Ariba is a company not far from Jonathan's work. However, they have a pretty nice cafeteria, so workers from several surrounding companies often go there for lunch. When Jonathan's parents were visiting, we all ate there, and I've also been one other time with Jonathan and Jim. Jonathan and Jim go there a few times a month, and generally have great experiences, though the Chicago-style pizza wasn't loved.
My own thoughts are sort of scattered. On one hand, I thought that the panini I had was delicious... the flavors of the Italian meats blended well. The accompanying salad on the side was fairly average, but nice to be included. That's what I had on my first visit. However, on my second, I just wasn't drawn to anything in particular. In fact, after walking around to all of the stations, I decided that I'd rather just wait an hour and eat at home. So that really doesn't bode well for the place, but at the same time I tend to be rather picky, so if I don't feel that anything offered is worth the price given, and I'm not super-hungry, I move on. Of course, that's not to say I won't go again... after all, that first panini was wonderful!
I did find a menu of sorts online, if you're interested.
Showing posts with label burgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burgers. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Boardwalk
Jonathan and I hadn't seen our friend, Kathy, in a while, so we made dinner plans. However, she needed to head to Los Altos later, so we agreed to meet her in that direction. We randomly looked up places until we found one that had good reviews, and that's how we ended up at The Boardwalk. It's pretty easy to find, and if there was a really big sporting event going on, I don't think there'd be enough parking. However, since it was just a regular basketball and hockey night, the place wasn't very crowded.
I honestly found a lot of faults with this place, and am not in a hurry to go there again. First, when you walk in, it's not really clear what the set-up is. Turns out, you walk all the way across the room to the counter where you pick up food. The menu is above that. You order at the register to the right of the counter. So, while you look at the menu, you're blocking the way of people coming up to get their food. And, if the restaurant had been crowded, this would have been a problem. Additionally, with the chairs and tables in the configuration we saw, I'm not sure where a line would even form if needed. I looked through the menu and was about ready to order when Kathy arrived, so we were able to place our orders at the same time.
Jonathan got 20 hot wings, I got the Boardwalk burger (but with regular bacon instead of Canadian and an upgrade of spicy curly fries instead of regular). Kathy ordered the chicken caesar wrap. When the cashier gave us our total, it sounded about a dollar high to me. I immediately mentioned it to Jonathan, who pointed out that I don't always remember that tax is so high out here (it is 9.5%). So, I waited to see the receipt. But, we didn't receive an itemized, only a credit card slip. So, I'm not positive that the prices on the menu were accurate. The cashier also wasn't the friendly type, so I moved on.
We chose a table and sat down with our waters, waiting for our buzzers to go off. It was at this point that I realized that they never asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, which concerned me (in the end, it was well, so that was fine with me). Kathy's buzzer went off first, and she went up to grab her food. She was surprised to find that it came with chips, as that was not noted on the menu. Our order did not come up for at least ten more minutes, which was disturbing. After the first five, Jonathan went up to check on it, but the woman was not able to articulate (at least in English) what the situation was, other than "a few more minutes." He was actually on his way up to ask again when it looked like our order was being placed on the counter for pick-up. Since it had been so long, we encouraged Kathy to begin eating, and she was almost halfway through when our food was finally ready. We also all needed water refills before the food was ready... which is a pain there since you would have to wait in the order line to ask for a refill had there been anyone else in the restaurant (there were maybe ten people in the entire place).
My burger was good. In fact, there was nothing to complain about. There was, however, a sauce on it that the menu did not mention. But, it was yummy, so I didn't care. The "spicy" curly fries were no spicier than you'd find at Arby's or Checker's/Rally's, but that was fine; I was hungry. Jonathan didn't care too much for the wings, deeming them a little plain. Kathy tried a couple as well, and thought that they were overcooked - Jonathan agreed.
In the end, we did take the remainder of the wings to-go, and Kathy also brought home half of her wrap. I finished my burger and opted not to bring home the fries... which tells you how mediocre they were. So, I'm not impressed as a whole. If there was a good sporting event on, I'd give them another try. They did have a nice arrangement of large televisions, though I would fear that it would be difficult to get them to put on a "non-regional" game, since there weren't tons of televisions. If we decide to return next football season, I'll be sure to give you guys a second report.
I honestly found a lot of faults with this place, and am not in a hurry to go there again. First, when you walk in, it's not really clear what the set-up is. Turns out, you walk all the way across the room to the counter where you pick up food. The menu is above that. You order at the register to the right of the counter. So, while you look at the menu, you're blocking the way of people coming up to get their food. And, if the restaurant had been crowded, this would have been a problem. Additionally, with the chairs and tables in the configuration we saw, I'm not sure where a line would even form if needed. I looked through the menu and was about ready to order when Kathy arrived, so we were able to place our orders at the same time.
Jonathan got 20 hot wings, I got the Boardwalk burger (but with regular bacon instead of Canadian and an upgrade of spicy curly fries instead of regular). Kathy ordered the chicken caesar wrap. When the cashier gave us our total, it sounded about a dollar high to me. I immediately mentioned it to Jonathan, who pointed out that I don't always remember that tax is so high out here (it is 9.5%). So, I waited to see the receipt. But, we didn't receive an itemized, only a credit card slip. So, I'm not positive that the prices on the menu were accurate. The cashier also wasn't the friendly type, so I moved on.
We chose a table and sat down with our waters, waiting for our buzzers to go off. It was at this point that I realized that they never asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, which concerned me (in the end, it was well, so that was fine with me). Kathy's buzzer went off first, and she went up to grab her food. She was surprised to find that it came with chips, as that was not noted on the menu. Our order did not come up for at least ten more minutes, which was disturbing. After the first five, Jonathan went up to check on it, but the woman was not able to articulate (at least in English) what the situation was, other than "a few more minutes." He was actually on his way up to ask again when it looked like our order was being placed on the counter for pick-up. Since it had been so long, we encouraged Kathy to begin eating, and she was almost halfway through when our food was finally ready. We also all needed water refills before the food was ready... which is a pain there since you would have to wait in the order line to ask for a refill had there been anyone else in the restaurant (there were maybe ten people in the entire place).
My burger was good. In fact, there was nothing to complain about. There was, however, a sauce on it that the menu did not mention. But, it was yummy, so I didn't care. The "spicy" curly fries were no spicier than you'd find at Arby's or Checker's/Rally's, but that was fine; I was hungry. Jonathan didn't care too much for the wings, deeming them a little plain. Kathy tried a couple as well, and thought that they were overcooked - Jonathan agreed.
In the end, we did take the remainder of the wings to-go, and Kathy also brought home half of her wrap. I finished my burger and opted not to bring home the fries... which tells you how mediocre they were. So, I'm not impressed as a whole. If there was a good sporting event on, I'd give them another try. They did have a nice arrangement of large televisions, though I would fear that it would be difficult to get them to put on a "non-regional" game, since there weren't tons of televisions. If we decide to return next football season, I'll be sure to give you guys a second report.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Red's Java House
We were helping a friend move up to San Francisco. After we got everything upstairs, he took us to eat at a burger place close to his new apartment.
Red's Java House isn't a coffeehouse, as one might guess. Instead, it's off Pier 30 and is kind of a hole-in-the-wall place, even though it is stand-alone. They were pretty quick, but I imagine that's because the menu is pretty simple. Jim, both of his new roommates, and I all had cheeseburgers. The patty was nothing special (similar to Burger King, really), but it was on a slab of sourdough bread, which was incredibly fresh and delicious. There was plenty of mustard, some onions and pickles, and nothing else. They actually pride themselves on the fact that they don't carry lettuce or tomatoes, which I thought was interesting. Jonathan went with the fish & chips. The battered outside was good, but left the inside a bit mushy. The portion was also HUGE, and Jonathan finished just half of the fish. The fries were thin, oily, and squishy... which is a no-go for me. Jim got the onion rings, which were heavy on the breading, but still pretty decent. It's a place that is frequented by his roommates, but I wasn't really taken with it. They have a daily special that varies from corned beef hash to tuna fish, but none of them really sounded fantastic to me. The sodas were also a bit overpriced, but I needed the sugar after moving so much stuff, LoL.
Red's Java House isn't a coffeehouse, as one might guess. Instead, it's off Pier 30 and is kind of a hole-in-the-wall place, even though it is stand-alone. They were pretty quick, but I imagine that's because the menu is pretty simple. Jim, both of his new roommates, and I all had cheeseburgers. The patty was nothing special (similar to Burger King, really), but it was on a slab of sourdough bread, which was incredibly fresh and delicious. There was plenty of mustard, some onions and pickles, and nothing else. They actually pride themselves on the fact that they don't carry lettuce or tomatoes, which I thought was interesting. Jonathan went with the fish & chips. The battered outside was good, but left the inside a bit mushy. The portion was also HUGE, and Jonathan finished just half of the fish. The fries were thin, oily, and squishy... which is a no-go for me. Jim got the onion rings, which were heavy on the breading, but still pretty decent. It's a place that is frequented by his roommates, but I wasn't really taken with it. They have a daily special that varies from corned beef hash to tuna fish, but none of them really sounded fantastic to me. The sodas were also a bit overpriced, but I needed the sugar after moving so much stuff, LoL.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Counter
I've probably said it before, but I'll say it again... I don't know if a burger and fries have ever failed to put me in a good mood. I love stuffed shells and pizza and chimichangas... dim sum and smoked duck and frozen custard make my day... but a cheeseburger and french fries just plain make me happy.
We were heading to Santana Row, which is an area of San Jose where we've been a couple of times before. With Borders closing all over the place, we wanted to go take advantage of some discounted items, and Jim suggested we all eat at The Counter. He had been there a few times before, but not recently. It's a smaller chain of burger places, where the big concept is "build your own burger."
You check boxes on a sheet filled with options, specifying the size of your burger, how you want it cooked, the type of bun, the cheese, the sauce, the toppings, etc. They also have this for drinks - pick your juice, liquor, spritzer, garnish, etc. I thought that was funny. We ordered a fifty-fifty to share - french fries and sweet potato fries in combination. There were tons... 5 people could have shared them. They weren't the best ever, and the flavor was nothing unique, but they worked. We also got fried pickles, since I love them and we haven't had them in a long time. They were thick and the sauce with which they were served wasn't tangy, which we generally expect. I wouldn't get them again, but it was nice to at least see them available out here!
I chose a ciabatta bun and a 1/3 lb burger, well-done. Cheddar cheese, garlic aioli, tomato, grilled onion, pickle, and banana peppers rounded it out. It was pretty good, though not exquisite. I'd get another burger there. Jonathan and Jim both felt theirs were under-cooked (they asked for medium-rare and got more of a rare), which is a common complaint when you read other reviews of this place. We all loved the grilled onions, but after that we had very different options. Jim ate his pretty quickly, and Jonathan was pretty happy with his selections. If there's one near you, I'd suggest you consider giving it a try - you might like it.
We were heading to Santana Row, which is an area of San Jose where we've been a couple of times before. With Borders closing all over the place, we wanted to go take advantage of some discounted items, and Jim suggested we all eat at The Counter. He had been there a few times before, but not recently. It's a smaller chain of burger places, where the big concept is "build your own burger."
You check boxes on a sheet filled with options, specifying the size of your burger, how you want it cooked, the type of bun, the cheese, the sauce, the toppings, etc. They also have this for drinks - pick your juice, liquor, spritzer, garnish, etc. I thought that was funny. We ordered a fifty-fifty to share - french fries and sweet potato fries in combination. There were tons... 5 people could have shared them. They weren't the best ever, and the flavor was nothing unique, but they worked. We also got fried pickles, since I love them and we haven't had them in a long time. They were thick and the sauce with which they were served wasn't tangy, which we generally expect. I wouldn't get them again, but it was nice to at least see them available out here!
I chose a ciabatta bun and a 1/3 lb burger, well-done. Cheddar cheese, garlic aioli, tomato, grilled onion, pickle, and banana peppers rounded it out. It was pretty good, though not exquisite. I'd get another burger there. Jonathan and Jim both felt theirs were under-cooked (they asked for medium-rare and got more of a rare), which is a common complaint when you read other reviews of this place. We all loved the grilled onions, but after that we had very different options. Jim ate his pretty quickly, and Jonathan was pretty happy with his selections. If there's one near you, I'd suggest you consider giving it a try - you might like it.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Seth & Harry's Bar & Grill
You know how there's a restaurant in every town that keep changing hands? In Mountain View it was UWink. I can think of 3 places in Port St. Lucie that have had this happen, LoL. In Fort Pierce, that restaurant in the Sabal Palm Plaza has been a bunch of different things, too. In Melbourne, it's On Tap. Then it was called Grill 192. Now it's called Seth & Harry's, but it might have had another name-change in there, I'm not sure.
Joe, Bryan, and I went to Seth & Harry's on a Thursday night for a late (8pm) dinner. I was not really impressed in any way, but the guys both thought it was okay. My biggest gripe would be the service. Our waitress wasn't clear on the menu items (particularly when she told me they had crinkly fries... they were straight), came by rarely, and we ultimately sat around waiting for the check for more than ten minutes.
We had the chicken nachos as an appetizer. It was one of the only menu items without a description, and when I asked what was on them, the waitress didn't know. We ordered them anyway, asking for black olives on the side if they were supposed to come with some. They were okay. They were served with a spicy salsa verde and some sour cream. The chicken was kinda pulled apart, as in not sliced, but not as in pulled chicken. The chips were tri-color, and the cheese was standard nacho.
I had the guacamole bacon burger, no lettuce, with fries. As I already mentioned, the fries were not what had been described. There was also lettuce on the burger... and no bacon. It already was cheeseless, so it ended up being a rather strange combination. I took half home, and it was much better with a layer of mashed potatoes, LoL. The fries were plain, and I didn't really care for them... with no flavoring, they could have at least been crunchy.
Joe had the French dip with coleslaw (though he did not order coleslaw, and was hoping for fries), and didn't have anything remarkable to say about it. Bryan wanted a buffalo chicken sandwich, which wasn't on the menu. There were buffalo chicken sliders, and they were able to create one large sandwich instead. He also had the fries as a side. Contrary to my opinion, Bryan liked the fries. He ended up ditching the bun to focus on his sandwich toward the end, so it must have been pretty good.
I don't really recommend the place, but they weren't all bad.
Joe, Bryan, and I went to Seth & Harry's on a Thursday night for a late (8pm) dinner. I was not really impressed in any way, but the guys both thought it was okay. My biggest gripe would be the service. Our waitress wasn't clear on the menu items (particularly when she told me they had crinkly fries... they were straight), came by rarely, and we ultimately sat around waiting for the check for more than ten minutes.
We had the chicken nachos as an appetizer. It was one of the only menu items without a description, and when I asked what was on them, the waitress didn't know. We ordered them anyway, asking for black olives on the side if they were supposed to come with some. They were okay. They were served with a spicy salsa verde and some sour cream. The chicken was kinda pulled apart, as in not sliced, but not as in pulled chicken. The chips were tri-color, and the cheese was standard nacho.
I had the guacamole bacon burger, no lettuce, with fries. As I already mentioned, the fries were not what had been described. There was also lettuce on the burger... and no bacon. It already was cheeseless, so it ended up being a rather strange combination. I took half home, and it was much better with a layer of mashed potatoes, LoL. The fries were plain, and I didn't really care for them... with no flavoring, they could have at least been crunchy.
Joe had the French dip with coleslaw (though he did not order coleslaw, and was hoping for fries), and didn't have anything remarkable to say about it. Bryan wanted a buffalo chicken sandwich, which wasn't on the menu. There were buffalo chicken sliders, and they were able to create one large sandwich instead. He also had the fries as a side. Contrary to my opinion, Bryan liked the fries. He ended up ditching the bun to focus on his sandwich toward the end, so it must have been pretty good.
I don't really recommend the place, but they weren't all bad.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Corner Bistro
We were spending another day in NYC, this time bringing our friend, Rob. We had already planned our meals, and we headed over to the Corner Bistro (menu outdated online), which is mentioned as a great burger place on How I Met Your Mother, a sitcom that's set in NYC. Rob and Jonathan each ordered a cheeseburger, and I had the bistro burger. Bistro apparently adds bacon, LoL. These burgers were FABULOUS. And I mean it. We all LOVED them. The fries were pretty average, but they were baked almost dry, so I was happy, LoL. Service was friendly (like mom-and-pop friendly!) and especially fast. The prices were beyond reasonable ($6 for a half-pound cheeseburger), and all three of us stand behind recommending the place to anyone and everyone. It's not even in a bad area of town... it's hard to come up with a negative (well, there is a tiny one. on my third refill, my water seemed to have a little greasy film on top. but Jonathan's didn't have this, so not sure where it came from).
Monday, May 31, 2010
White Castle
Jonathan had never been to a White Castle, and I haven't been in at least 15 years, so we drove up to New Brunswick one Sunday afternoon for a late lunch there. They sell the little burgers (sometimes referred to as "sliders"). They also have them in a chicken variety (and also fish, apparently), and the normal stuff like french fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks.
Hamburger: nothing special. Cheeseburger: I thought it tasted a lot like McDonald's, honestly. Plus the bun was a little soggy, and I kinda hate that. Chicken: get it without the cheese. French Fries: undercooked. Mozzarella Sticks: a hair below average.
JB can say he's been, and I now recall that I don't like White Castle.
Hamburger: nothing special. Cheeseburger: I thought it tasted a lot like McDonald's, honestly. Plus the bun was a little soggy, and I kinda hate that. Chicken: get it without the cheese. French Fries: undercooked. Mozzarella Sticks: a hair below average.
JB can say he's been, and I now recall that I don't like White Castle.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Broken Barrel Tavern
When we're in Florida, we generally eat at places that we've been to before, since we miss them when we're away. But, there's always exceptions (like Royal Thai to eat with Alan) and new places to try (which is the point of this entry). Broken Barrel Tavern is in the plaza behind Chili's at the corner of Babcock and Palm Bay. In the ten days we were there, we actually managed to eat there twice, LoL. And kinda a third time, haha.
The night Jonathan got in from the airport, we went there at the suggestion of Ebad, who usually goes on Thursday nights with Bryan. But there was a problem in the kitchen, and some of us hadn't eaten dinner yet, so we left and went somewhere else. The next night we went back, since the guys just couldn't shut up about this place.
The reason it's so popular is because they have like 400 different types of beers (bottles and drafts, etc.), and Ebad and Bryan have been working their way through trying all of them. I tried some of each one that was ordered, but still haven't found a single beer I'd drink, LoL. They did have a couple ciders that I thought about ordering, but none were pear, and that's my favorite (flashback to Faultline Brewery, LoL).
The first time, I ordered the cuban with fries, and was disappointed on both counts. The cuban was barely average, and the fries were poorly cooked homemade chips with very little seasoning. I actually had to ask for extra seasoning, but that didn't help all the much since the chips weren't cooked completely. The table did have an order of carrot chips, which were pretty good. Sliced thin and fried, what makes them great is the wasabi-ish dipping sauce with which they are served. Joe and Ebad both ordered wings, and they were fabulous! The secret is that they're smoked rather than grilled or fried, and it makes such a difference! SO DELICIOUS. Jonathan had ribs, very flavorful and not a lot of fat, which equals good in my book!
The second time (the following Thursday), I went with a cheeseburger, but substituted the chips (which they call fries, don't be confused) for french onion soup. For a place that isn't all that fancy, the soup was pretty good. The breading could have been better, but the flavor of the broth and the amount/type of cheese was very good. And, since there's no up-charge to get that as a side, I don't see how anyone goes with those nasty chips/fries, LoL. The burger was different... it had a distinct taste, which is probably because it is around smokers (many of their foods are smoked) constantly. It wasn't huge (I ate the whole thing, and I generally have leftovers with a restaurant burger), but it was good. Jonathan went with a half chicken (smoked) which was very good. Joe went with a ribs/wings platter, and Bryan had the cuban (he likes them a lot, and orders them nearly every time he goes there, apparently).
I can't comment on the beers, since I really don't remember any of them (what they were called or what they tasted like, LoL). But, the restaurant does have a detailed description of each beer, and that seems to be very handy for the connoisseurs (like Ebad, LoL).
The night Jonathan got in from the airport, we went there at the suggestion of Ebad, who usually goes on Thursday nights with Bryan. But there was a problem in the kitchen, and some of us hadn't eaten dinner yet, so we left and went somewhere else. The next night we went back, since the guys just couldn't shut up about this place.
The reason it's so popular is because they have like 400 different types of beers (bottles and drafts, etc.), and Ebad and Bryan have been working their way through trying all of them. I tried some of each one that was ordered, but still haven't found a single beer I'd drink, LoL. They did have a couple ciders that I thought about ordering, but none were pear, and that's my favorite (flashback to Faultline Brewery, LoL).
The first time, I ordered the cuban with fries, and was disappointed on both counts. The cuban was barely average, and the fries were poorly cooked homemade chips with very little seasoning. I actually had to ask for extra seasoning, but that didn't help all the much since the chips weren't cooked completely. The table did have an order of carrot chips, which were pretty good. Sliced thin and fried, what makes them great is the wasabi-ish dipping sauce with which they are served. Joe and Ebad both ordered wings, and they were fabulous! The secret is that they're smoked rather than grilled or fried, and it makes such a difference! SO DELICIOUS. Jonathan had ribs, very flavorful and not a lot of fat, which equals good in my book!
The second time (the following Thursday), I went with a cheeseburger, but substituted the chips (which they call fries, don't be confused) for french onion soup. For a place that isn't all that fancy, the soup was pretty good. The breading could have been better, but the flavor of the broth and the amount/type of cheese was very good. And, since there's no up-charge to get that as a side, I don't see how anyone goes with those nasty chips/fries, LoL. The burger was different... it had a distinct taste, which is probably because it is around smokers (many of their foods are smoked) constantly. It wasn't huge (I ate the whole thing, and I generally have leftovers with a restaurant burger), but it was good. Jonathan went with a half chicken (smoked) which was very good. Joe went with a ribs/wings platter, and Bryan had the cuban (he likes them a lot, and orders them nearly every time he goes there, apparently).
I can't comment on the beers, since I really don't remember any of them (what they were called or what they tasted like, LoL). But, the restaurant does have a detailed description of each beer, and that seems to be very handy for the connoisseurs (like Ebad, LoL).
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Richter's Burgers
Tori and I spent a day at Universal Studios in Orlando. I hadn't been to the park in about seven years (although it might have been six), and Tori hadn't been in several years, either. We surveyed our lunch options and went with Richter's Burgers, where I had a burger and Tori had a chicken sandwich. Nothing awesome, but it was good and filled us up for the rest of the day – no dinner needed.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cheeseburgers & More
I was down in Jupiter, FL playing dodgeball with my brother and sister. After the game, we went to the after-party at a dive called Average Joe's, but it was, um, a dive, LoL. So, we left and went to Cheeseburgers & More, since a couple of the guys had been there and agreed the burgers were good. It wasn't the greatest place ever, and I certainly wasn't as impressed as some (neither was Kyla for that matter), but they did have some great onion rings. I also got out of there for $10 with tip, so not bad in that perspective.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Camelback
This year, time almost got away from us when it comes to snowsports, since we only got around to spending a day in the mountains in the first week of March... after peak ski season in this area. But, we did it. We went to Camelback.
About 3:30pm, we broke for lunch, and had fantastic food and service at Thirsty Camel, with a pretty good cover band playing. I had the Italian wrap (one of the best I've ever had, actually), which came with Italian dressing and some yummy tortilla chips (and a pickle). Jonathan went with a cheeseburger and waffle fries, both were delicious. Our server was very attentive to bringing me water (I downed four glasses), which made me happy.
About 3:30pm, we broke for lunch, and had fantastic food and service at Thirsty Camel, with a pretty good cover band playing. I had the Italian wrap (one of the best I've ever had, actually), which came with Italian dressing and some yummy tortilla chips (and a pickle). Jonathan went with a cheeseburger and waffle fries, both were delicious. Our server was very attentive to bringing me water (I downed four glasses), which made me happy.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Cheeseburger in Paradise
We've been driving by it and talking about it since we first tried Cheeburger Cheeburger back in September. Well, the time came to try Cheeseburger in Paradise.
We were surprised when we walked in, as the restaurant had a uniquely roundish setup, and plenty of televisions (aka this is definitely a place we can watch the games! too bad football season is about over...). Rob joined us for lunch at the place, and we had very prompt service throughout the entire meal.
We ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer, and they were the best that I have had in a long time. The sauce is a sweet horseradish, but very fitting. I also tried their Disgruntled Elf Margarita, which was fantastic, especially for $6.75.
I went with the typical Bacon Cheddar burger, and Jonathan had the Bleu Cheese/Buffalo burger. I liked mine quite a bit, and Jonathan thought it was pretty good. Rob went with their mix 'n match, choosing the salad and the crab burgers. He said the crab was okay and the salad was pretty good. The fries were tasty, but beware they are the thin and scraggly kind.
Good place, I'd recommend. But, the real question is how does it compare to the nearby Cheeburger Cheeburger? Well, the onion rings at Chee beat out the fries here, but the pickles are a real contender. The shakes at Chee are wonderful, but there's cocktails here. Diner vs. sports atmosphere. The burgers I'm going to give to Chee, mostly since they're soooo customizable. I think it's gonna be a mood-dependent question. Feel like pickles or onion rings? burgers or burgers and other options (they have a cuban sandwich here that I'd love to try)?
We were surprised when we walked in, as the restaurant had a uniquely roundish setup, and plenty of televisions (aka this is definitely a place we can watch the games! too bad football season is about over...). Rob joined us for lunch at the place, and we had very prompt service throughout the entire meal.
We ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer, and they were the best that I have had in a long time. The sauce is a sweet horseradish, but very fitting. I also tried their Disgruntled Elf Margarita, which was fantastic, especially for $6.75.
I went with the typical Bacon Cheddar burger, and Jonathan had the Bleu Cheese/Buffalo burger. I liked mine quite a bit, and Jonathan thought it was pretty good. Rob went with their mix 'n match, choosing the salad and the crab burgers. He said the crab was okay and the salad was pretty good. The fries were tasty, but beware they are the thin and scraggly kind.
Good place, I'd recommend. But, the real question is how does it compare to the nearby Cheeburger Cheeburger? Well, the onion rings at Chee beat out the fries here, but the pickles are a real contender. The shakes at Chee are wonderful, but there's cocktails here. Diner vs. sports atmosphere. The burgers I'm going to give to Chee, mostly since they're soooo customizable. I think it's gonna be a mood-dependent question. Feel like pickles or onion rings? burgers or burgers and other options (they have a cuban sandwich here that I'd love to try)?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Atlantic City: Burger
so with Atlantic City being just 90 minutes or so away, Jonathan decided he'd like to go there for his birthday. It was just the two of us, and we only went for a day/night. It was fun, but since it's totally not season (we were there the day before the big snowstorm began), there were a lot of closed things and we didn't get a chance to see a whole lot. We stayed at the Trump Taj Mahal.
We went looking for dinner inside... and it took quite a while. There are four fine dining restaurants and six casual restaurants, then a few fast food places. Private parties had all of the fine dining places booked, and half of the casual places. One casual place wasn't open. That left us two choices (we didn't really want Sbarro pizza or Mrs. Field's cookies for his birthday dinner, LoL!)... one had an $11 grilled cheese sandwich (just to give you an idea of the crazy item pricing), and the other was a burger joint. We chose the latter, simply named "Burger." I had a bacon and cheddar, he had a mushroom and swiss. Both were quite good, actually. The fries were tasty as well.
We went looking for dinner inside... and it took quite a while. There are four fine dining restaurants and six casual restaurants, then a few fast food places. Private parties had all of the fine dining places booked, and half of the casual places. One casual place wasn't open. That left us two choices (we didn't really want Sbarro pizza or Mrs. Field's cookies for his birthday dinner, LoL!)... one had an $11 grilled cheese sandwich (just to give you an idea of the crazy item pricing), and the other was a burger joint. We chose the latter, simply named "Burger." I had a bacon and cheddar, he had a mushroom and swiss. Both were quite good, actually. The fries were tasty as well.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Graffiti Junktion = Awesome
When we landed in Orlando for a trip, Bryan, Joe, and DJ picked us up. We weren't in a hurry, and I had read about a newer place that had great reviews, so we headed over to the downtown area for a late dinner.
When we arrived at Graffiti Junktion, the place was hopping! It was seat-yourself, and we were quite fortunate to grab what looked like the last four-person table in the place (we added a chair on the end). Our waitress was awesome (her name was either Shannon or Melissa... we can't remember which), and we quickly had our drinks and placed an order. The restaurant was realllly loud at first, but we realized that was because there was a basketball game on (the Magic was playing), but there were less than 20 seconds to go, and after they won the place quieted a lot and emptied out some as well.
Their mojito is supposed to be really good, and Bryan, DJ, and Joe all liked it. I tried a sip, but I'm not a big mojito fan so I can't give it a fair review. The appetizer we got was potato skins. They were big and pretty standard as far as toppings and preparations go, but they came with sides of sour cream and Texas-style chili. There were only four, but they were pretty big. We all liked them.
Their burgers are their big draw, and that's what we all got. DJ got a turkey burger with sprouts, I had a regular burger with smoked gouda, and the rest of the group all got the buffalo burgers with various toppings. Joe and JB both got fried egg and canadian bacon on theirs. I'm not stretching the truth at all by saying that everybody was more than pleased with their meals. The entire way home and part of the next couple days we reminisced about how good those burgers were! The bun wasn't anything special, and I have never seen pickles sliced so thin, but it made for a great burger.
The fries were diner-ish... cut with skins on them and a little greasy... but still pretty okay. Get the barbecue sauce on the side... it is among the best I've ever had. I was the only one with anything left over to take home, and my microwaved burger was just as delicious the next day for lunch! What a winner we found!!
When we arrived at Graffiti Junktion, the place was hopping! It was seat-yourself, and we were quite fortunate to grab what looked like the last four-person table in the place (we added a chair on the end). Our waitress was awesome (her name was either Shannon or Melissa... we can't remember which), and we quickly had our drinks and placed an order. The restaurant was realllly loud at first, but we realized that was because there was a basketball game on (the Magic was playing), but there were less than 20 seconds to go, and after they won the place quieted a lot and emptied out some as well.
Their mojito is supposed to be really good, and Bryan, DJ, and Joe all liked it. I tried a sip, but I'm not a big mojito fan so I can't give it a fair review. The appetizer we got was potato skins. They were big and pretty standard as far as toppings and preparations go, but they came with sides of sour cream and Texas-style chili. There were only four, but they were pretty big. We all liked them.
Their burgers are their big draw, and that's what we all got. DJ got a turkey burger with sprouts, I had a regular burger with smoked gouda, and the rest of the group all got the buffalo burgers with various toppings. Joe and JB both got fried egg and canadian bacon on theirs. I'm not stretching the truth at all by saying that everybody was more than pleased with their meals. The entire way home and part of the next couple days we reminisced about how good those burgers were! The bun wasn't anything special, and I have never seen pickles sliced so thin, but it made for a great burger.
The fries were diner-ish... cut with skins on them and a little greasy... but still pretty okay. Get the barbecue sauce on the side... it is among the best I've ever had. I was the only one with anything left over to take home, and my microwaved burger was just as delicious the next day for lunch! What a winner we found!!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Langhorne Ale House
We had planned to go to JB Dawson's for the game last weekend, but when we got there we realized that there were only a few televisions, so we decided to go to Chili's. But on the way to Chili's we passed the Langhorne Ale House, and pulled in there. I found out much later that it's owned by Miller's, for those familiar with that chain.
We waited about twenty minutes, but they were nice enough to put the game on one of their two foyer televisions, so although it was quite cold, we were able to watch the game while we sat. The place was really busy (we arrived just before 8pm), but we were eventually seated at a table large enough for six people. With the hockey game on the larger screens, we had a little difficulty getting the server to change one of the sets to the FSU-Clemson game (the hostess had assured me that there would be no problem in getting a television changed), but eventually got a screen changed that we could both see.
We decided not to have an appetizer, basically because they were kinda pricey. I ordered a Bistro burger, Jonathan had the porterhouse steak. The wait was about average, and I would have expected to need to be much more patient, given the size of the restaurants and number of patrons.
Mine came with pretty good fries, Jonathan's had fries and average corn. My burger was on ciabatta bread with an onion ring, bacon, cheddar cheese, the thinnest pickle slice ever, tomato, and delightful bistro sauce (red pepper and garlic). It was very tasty; I'd recommend it. Jonathan spent a long time on his steak (not his usual cut of meat), and in the end decided it was pretty good, but strange/rough.
Service was fair until it was time for the check, when our server did twelve other things beside handing us the bill. But all in all, a decent place. They have a very wide beer selection (which is hard to find in the area, aside from places like Isaac Newton's), and one drink that I'd like to try (which sounds rather ridiculous, since they have thirty pages of beverages), so I'm fairly certain we'll be back before 2010.
We waited about twenty minutes, but they were nice enough to put the game on one of their two foyer televisions, so although it was quite cold, we were able to watch the game while we sat. The place was really busy (we arrived just before 8pm), but we were eventually seated at a table large enough for six people. With the hockey game on the larger screens, we had a little difficulty getting the server to change one of the sets to the FSU-Clemson game (the hostess had assured me that there would be no problem in getting a television changed), but eventually got a screen changed that we could both see.
We decided not to have an appetizer, basically because they were kinda pricey. I ordered a Bistro burger, Jonathan had the porterhouse steak. The wait was about average, and I would have expected to need to be much more patient, given the size of the restaurants and number of patrons.
Mine came with pretty good fries, Jonathan's had fries and average corn. My burger was on ciabatta bread with an onion ring, bacon, cheddar cheese, the thinnest pickle slice ever, tomato, and delightful bistro sauce (red pepper and garlic). It was very tasty; I'd recommend it. Jonathan spent a long time on his steak (not his usual cut of meat), and in the end decided it was pretty good, but strange/rough.
Service was fair until it was time for the check, when our server did twelve other things beside handing us the bill. But all in all, a decent place. They have a very wide beer selection (which is hard to find in the area, aside from places like Isaac Newton's), and one drink that I'd like to try (which sounds rather ridiculous, since they have thirty pages of beverages), so I'm fairly certain we'll be back before 2010.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Yardley Continental Tavern
On a Sunday afternoon, it was a beautiful day out (like 77 degrees), and we decided to go to downtown Yardley and have lunch at an outdoor cafe. Problem was, we had a hard time finding one, and decided to go to the Continental Tavern.
We walked in to a lot of cheering (the Eagles were playing), and the bar area was packed. We headed into the dining area and were told to choose our own table. We both had burgers - I went with the "classic" and Jonathan chose the "continental." Mine had tomato, lettuce, and a choice of cheese (I went with cheddar, as opposed to American or Monterrey Jack). Jonathan's had mushrooms and onions with swiss. Both were good, although they undercook a little (I went with "well" and had a hint of pink, while Jonathan's "medium" was a little rare in the center). The buns were fabulous! We also got shoestring fries... delicious plain! Jonathan paid $1 to have his sprinkled with Old Bay and get a side of a queso-like cheese for dipping. The dip cheese was very good.
The place specializes in burgers, but also has steaks and ribs for dinner. I'd recommend Cheeburger Cheeburger over this place for burgers, tho.
We walked in to a lot of cheering (the Eagles were playing), and the bar area was packed. We headed into the dining area and were told to choose our own table. We both had burgers - I went with the "classic" and Jonathan chose the "continental." Mine had tomato, lettuce, and a choice of cheese (I went with cheddar, as opposed to American or Monterrey Jack). Jonathan's had mushrooms and onions with swiss. Both were good, although they undercook a little (I went with "well" and had a hint of pink, while Jonathan's "medium" was a little rare in the center). The buns were fabulous! We also got shoestring fries... delicious plain! Jonathan paid $1 to have his sprinkled with Old Bay and get a side of a queso-like cheese for dipping. The dip cheese was very good.
The place specializes in burgers, but also has steaks and ribs for dinner. I'd recommend Cheeburger Cheeburger over this place for burgers, tho.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Jonathan and I felt like burgers, so we headed over toward Sesame Place, where Cheeburger Cheeburger is. Ironically, it's less than a quarter-mile from Cheeseburger in Paradise, so I'm surprised they both get a lot of business!
It's a diner in style and concept, and we were greeted by a fabulous host (who Jonathan suspects may have been an owner), who explained their menu. It's not hard, it's just big. If you want a salad or a wrap, there's a lot of options. If you want a burger you pick your size (5.5 oz, 7 oz, 10 oz, 14oz, and 20 oz), then your cheese (8 choices), and your toppings (30 toppings - ALL FREE). There's a few premium items, like sauteed onions, portabello mushrooms, and bacon - they cost extra.
Jonathan got American cheese on his, but very little else. I chose CheddarJack with tomatoes, pickles, onions, and grey poupon. Next time I'd try a different sauce (there's many), as grey poupon is a little strong for a burger. Otherwise, it was delicious, and we both brought home leftovers. We also got the "best of both basket" filled with fries (the kind with skin) and the BEST onion rings of my life. We couldn't even finish a half-order, and know next time to just get the onion rings! They have five dipping sauces for these items, and we tried three... the creamy cheese (I thought it was salty, JB liked it), the zesty horseradish (fantastic with the onion rings!), and the sweet pepper (strange aftertaste... kinda oily).
We got milkshakes to go (they have like 80 flavors!!), and I'd recommend getting them to go, since they get better after they're a little melty. I got the regular and Jonathan got the small... the regular is definitely a better deal, LoL. I had the s'mores flavor, he had the Take 5 flavor (with all of the ingredients of the candy bar). I adored mine straight through til the end, and Jonathan liked his while munching on some pretzels to balance out the sweet-salty.
Last bit to note: the tables all have laminated trivial pursuit cards to keep you occupied while you wait... and since we like that sort of thing we had a good time even before our meals got there! They have a bunch of deals, too - including platters and dinner-and-a-movie deals. We'll be back when we need a burger fix!
It's a diner in style and concept, and we were greeted by a fabulous host (who Jonathan suspects may have been an owner), who explained their menu. It's not hard, it's just big. If you want a salad or a wrap, there's a lot of options. If you want a burger you pick your size (5.5 oz, 7 oz, 10 oz, 14oz, and 20 oz), then your cheese (8 choices), and your toppings (30 toppings - ALL FREE). There's a few premium items, like sauteed onions, portabello mushrooms, and bacon - they cost extra.
Jonathan got American cheese on his, but very little else. I chose CheddarJack with tomatoes, pickles, onions, and grey poupon. Next time I'd try a different sauce (there's many), as grey poupon is a little strong for a burger. Otherwise, it was delicious, and we both brought home leftovers. We also got the "best of both basket" filled with fries (the kind with skin) and the BEST onion rings of my life. We couldn't even finish a half-order, and know next time to just get the onion rings! They have five dipping sauces for these items, and we tried three... the creamy cheese (I thought it was salty, JB liked it), the zesty horseradish (fantastic with the onion rings!), and the sweet pepper (strange aftertaste... kinda oily).
We got milkshakes to go (they have like 80 flavors!!), and I'd recommend getting them to go, since they get better after they're a little melty. I got the regular and Jonathan got the small... the regular is definitely a better deal, LoL. I had the s'mores flavor, he had the Take 5 flavor (with all of the ingredients of the candy bar). I adored mine straight through til the end, and Jonathan liked his while munching on some pretzels to balance out the sweet-salty.
Last bit to note: the tables all have laminated trivial pursuit cards to keep you occupied while you wait... and since we like that sort of thing we had a good time even before our meals got there! They have a bunch of deals, too - including platters and dinner-and-a-movie deals. We'll be back when we need a burger fix!
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Green Parrot
Jonathan, Andrew, and I went to The Green Parrot (their website needs to be updated) in downtown Newtown on Friday night. It's "green" as in it's both an Irish place and they're really into environmentally-friendly and organic stuff.
Andrew tried a couple of their beers (they have a very long list), I went with the Mangotini, and Jonathan had a Dreamsicle-like drink. Mine was very fruit punchy in the beginning, but got stronger in the end. Cocktails were overpriced.
We started with the Philly Egg Rolls, which basically meant steak and cheese in an egg roll shell. They were very greasy, pretty tasty, and were about twice as much as they should have been. I wouldn't get them again, just because they were like $7.75 for four pieces.
Jonathan and I shared the Fajita Burger (we had a late lunch trying the new boneless wings at Wendy's... buffalo and Asian flavors aren't that good), which I really enjoyed, but Jonathan would have preferred a less-done burger, LoL. The fries were very good, which excited me. Get a side of remoulade sauce. Andrew went with the French Dip, and felt it was pretty average.
All in all, it was a neat place, worth trying again. Oh, but beware there's not a lot of parking, unless you want to valet with two sketchy-looking teenagers sitting on a curb.
Andrew tried a couple of their beers (they have a very long list), I went with the Mangotini, and Jonathan had a Dreamsicle-like drink. Mine was very fruit punchy in the beginning, but got stronger in the end. Cocktails were overpriced.
We started with the Philly Egg Rolls, which basically meant steak and cheese in an egg roll shell. They were very greasy, pretty tasty, and were about twice as much as they should have been. I wouldn't get them again, just because they were like $7.75 for four pieces.
Jonathan and I shared the Fajita Burger (we had a late lunch trying the new boneless wings at Wendy's... buffalo and Asian flavors aren't that good), which I really enjoyed, but Jonathan would have preferred a less-done burger, LoL. The fries were very good, which excited me. Get a side of remoulade sauce. Andrew went with the French Dip, and felt it was pretty average.
All in all, it was a neat place, worth trying again. Oh, but beware there's not a lot of parking, unless you want to valet with two sketchy-looking teenagers sitting on a curb.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Food in Steinhatchee
On Saturday we were up in Steinhatchee, kayaking down the river, and checked out the new "music park" (at the new boat ramp across from the Dollar General) that night. The owner of the ramp/park plays guitar and harmonica, and he gathers a crowd for a few hours on Friday and Saturday nights (starting at 6pm). We went from 6:30-8pm or so, and tried out the food, too. Jonathan and I shared a cheeseburger ($6) and an Italian sausage ($4), with a coke ($1). Each meal came with chips, too. They were pretty good for the price.[update 4/20/11: this isn't happening anymore]
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SFO Food
We flew out of San Francisco during dinner time, so we grabbed a bite to eat at the Firewood Grill before leaving. JB had a burger, I had a chicken panini. The fries were good, he finished his burger, I didn't finish my cheese-less chicken.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)