line did not move particularly fast but we were in no hurry. We were in the mood for a good burger!

Extra Value Mill -

Once our turn came up in line I placed my order for the Red Mill Deluxe w/Cheese with everything on it, a side of fries, and a chocolate shake. When I stepped aside to let everyone else order I saw the most amazing thing. BACON! Bacon as high as the the eye could see. Seriously they had the biggest pile of cooked bacon that I’ve ever seen ready to be put on some lucky burger. After recovering from “bacon awe” I sat down and waited for our order to be called up. Given how busy Red Mill was at this lunch hour, it only took about 10 minutes for our order to be ready.

While waiting I was able to enjoy various memorabilia on the wall including a letter from a child begging Red Mill to open a restaurant in West Seattle. Once I got my order I was first struck by the vegetables.  The best way to describe them is “pretty”. It was the nicest lettuce, tomatoes, and onions I think I’ve ever had on a burger. The patty was 1/4 pound and fried. It’s juiciness was overpowered by the large bun which was toasted on the griddle. They put a special “Mill Sauce” on it which seemed to be some variation of ketchup mixed with mayonnaise and a few other seasonings. It was pretty good. The fries were thick and well cooked. They were very crunchy on the outside and still soft on the inside. Other Burger Tymers ordered the onion rings which were quite good (I don’t even really like onion rings). The milkshake was good but not great. They did have a large variety of shakes to choose from so maybe I should branch out next time.

The Wrap It Up-

So what did I think of the best burger in Seattle? It was pretty good. It could stand a little more flavor and a little bigger patty. I should have followed the GQ’s recommendation and tried the Double Bacon Deluxe with Cheese. This burger has been rated the top burger in Seattle for many years but I would venture a guess that is by virtue of the lack of true burger competition in the Seattle area. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good burger, but it felt unfinished, like it had all of the right ingredients but lacked something that would make it stand out as unique amongst other burgers.  All in all, if you are in Seattle and are craving a good burger, you will not leave Red Mill Burger unsatisfied.

Stay tuned for more of Burger Tyme adventures in Washington State including the BIGGEST BURGER in Burger Tyme history!

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In-N-Out Burger
http://www.in-n-out.com-

Only-N-Dreams-

The much touted and highly anticipated In-N-Out Burger. While this burger chain is only in western states, I’ve been hearing about “Animal Style” this and “It’s so great” that since I was fifteen. Well, a few years ago my brother was getting married in Las Vegas (his wife is from there) and we all made the trip to the Strip. Along with the Hoover Dam and Slurpees what did I find in that desert city of lights? In-N-Out Burger!! My memory of In-N-Out was that it was so good that my younger brother and I ate there each of the four days we were there, including us stopping there on our way to the reception from the wedding. I loved it so much, in fact, that I emailed them to inquire about franchising opportunities thinking one would do well in Baton Rouge. Their response was that they were a family owned company and do not franchise but they would keep Louisiana in mind for possible expansion. My response was if they are family owned, is there perhaps an In-N-Out heiress to whom I could wed to get in on the business…. Six years later, no In-N-Out in Louisiana.

Most recently my wife was in California with her family for my sister-in-law’s wedding (I’m starting to notice a pattern). I insisted that they try In-N-Out. I raved about how great the Animal style burger is, how fresh the fries are, how happy the people are to server you. I also asked them to document their experience there so that we could get it up on Burger Tyme.

Rock-N-Roll-

I’m going to hearken back to my first memory of my In-N-Out order. The menu is simple, at first. Burgers, fries, drinks…. That’s it. That’s all they have on the menu. But wait! There is the secret menu. While it’s no real secret it does make ordering kind of fun. I ordered the double double (double cheese burger) animal style, with fries and a drink. While we were ordering you could see a person behind the counter cutting potatoes into fries. That’s how fresh they are! The animal style request means that they are going to double fry the patty with mustard, put grilled onions on it, and add special sauce. When I got my order I remember be overwhelmed by the flavor. While the patty was smallish, the double meat more than makes up for it. The bun was buttered and toasted on the griddle which I found particularly good. The cheese was melted perfectly over the patties and added to the juiciness of the whole package. The veggies were not particularly prominent in this burger, although, the grilled onions were great. I mentioned previously that the fries were fresh cut. They were, in my opinion, fried perfectly. They were crispy on the outside and a little soft on the inside. Not overcooked. They were so good that my dad placed a second order of fries after we had all finished our meals. I regret that I did not try the shakes. I’ve heard they are good. The “fry sauce” they serve there was pretty good. It seemed to be nothing more than ketchup and mayonnaise mixed together.

The Wrap-It-Up-

Ahhh memories… While I haven’t had it in a while, my wife’s recent trip confirmed how I remember it. In-N-Out Burger was and is a great Burger Tyme. The prices are reasonable and the quality is amazing. I only wish that they had them nearby so that I could eat it more frequently. Maybe that’s the magic of it. For me, it is some far off dream of what the perfect burger joint would be, only meant to be experienced a few times in one’s life… Here is my plea:

Dear In-N-Out,

Please bring your delicious food closer to those who love it. While I’ve considered making the trip to the west merely to eat an animaled up cheeseburger, I find the cost of plane tickets to be prohibitively expensive. For now I must settle for Christian’s Totem or Hubcap Grill but they are different burgers all together, and Five Guy’s, while very good for a chain burger doesn’t compare. Please In-N-Out. Please.

BurgerTyme.com

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Becks Prime
http://becksprime.com

Prime Time -

On a warm summer evening, my wife and I invited a few friends of ours to join us in a walk over to the Memorial Park Golf Club to have a Beck’s Prime Burger Tyme. There are many locations of this great burger place around Houston, including the tunnels downtown, but I had not yet been to this location. We brought our dog, Pearl the Australian Shepherd, along since we heard there was outside seating. After about a half mile walk or so we arrived at the golf club. Flanked on either side by a nice golf course, a driving range, and running trails, this was a very lively place for 8pm on a Thursday. We walked into Becks and were greeted by a very friendly guy behind the counter. He patiently took our order while my wife and dog found a table outside for us to sit. There are two places to order at this particular location, an inside counter and an outside window. The menu at Beck’s is pretty impressive. They have everything from Burgers to grilled chicken to steaks and milkshakes. Their burger variety is also pretty vast, from plain hamburgers, to hickory barbecue bacon burgers.

In the Prime of our lives-

Everyone placed their orders and I placed mine for the usual cheeseburger with everything on it, a large order of fries for the table, and a lemonade (it’s summer time). I headed out to join the rest of the group and was able to enjoy the nice weather and the scene of golfers futilely trying to improve their game (I recently started playing golf and I’m terrible). After a pleasant couple of minutes our orders were ready. As you can see, the burgers at Beck’s Prime are h-u-g-e! The patty is supposedly a half pound but I think it was a bit more. They are flame grilled which I usually don’t prefer, but this patty was very juicy and flavorful. The bun was lightly toasted and fresh. The veggies were adequate but not outstanding. Obviously the focal point of this burger was the meat. The fries were very good in my opinion although a few people at the table didn’t agree. They were fresh cut and fried in grease that was maybe a little to hot making them crispy on the outside and a little underdone on the inside. Again, I liked them.

The Wrap It Up-

Beck’s Prime was one of the best flame grilled burger’s I’ve ever had however these are not cheap burgers. Burger, fries, and a drink will run you around $10+.  Another thing to note is that I’ve eaten at four Beck’s Prime Houston location multiple times for both lunch and dinner, early and late. They have all been consistently good burgers with friendly service. While I didn’t get a milkshake for this Burger Tyme, I’ve had them before at Beck’s. It was almost too much of a good thing. Their milkshakes are great but should be treated more of as a desert to be shared rather than a drink as they are very large and thick. While all Beck’s Prime locations offer outside seating I would also have to say that the Memorial Park location is my favorite because was very peaceful out there that night. All in all, Beck’s is a great Burger Tyme.

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Michael’s Charcoal Grill
http://michaelscharcoalgrill.com

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Flying High in the Grillin Skies-

Back in Midland and time for another review of a far away burger. This edition of Burger Tyme brought me to Michael’s Charcoal Grill. This establishment was all about grilled meat and airplanes. The interior was designed to resemble an airport terminal which is good or bad depending on how much you like airport terminals. I personally thought it was a pretty neat design. When you walk in you enter the “Check-in” line to place your order. Once the order is ready they call your name out to pick it up at a certain “Gate” just like at the airport! Behind the counter was the giant charcoal grill with a propeller above it. The menu features a variety of different meat related options. Of the burger options they were listed by order of size as either the Kong Burger which was a half pounder and the KING KONG Burger which was a full pound.

We are cleared for landing-

After waiting in the line for a few minutes I placed my order for the Kong Burger with cheese and a side of tater tots. The wait wasn’t very long even though there were a number of people there. When my name was called I picked it up at Gate 2. The burgers here are served plain so I took it over the toppings bar to add on the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. The Kong Burger was a good sized half-pound burger. It was a grilled burger which is not my favorite. I prefer a fried burger because they tend to be juicier. The patty was fresh ground. This was an adequately juicy burger. The charcoal flavor was noticeable. The bun was a run of the mill sesame bun. It was fresh but just tasted like regular white bread. The veggies were just OK. I don’t like that I had to assemble myself. I find that these kind of burgers don’t stay together very well. Overall it was a good burger. The tot’s were very good. They were very crispy on the outside but not overcooked making them dry on the inside.

The Wrap it Up-

Michael’s Charcoal Grill was a nice establishment with a variety of items on the menu. The burger was good but not amazing. To recap, it was a grilled burger and not fried. It is served plain and you have to put on the veggies yourself. If you are in Midland and are looking for a good place where you’ll have many options Michael’s is your place. There are better burgers out there but in Midland you are pretty limited. I’ve already reviewed Bob’s Better Burger in Midland and many of the locals recommended going to Fudrucker’s.

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Frostop Root Beer
www.frostop.us
402 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (map)

Top of the World-

When I think back to my first memories of a burger joint, I think of Frost Top on the corner of Range and Florida in Denham Springs, LA. I remember the chocolate dipped ice cream cones. I remember the super, huge cookies. I remember root beer floats. Most of all I remember their amazing color changing jukebox that played 7″ vinyl records. Unfortunately that Frost Top location is now a Walgreen’s but one still remains in Baton Rouge! On the last day of my Easter Vacation, I managed to gather four Burger Tymers from our Baton Rouge chapter to join me in experiencing nostalgia in its fullest. The location in downtown Baton Rouge has been around since the 50′s. Now, Frost Top’s claim to fame is their root beer, which I will talk about later, but we were there for a burger! The interior of this location was not as childhood, dreamy as I remember the other one being but it had it’s own appeal. From the big root beer mugs on the side of the road to the the black and white checkered tile, this place is classic! It was reassuring that when we arrived a little after noon that the parking lot was full. We walked in and got in line to place our order. There are a few options at Frost Top including poboys, burgers, sandwiches, and even gumbo. Frost Top classifies their burgers as “Lotaburger” and “Wholotaburger”. That translates in to 1/4 lb and 1/2 lb respectively.

The Frosting on the Cake-

So we made it through the line and I placed my order for the “Lotaburger” with cheese and everything on it. I also ordered a side of fries and of course, the Frost Top Root Beer. While paying for the order I inquired as to whether they made their own beef patties and was informed that in fact they do. While waiting for our order I enjoyed the frosty mug of root beer that I ordered (more on this later). Our number was called after a few minutes and we sat down to a very good looking burger spread. Every element of the burger was pretty good. The bun was fresh as were the veggies. The 1/4 lb patty was a not particularly flavorful or juicy. The cheese was not as melted on the patty as I like. As you can see, it was placed under the patty on the burger which is not that big of a deal, but I like to see the cheese slice draped on top of the patty, like a burger patty shirt. The fries were adequate. They were freshly fried which was good but were of the frozen, not fresh cut variety.

The Wrap it up -

Everything combined at Frost Top for a good burger but not a great one. The atmosphere and the history of Frost Top were very cool and make it worth checking out. While there was nothing wrong with the burger, nothing quite stood out to make it great. The 1/4 lb patty was a little thinner than I would have liked. Perhaps I should have opted for the “Wholotaburger”. All in all it was a good Burger Tyme for around $6 including burger, fries, and a drink. Oh, and what a drink. The Root Beer at Frost Top is AMAZING!!!! They keep the mugs chilled in a freezer which as the root beer leaves the tap and hits the glass, begins to frost up in the mug. It creates a thick layer of root beer ice around the mug which I loved! It was like drinking candy! I may return to Frost Top if only for the burger but I will DEFINITELY return to Frost Top for the Root Beer. It’s that good!

Hint – Frost top also had great milkshakes. My wife and I ordered a large chocolate shake to split which was about $4. It was HUGE! Between the two of us we could only drink about half. My sixteen year old, high school football player younger brother, however, was able to drink the whole thing.

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Where’s the “S”? -

Cheeburger Cheeburger, though hard to say, has been a favorite of my parent’s in Baton Rouge, LA for the past few years. I took a few days off of work for Easter so my wife and I made the 5 hour drive to stay in Baton Rouge for the holiday. Our first night here I rounded up a few willing family members and headed out for my second Burger Tyme in as many days. Cheeburger is a 50′s diner themed burger chain that allows people to customize their orders to an almost obscene amount. From the dozens of burger combinations to the 78 different shake options, an unprepared customer has a lot of decisions to make. When we arrived we were greeted by the milkshake “bar” were the milkshake orders are filled. Cheeburger Cheeburger prides itself on their delicious milkshakes of which I’ve heard good things but we are here for the burgers. There is a disclaimer on the menu stating that orders are cooked fresh when you order and that you can expect to wait about 15 minutes while they prepare your burger. I’m OK with that. I can wait for a good burger. This place is more of your typical sit-down restaurant with a waiter who takes your order as opposed to most burger joints where you wait in line, place your order, and then find a place to sit. Once I opened the menu and viewed the list of options for the burger, I knew I had my work cut out for me.

Cheeseburger Pleaseburger-

Given the plethora of options I was not intimidated. I managed to order my usual 1/3rd lb cheeseburger with what I consider typical toppings; lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and American cheese. Fries come separate at Cheeburger. We ordered a large basket to split for the table of four. True to their word, we waited about fifteen minutes and our burgers were delivered to our table. The patty was very thick and juicy. It was made of fresh ground beef and was adequately flavorful. The cheese was nicely melted over the patty. The veggies were OK but were unevenly spread on the burger. The bun, I thought, was good. It was soft and slightly chewy (in a good way). One problem I had was that the bottom bun was slightly soggy which in my mind makes the initial bites unpleasant. Once I bit in I was delighted by the combinations of all the flavors as they worked together well however they all began to slide around and juices were running down my arm. I guess what I’m saying is, this is a good but messy burger. Fortunately they provide each table with an entire roll of napkins! The fries were exceptionally good. They were fresh cut and fried to a nice crisp.

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The Wrap it Up -

I’ve had Cheeburger a few times before but this was the first time I went with the goal of finding great burgers! As I previously mentioned, this is a favorite of my parents and I can see why. Everyone that came with us was pleased with their burger orders of various combinations. Some had onion rings and honey mustard, while another had Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces on their burger. We ordered shakes too but I’d have to say that for the cost, skip the shakes unless you want a dessert. They are thick and not really drinkable while you’re eating your burger.  Another thing to note is that Cheeburger Cheeburger was one of the more costly Burger Tymes. While the burger and fries were very good, the burger, fry, and regular drink combo is going to run you about $10 or more.

Here’s a hint – if you like onion rings but want fries too, you can order “frings” which is a basket of half fries and half rings.

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Five Guys Burgers and Fries
www.fiveguys.com

The Beginning -

I was first introduced to Five Guys by a friend in Washington, DC where some of the first Five Guys were opened. My wife an I ate at one of the original five guys in Alexandria, VA and for a “chain” burger it was darn good! I think the secret to their success is the simplicity of the menu. I realize that I’m not going out on a limb by saying that but good burgers are simple  burgers and they have it down. One detail I liked that was unique to this chain was the cork board that displayed customer “art”. There was a stack of 3″X5″ index cards and some pencils for customers to write notes, draw pictures, or whatever else you can do with fifteen square inches of real estate. My wife and I found that along with the boxes of roasted peanuts it was a good way to pass the time while we waited for our order.

The Goods -

The menu is short. Burgers and Dogs. I ordered my usual Cheeseburger but ran into a hiccup when I said everything on it. At Five Guys you have  a list of around sixteen items and condiments you can put on your burger. I had to specify lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, mustard, mayo, and ketchup. The burger itself was made from very good ingredients. The patties (that’s right, there were two) were hand formed and the toppings were fresh. This is a fried burger but I actually prefer a fried burger to a grilled one because they tend to be juicier. This burger had just the right amount of grease and juiciness though it became a little hard to manage towards the last few bites.The bun (or as I like to call them, bread gloves) was also a notable component to the whole Five Guys experience. It was soft and a little chewy (in a good way) and held everything together pretty well. The fries are a big selling point in my book. My wife and I split an single order of Cajun fries. To our surprise a single order means a brown lunch bag full of fries. The cajun seasoning was different at first but matched really well with the ketchup and the burger. After my wife and I ate at the one in Alexandria I tried it at the one in Georgetown and most recently in Houston, TX. The burgers were consistently good.

The Wrap it up -

An item that I found to be both good and bad was the variety of toppings and condiments you can add to your burger. While the menu is simple, the condiment selection can really get complicated for the unprepared. I tend to freeze up in moments like this because I’m afraid that I may pick something like barbecue sauce or green peppers and essentially ruin a perfectly good burger. While I applaud Five Guys’ commitment to the customers’ unique tastes, I’m fearful that people who aren’t the most burger savvy may choose a topping(s) that would make an exceptional burger just OK or even bad. But hey, it’s worked for them so far. For a “chain” burger this one probably tops my list.