Mama's Grill

                Sitting in what seems to be the middle of no-where off of the Route 133 exit of St. Rt. 32 (The Appalachian Highway) is a classic diner. Surrounded by more fields than anything else, Mama’s Grill is like an oasis of comfort food. Located at 4227 All Star Dr. with a Batavia zip code (though the restaurant is much closer to Williamsburg) Mama’s is the kind of place where the locals all come to dine; even if the locals have to drive several miles in order to get there.

                Since it opened in 1968, Mama’s has been serving up family diner fare that seems a little high on the price side for places like this. Still, it’s the kind of place where you expect to find the same people stopping in once a week or so.

                The interior of the restaurant is exactly what you would expect. It looks and feels just like a well-worn family diner. In fact, the spring on my booth was just about shot because when I plopped down on it I could feel it and hear it wanting to fight back. (Insert favorite burger eating fat ass joke here.)

The Burger

                With Josh in school I was once again on my own (eating with a friend who suggested a ride out in the country). With a standard quarter pound patty of ground beef for their Hamburger and Cheeseburger and the option to double it up to a half pound Double Cheeseburger or one of their nine specialty burgers, Mama’s burger selection is a lot like the rest of their large, two sided menu: complete.

                For an eight dollar price tag (it’s less than five if you go with the quarter pound option) you get fries tossed onto the plate. Still seemed a bit steep for a rural diner and so I was expecting something out of this world. I didn’t get what I had hoped.

                The burger itself was good, a fresh charbroiled specimen but that’s all it was, good. The lettuce, tomato and pickle were decent but nothing special. The bun was the right size for the patties and, while it did its job, hold the burger together, it didn’t really add anything to the experience. And the fries, crinkle cuts which I generally enjoy, they were probably from the same food supplier as dozens of other area restaurants. They were well cooked with a crisp outside and soft, hot inside. But that was all. Nothing special.

                Maybe it was my false expectations but usually when you find a nice little place out in the country you expect it to have outstanding food. And maybe Mama’s does. There were a lot of people eating breakfast during the lunch hour and I heard a couple talking about some of the other dishes as though their taste buds were very familiar. As far as the burger goes, you can get one that’s a lot better and probably both cheaper and closer to home than driving out Route 32 to Mama’s.

Smash Burger

                Over the past few years, a new hybrid concept in burger places has been growing throughout the country and even spreading around the world. These new restaurants are a bit of a cross between the conventional fast food joint such as a McDonald’s or Burger King and the traditional sit down restaurant such as a Friday’s or Applebee’s.

                The idea is fairly simple. A customer walks in and orders their meal at the cash register. Then, while their food is being prepared for them, they have a seat. When it’s ready, the food is delivered to their table.

                This is a trend that helps keep costs down but delivers what is promised to be a higher quality burger.

                Smash Burger out of Denver is just such a restaurant. With over 140 locations throughout the country and the promise of as many as 70 new franchise restaurants this year, it is one of the fastest growing food chains in the country.

                The chain features a focused menu that is heavy on burgers but promises to reflect the “tastes and flavors of your city and state.” In addition to the burgers they offer up some chicken items and hotdogs and also features not only Haagen Dazs deserts but also, where available, will see you a beer to drink along with your meal. Find a McDonald’s that will do that.

                You can search for the nearest Smash Burger on their web site: http://www.smashburger.com/.

The Burgers

                Josh and Mark both ordered up the Classic which is available in three different sizes of 100% Angus beef. The smallest is basically an eighth pound traditional burger with the largest being a half pound for the very hungry diner. Both chose the quarter pound version and that was plenty.

                The burger is served on a buttered “artisan” bun and featured American cheese, the choice of standard lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle as well as their special Smash sauce. “I always like to try a place’s special sauce,” Josh said after we’d ordered but before we had a chance to actually try it out. After we tried it we would probably reconsider that choice.

                Since it was slow and there were only a couple of other customers, we pretty much had our choice of where we wanted to sit in the fairly sterile dining area. Our burgers arrived fairly quickly and looked and smelled good. In fact, as we both bit in we had the same initial reaction; it was pretty good. But then it hit both of us. The soft tasty bun, the cheese, the lettuce, the tomato, the special sauce and condiments all worked together to overpower the flavor of the burger. In fact, it was difficult for either of us to taste the burger at all.

                Then, a couple of bites in we both had the same reaction once again; this time in relation to the special sauce. It was too much, too tart. We asked and were told that the special sauce was basically mustard, mayo, relish and lemon mixed together. In Mark’s case, he had gone ahead and put mustard and ketchup on his burger which doubled the amount of mustard it bore. Granted, Mark admits that he likes mustard but that was too much. Add in the unexpected bite of the lemon from the special sauce and it totally overpowered the sandwich.

                Unfortunately the fries were nothing special. They were tasty but no different really than the fries at any of a thousand other burger places around the country. They were cooked just right but had no signature to make them their own.

                This wasn’t a bad experience but we both wish that the burger had been better. This is the type of inexpensive fast food hybrid place that we know we would like to frequent. With that in mind we decided that, at some future date, we would give them another try, knowing more about what to expect. And that next time we will both be ordering the All-American without the special Smash sauce.

T. G. I. Friday's

                One of the oldest and most successful of the chain restaurants is T. G. I. Friday’s. The first one opened to huge success in 1965 in New York City’s Upper East Side. It wasn’t until 1970 that a second location opened in Memphis, TN. Today there are more than 900 Friday’s restaurants worldwide.

                A landmark of the Friday’s chain is the fact that it offers quality food that is consistent in any location along with a funky atmosphere and friendly service. You can find a Friday’s in just about any city or nearby neighborhood as well as on line at http://www.tgifridays.com/home/welcome.aspx.

The Burgers

                Josh and Mark were doing some running around when lunch time hit. Josh suggested heading someplace neither had been in a while, T. G. I. Friday’s. Both have always agreed, as far as the chain restaurants go, Friday’s offers up perhaps the best burgers.

                Both ordered up the classic Cheeseburger (since Mark’s favorite, the Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger that featured deep fried provolone had been taken off the menu). The quarter pound choice Black Angus beef is fire grilled. And the flavor of that fire grilling comes through in every bite. Served on a soft, tasty brioche bun, a Friday’s burger, though expensive by many standards, is genuinely tasty.

                Friday’s does something with their fries that neither us minds but that some people might. The crispy soft centered perfectly done slices of potato are seasoned with pepper. Since we both like a little pepper now and then it isn’t a problem but we both know some people who aren’t fans. Asking a restaurant to not pepper your fries is like asking them to not add salt. It is just part of the ritual and, in this case, might turn some people off. Otherwise, a burger at Friday’s is sure to please.

                Don’t get us wrong, both of us would much rather dive into one of the many local joints of which we are so fond. But in a pinch, out on the road, or even just now and then for the hell of it, grabbing a burger at a Friday’s is pretty much guaranteed to be a satisfying experience.

Mt. Adams Bar and Grill

                Legend has it that the back bar of the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill belonged to the notorious George Remus. Notorious? Not heard of him? You should have because he made a lot of history in and around Cincinnati during Prohibition.

                Remus was a Chicago lawyer who found a loophole in the 18^th Amendment that allowed for the manufacture and sale of legal alcohol for medical reasons. Seeing the opportunity he jumped at the chance to make money by purchasing a distillery and distribution operation based in Cincinnati. Soon he was making and selling booze all over the Eastern half of the country. In addition, quite a few of his shipments ended up being hijacked with the goods sold on the black market. And Remus was behind it.

                When the Feds caught up with him and indicted him on criminal charges, his wife proceeded to file for divorce. Two days before his trial he caught up to his wife and shot her to death in Eden Park. At that trial he put up a new and unique defense that got him off: temporary insanity.

                Now you can catch Remus as a supporting character on HBO’s award winning show Boardwalk Empire.

                The Mt. Adams Bar and Grill, complete with that glorious back bar, was reputedly the location of one of the many illegal speakeasys in the Tri-State area. When the 21^st Amendment did away with Prohibition, this was the first establishment in Ohio to obtain a liquor license.

                Located at 938 Hatch St. in Mt. Adams and at http://mtadamsbarandgrill.com/ on line, the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill continues to serve as a landmark location.

The Burger

                This is another Mark solo effort. I was having lunch with my friend Margaret and we wanted something good that was located in between both of us. Mt. Adams may not be the easiest to get in and out of, let alone park, but it always offers up a number of great places to eat. Margaret chose the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill and I readily agreed since neither of us had been there in a while.

                I chose the Classic, a quarter pound of fresh beef on a sesame seed bun, topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and condiments of choice. As I remembered the burger came out hot and fresh though the cheese wasn’t really melted, looking more like it had been an afterthought. Seriously, cheese should be melted on the burger and not laid atop it after if comes off the grill.

                The flavor of the burger itself was good. It tasted like a burger should, not all layered with different spices and seasonings that can overpower the flavor of the meat. The bun was soft and fresh and absorbed the juices while still holding together through ever bite of the sandwich.

                I’ve commented before and will do so here again, but what the hell is the deal with restaurants tossing a handful of potato chips on a plate instead of offering up French fries with a burger? Sure it costs less and, in the cast of the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill, helps keep the cost of a good burger down (check out the price on the menu but pardon the blurry low light iPhone photo). At least they were fresh and ridged, which offered a little something. Sure I could have paid extra for the fries but sometimes that just goes against my nature.

                The service, for a busy lunch crowd, was excellent. Even though I arrived before Margaret, who was stuck in some traffic, our server was very attentive without being pushy. She offered me a drink while I waited and only once asked if I would like to start with an appetizer. When Margaret did arrive so, too did our server, fetching her drink and giving us adequate time to choose our food.

                Margaret didn’t have a burger but complimented her meal as being good as always. Which seems to be the case at this restaurant. There is a consistency to everything, be it meal or service. Combine all of these with a great and historical décor and this is one restaurant worth climbing the hill for.

Sonny's Three Meat Burgers

                Located at 7683 Beechmont Ave. in Anderson Township, Sonny’s Three Meat Burgers is a new and somewhat unique entry into the local burger game. Taking over a space that at one time housed a catering business and turning it into a small diner with about 25 seats, Sonny’s offers up a limited menu that centers around burgers. They also offer up a chicken sandwich, chicken fingers and a fish sandwich. All of the entrées come complete with a drink and a side. Everything is homemade in the restaurant.

                While this place is small it is bright and comfortable. You order at the counter and then have a seat and your food is delivered to you when it’s ready. The service is fast and friendly. When we were there they had their lone television playing a music video channel which neither of us had never heard of before but reminded Mark of the old days of MTV, back when that channel actually played music videos.

The Burgers

                These burgers, as advertised, are really made up of three different meats. There is fresh ground beef, ground pork and ground chicken all mixed together with some spices. We both detected some pepper in there but nothing was too intense to take away from the flavor of the burgers. And we both agreed, after the first bite, that these burgers were good.

                Each of us made the mistake of ordering the Sonny Burger, a large double decker with cheese and their special sauce. The reason it was a mistake was that there was just too much burger for either of us to finish without a struggle.

                With the first bite you can really tell that these burgers are different. There is a unique flavor to this blend of three meats, different from any burger either of us had ever had before. The special sauce was all but swallowed up by the flavor of these three meat patties. And it isn’t just the flavor, the pork and chicken give these patties a different texture as well. It’s firmer, more condensed. Trust us, these burgers probably aren’t for everyone.

                While we both raved about this unique flavor while we were eating our burgers, a couple of house later we both agreed that maybe they weren’t as good as we initially thought. It can be strange to think back on a burger after it’s gone (unless it’s given you an intestinal disturbance or something else that would require commode counseling) but independently we both agreed that we didn’t like the burger as much as we initially thought.

                Perhaps the problem was that we literally bit off more than we could chew. The Sonny Burger proved to be too much for us at the time. We just weren’t as hungry as we thought and these babies are pretty big. That overpowering flavor just stole the show for us.

                In a way that’s a shame because taking that first bite of the fresh peeled, fresh cut, and perfectly cooked French fries was pure heaven. This is how fries are supposed to be made. You taste potato, not freezer burn. There are bits of skin still on one or two and that’s perfect. Unfortunately, for both of us, the burger was all consuming.

                We both agreed that Sonny’s is well worth the trek out to the east side and we will go back. Only we won’t order up the Sonny Burger, just the regular model and see if having only one quarter pound, densely packed three meat patty stays smoother with us for a longer time. 

Beef O'Brady's

                While we both enjoy eating at the little neighborhood joints more than a chain, sometimes finding one of the many mid-sized chains with good food and decent prices is always a joy. Such was the case with Beef O’Brady’s. We had avoided going here simply because it is a chain (and come on, they have a college football bowl game named after them) and nothing had really led us to one of the three Northern Kentucky or two Dayton area locations. Until recently.

        Begun in 1985 in Bradenton, FL, Beef’s, as the menu and web site (http://beefobradys.com/default.aspx) would have you believe everyone calls it, is a true sports bar with lots and lots of televisions and a rather hefty menu that goes beyond mere bar food. We ate at the location in Newport at 1723 Monmouth on a Saturday at lunch time. While the place was full, we were seated right away and had views of at least six different games. (By the way, this was the day of the infamous “Cross Town Shootout” which Xavier won but U.C., in the end, showed more class in handling the fight.) The place was pretty raucous but even with the occasional cheering and clapping we didn’t have any trouble carrying on our own conversation.

                The service was prompt and our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time which just added to the overall “good times” atmosphere.

The Burgers

                We both ordered up a “Build Your Own Burger” which allowed us to pick our own toppings rather than order one of the specialty burgers offered on the menu. While this is convenient it can also get to be expensive as each optional topping costs fifty cents.

                Josh ordered his with American cheese, lettuce and tomato (the lettuce and tomato are not add-ons and don’t cost anything extra). We each added our condiments of choice. The burgers are fresh Angus beef that is seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper and served on a toasted brioche bun. You can order up either traditional straight fries or curly fries. We both went the curly route.

                The burgers are thick and juicy and the seasoning is just enough to bring out the flavor of the meat without masking it. The bun is a soft with a nice mellow flavor but is a little thick which makes the burger a bit difficult to bite into. Still, that isn’t that major of a drawback. The fries were OK. Other than them being a bit curly there really wasn’t anything special about them.

                Overall we were glad that we finally “discovered” Beef O’Brady’s. Both of us agree that it ranks higher than a lot of the chain restaurants such as Applebee’s and competes favorably with Friday’s burgers. This doesn’t match the quality and flavor of our favorite local joints but for a chain, it’s not bad. If you’re in the area of one of their locations, you might just want to stop in and give them a try.

Pepper Pod

                You can always tell a local neighborhood place when you enter and feel as though you have walked in on a family gathering. That is the case with the Pepper Pod. Established in 1956 the Pepper Pod has been a landmark at 703 Monmouth St. in Newport. While all of Newport has a rather colorful history, according to legend the Pepper Pod was right in the middle of much of it. Supposedly this fine eating establishment was at one time connected to a rather active house of ill repute. In essence you could order up food and a girl and enjoy both at a low cost.

                Today the Pepper Pod serves a menu that offers up some sandwiches and comfort food. The prices are quite reasonable and while parking in Newport can be a problem depending on the time of day, there are generally some street spots open on this part of Monmouth.

                This was one of those times when Josh was in school and Mark was meeting someone who suggested heading to the Pepper Pod to try out their burgers.

The Burger

                The Pepper Pod’s Regular Cheese Burger is a quarter pound of ground beef that tastes fresh and not frozen. I ordered up a platter with fries and cole slaw. But before I get to the food I want to spend a couple of minutes talking about the service. As I said earlier, walking into the Pepper Pod is like walking into a family or neighborhood gathering. While that’s great if you are part of the gathered group, it can be a bit of a problem if you’re not.

                We walked in and sat ourselves since there was no one offering to seat us and plenty of tables available. While folks were talking to each other around the restaurant, carrying on friendly banter among themselves and the server and bus person, no one even acknowledged us. It took eight minutes from when we sat before the server walked by and said she’d be right back to take our drink order. She didn’t come right back. After dropping off the food at the next table she headed back toward the kitchen and didn’t return for a few more minutes. When she did return she took care of the check for someone leaving and then, finally, came to get our drink order.

                And on it went. It was very frustrating to sit there watching other people being served while we waited. When the food eventually came it was rather pedestrian. The cole slaw was first, tasting just like scores of other restaurants that probably order their food from the same place. French fries were the same, crinkle cut and cooked just right but nothing special.

                Then there was the burger. It didn’t suck but it wasn’t great either. It tasted like a burger with melted American cheese, tomato and mayo. Nothing more, nothing less. This was too bad because the place needed a genuinely wonder burger to compensate for the absolutely awful service.

                If you are heading to Newport to grab a burger there are a lot of options. I would suggest you by pass the Pepper Pod and find one of the others.