Month: September 2023

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at noon (Wayne’s Pick)

Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K., and Innie C.
Slider members in attendance: Ellis d.-Y. and Lucy Y.
Special Guests: Chris Y. and Marissa G.

I. Ordering
Their standard burgers are just that: standard. They come with fresh angus beef, American cheese, district sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles, caramelized onions, seasoning on a sesame gourmet bun. You have the option to do a ground turkey, veggie, or vegan patty as well, and you can do a letuce wrap. Not sure what that is? Maybe a small amount of lettuce (thus the single t)? 🤷🏽‍♀️

They also have some pretty intense looking specialty burgers.

Trevor and I ordered a Double ($10) + bacon (+$2) Combo (+$5 – comes with fries and a drink). And we got a single burger for Ellis that we asked for plain.

Chris and Innie got a Double ($10) with jalapeno spread (+$1) with fries ($5 – fresh cut Kennebec potatoes).

Wayne was Wayne and got a specialty burger called the threefle ($13) – 3 beef patties, American cheese, truffle mushroom, caramelized onion & garlic truffle aioli (not pictured because Wayne is sheisty with his pictures).

Lastly, DK and Marissa got a Double ($10) with jalapeno spread (+$1) and egg (+$1) and cheese fries!

II. The Burgers
In true Wayne fashion, the burgers were unhinge-your-jaw big. I typically like doubles because of the good meat-to-bun ratio, but these were huge! I had originally been eyeing the threefle because of the delicious sounding toppings, but was worried about the triple patty. I’m glad I didn’t go that route because I already had trouble eating the double!

The meat was oooookay. It was a rough grind and cooked more medium well. It was still juicy, but chewy. Seemed like perhaps there were frozen patties being used. It wasn’t overwhelmingly beefy despite the volume of meat.

The burgers came out hot and fresh. The toppings were good! The cheese was cheesy and gooey. The sauce was saucy. I didn’t hate the tomato in my burger (which is saying a lot since I usually think tomatoes completely water down most burgers); even DK forgot to give his tomato to Trev! 😯 The jalapeno spread was jalapeno-y and gave the burger that hit of acid and kick of spice (for those of you who like a little pain with your burger).

I love me a sesame seed bun and these buns held up well to the copious amounts of beef and juice and toppings.

III. The Sides
The french fries were excellent. We had a spirited debate over whether these fries should be considered shoe string. We have submitted a request to the Council of Potato Cutters to review our case. I’ll post an update once I get a reply.

DK said the cheese fries were really good. It tasted more like mac-and-cheese cheese instead of American cheese or nacho cheese.

IV. Miscellaneous
Burger District LA is located in the fashion district so it’s a bit of a cluster F to get there and find parking. The location itself was cozy (read: small) with limited seating and didn’t have air conditioning, which does not bode well for us moving forward in the age of climate change and record-setting heat.

They had very interesting art and loud music. So it was kind of like eating burgers at a rave gallery with no AC.

Service was very friendly. They gave us plenty of napkins for these juicy burgers. And they were pretty quick (despite signs reminding patrons to be patient since good food takes time).

V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $11.50 to $15. So we thought there was a good value with these big mouth burgers!

VI. The Verdict
Burgers are good for those looking for a value and for those who appreciate a fine sesame seed bun The ratings: 3.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 4.3

Next burger crew meeting: Saturday, September 9th at noon – Plaid Sheep Grilled Cheese Bar – Long Beach.

Burger Crew meeting called to order on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 11am Central (8th stop in our Burger Crew Does Chicago trip).

Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, Wayne, DK, Innie, and me (Sumana)

Special Guests: Marissa, Chris, Will, and kiddos

1. Ordering

• Slagel Farms Beef Burger ($24) with caramelized onions on a house potato bap (aka bun) with chips and a dill pickle [ordered by Angela/Trevor, Innie/Chris, Marissa/DK, Wayne,  Will/Sumana]
• Pancakes with maple syrup and house bacon ($16) [ordered by Innie/Chris]
• Seasonal Quiche with a side salad ($16) [ordered by Angela/Trevor]
• House Pork Bangers and Mash with cider onion gravy and roasted garlic ($21) [ordered by Will/Sumana]

2. Burgers

• Patty: thick/tall patty; all ordered medium-rare; the patty was not consistent- it would be partially seared, sometimes dry ; most of the crew did not like the beef and thought it was more like a meatloaf
• Bun: the top bun was toasted, but the bottom bun got very soggy
• Toppings: generally people liked the caramelized onions, which were very flavorful; a pickle spear came on the side so it wasn’t something we could easily add to the burger
• Most of the crew thought this burger was a letdown, especially with all the amazing burgers we had on the trip.

3. Sides/Non-Burger Foods

• Chips: the fries were good, crispy, hot, and came with an aioli that people liked
• Pancakes: soft and sweet; the side of bacon was thin and crispy
• Quiche: good, but the side salad was a weird mix of ingredients
• Bangers and Mash: hearty and delicious
• Drinks: coke came in a can; drip coffee was good

TIP: Since this place specialized in British pub food, I would recommend ordering those specialties and checking out their beer selection!

4. Miscellaneous

• They were able to accommodate our large party at one table/area even though we originally made three separate reservations through their online reservation system that had party size limits.
• High chairs are available.
• There are two restrooms.
• We were one of the few groups in the restaurant, but it took a long time to get the food.
• Since we had some kiddos, we had asked for their food (the pancakes) to come out first, but even though we followed up to ask for the food, it ended up taking a long time and came out with the rest of the food for the whole table.

5. Value

$12, $12, $13, $16, $18, and I abstained
Average value = $14.20

6. The Verdict

2.2, 3.0, 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.6
Average rating = 3.17

Although the burger was the lowest rated burger of our whole trip, it’s sad to hear that Owen & Engine closed down permanently on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. This marks the end of a 14-year run for their restaurant.

This was our last stop in our Chicago trip! Til’ next time, crew!

Burger Crew meeting called to order on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 8:30p.

Members in attendance: Angela, Trevor, Wayne, DK, Sumana, and me (Innie).

Special guests: Chris, Marissa, and Will

Petit hamburger au fromage: Lucy

I. Ordering

The Loyalist has 2 burger options: The Classic Cheeseburger (smash patty, onion gastrique, special sauce, potato bun with side of frites) for $25, and The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger (pickled and charred onion, sesame bun with a side of frites) also for $25. 

Trevor and Angela shared the Loyalist OG burger for their main course, finishing with a dessert course of the Classic burger.  Sumana ordered both the Classic and Loyalist (for science).  DK, Wayne, and I all ordered the Loyalist.  Wayne also supplemented his meal by appropriating a bite of Sumana’s Classic burger.

II. Burgers

Both burgers were amazing in their own rights. 

The Classic was smash patty style burger that really lived up to its name and delivered on its description.  The members reported a great smash, with crispy sear and edges, and a good balance of savory richness and acid.  Wayne declared it to be the peak McDonalds cheeseburger experience, and Sumana agreed that it was thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable.  The potato buns had a good chew.  The sauce was thousand island style, and it balanced well with the pickled onions.

The Loyalist OG burger came with a thicker patty, still with an impressive sear, and great beefy flavor.  The Loyalist (the establishment, not the burger) really delivered on the meat quality, because we all agreed that the patties here were top notch.  The Loyalist (the burger, not the establishment) was very rich, but in a satisfying way, much like the famous Au Cheval burger.  The Loyalist burger may have even had a step up on Au Cheval, having more pickle and acid to balance the richness of the meat.  The sesame buns had multiple rounds of compliments, having a nice, chewy texture and lots of sesame seeds.  The chive onion aioli was delicious and added a great depth of flavor.  Angela and DK really liked the pickles, which was surprising since they were sweeter than their usual preference.

Neither burger had any lettuce or tomatoes, but no one seemed to miss their absence.

As for which burger was better, that discussion may rank as one of our S-tier disagreements in Burger Crew history (alongside our other long standing Pickle Preferences and Bacon Doneness disputes):

Trev chimed that the Classic was being overhyped. 

Sumana thought the Loyalist was a bit too mushy in texture and preferred the crispiness of the Classic, but DK thought the mayo, cheese, and thickness of the Loyalist’s patty combined to be mushy in a satisfying way. 

Wayne had a bite of Sumana’s Classic before eating his Loyalist and wished he had gotten the Classic instead.

Angela thought the Loyalist was meatier in flavor than the Classic.

As the documentarian of this review, and having enjoyed only the Loyalist burger without point of comparison to the Classic, I ate some proverbial popcorn and watched the brawl unfold.

Angela posited that there could be an order effect in place that was causing the division amongst our ranks.  Trevor and Angela both had the Loyalist first before having their Classic, and much preferred the Loyalist.  Wayne and Sumana, who preferred the Classic, tasted that burger first.  It really gives credit to the establishment that they created two completely different burgers that magically made everyone fall for the first bite they had.

III. Sides

The fries (“frites”) that came with each burger were of the double-fried Yukon Gold variety, and were very good.  They stayed crispy long into the meal, which is always appreciated.  They came served with the same onion aioli that is spread on the Loyalist OG burger.

IV. Miscellaneous

The Loyalist served us some well crafted cocktails, and we loved the cool vibe of the restaurant and bar. It seems like a great chill counterpart to its fancier Michelin starred sister restaurant upstairs.  They even have a dart room, as observed by Sumana during a quick stroll. 

The service was awesome, both by our server, Judy, and who(m)ever was working the reservations.  We originally had 2 smaller, separate reservations held by Angela and Sumana due to the limited offerings on Open Table.  However, Angela received a pre-reservation questionnaire from the restaurant, which included a question asking if any special event was being celebrated.  Angela commented that we were a group of friends travelling from Los Angeles to eat burgers, and that her party was with the Sumana group.  They were able to combine the two and sat us all together in a large booth.  It’s nice to see that they listen to all those questionnaire responses and try to accommodate based on the responses!

Small Cheval, the secondary location of Au Cheval, is the next block over, making it an opportune place to have a dessert burger!

V. Value/Ratings

The members were asked how much they would pay for their burgers and what their ratings were.

Me: 4.2/ $15

DK: 4.0/ $17

Wayne: 4.5/ $13

Sumana: 4.3

Trev: 4.9/ $17

Angela: 5.0/ $20

Chicago is serving up a great batting average of amazing burgers!  Next stop, Owen & Engine.

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Saturday, July 8 at 11am (6th location – Burger Crew Does Chicago)

Members in attendance: Angela d., Trevor Y., Sumana S., Wayne T., Dennis K., and Innie C.
Slider members in attendance: Marty, Lucy
Guests: Chris Y., Marissa G.

I. Ordering
The menu at The Region is in desperate need of a Trader Joe’s chalkboard artist. You’d never guess that this small, arguably-hole-in-the-wall type establishment would serve some of the best burgers in Chicago, and perhaps one of the better smash burgers in the country… side. Almost got carried away there.

Here’s what we ate:
– Trev and Angela ordered the Single Cheese ($10.50) with bacon (+$2.50) and grilled onions (+$0.50) with a side of fried pickles ($8.50)
– Sumana ordered the Diggity Dos ($15.75) with bacon (+$2.50) and insanity (+$1.00)
– Wayne ordered the Diggity Dos ($15.75)
– Innie ordered the Single Cheese ($10.50) with a side of fries ($6.95)
– I ordered the Single Cheese ($10.50) with jalapenos (+$1.00)

II. The Burgers
These burgers stole our hearts. Cooked to order, just like back in our homeland. The patties were stretched to their limits and the resulting meat skirt, lace, whatever you want to call it, was crispy, caramelized, beef candy.

We asked our dear friend Ron Swason (not ChatGPT!) to write a review of their burgers and here’s what he said on the voicemail that we, in our shortsightedness, have since deleted:

"Son, I recently tackled a burger that was nothing short of a meaty rebellion. The patty, wide as a barn door, threatened to overshadow the buns entirely. It was so crispy you could hear the crunch echo through the wilderness, and hotter than a campfire on a chilly night. But here's where the burger gods failed us – the cheese. It was scarcer than a vegetarian at a butcher shop. If you want a burger with a side of adventure and don't mind taking matters into your own cheese-loving hands, give it a shot. Just remember, real men bring their own cheese to the party."

It’s true. The burger does need more cheese.

III. The Sides
Innie ordered the fries and said they were just okay. Obviously, in Chicago we were nowhere close to France, so expectations were low going in.

As for the fried pickles, well we asked a pickle expert:

Eh, what's up, doc? So, I tried these fried pickle spears, and, you know, they're a real hoot! Crispy on the outside, like a carrot after a workout, and inside, it's pickle pandemonium! But here's the trick, folks, you gotta be as patient as a tortoise racing a hare, or else you'll end up with a mouthful of pickle juice hotter than Yosemite Sam's temper. So, be vewy, vewy careful, and enjoy your pickle adventure, pal!

IV. Miscellaneous
There are like maybe ten seats inside. There’s a patio too which I’ve heard is great when the AQI is 100 or above. The higher the number, the better… always. The staff was very patient with us; the guy taking our orders answered the same questions over and over because we didn’t game plan enough amongst ourselves. And there are a couple of cold spots inside — look for the vents if you want to avoid the arctic winds.

V. Value
I asked the members how much they would pay for their burgers. The responses ranged anywhere from $9.00 to $16, slightly below their prices. Gotta love inflation and corporate greed. Oh wait, we’re supposed to leave on a positive note!

VI. The Verdict
If you’re looking for a pretty little thing wearing an oversized meat skirt, look no further. The ratings: 3.8, 4.1, 4.4, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8

Next stop: The Loyalist

Burger Crew Meeting called to order on Friday, July 7th at 5:30pm (5th location – Burger Crew Does Chicago)

Members in attendance: Angela d. (that’s me!), Sumana, S., Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K., and Innie C.
Slider member in attendance: Lucy Y.
Guests: Will G., Chris Y., and Marissa G.

I. Ordering
They only have 1 burger on the menu: Mott Burger (until 7pm) $18 – sweet potato shoestrings, hoisin aioli, pickled jalapenos, dill pickles, miso butter onions, american cheese. + $2 to add egg

Collectively we ordered 5 burgers. They also have a ton of great looking food there, so we also got 2 orders of the crispy chili cauliflower $19 (sweet & tangy sauce, Szechuan peppercorn, coriander, bean sprout salad), brussels sprouts $15 (lamb pancetta, maple brown butter, peanuts), char siu pork belly $26 (braised & sauteed in chinese style bbq, sweet soy, five spice, kohlrabi greens), and drinks (lychee paloma freeze, beer, listen to your elders, and a salted lime soda + gin).

II. The Burgers
The burgers were a great mix of sweet, salty, and savory. This is truly an umami burger. There were a lot of interesting ingredients, but nothing too overwhelming where it no longer had that burger essence.

The default burger comes with two patties (my kind of burger), and had a good meat-to-bun ratio. The patties had a good sear, but there was a little variance in terms of doneness (Wayne’s was more medium whereas ours was more medium rare).

The burger held together well and had a nice texture to it. The bun was crunchy in a good way. The cheese was properly gooey. The onions were yummy. The hoisin added an interesting note without being too overpowering. The yams added a nice crunch. And the jalapenos added a nice heat while the pickles brought the acid. I love the one-two punch of the pickles AND pickled jalapenos!

III. The Sides
All the other food was also amazing, but not if you’re watching your wallet. Trev thought the brussels sprouts were the winner, but the cauliflower was also excellent! The peanuts on top of the brussels sprouts were kid approved 👍🏽The pork belly was also legit, but hard to split among friends.

IV. Miscellaneous
So this place is fancy (read: expensive). When making reservations, parties of 5+ require a $10 deposit per person. Eek! So with such a large group, we divvyed up the reservations among 3 people. Thankfully, they were gracious and allowed us all to sit together. They give you a 90 minute limit for your reservation and there is a 20% large party gratuity automatically added. Parties of 8 or more usually need to do a prix fixe menu with a deposit so that the kitchen can handle to volume (or so we’ve been told).

They have indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor had a great patio vibe to it. The burger is only available until 7pm so make sure to come early if you want to enjoy this burger.

They are kid friendly (had a high chair for Lucy and gave her a kiddie cup). And on a separate note, they are also parent friendly with stiff drinks 🥂

*Side note: Trev and I stayed in Chicago a while longer with the family and so we all went back to Mott Street for the Chef Menu ($188) and it was incredible.

V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for their burgers. We would pay anywhere from $15 to $17. So we thought they were a smidge overpriced.

VI. The Verdict
Inventive burger. Well balanced. Good meat. Great toppings. The ratings: 3.6, 3.9, 4.1, 4.3, 4.3, and 4.5

Next Burger Crew meeting will be held on Saturday, July 8th at The Region at 11am for some smash burgers!

Burger Crew meeting called to order on July 7, 2023.

Members in attendance: Angela, DK, Innie, Sumana, Trevor, Wayne, and special guests Chris, Lucy, and Will

I. Ordering

Gretel only has one burger on their menu, the Gretel Griddle Burger (two patties, white and yellow American cheese, red onion, garlic aioli, pickles), which comes with a side of fries or you can substitute a side for $2.

Angela/Trevor: Burger and fries (asked for burger cooked medium rare)
Innie: Burger and fries
Sumana/Will: Burger and fries along with an additional side of mac & cheese (bacon, scallions, bread crumbs) and a Phil’s Last Dog (charred Vienna beef, mustard, onion, relish, tomato, pickle, sport pepper, and celery salt)
DK: Burger and grilled carrots (harissa and sorghum)
Wayne: Burger and blistered shishito peppers (kewpie mayo, togarashi, fried garlic)
Chris: Prime Rib French Dip (baguette, horseradish aioli, au jus) with fries
Lucy: Pork gyoza (garlic, scallion, soy)

II. Burgers

Trevor’s immediate impression of the burger was that it was very “neat,” as in clean to eat; Sumana said that it held together very well. The burger’s two patties stayed distinctly separate while biting into it, as opposed to other multi-patty burgers where texturally they might as well be one larger patty. Innie likened the burger to an upscale Big Mac and everybody agreed on the similarities to a Big Mac, like the double patties, sesame seed bun, the spread, the pickles, and the overall taste. The patties were very meaty and well-seasoned, with a good amount of chew to them.

As far as how the burgers were dressed, DK appreciated the fact that the burger had both white cheddar and American cheese slices. Innie mentioned that her burger had a lot of mayo; when she cut hers in half, a bunch of it oozed out. Our working theory is that because the pickles were so thick, they created extra voids in the burger construction for mayo to fill. Aside from working as mayo importers, the pickles were a hit with everyone, both because of their thickness and their flavor, and the red onions provided another welcome contrast. The buns held up well and the fact that they had sesame seeds was also appreciated.

III. Sides

Mac and cheese: Sumana said the mac and cheese was amazing. It didn’t use traditional elbow macaroni for the pasta and instead used corkscrew/fusilli pasta, which provided a lot of areas for the cheese to go in. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and the bacon in it was perfect.

Shishito peppers: These were also very good, and as is always the case with shishito peppers, most were sweet while some were randomly spicy, but not in an overwhelming way. They had a good char on the outside from the blistering, and the kewpie mayo dip was a great accompaniment.

Fries: Most of us felt that the fries were largely average, not bad but not great. They were shoestring and single-fried. There wasn’t much else to say about them.

Carrots: DK said that the carrots must have been grilled for a long time because you could just fork right through them. He didn’t care for the sorghum on top of the carrots, which were similar to popcorn. The harissa sauce that came with them was a good mix of being spiced without being overwhelmingly spicy.

IV. Misc

Everybody who ordered alcohol loved their drinks, and if you love your soda, they offer free refills on sodas. The atmosphere/lighting of the restaurant is a little dark but it gives it a cool vibe. As we had previously encountered in Chicago, the restrooms were seemingly unlabeled, as in you would never know which rooms were the restrooms without either being told or just trying to open doors. The burgers didn’t come out as quickly as we had previously experienced at the earlier Chicago restaurants, which isn’t to say that they were slow, but just not as typically fast as we had come to expect in Chicago. Our waitress was very friendly and she even offered to split the check for us because she had been keeping track of who ordered what.

V. Rating/Value/Verdict

Angela: $14, 4.0
DK: $18, 4.4
Innie: $17, 4.0
Sumana: 4.7
Trevor: $13, 4.3
Wayne: $13, 4.1

Next Burger Crew meeting is at Mott St for dinner!