Champion's Sports Grille

                Mark had eaten at Champion’s Sport’s Grille a few times with his friend Paul. Each time the burger was good, the service was good, and you could tell that the atmosphere of the place was good. It is roomy with lots of the requisite big screen TVs and sports memorabilia hanging around. Each of these visits had been during the week at lunch time.

                When Mark suggested driving across town to 3670 Werk Rd. (on line you can find Champion’s at http://www.championsgrille.com/), Josh was all for hitting up a new spot in a part of town with which he isn’t all that familiar. Located in a shopping center that is a bit out of the way, if you didn’t know to drive down what looks like an entrance to a business park, you wouldn’t know it was there, at least not from Werk Rd.

                We went on a Saturday for lunch, getting there just in time to see some NCAA basketball tip offs.

            Though the place wasn’t crowded it took us about 15 minutes before someone came to give us menus and to get our drink orders. The drinks came up rather quickly and since we were both going to go the “build your own burger” route we were ready to order as soon as they arrived. This is probably a good thing because our server seemed to disappear for long stretches of time even though she wasn’t the only one working the sparsely filled dining room.

The Burgers

                There are literally tons of options when you are building your burger. We both went with the traditional third pound patty and each opted for provolone cheese and a garden with lettuce and tomato. Mark got pickle which Josh passed on.

                As is becoming the case with many places the burger came with chips and fries could be substituted for a mere $1.29. Neither of us went for the fries, something Josh usually does.

                When the burgers finally came out they were as advertised. It’s just too bad they weren’t advertised as being juicy and bursting with flavor. They were rather bland, not what Mark had experienced in his two previous lunches. In fact the chips were even rather stale.

                Maybe it was the difference between a very slow week day and a medium slow Saturday but neither of us can really recommend this place. This is too bad because there is a lot of potential here.

The Lucky Dog Grille

                It was a rainy Thursday in March and I was on my way to get my taxes done for the year. Josh was off in school, besides, he wouldn’t want to endure a trip to the accountant, at least not until he was older. Besides, as a small business owner I generally am not a fan of the entire tax process.

                Actually, Fred, my tax guy, has been doing my taxes for years and before him it was his mother and father. Fred is very good at what he does. A good friend of mine was complaining some 10 years ago about how much money he was going to have to probably pay in taxes and I turned him onto Fred. Suffice it to say that he and his wife got their first refund in years and that they have been using Fred ever since.

                But because of the timing for my morning client meeting and my appointment with Fred, I had time to kill around the lunch hour and, being hungry, I sought out a burger joint. What I found was The Lucky Dog Grille. Located at 729 Reading Rd. in Mason (and on the web at http://www.luckydoggrille.com/), the Lucky Dog is actually nestled in a small strip mall that I passed the first time I went by. Going back I’m glad I found it.

                Though on this inclement day there wasn’t much of a late lunch crowd, the place had a really good neighborhood vibe. Decked out in typical sports bar chic, it appears to do a good business on the weekends. It has received mixed reviews and from what I can read into them it appears that the biggest problem is poor service when it is busy (along with some folks who said the food was tasteless).

                My experience was, for the most part, rather good. It would have been a bit pricy for this level of restaurant had it not been one of the numerous lunch menu specials. The bartender doubled as my server and she was fast and friendly, getting my drink order before I even sat down and bringing over the menu and making some suggestions right away.

The Burger

                What I knew I was going to get walking in was a burger to review. I was happy to see that they offer up a build your own burger and so I chose the one third pound Classic burger with provolone cheese and a garden that included nice crispy lettuce, sliced dill pickle and an actual juicy tomato, which can be hard to find in March.

                It didn’t take long for the burger to arrive with a side of chips. The burger I ordered was off the lunch specials menu and, while I could have dropped a buck to substitute fries, keep in mind I was heading off to see my tax guy and hear what the IRS was going to rape me for this time around.

The flavor of the meat came through and was accentuated by the other ingredients. Nothing overpowered what should always be the centerpiece of a good burger, and that’s the meat. As I noted earlier the garden was fresh and even the chips weren’t bad, for basic barbeque potato chips.

This meal would have been a bit pricy for this level of restaurant had it not been one of the numerous lunch menu specials. I may have felt a little differently about the meal had I paid regular price and not gotten such good service but for a five dollar lunch, including my soft drink, I can’t complain.

Oh, and I got some good news when Fred managed to do his magic and the feds have to pay me back!

Riverwalk Sports Cafe

                Located across the street and just south of Newport on the Levee, Riverwalk Café has put itself in a good position to draw on the crowds heading to that destination’s many venues. Looking more like a neighborhood joint than the strip mall in which it resides, Riverwalk is filled with the requisite televisions and wall mounted memorabilia or your standard sports bar.

                With a menu heavy on sandwiches and bar food, on the surface the Riverwalk doesn’t seem to offer up anything new and unique beyond the location at 136 E. 3^rd St. and on the web at http://riverwalksportscafe.com/.

                We went on a Saturday around lunch time and found that the place had a handful of people enjoying a meal, a drink and a game on one of the numerous televisions. The atmosphere was good, what you would expect in a newer sports bar. And the service was fast and friendly. In fact our server joked with us along with the others in the place. It’s always refreshing to see someone enjoying themselves and their job.

The Burgers

                We both ordered up the Big League Double Cheeseburger, two quarter pound patties stacked with cheese, a garden and tartar sauce on a Kaiser bun. The burgers come served with kettle chips and French fries are extra. This seems to be a growing trend that Mark didn’t mind but Josh opted for the fries.

                Let’s cut to the chase. The burgers were good and tasty. You could actually taste the beef and it was a nice lean, probably 80-20 mix, with enough fat to give it flavor but not so much that it shrinks into oblivion.

                While shrinkage wasn’t the problem, the size of the patties, or rather the size of them compared to that of the Kaiser bun, was. By how full we were after eating it was obvious that we had enjoyed two quarter pound patties each but just look at this picture of what was left over on Josh’s plate after the he polished off the meat and you’ll see the one thing that disappointed us. Even in the shots of before we started eating you can see how much bigger the bun is than the meat.

                We know this should really matter that much but for us it’s become a huge pet peeve. How difficult is it to buy buns that are the same relative size as your burger? Or, if you profess to make the patties by hand, how difficult is it to pat them out to fit the bun rather than look like that old “where’s the beef” commercial?

                Now to the kettle chips. These were more like your average, every day potato chips. It’s like they went out and bought a couple bags of Grippo’s and dumped them on Mark’s plate. Kettle chips are supposed to be thicker and more substantial than regular potato chips. These didn’t hit the mark.

                As for Josh’s fries, they were pretty pedestrian as well. Nothing exciting, they were more like so many other places that sell standard fries.

                On the whole we liked this place, though from the past couple of paragraphs you probably wouldn’t have known it. The atmosphere and the service are very good. The burger itself is tasty and very, very filling. Just expect to toss out a lot of bun if you eat there.

Smokey Bones

                Sure, it’s really a barbeque joint that, we must admit, has some mighty tasty ribs, but we were out picking up some things from Home Depot and there, right across the street, inviting us to stop in for lunch, was one Smokey Bones 67 national locations. How could we resist. Then Josh suggested we do a burger blog about it and so our choice of meals was determined.

                Opened in 1999 in Orlando, FL, Smokey Bones has restaurants in 17 Eastern US cities and while the menu is heavy on barbeque and ribs, there is a good deal of variety with options for everyone, including the vegetarian daughter/sister in the family.

                Traditionally the restaurant’s décor has had an old time, log cabin feel. According to the web, that décor is changing throughout the country to reflect a more traditional casual dining experience. In addition, management is re-branding the chain with a new more contemporary logo design.

                What isn’t changing is the food. Slow cooked, made fresh from scratch meals that, at least to our experience, are always served by a friendly, energetic wait staff. In fact, when we were there for this blog our server was perhaps the perkiest woman on the face of the earth.

                There are three Smokey Bones restaurants in the area and others in surrounding cities. You can find out if there is one near you on their web site: http://www.smokeybones.com/.

The Burgers

                With a number of gourmet style burgers from which to choose, we decided, in keeping with the established theme of this blog, to each order the Build Your Own Burger which allowed us to keep it simple. With our burgers we got a half pound of fresh beef and could choose from a complete garden, numerous cheese and condiment options. Both choosing provolone cheese and our garden and condiments of choice, the burgers were prepared to order and delivered in a very timely (and perky) manner.

                As you can see from the picture, the cheese on Mark’s burger was quite askew but that didn’t hinder the flavor. The beef was flavorful with just enough spice (salt and a hint of pepper) to enhance the natural juiciness of the patty. The bun didn’t get in the way by adding any undo or contrasting flavors. It, like the garden, was fresh.

While Josh had enjoyed the burgers at Smokey Bones before, this was the first time Mark had eaten one (usually opting for the ribs which are always worth it). For Josh this was confirmation of what he already knew and for Mark it was a pleasant introduction to a good, quality chain burger that happily ranks up there with any of the other chain restaurant offerings.

While Mark will probably have ribs on his next visit and highly recommends them (as far as a chain goes) the burgers at Smokey Bones are very well worth a try.

Biggest Disappointments of Year One

          Sometimes things just don't work out the way you would like. That happened to us several times as we ventured into the unknown or little known reaches of burgerdom. Understand that we choose the places we visit based on a few different criteria. We started off by listing all of the places that have been on the various "best of" lists for the past couple of years. Then we added to that list whenever someone we knew suggested a place. Quite often, though, we look for a burger place that is in the vicinity of our destination, which for much of the summer, would be a car show (check out our car blog: http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/).
          So there will be times when we go to a restaurant with some knowledge of what to expect but  quite often we go in either on a recommendation or just because we found it listed on Urbanspoon. So many times we're just taking our chances and trying to find some new and exciting hidden gem.
          It doesn't always work out.
          There may be any number of reasons why we come away from a place disappointed. It may be the quality of the burger, the service, the fact that a place just didn't live up to the high accolades that had been heaped on it. Whatever the case, these are the places that disappointed us this past year. In no way is this meant to be a list of places to avoid. In some instances we even pointed out that perhaps the burger we ordered was the cause and chalk up the disappointment to our personal taste (or lack thereof). You should always be the judge and check out a place for yourself. Oh, yeah, we're not really apologizing if one of your favs is on our list. This is our blog and feel perfectly free to disagree and even post nasty comments about us. That's just part of the "pink slime" of doing a burger blog.
          915 Pub and Grill had gotten a lot of positive reviews on line and so when Mark went with a friend to discuss a video project he was disappointed by the quality of the meat. What looked and felt like a nice little neighborhood joint just didn't live up to expectations. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/915-pub-and-grill.html.
          The Blue Goose Sports Cafe was one of those destination hunt joints. Located in the Sharonville Loop, it was the perfect place for us to hit up during the big annual car show there each spring. Unfortunately the restaurant didn't live up to the excellent quality of the car show with a rather flavorless burger. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/blue-goose-sports-cafe.html.
           Cheeseburger In Paradise was a place where we had eaten before but found that our travels took us to the Eastgate area so we decided to do an official review. The restaurant closed shortly after our visit due to a redesigned cloverleaf ramp. So maybe the people at the place knew they were losing their jobs but our service was absolutely terrible. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheeseburger-in-paradise.html
          Culver's is one of those "quality" fast food chains that have begun to spring up around the country. It had come highly recommended by one of Mark's close friends and so when he was out of town on work and had the opportunity he stopped in only to be disappointed by the poor quality burger. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/culvers.html.
          Mama's Grill was another place that had come highly recommended by both the net and friends and so when an acquaintance of Mark's suggested they ride out for lunch, he was for it.  While the place is homey and friendly the burger just didn't have anything to make him want to recommend it. Perhaps the breakfast which looked really good would be a better call. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/mamas-grill.html.
          The Oakley Pub and Grill is an interesting place for us. We had been there before and found the burgers to be lacking and the service to be pretty bland as well. When Mark went back at the suggestion of a friend he found the burger to be a bit better but the service to be just as..... plain. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/oakley-pub-and-grill.html
          The Pepper Pod is one of those iconic neighborhood joints that we want so badly to like. Unfortunately, it didn't matter whether the burger itself was any good because the service was absolutely terrible. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/pepper-pod.html
          Sammy's Gourmet Burgers was another place that came highly recommended. We found that the special sauce totally overpowered the beef which, even when tasted by itself seemed rather bland. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/sammys-gourmet-burgers-and-beer.html
          Smash Burger is still another of those "quality" fast food chains. For us, it was probably more about their special sauce that overpowered the burger dropping it into this category. We have vowed to give it another chance and order a different burger (without the sauce) but until then, here it sits. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/smash-burger.html
          Toot's is a chain in the T.G.I. Friday's or Applebee's vein but, for us, didn't live up to either of those places. The burger was rather tasteless. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/toots.html
          So there you have our year in review. Next week it's off to find some more great, and probably not so great, burger joints. As always, let us know what you think and feel free to tell us about places to try. You can post comments here or drop us an email at turnerbudds@gmail.com.

Favorite Chains From Year One

          Originally we weren't going to review chain restaurants on this blog. Our aim was just to find and enjoy the best burgers in the tri-state area. OK, so then one time when we were out and about, probably on our way to a car show (be sure to check out our car blog: http://turnerbudds-carblog.blogspot.com/), we decided to stop in a chain and while we were there, figured what the hell, let's just review it. From then on, while being judicious with this practice, we continued to head to a chain from time to time.
          Today we're going to look at the six chains we liked the best. The rules are pretty much the same that we used for our favorite local spots as listed in last week's blog. So like last week, this really makes these our favorite chains based solely on our likes and dislikes. Let us know what you think either with a comment or drop us a line at turnerbudds@yahoo.com.
          Steak n Shake was the first of the chains that we visited and decided to include in the blog. It's one of the first non-fast food fast food joints except that that have always used quality ingredients. We've never had bad service at a Steak n Shake and you also get some of the best fries in the business. Here's our original post: http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/steak-n-shake.html.
          Quaker Steak and Lube is known more for their great wings than their burgers but this car themed chain offers up some mighty tasty beef. No two are decked out exactly the same and that adds to the overall atmosphere. In fact, some of the things on display can and will change from time to time. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/quaker-steak-and-lube.html.
          Roy Rogers was once a mighty chain, competing with the other big boys in the fast food arena. But poor management has rendered it almost extinct. Mark reviewed this one on his own but Josh has eaten there numerous times and agrees that it belongs on this list. No restaurant garnered as much feedback through email and Facebook (yeah, Mark posts these things on his page and people comment on them) than this blog about Roy Rogers. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/roy-rogers.html.
         Beef O'Brady's was a last minute visit decision. We had actually been avoiding it for a while but finally decided to bite the bullet and go. We're glad we did, and we're also glad we bit into the burgers. This is a nice chain and we wish there was one closer to us. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/beef-obradys.html.
           T.G.I. Friday's is almost too obvious to include. It is pretty much the standard bearer for this level of chain. But there is a reason for so many of these restaurants to populate the country and for so many people going there again and again. What can we say, we like their burgers (even through they took Mark's favorite off the menu). http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/t-g-i-fridays.html.
           Red Robin is, in our opinion, one of the best options for getting a burger at this level of chain. They just know how to make it right. In fact, this burger is better than many of those available in the local joints (which says more for the Red Robin burger than the lack of quality at the local places). http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/red-robin.html.
          There you have it, our favorite chains so far. If we missed your favorite, let us know. Most likely it's because we haven't had a chance to eat there yet. But trust us, we'll get to it.

Favorites From Year One

          So here are our favorite burgers from our first year with the blog. In all we chose 10 restaurants based on a number of different criteria. Of course we had to like the burger, that goes without saying but we also had to like the atmosphere of the place, the vibe, the decor as well as the service.
          This isn't a "best burger" list, this is our favorite places list. Granted, there are some very good burgers on this list and most have appeared on one or more of the various "best" lists that populate the burger world. But for us, we prefer pointing out our fav joints.
          In all there are 10 restaurants listed here in no particular order. Check them out for yourself and let us know what you think.
          Dena's Diner was a refreshing surprise when we stopped in. Located in a strip mall on busy Colerain Ave. it's not the type of place you would expect to be on a list such as this but the atmosphere and friendly service along with the tasty burger did it for us. Here is our original review: http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/denas-diner.html.
          Anderson Township Pub holds a special place in both our hearts. Mark has been coming here since before Josh was born. In fact all three of the kids were practically raised there. Not only are the burgers great but for us, this place is like home. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/anderson-township-pub.html.
          The Blue Jay, located in the heart of Northside, is one of those classic neighborhood joints that just oozes charm and smells like every diner should. It literally has it all with great food, a good atmosphere and the perfect decor. OK, so the service can be a bit slow at times but it just gives you a little longer to soak in smells coming from the kitchen and the tables next to you. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/blue-jay.html.
         By Golly's Tavern is an established Milford classic that mixes all of the things we love in a neighborhood pub. It doesn't hurt that when he was younger Mark use to go there from time to time when he was visiting his parents after they moved to this northeast suburb. Add in the fact that they have some amazing food challenges and this place is worth the drive around I 275. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/by-gollys-tavern.html.
          Quatman's is a neighborhood joint. There's just no other way to say it. Not only does this Norwood (yeah, I know there's one in Mason but it's not the same nor as good) dive offer up one of the best burgers in town but the atmosphere is absolutely perfect. Your soda is served in a can that you can pour into a small glass with ice, the food comes out on paper plates and you get a great burger for almost no money. You can't beat it. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/quatmans.html.
          Bard's Burgers was perhaps our most pleasant surprise. This Latonia joint is small in size but huge in flavor. It's so small that we could easily hear (and smell) our burgers sizzling on the flat top grill just behind the counter. Plus their food challenge is literally to die for. We love this place. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/bards-burgers.html.
          The Anchor Grill in Covington doesn't serve up the best burger in town but it's good enough when added to the ambiance of this place, usually thought of as an after the bars close destination, to put it on the list. While Josh has never been here after last call, Mark has and that helped in making his decision to include this in the discussion. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/anchor-grill.html.
          The Great Scott Diner in Amelia is here not only because of their tasty burgers but because of the retro 50s decor that literally takes you back to a decade when cars and burgers were king. It's worth the drive east just to look at all the old signs and pictures on the walls and to hear the great old music pumped through the place. But don't forget to order up a burger, you'll thank us, and them, for it. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-scott-diner.html.
          Zip's Cafe in Mt. Lookout is often sitting on top of the best burgers in the city list and with good reason. These are some of the most tasty goodies you will ever eat. And the atmosphere of this place is unbeatable. It's small, people often sit beside strangers at the long table in the middle of the place (we tend to sneak off to the bar in the back where there's usually a couple of stools open), and you can't help but look at the model train that circles the dining room above your head. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/zips-cafe.html.
          Van Zandt Restaurant and Tavern in North Collage Hill had just topped one of the best burger lists when we trekked over toward Mark's old stomping grounds. The "experts" were right. This was one of the best burgers either of us had enjoyed in a while. With great service and a very clean, modern restaurant, this is an absolute must destination for the burger fan. http://turnerbudds-burgerblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/van-zandt-restaurant-and-tavern.html.
          There you have it, our favorite burger joints that we have visited for the blog during our initial year on line. Next we are going to point out the five (well maybe six) chains that we liked the best. Enjoy and please, let us know what you think with either a comment or drop an email to turnerbudds@yahoo.com.