Archive for the ‘Burgers’ Category
Summer is winding down, but I don’t know about you I am seriously looking forward to fall. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer; the trips, the barbecues, and just hanging out in the sun. However, having moved back up to the Midwest I am truly looking forward to “having” a fall and enjoying the leaves change, crisp sweater weather, and enjoying some apple picking. But enough about the weather, I know you all don’t come and read my weekly features to here me blab about the seasons changing, but instead want to hear about a new spot to try or maybe not try for that matter. But speaking of seasons, this next spot is not good in just one season or another. Rather, its customers will line up around the block, in rain, snow or shine it seems, making it truly a legend in its own right. (especially cause it can get downright nasty, weather wise, in this city!) Opened in 1960, Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, located right in Harvard Square, has been dishing up a wide array of creative burger choices to its patrons ever since. Started by the Bartley family, Billy their son, has been behind the grill since the age of 12 and according to an episode of Food Network’s Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives he would want to be doing nothing else. He truly is the gas that keeps the fire continually burning and it would have to burning to keep up with their huge demand, see for yourself.
Source: “Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Bartley’s Burger Cottage” [Video]. (2009). Retrieved August 19, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYofuw_g0Js&feature=search.
The burgers look intense don’t they? Well I have to admit that I did not actually see this clip before my visit to Mr. Bartley’s. I know, I know, the horror, I did not do my full out research before a trip. But truth be told I had already heard from several people (thanks Chad and Christina:) ) that this place was a must visit. And since my bf Emily, whom I was visiting, had never been, it was the perfect opportunity. Since Mr. Bartley’s is located near Harvard, I figured it would also give me a chance to be a typical Boston tourist and walk around its beautiful grounds as well, I mean one has to work up an appetite of course. On day one, Emily and I set out on a long walk from her place over to Harvard Square and preceded to walk around the cute shops and campus. It was not long before my stomach started growling and I knew it was about time for lunch. Emily told me how she had heard how crazy packed this place can get, we were not surprised to turn the corner and find this.
As you can see, people do not mess around when it comes to their burger for lunch. And if you notice that man in the blue shirt seated next to the line, that is Mr. Bartley himself, acrotchety old man, but we’ll get to that. Emily and I hopped in line and preceded to look over 30 burger options on the menu. Emily and I had decided that we wanted to split one, since our friends had both mentioned how massive they were. At 7 oz. of meat a burger, I have no doubt! So we decided upon the “Tom Brady,” a good ol’ cheeseburger complete with guacamole and red onion.
It was at this point that Mr. Bartley sat down and I must admit I was a little confused and just thought it was some nice old man needing a break. However, next thing I know he has this pad out and is asking me what I want. It was then we realized he was taking orders to sort of move the whole process along. But let’s just say you had better know what you want when he sits down or he will completely skip over you. We quickly went with that “Tom Brady” and a side of their famous onion rings instead of fries. Then he turned and asked Emily what she wanted, she was in the middle of saying we were going to split the burger when he snappily replied “no splitting, must order at least something.” So Emily ordered a chocolate frappe and asked if that was sufficient, he kind of looked annoyed but said that was fine. It was then that a table happened to be opening out on the patio and we both decided to jump on it and be a little colder than having to wait for a seat any longer. But at this point I was still a little shocked at the encounter we had just had with Mr. Bartley, but Emily was not all the surprised, she said it was typical no nonsense Boston behavior. After we were comfortably seated, we were presented with our chocolate frappe to enjoy while we waited for our burger.
Not really sure what to expect with a frappe or even what it was when she ordered one, I quickly learned a little Boston etiquette. It looked like a typical milkshake, but Emily informed me, that although she is not sure why, milkshakes all around Boston are referred to as frappes. And asking for a milkshake just isn’t kosher, so for today I called it a frappe, and that frappe was mighty good. Perfectly creamy and chocolaty and delicious. It wasn’t long before “Tom Brady’ arrived and man did he look too good to eat. And I am glad we decided upon the onion rings, because just look at how mouthwateringly awesome they were!
Splitting this burger was a great idea, because between it and the huge pile of onion rings, there was no way I could have eaten more. And these burgers are not wimpy either, they are thick and juicy, not dry and a great bun to burger ratio. Unfortunately we both agreed that the guacamole that comes on the “Tom Brady” was not our favorite, so I likely would not order him again, however given this restaurants massive amount of burger choices I am sure I could find another I may have like better. Now the onion rings were a different story, these babies as you saw in the video, are too die for. Cut perfectly and not overly breaded or fried, but rather just a great combination of sweet and salty, that you can grab a fist full and stuff in your mouth.
We clearly hated them :). I would go back to visit just for these onion rings alone, but I wouldn’t mind trying another burger creation as well. I mentioned that we were unable to eat inside, but I was able to snap a few pictures when we went inside to get some cash. I also learned that Boston restaurants do not always have public restrooms of any kind due to their size, this one was one of them unfortunately. It just ain’t big enough, but people don’t seem to mind!
SIGNATURE DISH: It is clear from their name that they do one thing best, Burgers! But these aren’t just any ol’ burger, with over 30 varieties and options they have truly taken burger to another level. And with fun creative names that complement the ingredients it is fun to order up any of their signature choices.
TASTE: I have already featured a lot of burger places in the short life of my blog, some better than others and I must say that as burgers go this ranks pretty high. I did not particularly like the additions our burger came with, namely their guacamole, but the burger itself was quite delicious. Any large patty is often hard to cook without it getting dry on the outside. But at Bartley’s their use of a flat top grill truly aides the flavor of their burgers, by giving the outside a wonderful crust, while the inside remains moist and juicy. I would not say its the best burger I have ever had, but this place has so many fun additions, I would love the chance to take Adam to visit their and try and new creation.
AMBIANCE: This was one area I felt was a bit lacking, but this was due to a mistake that I made. I will admit I chose the patio spot in hopes of getting our food out quicker, I was hungry! But in doing so, we missed out on getting to sit inside amongst the true bustling atmosphere. So if almost felt like I was just eating this really good burger anywhere, instead of having the food and experience melt together. But next time I would just wait it out to get a full true experience.
PRICE: I felt their prices were very decent, especially since we split our meal. Their burgers range from about $7 – 10 depending on the ingredients which is fairly typical and reasonable if you ask me. Substitutions for different fries or onion rings is also extra so you may want to keep that in mind too. However, again because we split our meal, I believe we only paid maybe $10 – 15 a piece total, not bad if you ask me.
SERVICE: This was one area I felt was kind of lacking. This had nothing to do with how fast we got our food, but rather just the attitude I got from our waitress. She was nice, but just not very friendly or welcoming. The other thing I did not enjoy was how brash Mr. Bartley was. Now I am not trying to sound like a baby, but maybe I was just not cut out for the Boston attitude. I understand that this is his establishment and he makes the rules, I just felt a little nicer customer treatment could likely go along way. However, I say that and with a line continuously around the corner, his attitude does not seem to be hurting anything.
I had a fun experience at Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage and really enjoyed the food, so much so that I hope to return someday so Adam can see for himself. So with that I give Mr. Bartley’s 3 1/2 Little Piggies.
Can you believe it is already July, where the heck did June go? Well although I know how our month was spent, I’m sure many of you are thinking, “man another summer is just flying by.” One thing I always look forward to when summer approaches is cook outs, especially the massive cook out and lake day our family plans on the 4th of July. Of the many foods that often show up at these events, burgers have become almost a staple. Now that is not to say that a cookout is not complete without them, there is just something so quintessential about summertime and burgers, whether at a cookout or a “burger joint.”
Now it is no shock to you that Adam and I love a good burger and in addition to bbq places, it would seem that we make it a mission to try just about all of them. And at this point, having tried so many, I would say our palette has become pretty polished, not to sound to cocky, it is just after awhile it is easy to determine what you think is good and what isn’t. Now everyone is different and taste is a very opinionated thing, but I am going out on a limb and saying that I know what determines good burgers for me. The same goes for not good ones, I would say it is rare I find one unedible, but I now know what I deem good and sometimes places fall short. That being said, I do not lump all burgers into the same category, in fact there are times when I crave a certain fast food delight (ahem White Castle I love you). There are other times when I want a good ol’ diner or drive-in burger, or if I want to splurge splurge, then I pick a top shelf burger as I like to say, one from somewhere where I know a burger is there specialty and it’s just that SPECIAL!
Now this next spot is sort of a mixture of diner meets deli, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Eagle’s Deli located in Brighton, MA, down the street from Boston College, has been serving up great and tasty meals to students and food lovers alike for years. Known around Boston for their burgers, they also pride themselves for their large breakfastplatters and other fine sandwiches, as any good deli or diner would. However, what seems to keep bringing people back are their notorious burgers, specifically their challenge burgers. These challenges have only grown over the years too, as people successfully complete the current challenge, it simply grows bigger and get renamed. The former challengers are still on the menu, however it was their current challenge burger than caught Adam and my attention while watching Man vs. Food. The 5 Pound Challenge as pictured above, yes you read that right, 5 pounds of meat, along with 20 slices of cheese, 20 slices of bacon, and 5 pounds of fries. Pure insanity if you ask me, but also a bit comical. Adam Richman attempted the challenge, but unfortunately fell short. Below are the episode clips, so you can see for yourself.
“Man vs. Food” [Video]. (2009). Retrieved June 30, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9OVgLv_hww and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O45PX_b2ft4.
After seeing that episode, we happen to also see Eagle’s featured as Travel Channel’s #2 spot to pig out, as well as #21 on Travel Channel’s “Chowdown Countdown.” These burgers seemed to be the talk of the town and the nation, so when I was given plane tickets for my birthday, to visit my best friend Emily is Boston, I knew Eagle’s Deli was going to have to be a must visit. (Adam was very disappointed he would be missing out on this trip). Now Emily went to Boston College, so she had eaten at Eagle’s Deli quite frequently and assured me of how good it was, which of course made me all the more excited and Adam all the more jealous!
We hopped over to Brighton on the morning of my last day in Boston and after the long day we had before I knew I was ready to mow down on a greasy burger for sure. What Emily was not expecting when we walked in was that the place had been completely renovated, you may even notice a difference between the videos above and the picture I will show you below. She was disappointed because it was not the same “old” deli she had so fondly visited on many occasions during college, however the new appearance was very visually appealing and did not seem to deter the line of customers practically out the door. It seems a tad “pretty” for a deli, but I was not about to let that get in the way of my burger eating.
Now as I said before they really promote their burgers, which in my opinion says they must be good if that is all they are seemingly talking about. And the challenge burger above is not the only one they serve. But their challenge burgers are pretty popular, they even have the wall of fame devoted to those who have tried to take them on. Their burgers range in size from the 1/4 pound “Kiddie Burger” to that 5 lb. behemoth, with many lesser pounds in between. Now knowing my eating abilities, I could have taken on one of those big boys, however, I also knew I had to fly home that afternoon and did not want to feel like utter crap, so I opted for a good “taste” if you will and went with the 1/4 pound Kiddie.
It was plenty of burger for me and a very enjoyable meal. Although not the best burger I have ever had, it was well seasoned and had a unique almost Greek flavor in the meat itself. The bun was just how I like them, not overly huge, lightly toasted, but soft enough to cling to the burger so you can actually bite into it. The onion, lettuce, and pickle were a great crunchy complement, but I think what made this meal for me was the fries! Emily warned me they had some good ones and these did not disappoint. All to often diners scrimp on making a fry taste like anything, but I say what is the point of serving them, or eating them for that matter, if they don’t taste like anything. Well these had tons of flavor, doubly fried with the perfect amount of crunch, chewiness and most of all saltiness that you expect.
After traveling all that way for this burger, I could not very well leave my honey all alone, without getting a chance to try this out. So I did what any foodie wife would do, I ordered him the 1 lb. challenge burger, wrapped it all up, and carried it on the plane. Yep, I flew from Boston to Dallas with a pound of meat under the seat in front of me, is that love or what?(He has done something similar with my beloved spinach sticks :))
Let’s just say that burger did not make it home entirely in one piece, unfortunately the bottom bun got too soggy to salvage. But he was at least able to get a glimpse of what my experience might have been like, but he admitted it probably would have tasted better a bit fresher.
SIGNATURE DISH: Even though burgers are not the only thing they serve, they well known for them both around town and now around the country. And what seems to set them apart in the burger world are these challenge burgers they serve up. I mean when one burger is $50 and 5 lbs. of meat, I’d say it’s become your signature.
TASTE: Overall, I really enjoyed this burger. As I said it was not the best one I have ever had, but compared to diner burgers it ranked right up there as one of the best. It was not dry, instead very juicy and flavorful. I chose to have American cheese on mine, but I appreciated that they also had other cheese choices. The bun did its job, but was still and integral part, while not taking away from the burger itself. And the veggies added the perfect freshness and crunch. This experience was topped off by a side of wonderful fries, that were simple, yet just what you want a fry to be, a great side addition. I enjoyed them so much I ate them all, something I rarely do.
AMBIANCE: As I said above, they had recently completed a full renovation of the restaurant. The decor was very eye catching and appealing and never having been inside prior, I really enjoyed the feel. There was plenty of space to walk through and there appeared to be enough seating without too much of a wait. That being said I could see how people may have liked the old “feeling” better, mostly out of comfort, familiarity, and nostalgia. But I enjoyed the diner feel with a modern kick.
PRICE: I thought the prices were very decent based on the menu items and the amount of food you got. The challenge burgers as they ranged in size got progressively more expensive, but I still found that reasonable given that they were providing 1 lb. of meat or more. My meal was less than $10, which for a burger and fries in a relatively expensive city I found not surprising and decent.
SERVICE: Although it has a diner feel, this is a deli, so you place your order at the counter, find a seat, and your meal is brought to you. The line moved quickly, we found a seat right away, and I did not have to wait long at all for my food. The girls working behind the counter seemed polite, approachable, and competent. The other wait staff and cooks seemed on the ball and as I said the food was brought out quickly. Even after placing Adam’s to-go order later, I did not have to wait long for it to be brought out, impressive for cooking a pound of meat.
I really enjoyed getting to experience Eagle’s Deli and I hope I am able to return again in the future. I know Adam wants to experience the burger first hand and after looking over at other people’s plates while we were there, I really want to try some of their other food. In the meantime though I give Eagle’s Deli 4 Little Piggies.
Anyone living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area will tell you that we have no shortage of burger joints around town. In fact, I have already featured one of my favorites, Twisted Root, on here a few months ago; and I think it has been one of Adam’s missions while living here to try them all and discover which is the best. Also, I pride myself on staying abreast of new “hot spots’” that pop up as well as researching tried and true favorites by reading various publications, watching TV, or hearing about them through others. That being said, we have tried a lot of the options, some being just average while others are out of this world good! This next restaurant is the latter on both accounts.
In 2006, GQ magazine put out an article by Alan Richman (one of the most decorated food writers in history) compiling a list of the “20 Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die.” From the time I read the article and saw Oprah create a segment on her show about it, I was intrigued. In fact, I remember printing off the list and thinking I need to try all of them! :) However, it wasn’t until we moved to Dallas and really got interested in starting this blog that I began thinking about that list again. I thought, “you know…I bet a fair amount of these places are pretty notorious in their cities, thus making them definitely a blog worthy visit;” And it just so happened that one of the burgers, number 10 to be exact, was a Dallas favorite and kept being suggested by a couple of friends of ours (thanks for the great recommendation Robert and Holly!). I’m referring, of course, to the famous Keller’s Drive-In.
Upon realizing Keller’s was on the “20 Burgers” list, I knew that a trip there was in order. So one day after church, Adam and I ventured over to Northwest Highway to try their infamous burgers, including the famous “No. 5” which has a bit of a back story I’ll explain later. We both really enjoyed it, and I knew after completing my half marathon in March that I wanted my celebratory burger, fries, and shake to come from there! 🙂 (and it just so happened that we saw Keller’s featured on an old episode of The Food Network’s “The Secret Life of…” right after our first visit).
Keller’s was built in the 1950’s to be a standard drive-in, and to be honest, it appears as though not much as changed in 60 years! Still, that is what gives it so much appeal…you truly feel as if you stepped back in time when you drive up…
It may not look like much, but it certainly invokes a feeling of nostalgia and a no-nonsense good food environment. When you drive up and find an open spot, one of the waitresses comes out to take your order, just like the old drive-in’s…no speaker box here! They also, like the historic food landmark they represent, are the no-nonsense type…nice, but definitely not out there to impress or be your best friend. Many of the servers have been there for years and they KNOW their burgers are good, so they don’t really have time for hemming and hawing with you. Also, the menu is not large, which is good, because really you are only there for one thing…a burger!; and many specifically for their landmark “No. 5” special…
Here is where it gets interesting. The story goes that Keller’s “No. 5” special is actually the original ‘Big Mac’ and that McDonald’s got the idea for the now famous sandwich from here. I’m not saying this is true or not, but Keller’s “No. 5” special is 2 all beef patties, “special” sauce of thousand island dressing, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and tomato on a poppy seed bun. I don’t know…other than the sesame seed/poppy seed difference, it’s pretty close, but you make the call? What is so interesting, is that while anyone could have imitated the ‘Big Mac’ and said they were the first, Keller’s created this burger a good 20 years before McDonalds even developed the Big Mac. So, like I said…you be the judge. ;)
I’m the first to admit that I’m no ‘Big Mac’ connoisseur, and to be honest I never tried one until I was 25! (shocking I know). So I left the No. 5 up to Adam to give a full on taste test, while I stuck with a standard cheeseburger with grilled onions (ummm-ummm….love me some grilled onions!), fries, and strawberry shake (yes, I am 12 years old and dip my fries in it haha :)).
*Our friends Chad and Christina were also there to celebrate as Christina completed the race too and we deserved a greasy meal after our months of preparation!
Yeah…those burgers didn’t stand a chance! What makes them so good is not necessary the meat itself, but rather the combination of the ingredients. The poppy seed bun adds a unique flavor and is grilled just right to give it a softness and crunch. The patty, although slightly overcooked, is masked when paired with the creamy cheese that just oozes out with each and every bite…pure cheesy goodness at its finest. And with my addition of grilled onions, there is a creamy sweetness that comes out that just makes every bite enjoyable. Adam said that the No. 5 tastes exactly like a Big Mac, except it isn’t bogged down with the extra middle bun and the poppy seeds create a unique taste he preferred. He said it was a cleaner, simpler version of the fast food classic (and He IS a Big Mac expert! ;))
So down to the review…
SIGNATURE DISH – Burgers for sure, but the famous “No. 5” special is their claim to fame!
TASTE – The taste I would have to say is truly an experience. I said that the burger patty itself is a tad overcooked and doesn’t have much flavor. But, that is not what makes this sandwich. It is literally every component together that makes the burger as good as it is; and the cheese alone oozing out is what won me over for sure! I do have to say that their fries are nothing spectacular, which is kind of disappointing, because you always want a good burger to be accompanied by good fries. Lastly, their shakes were delicious (very creamy) and I would order one every time I go. So although it isn’t the best burger in fries I’ve ever had, I still recommend it. (half a ‘Little Piggy’)
AMBIANCE – As I mentioned before, what makes the experience so fun at Keller’s is its old school drive-in ambiance. There are always tons of cars, bikers, and people just hanging out for the afternoon. You can even order beer off of their menu, so people will literally just park and hang out all day. It isn’t necessarily pretty to look at, but to me that is the whole appeal of the place. I mean…who really wants to eat a messy burger at some stuffy upscale restaurant? When you want a burger, the burger is all that really matters!
SERVICE – Their service is pretty standard, although both times we’ve been there they’ve forgotten Adam’s drink. These women are experienced car hop waitresses and they don’t mess around! But they will get you your order quick, which is all I want sometimes! (half a ‘Little Piggy’)
PRICE – Price alone makes this place totally worth the trip! At only $2.69 for the “No. 5” and all the other burgers coming in under or around that, your whole meal will typically cost you 5 bucks or less. That’s hard to beat! Be aware though…they are cash only, so make sure you have at least $10 in your pocket. ;)
So I leave you all now with my mouth watering and giving Keller’s a raving 4 Little Piggies!
