Scrambler Marie's

          Scrambler Marie's is a breakfast and lunch restaurant that began in Toledo, OH back in 1989. Ever since it has begun to migrate southward and now there is one near us at 4006 Hauck Rd. in Sharonville (and on the web at http://scramblermaries.com/) with plans for a Florence location. Noted mostly for breakfast (which we can attest is quite tasty) the restaurants are open each morning at 6:30 am and close after lunch at 3 pm.
          Looking like a lot of large chain breakfast style restaurants, Scrambler Marie's is bright, comfortable and roomy. The menu, heavy on breakfast specials such as bottomless pancakes and waffles. But there are also salads and sandwiches from which to choose.

Burgers

          We chose the 100% half pound Angus burgers for our lunch trip and we weren't disappointed. As stated before, the breakfast at Scrambler Marie's is very good, especially for a chain. And the burgers live up to this reputation. They are obviously hand formed and patted and smash seared on the flat top grill. They arrived hot and filled with flavor.

          The place wasn't very crowded when we visited and were seated right away with our drink orders taken by a friendly server. The food came out quickly and arrived hot and juicy (well, at least the burger). And it tasted good.

          Whether you are interested in grabbing a decent burger or are in the mood for breakfast, we recommend giving Scrambler Marie's a try.

The Varsity

          Over the past several years we have seen one restaurant/bar morph into a number of  different places. What was at one time a Mexican chain restaurant is now called The Varsity Sports Bar and Grill. Located at 8112 Beechmont Ave., The Varsity, at first glance is a sports bar that is trying to grab hold of local sports fans of all types. But on closer inspection there is very little to set it apart from a typical bar and grill.
          Like any self respecting bar, sport or otherwise, The Varsity has plenty of televisions throughout the spacious facility. But for a sports bar there is very little else that screams "man cave." Only a couple of references to the local pro or college teams and only two to the local high school that we saw. Not very sporting.
          Their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheVarsityBarAndGrill) describes the place as a new neighborhood bar and grill. So what are they going for? Neighborhood or sports?
          Granted the inside is nice. It's warm and, though a little dim, inviting. Their menu is about what you would expect from any type of bar and grill, basic pub food with some sandwiches and other goodies tossed in.

Burgers

          But what we were there for was the burgers and we ordered very soon after entering as our server was right there offering a friendly smile and taking drink orders. The burgers came up in just about the time it would take to fry one. And while they were big with nice buns and garden, they had a different flavor. 

          To Mark they were reminiscent of the mystery meat burgers he had eaten back in the dark ages when he was in elementary and junior high school. If you're old enough you might remember those burgers. You weren't sure if they were actually real meat and they sat in a pan filled with grease until the lunch lady slapped it on a bun and tossed it on your plate. Ah, memories.

          Neither of us was sure if this was a good thing. The burgers were juicy but it seemed to be the juice that was adding that extra something to the taste. Neither of us can say that this added flavor was bad. But we sure couldn't say that it was good, either. You should decide. If we do go back it will be after we have forgotten those old school day memories.

Second Chance: Smashburger

          Back in February we tried and reviewed Smashburger. We didn't like it. You can read our review here: http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/smash-burger.html. We talked about why it wasn't that good, especially after a lot of folks asked us about it, saying that they liked those burgers. Perhaps, we thought, that it was due to the fact that the location we tried had just opened. Maybe the staff wasn't really up to speed. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
          So we went back and tried it again. This time, not for a review but just to see what everyone else was talking about.  We liked our second trip and have gone back several more times. Each time the food was good. The burgers were tasty and cooked to order. The fries, nice and hot, crisp on the outside and warm on the inside.
          Since it's our blog and we can do whatever the hell we want, we have decided to switch our position on Smashburger and now recommend it. The burgers, smashed like the name suggests to sere in the flavor, are cooked to order and come out hot and juicy. All of the fixing have always been fresh and did their job; add flavor to the burger.
          Not that we really expect anyone to ever take our advice but if, for some crazy reason, you have been avoiding Smashburger because of our lousy review, do what we did, give it a second chance. You can find your closest Smashburger on line at http://smashburger.com/

Giving Thanks

          On this Saturday after Thanksgiving we'd like to give thanks. Sure, this is a burger blog and we're very thankful for a lot of the places we've been able to try and enjoy while posting it. We're thankful for Angus beef and grills, fresh lettuce and tomato and buns that are the perfect compliment.
          But during this very American holiday we wanted to show how grateful we were for the grill. Yes, the grill.
          For us the grill is a magical piece of art. With it you can make some of the most tasty meals imaginable. That is, if you do it right. For us, doing it right is to use real fire. By that we mean fire produced by wood and charcoal. We have a gas stove in our kitchen. Why, if we wanted to cook with gas, would we not just go inside and use the stove? You're grilled food should give you gas, not be cooked with it.
          We cook lots of things on our grill, from burgers and steaks, hot dogs and ribs, even our vegetables are cooked on the grill. And we do it year round. In the dead of winter you can find us grilling up some chicken and potatoes on the grill.
          Come November, though, the most important thing we use our grill for is in the making of Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, we cook our turkey on the grill using charcoal and wood. And not just any wood either. We use Alder wood. There is a certain quality to the smoke coming from Alder wood that so wonderfully enhances the flavor of the turkey. It also works great with chicken.
          We've been doing this for years. Our recipe is simple, we get a good, large bird. We salt and pepper the cavity (yeah, that's the bird's butt) and then add some spices such as fresh parsley and sage. Then we cut some oranges and lemons and a lime in half and add them to the cavity. Then we cook.
          This year the bird went on at noon, tented for the first couple of hours to keep the skin from getting burnt. We cooked it for a little over six hours, tending it every half hour. One thing about using wood and charcoal to grill with is that you can't just set the temperature and let it go. So when one of us would go out to turn the bird 180 degrees for even cooking, we would add a little more fuel for the fire. In addition we also used Alder wood chips to really kick up the smoke flavor.
          The turkey came off about 6:30 and we let it rest, tented, for 45 minutes. Then, when Mark went to slice it it was literally falling off the bone. The slices didn't make for a pretty presentation but they were so juicy and tender, soaked with flavor, that everyone ate more than their share. That's OK, because we had a very large bird.
          So on this Saturday after Thanksgiving we are taking a break from our usual burger bliss and being thankful for grilled turkey which brings the family together. Now, seeing that it's lunch time, we're off to fix a couple left over turkey sandwiches.

Dairy Queen

          We were out driving around and saw a Dairy Queen. Josh had never eaten there. Sure, he'd been there for the ice cream and other goodies, but never for a meal. So with a little hesitation we decided to give it a try. Besides, they had been advertising a special price on their quarter pound cheeseburger and fries.
           Being 70 years old it's easy to think of Dairy Queen as being an old fashioned type chain. In many ways they are. Not all of their 4500 locations offer food or as they call it, brazier food (funny story about this; back in high school Mark knew someone who, in all honesty, wanted to know how DQ was advertising brassiere food). If you're looking for one near you, check out their web site at http://www.dairyqueen.com/. Be aware that not all locations sell food so look for one that is tagged brazier.

Burgers

          You would expect DQ to be like most other fast food style restaurants and in many ways they are. But when we came in, and maybe this was because it was a slow day, but we placed our order at the counter and took a seat. The burgers were then cooked for us. It was also pretty obvious that the fries were dropped for our order as well.

          We don't mind waiting a little if my burger is being cooked after we order. That means the food, especially the fries, aren't sitting around wilting under heat lamps. 

          Our next surprise was when we took a bite. These are better than your average fast food burgers. No, they're not spectacular but there was honest to goodness beef flavor and, for a frozen burger, it was juicy as well. And the fries, these were very good fries. Oh, sure, they're your basic frozen restaurant fries but these must have been cooked in a brand new batch of grease because they were tender and tasty.

          Now we probably won't go out of our way to munch down on DQ burgers again anytime soon but if the occasion were to arise we would probably not hesitate to try out some of their other burgers (and of course a Blizzard).

Applebee's

          Choosing to try out the burgers at Applebee's was a bit of a gamble for us. We hadn't been in a long time and there was good reason for that. It seems that one of us had gotten sick after eating there the last three times. So the prospect wasn't all that appealing. Still, we had vowed to give it one more chance and put on our big boy underwear and headed to our neighborhood Applebee's.
          Applebee's is the largest "family" restaurant chain in the country with nearly 2000 locations. They were founded more than 30 years ago and currently operate in 49 states as well as a handful of foreign countries so odds are that if you haven't already eaten at an Applebee's you've at least driven past a couple in your time. You can find your closest Applebee's, if you don't already know where it is, by checking out their web site: http://www.applebees.com/
          I will point out that we had a family member who used to work in the kitchen at our neighborhood Applebee's (Josh's older brother). This was several years ago and because of that we would frequent the place. We never had any gastric problems during those visits. It was only in the last three times, each using their carry-out Carside to Go, that we experienced our problems. And that was well over a year ago. None of those times was by eating a burger.

          The menu at Applebee's is rather extensive. You can get anything from a steak to basic bar food. They offer up a handful of specialty burgers, all closing in on $10 apiece. What they don't show on the menu, though, is a basic cheeseburger. You can get one but you need to ask.

Burgers

          Just about every time we try a burger for this blog we stick to a plan that calls for us getting the basic everyday cheeseburger. But since one isn't advertised on Applebee's menu (and far be it from us to every rock the boat in any way), we ordered up the Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger. Hey, what's a little bacon between friends.

          There's one question we love hearing when we order up a burger: "How would you like that cooked?" That is a question we got when we placed our order. Even better, when they arrived they were cooked the way we had asked.

          It would be nice to say that the burgers at Applebee's are great. They're not. They aren't bad but if you're going to plop $10 down on a burger there are lots of better places to go. (In fact, there's a Friday's less than half a mile from where we ate at this Applebee's.) 

          We both felt the burger tasted OK but there was nothing to make it stand out as exceptional in any way. The same can be said for the fries. They were OK, perhaps a little too much pepper, but they were properly cooked and tasted like your basic fries.

          Overall the burgers at Applebee's are decent but far from our favorites. In fact, they're not even our favorites from this type of restaurant chain. For what you get, burger wise, it's a bit overpriced. But on the bright side, neither of us got sick.

Traci's Sports Lounge and Grill

          With Josh dealing with his own teen-aged life, I found myself up near my old stomping grounds of Loveland and decided that my friend and I would try out a place that I had passed several times but into which I had never stopped: Traci's Sports Lounge and Grill. Located at 784 Loveland-Miamiville Rd. (and on the web at http://www.tracissports.com/), Traci's bills itself as a "casually posh social lounge" crossed with the "energy of a sport's bar." Quite a combination.
          Opened by former Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader and current coach Traci Napier in December, 2010, Traci's is at its heart a sports bar. With lots of big screens providing a myriad of events and, at least on my visit, a friendly and efficient bartender/server, the place is inviting and, one can imagine when crowded, very electric. Above and beyond that, though, is the fact that the chairs and bar stools in this place are actually comfortable. When was the last time you were in a sports bar where the seats were, how can I say this, actually a little plush? Maybe that's the "casually posh social lounge" coming through.

          When we walked in we were immediately asked if we had been there before. Upon hearing that we hadn't our bartender/server (it was a slow and rainy Saturday) told us that this place was mostly a bar and so the food reflected that. One look at the menu and that was confirmed. But the reason I was there was the burger and that sat right at the top.

Burger

           I ordered up Traci's Regular Burger, a quarter pound of 100% Angus beef, and splurged the fifty cents to add a slice of American cheese. I then added in another buck fifty to have fries with my meal.

          The burger arrived in due time and the large Kaiser bun was just about the right size. I noticed immediately that the fifty cent slice of American cheese wasn't actually melted on the burger but rather had been plopped on the patty after it came off the grill.

          This may be 100% Angus beef but it had been frozen before it kissed the grill. Never a good sign. And that was reflected in the quality of the burger. While the lettuce and tomato were fresh (in fact there was almost too much lettuce and became a near hazard as I worked my way through the burger), they couldn't really enhance a burger that was rather lifeless.

          Add to that the fact that my dollar fifty shoestring fries were beginning to get cold by the time they reached the table and it's easy to say that this wasn't one of the better burger joints in which I had ever eaten.

          I imagine that if you wanted to come, hang out with some friends, have a beer and some wings and watch some college ball on a Saturday afternoon, Traci's would be a good bet. But to go out and have a burger, you are better off going to any number of other joints.

Slatt's Pub

          Recently we were around the Blue Ash area and checked the smart phones to find a burger place at which we hadn't chowed down. What we found was Slatt's Pub. Located at 4858 Cooper Rd. (and on line at http://www.slattspub.com/), Slatt's is best described as an upscale neighborhood pub. It is clean and fairly new and what struck Mark the most when we first walked in was the quality of the music being played. The first song, in fact, was a cut off the Deep Purple classic album Fireball which marked the best line-up in the band's long history.

          But even though the music was great, that's not the reason we came. We came to eat. The menu is rather extensive and a bit eclectic (not that you can really tell from this lousy picture), ranging from typical bar food items up to steaks and just about everything in between (including a nice wine list and martini menu - remember, there is no "i" in team but there is in martini).
          Be all that as it may we came for the burgers.

The Burgers

          We each chose their basic Cheeseburger which is a very large half pound patty topped with American cheese and our choice of toppings. Right off the bat we could smell the flavor of the burgers. As soon as the plates were set on the table we knew that the grill that is being used in the partially visible kitchen had been well seasoned. There was that great little bit of char around the edges that a properly cooked grill top burger gets. Add to that what tasted like fresh, never frozen beef that was most likely 70/30 and this was a flavorful burger. 

          OK, the bun was a little big and both burgers were a little more to the medium well than medium side but the flavor was there. Plus, they slapped on and melted two slices of American cheese. This is a decent burger, moist and flavorful.

           Coming with each burger was a small helping of thick-cut steak fries. These were probably frozen before being fried but the were still very well cooked; firm outside and soft in the middle. Lightly seasoned with what seemed to be a barbecue seasoning (similar to a Grippo's) they were, as it turned out, just the right serving size with these large and tasty burgers.

          Not that we get out to Blue Ash very often but Slatt's Pub was well worth the trip, in our opinion. No, it isn't one of our top 10 all time burgers but it was better than a lot that we have eaten for this blog. We recommend that if you're in the neighborhood, check it out. You won't be disappointed (unless you don't like great classic rock music that is).

The Grill's the Thing

          Recently we were at an event in support of our other blog (http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/), it was a fall festival centered around a car show, held at the Clermont Sportman's Club (http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/17th-annual-sportsmans-club.html). It's pretty common for us to combine our two passions: cars and burgers. In fact we decided to do both blog based on the fact that, when we were on our way to a car show or other event, we could find a good place to stop and grab a burger.
          Actually the whole car and burger thing goes back even farther to when Josh was learning how to drive. Knowing that he was supposed to put in time driving in different environments, Mark would pick out a burger place that Josh would then map out. We would drive to the restaurant with a good burger being Josh's reward for for getting us there and Mark's for sitting with white knuckles in the passenger seat.
          For this year's show, the 17th Annual Car and Truck Show being sponsored by the Clermont Sportman's Club, we knew from past experience that the show is very large and that, while the club is isolated away from any restaurants, they cook up their own grub. We decided to eat there.

Burgers

          There's something about a burger cooked up on a grill before your eyes. Even if it's a frozen patty (probably from JTM) that grill infuses the meat with a flavor you just can't seem to get anywhere else. Granted we're both big fans of wood and charcoal grilling rather than gas (your barbecued food should give you gas, not be cooked with it), any type of outdoor grilling seems to bring out the best in a burger.

          We didn't just stop with a burger and an unmelted slice of American cheese, we each dove into a freshly grilled and slightly charred hot dog. Hell, if they would have had bratts and metts and any other type of sausage off the grill we would have probably sampled some of those as well. The grill's the thing, you see.

         OK, so these burgers weren't the best quality, they were frozen patties, and you won't be able to hop in your car and find them to try for yourself. Still, these burgers and thousands like them are cooked up every weekend during good weather at fairs and festivals and all other sorts of outdoor events throughout the region each year. And they're worth getting because nothing beats a freshly grilled burger. Enjoy.

Texas Road House

           When we started this we vowed to stay away from the chain restaurants and concentrate on the local joints. While we've tried to maintain this philosophy it is rather difficult to do considering how often we're posting. It started when we wanted to do a couple of our favorite chains and has grown from there. So while we still would rather find local places to sample burgers we continually find our circumstances drawing us to the occasional chain.
          This week we head to Texas Road House (http://www.texasroadhouse.com/). Texas Road House restaurants are in just about every state these days. But in 1993, when they were founded, there was just one. Yes the atmosphere oozes Texas charm, from the stuff on the walls to the loud country music wafting through the air, from the fresh rolls to the huge pot of peanuts sitting on the edge of every table. And since this is a steak house at heart, there is plenty of good looking quality steaks on display in the front case as well as lots of sizzling meat on the grill.

          The atmosphere is the only thing that is truly Texas about this restaurant. It was founded in Indiana and now has its corporate headquarters in Louisville, KY. But don't hold that against it. It's all about Texas size, Texas flavor and Texas appeal.

Burgers

          With me on the road and Josh back home with school and work, it was a solo effort again. And I ordered up the All American Cheeseburger which is advertised as a half pound of ground chuck. When it came to the table in an appropriate time, delivered by my friendly server, I could see the idea of Texas size was holding true, at least with the bun. The bun was so big, so fluffy that I flashed back to the famous old Wendy's commercial that made famous the line, "Where's the beef?"

          The beef was there but dwarfed by the bun. The bun was soft and easily compressed so there was no danger of a case of TMJ. And when I found the burger I knew exactly where the beef was. With a flavoring of spices that accentuated rather than covered the meat flavor, this was an acceptable chain restaurant burger. The meat was fresh and, in my humble opinion, overcooked. No, I wasn't given a choice as to how I wanted my burger cooked. The people in the kitchen had pre-determined to overcook it to a complete well done.

          Being well done it robbed the beef of a lot of its natural juiciness. And that's a shame because this has the makings of very good burger. The lettuce and tomato were crisp and fresh. Even the jumbo sized bun was high quality and had good flavor. But you don't spend eight bucks for lettuce, tomato and a bun. The beef had flavor just too much of it was left on the grill when it was over cooked.

          I've eaten at Texas Road House numerous times. One of my favorite times was when I was having lunch with a friend who, at one point in his life had been a guitar tech for ZZ Top. He told the story of dining with the band's bassist, Dusty Hill. Dusty, my friend said, insisted that they sit at a huge table, big enough for eight or ten. He then proceeded to order every entree on the menu. He took a bite of each to try it, careful not to get any in his famous beard (isn't funny how the only member of ZZ Top who doesn't have a beard is drummer Frank Beard?). After lunch he had the server pack everything to go and he took it all to a local homeless shelter.

          I have never done anything like that though I have quite often listened to that little band from Texas and had meals at Texas Road House. Their steaks are good (not as good, in my opinion as Outback but right up there) and so are a lot of their other menu options. I do recommend Texas Road House though you can get a better burger at lots of places, including a lot of chains. But if you like your burgers burnt to well done, you might just want to check them out.

Willie's Sports Cafe

          Driving to Kenwood isn't something most sane people do without a damn good reason. Even in the middle of the day during the week the traffic can be a little like a slow time in LA. Still, that is where we were headed when we decided that, since we were there, we would find a place, grab a burger and feel as though we had accomplished something.
          Nestled around the corner from Kenwood Towne Center, located at 6475 E. Galbraith (and on line at http://williesonline.com/) is Willie's Sport's Cafe. Willies now has multiple locations throughout the tri-state, including this Kenwood location. Each has a very similar menu and the promise that this spacious sports infused restaurant will be just as good as the last one at which you ate.

The Burgers

          While there are a few specialty burgers offered here, in keeping with our way of doing things, we ordered up the standard Cheeseburger. They promise a half-pound of fresh ground beef "cooked to a tender medium well." And that's exactly what we got.

          Yes, we have complained about this before but we are still bothered by the fact that a growing number of restaurants insist on overcooking a burger and taking the choice out of the hands of the diner.

          But we were surprised when our server asked how we wanted our burgers cooked. Maybe she was new and at her old restaurant patrons had a choice or maybe, we hoped, this was indeed a change for the better that was going on here. So when choosing our burgers we put in for a medium and a medium rare.

          When the burgers arrived, hot and smelling of the grill, they were both cooked medium well. Oh how our hearts and hopes had been dashed.

          Still, taking the high road we dug in. There was still some flavor that hadn't been cooked out of the meat. And while it wasn't really juicy the way a "properly" cooked burger should be, turning it medium well didn't really dry it out either.

          There must have been a decent fat content to the beef, at least an 80/20 and perhaps a 70/30 but since the burger was huge and hadn't shrunk, it was more likely the former rather than the latter. 

          The burgers were good. We both agreed on this. They weren't great but then when you are comparing burgers to the top spots around the region it's difficult to get that great burger. By the time we were taking the last bites of the sandwich it was a total mess, one that we couldn't put down for fear that it would totally fall apart. This is a good thing. It's generally a sign of fresh condiments, a fresh bun (in this case a sesame seed beauty that actually had flavor) and a burger that still has some of its juices.

          Both of us accepted the fries when offered and they were nothing special but at least they were cooked properly. 

          Overall our experience at Willie's was pleasant. The service was great and we showed it with a nice tip. We would have liked the burger to be.... well not so well done. That in itself would keep us from heading back to Willies, for the burgers at least. But if you enjoy your burgers overcooked, they serve up some that are big, filling and still have some flavor so check them out.

       

Lucky's Taproom and Eatery

          Both of my sons and I were on a trip up to Dayton recently. We were on a museum day trip, checking out the comic book and super hero exhibit that was at the Dayton Art Institute at the time as well as taking a look at America's Packard Museum (for upcoming material in the classic car blog:  http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/).

          While there we decided to check out one of that city's more well respected burger joints but when we got there the restaurant wasn't open. And while there were dueling XXX book stores right next door, we were more hungry than curious (and didn't want to have to be disinfected) so we looked on my cell phone and found a place nearby that promised a burger. 

          Lucky's Taproom and Eatery, located at 520 E. Fifth St. in Dayton's Oregon District (and on line at http://luckystaproom.com/), was just a short walk from our location and we were glad we found it. Inside this funky little establishment we were warmly greeted by both our server and a multitude of televisions all tuned to different sports channels. Around the place is a collection of model cars and trucks that, according to what we were told, were all built by the original Lucky.

          With 20 craft beers on tap, this place surely lives up to that part of its name. But we were there for the burgers and honed right in on that portion of the eclectic menu.

Burgers

          All three of us went for the Build Your Own Burger, a good third pound, fresh ground steak patty on an equally fresh onion roll. Josh chose American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard and ketchup on his while Michael (making his first appearance as part of our blog panel) opted for American, jalapenos and onion. My choice was to go with lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo and mustard with the coup de grace being Gouda cheese.

          The burgers came out fairly quickly considering they were hand patted and then cooked after the orders were put in. They were cooked to order and came to .the table exactly as we requested. The meat was juicy and flavorful and the extras were all fresh. I'm a fan of Gouda cheese and this was a delight to have some on a burger. In fact, it's rare to find a place where you can actually order Gouda cheese in a restaurant.

          My only regret was in ordering the "kettle chips" rather than the fries. What I got were basically a handful of everyday, ordinary potato chips. The fries, which both Josh and Michael got, were very tasty indeed. There was a slight, subtle spicing to them that didn't cover the potato flavor but rather enhanced it a great deal.

          It's fair to say that we all enjoyed our food. In fact, if we ever head back to Dayton (say, to go to one of those XXX book stores) we will surely stop back in. While it wasn't our original choice we agreed that we were lucky to find Lucky's (sorry, couldn't resist).

Arthurs

          In all the years I've been taking Josh around to experience different burger places throughout the area I can't believe that I had never once taken him to that Hyde Park mainstay, Arthur's. But that is the sad truth. So recently we rectified that. It was a beautiful, sunny, cool late summer day, just perfect for sitting on a patio and enjoying a great meal.
          Since 1947 when an establishment called Allen E. Bradford Restaurant opened at 3516 Edwards Rd. just off Hyde Park Square (find them also at http://arthurscincinnati.com/), people have enjoyed fine food. The restaurant changed names a few times, including to Art's in 1956 but settled on Arthur's in 1970. It has been one of the most popular destinations since.
                                                                    The Burgers

          Even though Arthur's is always considered "hip," they are also old school in many ways. They are one of those ever shrinking number of restaurants that will actually cook your burger to the temperature you desire. And what a burger it is.
          They start with fresh, lean (90/10 which is very rare as most people believe a little more fat adds more flavor) specially blended meat. In fact, all of the items they use are fresh and it shows in the flavor.
          Did I mention that the burgers are a half pound? Now keep in mind when you have leaner meat that the burger will shrink less. Most places uses a 20% fat content and their half pound burger (or quarter pounder) will shrink accordingly. What using this lean 90/10 does to the size of the burger is obvious. They're huge.
          And they're good. There is plenty of flavor to be had. Along with a fresh bun (tastes like a Klostermann's) as well as lettuce and tomato, the blend of flavors is hard to describe. I had provolone cheese on mine while Josh had American along with a thick slice of onion.

          While the burgers are one of their true specialties, and yes, they are special, the whole menu is filled with delicious offerings. If you have never been to Arthur's, or if you're just hungry for a great burger, check it out.

The Root Beer Stand

          This is probably the wrong time of year to be doing a review of The Root Beer Stand, a seasonal operation that serves between March 26 and September 26 each year. But I was in the area scouting locations for an upcoming short film that will be hitting the festival circuit and I hadn't been to this place in a while so I figured, what the heck.
          Opened in 1957 (which makes it almost as old as me), The Root Beer Stand was originally a classic diner with car hops that was right on the main route between Michigan and Florida. Located at 11566 Reading Rd. in Sharonville (on the web at http://www.therootbeerstand.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/therootbeerstand), The Root Beer Stand looks pretty much today the way it did when it opened. For a long time it was a franchise for A & W Root Beer which is when I first found it back in the 1970s. In 1982 the franchise expired as A & W was getting out of the restaurant game but The Root Beer Stand continued to serve a loyal group of customers.
                                                                       The Burger

          Right up front it's important to know, if you've never been to The Root Beer Stand, that they specialize in, obviously, root beer but also their chili and chili dogs. The burgers there are pretty pedestrian. But that doesn't matter. Sure, they're pretty typical frozen patties but if you order the quarter pound burger, as I did, they at least cook it up fresh, guaranteed.
          There are no tables at this place, just a counter and in a lot of places your view of the area beyond is blocked with various bits of memorabilia. Again, that doesn't matter. While there are some folks who do sit at the few counter seats and order up and eat, a whole host of people just stand around, grab their order and take it to go.

          The burgers here, as I have already noted, aren't great; maybe a slight step ahead of a McWendy's King burger. But you don't go to The Root Beer Stand for the burger. Go for the atmosphere, go for the root beer, go for a foot long chili dog. But you'll have to wait until March to go again.

Cincy Burger

                Josh was off at work or out with friends or just avoiding a trip to the mall with his sister and me to do some back to college shopping recently when I saw a brand new place in the food court. Called Cincy Burger they promised “fresh off the grill” burgers, wraps and more. My daughter and I weren’t going to eat at a fast food style mall food court place but I put this joint in the back of my mind to try sometime.

                Located inside the Eastgate Mall and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cincy.burgers, Cincy Burgers isn’t a chain and it doesn’t look to be anything fancy. In fact, the menu is printed out and taped to the front of the booth. These are obviously some folks with a dream and they are trying to turn it into a reality.

The Burger

                Like a growing number of up and coming burger chains, Cincy Burger grills up their fare fresh when it is ordered. In fact, my order of a cheeseburger and fries brought about the fries being dropped into the fryer and the burger coming out of the refrigerator and going on a hot grill. Ah, the sound of the sizzle was refreshing. As was the aroma of the mean as I stood there and watched the guy fry it up for me.

                Better than one of the big fast food joints, this burger was enhanced somewhat by a good quality, fresh bun, crisp lettuce and a ripe tomato. There was perhaps too much of a heavy hand on the condiments but overall this was a very pleasant surprise.

                Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t going to rival any of our favorite burger joints. Nor is it really in the same class as say a Five Guys, but for what it is I have to admit that the food was tasty; with one exception. The dill pickle spear they served left a lot to be desired. And even though the food was cooked when it was ordered, their process was rather quick. I ordered, paid, got my drink, and watched as my burger was being flipped and pressed with precision.

                The two guys behind the counter running the place were very friendly and even a bit chatty. It didn’t feel like I was standing in the middle of a shopping mall getting my food. But that’s where I was.

                Cincy Burger isn’t the kind of place you would go out of your way to visit but if you find yourself in the Eastgate area and want to try a burger, I would recommend you give it a shot.

Roney's

                Driving down a familiar stretch of road a while back we noticed that one of the very last Roy Roger’s restaurants was gone. A once thriving chain, Roy Roger’s (http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/#/home), named for the famed TV and movie cowboy star, now exists in only eight states. We had proudly blogged about this dying chain (http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/roy-rogers.html) and got emails from all over the country; people telling us how much they had enjoyed this place before it started to disappear.

                Sitting at the site of our lost Roy Roger’s at 474 Roney Ln. just off State Route 32 was the familiar sign with a new name: Roney’s. Though they don’t have a web site they are on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/roneysrestaurant). It’s there that we learned that these are the same people who had been running that Roy Roger’s location since 1969. And they were claiming the same great menu. We had to go and check it out.

Burgers

                First off, Roney’s and Roy Roger’s before it, really is a fast food restaurant. Unlike your typical Wendy’s, McDonald’s or Burger King, though, they don’t start cooking your food until you order it. Yes the pure beef patties are frozen and yes, the fries are your typical restaurant fare, but somehow these burgers are just a little better.

                Maybe it’s the grill that has been turning out fast, quality burgers for over 40 years. Maybe it’s just the atmosphere of the place, still packed with Roy Roger’s memorabilia. Maybe the meat is just a little higher quality. Whatever the reason, these burgers come up hot and juicy and are better than any of those other fast food joints.

                We pondered these ideas on the last Roy Roger’s blog post. And the number of people who sent us emails talking about how much they loved Roy Roger’s all pretty much had the same thing to say: they liked it. And those who no longer lived near one of the few existing restaurants envied us for having one.

                Roney’s isn’t technically a Roy Roger’s but it might as well be. The fried chicken there is the same moist and delicious white and dark meat (so much better than any other takeout chicken joint). The menu and the food is exactly the same. So we may have technically lost our Roy Roger’s but we still have the exact same restaurant to visit and enjoy. If you’re on the east side of town you might want to stop in for a bit of nostalgia.

Frisch's New Burgers

          OK, first off, these burgers aren't actually new. They've been on the menu for a while but they are still advertised as new. Frisch's, if you don't know, is the oldest of the Big Boy franchise holders having actually become a part of the Big Boy family in 1946, 10 years after Bob's original restaurant was founded in California. The Frisch family has been in the restaurant business even longer than that. Samuel Frisch opened his first cafe in 1906 and the business has grown since then. They created the region's first drive-in restaurant and had multiple locations around the city during World War II.
           After WW II Frisch's became the place to be seen; if you were a teenager. Cruising Frisch's was almost a requirement for youngsters in their first cars. Today, Frisch's operates nearly 100 restaurants and franchises over 20 more. If you don't know where your local Frisch's is then you've been living under a rock but you can find them on line at: http://www.frischs.com/.
                                                                  Burgers

          Josh suggested that we stop in at Frisch's one afternoon when we were out and about picking up some necessities. It's always been one of our favorite places. Normally we order up our usual Super Big Boys but this time we decided to try the "new" Primetime burgers; a full third pound of "fresh handmade burgers with a taste all their own."
          We know that Frisch's isn't going to beat the best little joint burgers that we've found in our searches but we also know that it is going to be consistent. You know what you are going to get when you order up at any Frisch's location and, while not as good as a Zip's or Van Zandt's burger, it's going to be tasty.

          No, we weren't really disappointed with the Primetime Burger. It was about what we would expect from a Frisch's sandwich. It didn't, as advertised, have a taste all it's own. In fact, it tasted pretty much like those Super Big Boys of which we're so fond. We would suggest that you try these Primetime Burgers for yourself and make your own call. We liked them but they weren't special enough to make us jump in awe.
          It was a noble experiment on our part but the bottom line is that when we go back to Frisch's again, and we will, it will be to enjoy our usual Super Big Boy.

JerZee's Pub and Grub

          While wandering around and enjoying the cars at the fabulous Rides on Monmouth Car show recently, we decided to duck into JerZee's Pub and Grub and make a contribution to this blog as well.
          Located at 708 Monmouth in Newport and on the web at http://jerzeespub.com/, JerZee's is an interesting cross between a sports bar, a neighborhood pub and the local entertainment bar. While there are lots of places up and down Monmouth that fill one of these needs, JerZee's manages to do all three without sacrificing any of them.
          The place is bright enough to see but not too bright to distract from the numerous televisions. In the evening they offer up live music and when we went in the place had a good number of regular who were sitting around and having a great time. But the service, unlike some local watering holes, was not completely centered around those regulars. We were treated very well, getting fast, friendly service.
                                                                            Burgers

          We each ordered up the basic JerZee Burger which fresh Angus chuck delivered daily from the butcher across the street. Yeah, that's fresh. The burgers are cooked over an open flame grill (which you can see in action if you walk toward the back of the establishment) and you can taste all of this coming together in a very delicious sandwich.
          Add in a fresh bun and a wonderful garden and you have a winner. Now let us sidetrack for just a minute. We have a small garden at home where we grown our own tomatoes and lettuce (once that bacon plant starts sprouting we're gonna have some killer BLTs) and the tomato that was on our burgers was as good as anything we've pulled out of our garden.
          If there was a downside to these burgers it was that they were prepared medium well to well by the cook. We both prefer a little pink in the center but so many restaurants are going this route lately that it seems more the norm than the exception.
          The fries were also quite good though they had a little too much salt. They also had a sprinkle of pepper which both of us enjoyed.
          Overall we really liked this place and it gives us one more option whenever we're heading to Northern Kentucky in general and Newport in particular. One of, it not the best burger on Monmouth. Go see for yourself.

Back Yard Burgers

                I was out of town for a couple of days working on a documentary and one of the locals, knowing that Josh and I do this burger blog, suggested that I try Back Yard Burgers. Having never been there I gladly accepted and that was our lunch one day.

                Back Yard Burgers is one of the growing number of not-so-fast fast food places. The not-so-fast, or as the folks at this chain call it, “fast-casual” is intended to be offer up a fresh, high quality meal that gets to the customer quicker than a typical sit down restaurant.

                Back Yard Burgers was founded in 1987 in Mississippi and now boasts nearly 100 locations in 17 states, mostly through the mid-south. Unfortunately there aren’t in our immediate area but to find the one closest to you, check them out on line at http://www.backyardburgers.com/.

                Walking into a Back Yard Burgers you won’t see anything earth shatteringly different than other restaurants. You walk up to the counter, place your order and pay. They then hand you your drink cup and a small plackard to place on your table telling the person who brings out your food which table you are.

The Burger

                Back Yard Burgers advertises fresh 100% Black Angus beef burgers (as well as a variety of other typical restaurant offerings) that is grilled fresh. Standing at the counter placing my order I could see the fire dancing through the kitchen off the gas grill. When they say back yard, they seem pretty serious (though obviously I prefer using wood and charcoal when I grill in my back yard, which would be a little tricky inside a restaurant). This is a good thing.

                I ordered the Classic Back Yard Burger with cheese and my favorite garden and condiments. It arrived at my table almost the same time as I sat down after filling my drink. On the surface this seemed like a great deal but as I thought about it I realized there was no way they could have cooked our burgers fresh. That meant that the burger must have been sitting around the same way it does at the other fast food restaurants.

                With trepidation I bit into it and realized that if this burger had been sitting around it hadn’t been for more than 30 seconds. It was hot, right off the grill and was obviously fresh, not frozen Black Angus as advertised. And the grill, oh you can taste the grill. This is a delicious burger. Add to it the tasty waffle fries and this is a very good place to grab a burger. It’s probably a good thing that there aren’t any around this area or I might find myself eating there more often than I should.

Roosters

                On our way to a car show for our other blog (http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/), we decided to stop in to one of the area Roosters restaurants. OK, we know what you’re thinking, Roosters is known for their chicken: wings, sandwiches, and all other sorts of fowl food. Initially that was going to be our plan, grab some wings and head to the show. But as we walked in and looked at the menu we saw that they indeed served up burgers and so we decided to give them a try for this blog.

                Roosters is a chain mostly throughout Ohio but reaching into Indiana, Kentucky and even West Virginia. To find a Roosters near you, look them up on line at http://www.roosterswings.com/index.php.

                Founded in 1988, Roosters has become what might look like an oversized sports bar. With televisions playing every conceivable sports channel packed high on the walls, it could pass for any local area sports bar just about anywhere with one exception: the place is big. Also, adding to the atmosphere, are humorous bits of wit and wisdom posted throughout.

The Burgers

                Before we go any further and offer up any type of charade please understand that Roosters serves up great chicken. Having eaten there before its fresh and tender and very tasty.

                Unfortunately the burgers are not the same. They are frozen, pre-made patties that are essentially heated over on the grill and tossed on a bun. The attention to quality is not the same as it is the with chicken that they serve up.

                Take a look at the picture of Mark’s burger. He ordered provolone cheese and what he got was shredded mozzarella sprinkled on top of his burger and melted.

                Trust us, for all forms of chicken, Roosters is a great place to go. Just don’t order the burgers.

Shooters Sports Grill

                Josh was off doing something else, work or attending to some other trivial matter and I was heading up to what turned out to be a rained out car show when the urge to stop at and grab a burger hit me. That urge, of course, is call hunger. Since I was out in the Loveland area I had a good idea where I was going to stop: Shooters Sports Grill.

                Both Josh and I have had a little experience with this place in the past. A couple years ago a friend of mine from high school had us come out and see her dad’s classic cars, cars that he’s either fixed up or completely re-built on his own. After the tour and a ride in a Model T (he wouldn’t let either of us drive it and I suppose I don’t really blame him), my friend suggested that we grab a burger with her and her youngest son. Obviously, Josh and I readily agreed.

                She led us to Shooters, saying it was their favorite neighborhood joint to grab some grub. Shooters is located not too far off of the Ward’s Corner exit of I-275, at 776 Loveland Miamiville Rd., near where it intersects with Branch Hill-Guinea Pike. You can also find them on the web at http://shooterssportsgrill.com/.

                The place is run by a family that has been in the restaurant business since the 1940s and from the look of the décor they know exactly who they’re catering to. This is a nicely laid out sports bar and grill, with plenty of televisions , lots of booths and tables all having enough room to not be sitting on top of some other guests. All of this is arraigned around a central bar that, though I didn’t sample anything either time I was there, looked to be extremely well stocked.

                Almost as extensive is the menu which, in addition to why I was there that day, has selections ranging from the requisite bar food to sandwiches to pasta and hand tossed pizza. It would be worth going back to check out some of the other items on the menu.

The Burger

                Keeping in line with the nature of this blog, I ordered up their basic offering, a March Madness Burger (yes, a lot of their extensive menu boasts sports related names) and topped it with provolone cheese and a bit of garden. When I asked for mayo they brought a large serving that no five people could possibly use.

                My half pound Angus beef burger was actually cooked to my order and with the first bite, I could tell this was a fresh piece of meat. It was filled with flavor and the other elements, the fresh lettuce and tomato, the cheese and my condiments, all blended nicely to make for a happy burger experience.

                The sandwich came standard with chips that were not something out of a large Husman’s tub in the back. These chips were a little thick and deep fried to a nice perfection. Not sure where they get them (and since I don’t eat chips at home anyway it wouldn’t matter) but I’d like to point out that if I was a chip consuming monster, these would be on my list to purchase.

                Overall my high school friend was right that first time we visited. This is a great little neighborhood place. That first time both Josh and I really enjoyed our burgers and the same held true for this time around. Yes, it’s a little pricy and is not the kind of joint we always favor but you can’t argue with the quality of the food. One thing that kind of jumped out at me both times is that all of the servers were blonde. Made me wonder. But then I took another bite of the burger and looked up at the replays on ESPN and it really didn’t matter who was bringing it to the table.

                If you are in the Loveland area I would highly recommend that you stop in and enjoy a burger at Shooters. 

Putters Sports Grill

                In the midst of the recent (or most recent I should say) heat wave, Josh was off with some friends and I was up in the northeast part of the city meeting with some folks to discuss a project. One of them suggested that we meet at Putters Sports Grill and since I had never been there before, I thought it would be a great opportunity to not only discusses some potential business but to add an entry into the food blog.

                There are now three locations of Putters: Liberty Township, Maineville and Milford. The Milford location had been the one selected but I was told by a semi-regular at one of the others that they were all very similar.

                It is hard to not say that Putters is a typical sports bar but at the same time, it’s hard to classify this place as typical. With a huge dining room filled with the requisite flat screens tuned to every imaginable sports channel and walls littered with sports related memories, it could fit into any sports café mold. But one look at the extensive menu offering everything from your obligatory wings and burgers to an extensive salad selection and even complete family style dinners pushes this more toward a standard definition of a restaurant.

The Burger

                While there are a vast number of options on the menu, I was there for one thing and one thing only: a burger. I’ll be perfectly honest that it took me a pass or two over the menu to find the burger among the wealth of possibilities. Even finding it there are a number or burgers to choose from but as always, keeping in step with this blog, I chose your everyday regular burger with American cheese.

                Served on a fresh and quite tasty sweet brioche roll with an equally fresh garden, the thing that really jumped out at me on my first bite was that not only could I taste the mean but also the grill. Cooked on a standard but obviously seasoned flattop, the maestro behind my burger charred up the edges just enough to give me a hint of flavor. That I liked. I’m not sure if every cook there does that but if not, they should.

                With each burger you are given the option of paying an extra buck and a quarter for fries, onion rings or onion straws but I stuck with the homemade Saratoga chips and I’m glad I did. A little thick, very crisp and with a side of barbeque sauce in which to dip, they were the perfect complement to this burger.

                On the sign to Putters, above the name and logo, they have the phrase “No mulligans here.” For those who aren’t into golf, a mulligan is essentially a do over, when you shank a shot so poorly that your partners feel sorry for you and let you hit again. Well, the burger I got at Putters lived up to that phrase. No mulligan needed.

                If you’re near any of the three Putters I would recommend stopping in and checking them out for yourself. I’ll probably go back and try one of their other meals.

Two Weeks Off

We hate to do this but for the next two weeks there won't be a burger blog. Mark is in the middle of shooting the first four episodes for a new web series called Wise Guys? and after that is heading out of town for a few days on another job (where he might be able to find a burger place or two for the blog). Josh is picking up lots of extra hours at work while some of the other folks go on vacation. We promise, once we hit August, we will be back in true form and checking out all the best burger joints around. In the mean time, feel free to leave a message here or email us at turnerbudds@yahoo.com with some suggestions of places you think we should try.

Five Guys

                If you walk into one of the area locations of Five Guys Burgers and look at all the magazine and newspaper articles on the wall you would think you had walked into hamburger heaven. Hanging there are reprints of a vast number of reviews, features and articles ranking the best burgers in towns from Baltimore to San Antonio and beyond, all of which sing the praise of this rapidly growing burger chain.

                Five Guys was started in Alexandria, VA in 1986 by the Murrell family, mom, dad and four sons, who wanted to have the kind of restaurant where they would want to eat. Specializing in burgers (with dogs and some veggie sandwiches on the menu) and fries, they use only fresh, never frozen ingredients. For their fries they even buy their potatoes from area farms and hand cut them on site. All of this pays off as Five Guys has rapidly made a name for themselves as a quality, affordable place to grab a burger.

                We discovered Five Guys a couple years ago when we were on our way to a regional high school football game (Josh’s high school won) and have seen the number of locations in the tri-state increase. You can find your nearest Five Guys on line at www.fiveguys.com.

The Burgers

                We both had the standard cheeseburger which is actually a double with two quarter pound beef patties slathered with American cheese and the condiments of our choice. They also offer what they call the Little Hamburger and Little Cheeseburger which is a single quarter pound patty. I guess this is their version of the kid’s meal.

                It seems that everything at Five Guys is big, from the size of the burger and the offering of fries to the quality of service and the flavors that burst when you bite into the burger. For a chain this really is one of the better places you can eat a grilled up slab of beef on a bun.

                But size wise, it is the French fires that are truly extraordinary. For a $3 regular fry they fill a decent sized cup up with the tasty tubers and then put them in a paper bag. Once safely nestled inside, another scoop of fries is tossed on top. One person cannot (or at least should not) eat a regular order by themselves. Josh even pointed out, as we were leaving plenty of fries still in the bag, that “five guys probably couldn’t eat all of those fries.” Pun intended.

                To say that Five Guys is a bargain, as is stated in many of those article reprints hanging on the walls, isn’t really pushing it either. Along with that massive $2.99 order of fries each of our half pound double patty burgers cost $5.99 and each regular drink was $1.99.

                No, Five Guys isn’t the best place in the area to grab a burger but it is far from the worst. Yes, it may have been overrated by some but keep in mind that it is a chain and as chains go it is hard to beat, that’s for sure. Combine the quality with the value and you have a good place to stop if you are near one and in the mood.  

Rick's Tavern and Grille

                Not too long ago we were heading up to Point Pleasant Park in Fairfield to watch the home opener of the Cincinnati Dockers Australian Rules Football team.  Never heard of Aussie Rules, also called Footy? You should. Its non-stop action, kill the man with the ball mixed with soccer and rugby only more brutal style will turn you into a fan for sure. In fact, the US Nationals are going to be held in Mason this October. Check out the Dockers at http://cincinnatidockers.com/.

                On our way to watch the Dockers play the Columbus Jackaroos (yes, their woman’s team is called the Jillaroos), we stopped at Rick’s Tavern and Grille in Fairfield for lunch. Located in a strip mall at 5955 Boymel and on line at http://www.rickstavern.com/, Rick’s is a very large place that was practically empty on the day we ventured in.

                With televisions viewable at any angle but also a warm, comfortable atmosphere that could probably get loud during happy hour, Rick’s looks like a “happening” place.

The Burgers

                The burgers are seven ounce fresh, never frozen, Angus beef. While they are a bit more expensive (what the hell is this with charging half a buck to add cheese these days; does a slice of American cost fifty cents?) than your typical neighborhood pub burger, we both ordered ours with a garden that was fresh and enjoyed the basic condiments.

                Yes, the burger tasted as advertised. Fresh Angus beef is always a delight when properly prepared. They had a good flavor and were just messy enough. For some reason we got into a discussion about the size of the buns. We talked about places that offered up huge “where’s the beef” style buns as well as those where the bread is so small it disintegrates while eating. But these sesame seed buns were just right.

                Josh ordered fries, which he said were pretty pedestrian and Mark had the chips that come standard. We have railed about this in the past and will do it again in the future. But what is it with places tossing a handful of store bought potato chips on your plate along with the burger. It diminishes the meal in some ways. OK, the chips are cheaper for the restaurant but come on, customers want to feel as though they are getting their money’s worth (did we mention they charged a half a dollar for cheese?).

                Don’t get us wrong, we liked the burger well enough and probably, if we lived closer, we would stop in and try some of the other menu items. And if you’re up in that neighborhood, we suggest you give Rick’s a try for yourself. Just be prepared to pay extra for fries and cheese.

CheezBurger

                  With a name like CheezBurger Cafe you would expect something special. Situated in a little strip mall, hidden by frontage, at 12092 Montgomery Rd. in Symms Township and on the web at http://www.cheezburgercafe.com/, you would expect something good. With Josh busy one Saturday when I was heading up that way for something else, I thought I’d stop in and find out.

                Located through the same main door as Skip’s Bagels (go to the right for CheezBurger Café), the place is small and cozy with oversized booths filling just about all of the available space. On the tables were checker boards in case someone wanted to play.

                The menu is small as would befit a true burger place and they have something called the Triple Threat Challenge and though I never learned what it was, I did see both the wall of fame and the wall of shame.

                With the grill in sight and quick service, I was excited to try out the main attraction.

The Burger

                Though they offer a whole wide selection of specialty burgers, I decided, as always, to just stick with the plain old classic. Being hungry I ordered up a double. Each patty is one third pound of 100% pure Angus beef.

                I love going to a place where the grill is out front. Not only can you see the cooks doing their magic but you can hear and smell the meat as it sizzles its way toward perfection. I wasn’t asked how I wanted my burger cooked (it came medium well) but it was cooked just that way.

                The patties are not very round which means that they are stacked quite high. This makes eating the burger difficult. Add to that how much provolone cheese they had melted, dripping off carrying bits of lettuce, and handling this baby was a challenge. But worth it.

                You can taste the good, quality Angus beef with each bite. Yes, I could taste the garden and the cheese and the condiments but the beef shone through with each and every chomp. This place lived up to its name. Especially when you toss in how affordable it is.

                My one disappointment was the fries. Don’t get me wrong, my curly fries were OK but the menu claimed they offered waffle fries but I was told they didn’t have any. I settled.

                All in all if you can find the place (it’s just a little north of Union Cemetery Rd. on the east side of the street) it is well worth trying.