Sonic Drive-In

          Throughout the 1950s, the drive-in restaurant was a common site all across the USA. Though Bob Wain is credited with the first drive-in back in 1936, a little place that came to be known as Bob’s Big Boy, it was after World War II when they flourished. People could drive up to a speaker, order their food and have it delivered, often on roller skates, where it could be eaten, not so comfortably, in their car.

          There are very few drive-ins left and a piece of the charm of our car generation is now gone. Sonic Drive-In harkens back to those days long ago with a true drive-in restaurant experience.

Founded in the early 1950s as the Top Hat, which at the time was a root beer stand that served hamburgers and hot dogs, the name was changed to Sonic when owner, Troy Smith, learned that the Top Hat name was already trademarked.

           Today there are over 3500 Sonics in 43 states so the odds of you finding one near you is pretty good. The odds of finding them on line are near perfect if you actually click on this link: http://www.sonicdrivein.com/home.jsp;jsessionid=EAF44EE45E754E89AB0893D87B7C053E.sonic-prod

Burgers

           Since it was a very nice day, though a little windy, we opted to sit at one of the tables outside rather than juggle the food in the car. We both ordered the double patty Super Sonic and chose the garden of our liking. And, of course, we both picked tater tots over French fries. Why? Because they’re tater tots.

In all honesty Sonic burgers are decent, as far as a fast food burger goes. They are cooked when you order then and not sitting around in a pan of grease under a warmer to be microwaved when someone decides they want one.

          They are still a fast food burger, though. The meat, though pretty good quality, has been frozen and shipped to the restaurant before being thawed and cooked. That said, they are a large step up from the more famous fast food joints and that alone is one of three reasons to pick Sonic over one of the other chains.

          The second reason is the obvious nostalgia of the drive-in experience. Not all Sonics have their cop hops on roller skates but some do and if you are lucky enough to find one then you truly have fallen into the way back machine with the complete experience.

          But perhaps the most important reason to choose Sonic over one of the big three fast food places is the tots. That’s right, tater tots. Tater tots way outclass fries; end of story.

         We like Sonic and choose it over some of the other places out there. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not comparing this to any of the good local joints we’ve reviewed but sure as hell beats a Big Mac. Check it out for yourself and be sure to order the tots.

Muggbee's Sports Cafe

                   Muggbee’s Sports Café in Anderson Township is a little over a year old now. When we looked at this place early on, the on-line reviews were, to be polite, rather mixed. Most cited decent food but terrible service that was painfully slow. So, we tended to shy away from it, until the other day.

                With no place else that was really interesting us we decided to give Muggbee’s a shot. It is located at 8112 Beechmont Ave. in what, a few years ago, was a Mexican restaurant. Today there are no signs of the former establishment as Muggee’s is 100% sports pub.

                It was about 1:30 and there were only a handful of people sitting around, mostly at the bar watching sports on one of the many TVs and shooting the bull. We walked in and were greeted and told to sit wherever we wanted. With TVs all around we just chose a spot in the middle.

                No server was to be seen. We had been greeted by the cook who came over, got our drink order and then, after bringing them, our food order. (The server did re-appear and apologized pointing out that the owner was taking her attention when we entered. Once back, she was very attentive.)

Burgers

                We each ordered up the Muggburger which, to our delight, we were able to add on our choice of cheese, condiments, sauces and toppings at no further cost. This three-quarter pound burger is reasonably priced to begin with.

                When Josh ordered his burger medium we both got quite a scare. The cook said that it would take 30-35 minutes because “the burgers are pre-cooked to medium well.” Instead of just walking out right then we decided to still give it a try, despite the concept of pre-cooked burgers.

                The food came out quickly and, as is fitting a three-quarter pound burger, was huge. While it looked good we were both worried about the concept of what was surely a frozen hunk of meat that had been cooked and re-heated.

                But one bite and our worries disappeared. The burgers were fresh, 100% beef and, though a bit overdone for our tastes, a delightful bit of burger.

                After we had struggled to finish our burgers (each leaving the majority of our typical food service crinkle cut fries on the plate), we learned that the burgers are pre-cooked and then allowed to soak in au jus until ordered where they are cooked a little more, sealing in the juice that has been soaking into the meat. It is an interesting way to approach a burger and we both admit that it added flavor.

                While we both agreed that maybe cooking the burger to rare and letting them soak, then cooking them to medium or well upon being ordered would be better, we weren’t at all disappointed in our dining experience. It was an amazingly friendly place with great service which belied those early on-line reviews. We suggest that you give Muggbee’s Sports Café a try for yourself.

Main Street Cafe

                Since 1994 the Main Street Café has been a central mainstay in the small eastern community of Newtown. Located right in the heart of this quaint little village, Main Street Café has been feeding folks with affordable, quality food since the doors opened.

                Located on the corner of Church St. and Main St. (Ohio 32) and on line at http://mainstreetcafenewtown.com/directions2.html, the Main Street Café is easy to find though can be a bit tricky to get into or out of depending on which way you’re travelling. With plenty of parking in the rear and usually enough seats, once you’re there you can get in and sit right down.

                With the light airy atmosphere of exactly what it is, a neighborhood restaurant, this is one of those places that, if you lived nearby, you would surely want to become a regular.

Burgers

                The place has a very Spartan menu that still pretty much provides something for everyone. We chose, aptly enough, the Double Burger and added cheese. They were thick, meaty and flavorful. In fact, they were almost too thick to comfortably wrap your mouth around. This made it a challenge to actually eat the burger. But what a tasty challenge it became.

                We both dug in and Josh got the point very quickly where he couldn’t actually set his down or else the whole thing would fall apart. This happens to Josh and he attributes it to the tomato, the lettuce and the amount of ketchup and mustard he likes to slather on his burger. In any case, once he reaches that point he has little choice but to finish the burger or see it completely fall apart.

                Mark doesn’t quit load on the condiments the Josh does but still found that the “right sized” bun was just what this burger required. Not so thick that it adds to the difficulty of biting into the sandwich but also not so thin and fragile that it disintegrates as you eat.

                Fresh beef that has been cooked to order is always refreshing but not always found these days of cutting corners. No corners are cut on this burger. We both walked away, much more full than when we entered, having consumed a large amount of very tasty meat along with fresh lettuce and, for as early in the year as it is, surprisingly tasty tomato.

                With fast, friendly service, about the only thing that wasn’t truly outstanding about our lunch was the standard food service shoe string fries that were nicely prepared.

                If you find yourself on the east side, heading out Route 32 or just tracking along the Little Miami River, it’s worth it to pull over and enjoy a burger at the Main Street Café.

Detroit Joe's

                Detroit Joe’s Restaurant, located at 115 E. 9^th St. has been a Newport staple for several years now. Tucked away one block off of Monmouth, you almost have to know it’s there and actively seek it out. I was in Northern Kentucky doing some business and at the recommendation of a friend, decided I’d stop in and give Detroit Joe’s a try for lunch.

                With an upscale décor and playing a satellite radio smooth jazz station, the atmosphere is something of a relief from all the sports bars that litter ever corner these days. Actual table cloths and cloth napkins add to the feeling of quality that is reflected in the prices.

                The service was relaxed and very friendly, not rushed despite it being lunch time. About half the people who walked in when I was there were greeted by name, obvious regulars. The dining room is small and conversations carry but I was able to read my book in relative peace while grooving on the music.

Burger

                Of course the reason for my visit was to check out the burger. Right up front it was a pleasure all the way around. A 100% USDA prime beef patty, fresh, never frozen, properly seasoned makes up the heart of the burger. The burger was cooked well as I was not given an option but that didn’t really detract from it all that much.

With some amazingly fresh tomato and crisp lettuce to accompany the American cheese and mayo, this is one of those burgers that run the risk of completely falling apart in your hand as you eat it. But there was a little miracle there; the bun actually held together and didn’t dissolve before I’d finished the burger. Perhaps this was due to how well done it was, not having juices dripping freely. But whatever the case, the bun was a wonderful surprise.

The burger itself was very tasty. Granted, it took several bites to actually taste just the burger as the tomato was the first thing that jumped out and made my taste buds want to do a little dance. When I did get a bite of just burger, oh my yes. It was properly seasoned and you could actually taste the quality of the meat. The flavor quality led me to guess that maybe they were actually using a 70-30 piece of meat for a bolder taste.

I enjoyed the burger so much that the basic restaurant fries or the bland homemade cole slaw (which was a bit dry for my taste) didn’t matter at all. The burger was, as it should be, the star of the show.

It is well worth the effort to pull off Monmouth and find Detroit Joe’s on 9^th St. and try their burger. I greatly enjoyed it and left very, very full.

Izzy's

                Izzy’s has been a deli tradition in the Tri-State for over 100 years. In fact, it was 1901 when the Kadetz family opened the first Kosher deli west of the Allegany’s. Now with multiple locations throughout the area, Izzy’s can also be found on line at http://www.izzys.com/.

                While Izzy’s is a great deli, it isn’t the Stage or Katz or even the Stage Door, staples and pillars of New York’s deli tradition. But, with a killer corned beef and Rueben’s that have been featured on cooking shows, Izzy’s, with their bowl of pickles brought to your table and delicious potato pancakes, is always worth visiting for a tasty meal.

Burger

                Recently my daughter and I were off doing some combination birthday and Mother’s Day shopping and decided to stop into Izzy’s. Since I had never had their burger before I thought I’d forego the Joe Walter special and try the Izzy Burger.

                I wish I hadn’t.

                Let me first explain that I really like Izzy’s food. From the sandwiches to the wraps and of course the potato pancakes, I have tried most of the menu and enjoyed it all. The burger, though, unlike the rest of the food, is not nearly as fresh or tasty.

                The burger itself has obviously been frozen. The quarter pound patty has been seasoned, probably by the manufacturer, with a number of spices that are most likely designed to hide this fact. The problem is, neither the spices nor the bland flavor of the burger could sway my taste buds. This is not a good burger.

                Resting on a Kaiser roll with fresh garden, you can see that the meat has been processed and frozen. Biting into it actually reminded me of the “burgers” we use to get in school when I was a kid. Seriously, this is not good.

                I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Izzy’s for lunch or even dinner. Just don’t waste your time with the Izzy burger. This is one of the worst burgers I’ve ever had at a restaurant.

Frisch's Big Boy

                In 1936 Bob Wian sold a DeSoto Roadster and purchased a small hamburger stand in Glendale, CA which he called Bob’s Pantry. The following year one of his regulars asked Bob if he could do up something special and the first double decker hamburger was born. That original double decker was, according to legend, named after a “chubby” boy who hung around and would sweep up in exchange for one of Bob’s burgers. The name given it was the Big Boy.

                Bob’s was a huge success as he developed many things beyond the double decker burger. He created the first drive-in restaurant where you could sit in your car, order your food through a speaker and have it delivered via roller skating waitress.

                In 1948 Bob sold his first franchise to a gentleman in Cincinnati, OH, David Frisch who made a few changes to the menu and that famous burger and opened Frisch’s Big Boy. While there have been over 20 other Big Boy franchises across the country over the years, Frisch’s remains the oldest and widest spread. You can find Frisch’s throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Florida. You can also find them on the web at http://www.frischs.com/. You can also find Big Boy on line at http://www.bigboy.com/.

Burgers

                Since there is a Frisch’s within walking distance of our house, we have been going there all of Josh’s life and not always for the burger. They have a decent little breakfast buffet as well as a soup and salad bar and a full menu of other tasty meals.

                When we go and get a burger, though, we always do the Super Big Boy, a larger variation of the traditional quarter pound double decker. The Super provides a full half pound (before cooking) of beef. We also do what is called a combo. The combo eliminates the center slice of bun so the two patties are together. Unlike the original California Big Boy, Frisch’s uses tartar sauce on their burger in place of the Big Boy sauce.

                   On this trip Frisch's was offering up a selection of new, one third pound gourmet burgers but that isn't our style, at least not for the blog. So we stuck with our regular, the Super.

                There’s one thing you can always be sure of at a Frisch’s. That’s the fact that your Big Boy is going to taste the same as the one you had last week or last month or even last year. It may not be the best burger in the world (and we will vouch that is isn’t) but it is good and the restaurants are very consistent with their delivery.

                Likewise, the fries are always above average. Sure, they are delivered frozen to the restaurant but they are well cooked and pretty darn tasty when dipped in tartar sauce. Yeah, we know, too much tartar sauce, what, with it on the burger as well as on your fries, isn’t good for you. That’s why we don’t eat here all the time.

                Mark misses the fact that you use to be able to drive up in your car and eat but also remembers what a cramped pain in the ass it was. Josh, having eaten at a couple of drive-ins over the years, could care less. Still, going inside the Frisch’s is always worth your time. You probably drive past one every day. You should stop in once in a while.

Village Tavern

                This is one of those places that seems to have been around as long as the surrounding community. Someone probably knows the history but as far back as Mark can seem to remember the Village Tavern has been on the corner of Montgomery and Cooper in old Montgomery, just south of some ribs joint. It’s been on the web at http://thevillage-tavern.com/ for considerably fewer years.

                Josh was in school and a friend of mine, Matt, came in from Chicago and was staying at a hotel not too far from the Tavern. It was decided that we would head that way and grab a burger.

                As the name implies this is a real community place. The original Tavern was what is today the bar area with very limited seating. When space next door became available the Tavern expanded and now has plenty of room for musicians (including a good friend of Matt and mine) and DJs for weekend entertainment.

                With a menu that features bar food, sandwiches, pizzas, a handful of dinner entrees, as well as gourmet stuffed deep fried burgers (such as the Chuck Norris) there is something for everyone.

Burger

                Matt and I showed up on a day where they were having a burger lunch special. Since we were going to go for the burgers anyway, it sounded just perfect. I did the B.Y.O.B. (build your own burger) and added provolone cheese on it. Since the special came with fries rather than the standard chips, I had those as well.

                The burger, made of a half-pound of fresh, hand patted Angus beef, was fresh and juicy and cooked just right. The bun did exactly what a bun is supposed to do and let the beef shine through. The mildness of the provolone was a perfect choice for this burger since there really shouldn’t have been anything in the way of the beef’s flavor.

                About two bites in Matt looked up at me and said, “This is a pretty good burger.” He was absolutely right. In fact, everything about the meal was pretty darn good. Our server, who was also working the bar, was friendly and didn’t rush us at all as it was obvious we were doing a lot of talking. The fries were crispy on the outside and as light as a cloud on the inside. The lettuce and pickle were crisp and tasty. And the price, due to the lunch special, was very affordable; which in a way was too bad because Matt paid.

                If you haven’t been to the Village Tavern in Montgomery for lunch in a while, I would recommend stopping in if you are anywhere near. The food is good, the atmosphere is good and the prices are very reasonable.