Plum St. Cafe

It's been a while since we found ourselves in a cool little dive joint ordering up a burger hot off a flattop grill. We tend to search out burgers in places near where our activities take us. That's why, when it's warm out and we're running around collecting pictures for the other blog we tend to visit places further from home (there will be some places pretty far from home in a couple weeks because Mark is heading out of town on some business and wants to compare theirs with ours).

Recently we headed downtown to the Duke Energy Center to check out the new car show they host there each year. In looking for a cool little joint we didn't have to go far, just about a half block south on Plum St, 423 Plum St. to be exact. The Plum St. Cafe is very much a downtown neighborhood joint. It is small and sparse, not quite as sparse as its web site (http://www.plumstreetcafe.com/) but since this place seems to cater to a pretty regular crowd there doesn't seem to be a need for added ambiance.

The menu is equally sparse and that's OK. Mostly because there is a very, very small kitchen located at the front of the place. It is open and visible from anywhere in the cafe. That means you can see, yes, and smell your food being prepared fresh.

Burgers

We, of course, chose their basic cheeseburger. It's about a third pound of hand patted fresh beef. Like the condiments, they get their meat from just a little north at Findley Market. Everything about this burger is fresh. Even the tomato in winter, something Mark usually doesn't order when not in season, was fresh, plump and tasty.

Perhaps the one downside to it was the toasted bun. The bun itself was good and the toasting was a nice touch. The problem occurred because the burger was so juicy that the bun began to break apart and neither of us could set down the burger for fear of it completely falling apart. Not that this is a bad thing.

Since the Plum St. Cafe doesn't have a deep frier don't expect to get fries. Instead they will toss you a bag of potato chips. And like everything else in the place the chips are pure Cincinnati: Grippos.

When our check came each of our totals were under $8. That's fast food prices for a good, quality, fresh burger. We tipped pretty well.

While Plum St. Cafe isn't the best burger we've ever had it is one of the best we've had in a while (except for Hwy. 55). But that is because this is really the first local joint we've been to in a while. We need to get to more of those.

If you are downtown, especially on the lower west side of downtown, make sure to stop in at the Plum St. Cafe. It's filled with regulars but we're sure, just like us, you'll be treated just like you belong. You'll get good service, excellent food and a check that is easy on the wallet.

Hwy 55

What started in a closed restaurant in a Goldsboro, NC shopping mall in 1991 as Andy's Cheesesteaks & Cheeseburgers, has become one of the fastest growing burger chains in the Southeast. Now, under it's new name of Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes and Fries, one has come to the Tri-State.

Located at 4450 Eastgate Blvd, next to the new Jungle Jim's, and on line at http://hwy55burgers.com/, Hwy 55 is a kitschy throwback style of restaurant that evokes the feel of the 1950s. An old '50s style car sits atop the place and as you enter to a friendly greeting from the staff, you see all sorts of memorabilia and pictures on the wall and hear classic '50s rock and roll.

We were seated, our drink orders were taken and we were told our server would be Doris Day. That took a minute to register and Mark explained to Josh who Doris Day was. When the server who sat us returned with out drinks we looked up at her name tag and saw it read Rosemary Clooney. We thanked her and asked her to give her nephew our regards and have him call the next time he's in town.

The menu is rather small but pretty much offers up something for everyone's taste ranging from cheesesteaks and chicken to shrimp and the reason we were there, the burgers. More on those in a bit.

As we were waiting for our food to come out, it being freshly made as we waited, Doris Day brought us a sample of the frozen custard. She told us it, like a lot of their food, was made fresh daily. The custard was rich and creamy and very delicious. Neither of us had room after our burgers for any dessert.

Burgers

The basic burger, the Andy, is a third pound of fresh, never frozen beef. Since we were hungry we each ordered up a double. Mistake as we really had to push ourselves to finish. The burger literally melted in our mouths. The beef was very flavorful and tasted as though it had just been ground that morning. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the cheese. It was so fresh that we were looking around to see if they had cows tucked away somewhere. It was like a slice of American that you could buy next door at Jungle Jim's. This food was never frozen or even stored away for long. In fact, everything from the meat to the cheese, from the condiments to the bun literally melted in our mouths. Without a doubt this was one of the best chain burgers we had ever had. In fact, it might be the best.

On the down side the fries were pretty pedestrian. But with the size and quality of the burger neither of us really cared. 

Going into Hwy 55 neither of us had any idea of what to expect. With the vast majority of the 100 plus locations down in North Carolina, neither of us had ever heard of it. This is the first one in Cincinnati and with this type of quality and such a fun atmosphere we can see it growing and spreading the way it has throughout it's home state. 

If you are a burger fan you owe it to yourself to check this place out. Definitely worth the trip to Eastgate.

Mitchell's

We love it when people tell us we should check out such and such a restaurant. If we haven't eaten there it's always fun to see how it lives up to our taste in burgers. But when Mark's friend and fellow burger guru Doug Cribbs suggested that we try, of all places, Mitchell's Fish Market, we were a little skeptical.

Both of us are huge seafood fans. We have eaten in some very good seafood restaurants over the years, including stops at Mitchell's. Never once inside such an eatery did we have the inclination to chow down on a burger.

Mitchell's is getting ready to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a chain of restaurants. Dating back to 1993 when founder Cameron Mitchell opened a small American bistro in Columbus. The group has grown to feature upscale and upscale casual restaurants under nine different brand names. All are known for a high standard of quality.

The Mitchell's where we ventured for lunch is located at Newport on the Levee but you can find all of their locations on line at http://www.mitchellsfishmarket.com/index.cfm.

Burgers

We went at lunch, figuring it was better to sample a burger at a seafood joint then than during dinner. It took all of our reserve not to say screw it and order up something like sea scallops or fish and chips. Instead we ordered up the Market Burger, cooked to order and delivered with cheddar cheese, apple wood smoked bacon (yes, we know, that's usually against our testing policy but what can we say, we both love bacon) and our choice of condiments.

Seeing as though this is the opposite of a fast food joint, it took a little longer than usual to get our burgers. When they came they were hot off the grill. Advertised as a half pound of USDA Prime ground beef the burgers lived up to that billing. They were juicy and flavorful with a just the right mix of lean and fat to ensure maximum flavor.

The cheddar cheese was a nice little change of pace from your typical American but it wasn't something that made us stand up and say, wow, why doesn't everyone do this. It was a mild cheddar, though, that didn't over power the flavor of the meat. Likewise the condiments were crisp and did their job, adding to the variety of flavors but not taking control. The bun was nothing special, basically there as a device to allow you to pick up the sandwich and eat it without getting too messy.

While the burger was good, it should be considering the price. A $10 burger really does seem a little much.

Overall we will definitely go back to Mitchell's. Only it will be for seafood and not burgers.

Rally's

There was a time when we would get Rally's burgers all the time. One sat on a corner about a half mile from our house and it was easy for us to stop in on the way home, drive through one of the convenient double drive-thrus and have our food home nice and hot.

The problem was that they quite often got the order wrong. We would get home and discover something that was screwed up and would have to drive back. Eventually, after this happened a couple of times, we would get our food at the window and root through the bag, checking to make sure everything was right. This would piss off the people working there but what the heck, we were the customers.

One day we drove past and that Rally's was closed. It became the offices of a small used car lot and was eventually torn down and a bank was built on the site.

Rally's was founded in Louisville, KY in 1985 but had its first official location across the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, IN. By 1996 Rally's was purchased by the parent company of western burger chain Charl's, Jr. and eastern chain, Hardy's. In 1999 Rally's merged with Checkers, a company that basically did the exact same thing, offering burgers and other fast food through a drive-thru only format in different parts of the country.

Today the merged company operates over 800 restaurants in 28 states. Our best count was 13 tri-state locations. You can find the one nearest to you on line at http://www.rallyburger.com/index.html.

Burgers

It had been years since we had eaten at a Rally's so when we came across one we decided to stop in. We each ordered up a Double Decker with cheese and our favorite condiments. When the bag of food was handed to us we, out of old habit, opened it up and checked to make sure the order was correct. It was.

We used to remember the burgers being pretty good for fast food fare, even when they got the order wrong. And compared to the big three of McWendy King they are. The beef is obviously shipped in frozen already formed patties. But there is a bit of juiciness that doesn't happen with the burgers at those three Goliaths. 

Being winter, some of the garden left a little to be desired. The tomato had to be pulled off and the lettuce was fairly limp. The pickles had a nice little tang that added nicely to the melted American cheese.  The buns were fresh like the ones you would get from your local grocery store.

We had forgotten that they put a special seasoned coating on their fries. We both liked that flavoring OK but decided that it probably wasn't very good for us and that after a while it became a touch too much. Still, it was a nice surprise  that once in a while would be a good change of pace.

For us Rally's was more of a nostalgia trip than a great burger. It falls in about the middle of the fast food joints: better than your big three but not quite up there 5 Guys, Back Yard Burger or even Smashburger (which we have given a reprieve). If you haven't eaten at a Rally's in a while you might want to drive thru and give it a try. Just make sure they have your order right before you drive away from the window.

Brothers Bar and Grill

          Begun over 20 years ago in LaCrosse, WI, Brothers Bar and Grill has grown to 17 locations in 10 Midwestern states. as a place to unwind, grab some food and drink and have a good time. Locally they can be found at Newport on the Levee and also on line at http://www.brothersbar.com/corporate_home.cfm.
           While the setting is like most nicer bar and grills this place seems to have a dual identity that associates with each. Yes there is a large bar area in the middle of the massive room and televisions abound  playing a variety of sports channels. But the booths are also quiet enough and set off to the sides enough for you to feel as though you are in more of a traditional restaurant setting. Yes it's still noise, this being one very large room, but depending on where you're sitting you can have a great view of the river and the Cincinnati skyline.
          The menu is pretty traditional pub grub and grill food and is very extensive. There is a wide selection of appetizers including Wisconsin cheese curds (something most folks in this part of the country haven't experienced). There are also lots of sandwiches and wraps, Nathan's Famous hot dogs and a number of your basic entrees.
          According to their web site and "verified" by our server, the menu at each of the locations is aimed at the local community. Plus, all of the recipes have been developed to be made from scratch daily. "Our sauces, salad dressings, even the potato chips are made from scratch every day. Each store's menu caters to its local customer base and includes items such as appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers and full entrees," it states.

Burgers

          Each day Brothers offers up a lunch special and we went down to get the discounted burgers. We each asked for a Classic Burger with Cheese and waited. But we didn't have to wait long. In addition to there being friendly service the food came out quickly and was hot off the grill.

          The burgers were plump and juicy, tasting of, as they promise, one made on a flat top grill just like they did at the old '50s diners. Everything about these burgers were delicious and neither of us could really think of anything bad to say about them. With crisp homemade chips on the side, Brothers shot up our list as one of our favorite non-local dive joints. 

          Our server, having obviously been through the routine before, brought us extra napkins which we needed. These juicy patties of ground beef are multi-napkin burgers. The buns were fresh and were neither too big nor too small.

          Overall Brothers is well worth a trip to Newport on the Levee, maybe even more than once.

Mad Mike's

          Usually when a place starts talking about serving up "gourmet" burgers, we both roll our eyes, shake our heads and figure we're going to spend $10-15 for something that won't ever make our top 10 list. But Mad Mike's is different.
          With three locations, two in Florence and a new one in Newport (as well as an easy to navigate web site at http://madmikesburgers.com/), Mad Mike's seems to be in the business of making up good, fresh, tasty burgers, completely on site, at very affordable prices. Taking a page from the Five Guys handbook, Mad Mike's uses a counter and grill, spending operating funds more on quality than on a fancy server.
          The Newport location, where we went on a recommendation from a Facebook friend, is very airy and comfortable. There are plenty of tables and a true neighborhood vibe to the place.

Burgers

          Yes, there are gourmet burgers on the grill with everything ranging from a Greek style burger to one dripping in mushrooms or sporting a Hawaiian flavor. But as is our habit, we ordered up the basic build your own cheeseburger and it was mighty tasty.

          Like Five Guys, the burger is really a double with two huge 100% Black Angus beef patties dripping goodness from the bun. Also like Five Guys, the good folks at Mad Mike's essentially give you two orders of fries. Here's a tip, unless you are a French fry junkie, get one order for two people.

          The burgers themselves rivaled Five Guys and might even be better. Wait, no "might" about it, these are very, very good burgers. We left stuffed and raving about how good they tasted. You should make a trip across to Newport (a block south of the Levee) and give these burgers a try. Next time we might give one of the gourmet versions a go.

Hold It!

          First off we would like to thank the tens of people who check out our little burger musings. Due to some illness as well as some quite volatile schedules we won't be posting anything new for a week, maybe two. But we promise to return. In the mean time, you might want to check out the posts for Skinny Legs Pub and Grill and Sonny's Three Meat Burgers (which has changed locations and we will have to check it out) since those are the two most popular of our entries. People as far away as Russia and Australia have been reading about these two. So see what you're missing.