The Broh’d Trip 2 – Raleigh, Chuck’s, Char-Grill & Emoji

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Rev

Sometimes you just need to get in the car and go. Sometimes you just need a hang with the boys. Sometimes you just need a heaping dose of comfort Food and Beer. Sometimes you just need an excuse to get the heck out of town and have a good time. Then there’s those other times when you need it all at once and that is why I created …

THE BROH’D TRIP
Take the eateries from the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives,” add in a group of friends like on HBO’s “Entourage” and sparkle it with a dose of Roadside America and you have THE BROH’D TRIP. It’s an excuse for a couple of bro’s to get out of town and have some fun driving around this great country of ours eating food, drinking beer and seeing some randomly random stuff.

The first Broh’d Trip took place in August of 2011 after 8 months of planning. On that trip we had 3 Burgers & visited 3 Breweries in 5 States. I’m proud to say that in less than half the time, only 4 months, we were able to put the Broh’d Trip back on the road. My bud Leo, the ultimate road trip junkie, hit me up and asked if I wanted to hop in the car with our friend Mike P and drive to Raleigh to visit his friend David. Moments later, I was doing research where to eat, what to drink and what to see North Carolina.

THE BROH’D TRIP – RALEIGH – DAY 1
Friday, January 13, 2012

Dunkin Donuts
NYC
5:14 am

It starts at a Dunkin Donuts on 10th Ave. We grab some coffee and once again, we load up into Leo’s BROH’D-MOBILE and took headed southbound on I-95.

Wawa
http://wawa.com
231 N Philadelphia Blvd
Aberdeen, MD 21001
8:09 AM

Anyone that has ever driven through Pennsylvania or most parts of it’s adjoining states knows about the glory of Wawa. Any East Coast foodie knows that convenience store / deli / sometimes gas station chain WAWA is the bomb!! With their Ready-to-Go Snacks, tasty side dishes, refreshing Iced Teas, Fresh Brewed Coffee, delicious Sizzli breakfast sandwiches and of course, the best thing about Wawa, Built-to-Order Hoagies and Sandwiches!!! Just walk up to the computer screen and start mashing those hungry little fingers on the touch screen.

With a no caution for healthy eating, I ripped right into a Philly Cheesesteak Breakfast Ciabatta with Provolone Cheese, Pepperoni & Hot Sauce with a Hash Brown on the sides. The hot delicious awesomeness was washed down, as always with a Wawa Lemonade Iced Tea, this time diet. Cut where you can.

Wawa
http://wawa.com
11052 W Broad St. (at Old Sadler Rd.)
Richmond, VA 23225
12:02 pm

What can I tell you? The Broh’d Trip to Hell is paved with Good Wawa’s. You know the drinks are tasty, the bathroom’s are clean, often time’s there’s gas, the staff is friendly and oh yeah, Wawa Hoagie’s RULE! One of the most revered Wawa Hoagie’s is the famous Gobbler. This bundle of fame essentially give you Thanksgiving in an not so easy to eat but conveniently packaged Sandwich. They filled a Hoagie roll, in this case a Shorti, with Turkey, Hot Gravy, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce. It’s a finger-smacking, lip-licking, gut bomb that is one of the best on-the-go Sammies on the planet. It’s even better with a side of (2) Meatballs and (another) Wawa Iced Tea.

L&L Food Store
1001 E Washington St
Nashville, NC 27856
1:46 pm

Leo missed our turn off from I-95 onto I-64 which after we found out, we decided to try to take side roads to re-route. That’s when we came across the site of a gas station with a lawn full of large, fake animals. “OF COURSE I WANT A PICTURE WITH A GIANT CHICKEN,” I screamed from the back seat!! Leo, after what may have been a small heart-attack, pulled over the BROH’D-MOBILE into the parking lot of an L&L Food Store. We posed for a few snap shots and I asked the question, “What the hell is Peter Griffin so angry?” When know when got the reference, we headed in for drinks and a potty stop. That’s when I found the server yourself pot of Boiled Peanuts. JACKPOT!!

Occupy Raleigh
http://www.occupyraleigh.org
4:59 pm

After we arrived into town we dropped out stuff at Dave’s house and talked for a bit. Then Dave took us in to see Downtown Raleigh. We passed Occupy Raleigh. I shot this picture from our inside the car. That’s it, that’s ALL of it.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
 http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/raleigh/
328 W Morgan St (at S Harrington St)
Raleigh, NC 27601

If you love your craft suds, The Flying Saucer Draft Emporium is for you. It’s a small chain located in the South, with most of them located in Texas. They offer a menu of bar grub like Apps, Sandwiches, Nachos, Pretzels, Wings, Pizzas, Paired Meats and Cheeses and Bratwurst. The food however, is not the reason most people are familiar with The Saucer. The Flying Saucer Draft Emporium is a Beer collectors haven. Join their U.F.O. club and keep a running log of all the Beers you drink on your various visits. You’ll get a t-shirt and a magnetic card for joining and as you swing back tasty brews you earn various treats like free Beers, swag and the big prize, getting your name on a Ring Of Honor that will be hung up in the restaurant once you’ve sampled more than 200 Beers.

We by no means were headed in the direction of 200 Beers but we definitely enjoyed a selection of Sandwiches & Suds while visiting. I had the Wings, which were not so good but I did rock at Brat with Spicy Mustard and Swiss Cheese. It was pretty good, especially the fresh, nicely toasted Roll that held it all together. Dave nailed it with an appetizer of Rocket-Tots; “Bite-sized Cheese & Pepper Potato Tots with Habanero Sour Cream Dip.” Just like the menu says, they’re “REALLY GOOD!” I washed it down with an awesome 1554 from New Belgium and a Bell’s Brewery Hop Slam.

Foundation
http://foundationnc.com
213 Fayetteville St (at E Hargett St)
Raleigh, NC 27601
7:22 pm

North Carolina for some reason requires patrons who want to imbibe in a little adult Beverage consumption to be a member of the establishment. This creates a private social club scenario with some places and they do require you to join to be able to enjoy their offerings. Why? I have no idea and unfortunately after about 10 minutes of Googling, I came up with nothing so, let’s just move on.

By law, Foundation is a private social club in Raleigh, NC. The basement bar has seating for a couple dozen people in its’ dimly lit space with red brick walls. They have quite the impressive list of brown spirits, especially Bourbon, Whiskey and Scotch. If that’s your thing, you’ll want to sign up for membership on their website before heading down to try some out. There’s a good chance you’ll find something that you’ve never had before. For me, it was Wassmund’s Single Malt Whiskey, a very distinct, sweet Whiskey with a little bit of smoky wood flavor to it.

We tried to buy a bottle of it before leaving Raleigh but couldn’t find any. Feel free to send me a bottle if you can get it.


THE BROH’D TRIP – RALEIGH – DAY 2
Saturday, January 14, 2012

Biscuitville
http://biscuitville.com
2426 Wake Forest Rd (at Hodges St.)
Raleigh, NC 27608
7:26 am

“Fresh, Southern, Homemade Biscuits.” Those four words are all one needs say or hear about Biscuitville. It’s a small fast-food chain located only in Virginia and North Carolina that serves primarily, you guessed it, Biscuits. Former Flour Broker Maurice Jenkins started a Pizza-To-Go baking business in 1972 called Pizzaville. Being ever the entrepreneur, Maurice started using his Pizza ovens to bake Biscuits in the morning hours, when Pizza wasn’t on people’s palettes. Long story short, the Biscuits started selling more than the Pizzas and in 1975, Mr. Jenkins opened the very first Biscuitville in Danville, VA. Soon all the Pizzaville’s were converted and as of 2012, there are now 50 Biscuitville locations throughout the 2 states.

The business is still run today on the 3 principals it was founded upon, fresh, friendly & fast. The Biscuits are made fresh EVERY 20 minutes and they’ve expanded beyond just offering them with Jelly. Ham, Cheese, Eggs, Bologna, Chicken, Bacon, Butter, Liver Mush, Pork Chops, Sausage, Steak and of course, the Oh-So-Amazing Biscuitville homemade GRAVY are all available as Biscuit pairings. Order it up with an OJ or hot cup of Joe and you’ve got yourself a fresh, fast & affordable part of many a North Carolinian’s morning.

It’s my favorite fast-food Breakfast of all times and as I told my fellow Broh’d Trippers, a MANDATORY part of my trip to Raleigh. Considering I haven’t been to a Biscuitville in more than a decade, ordering was easy, and you should follow this as a rule:

  • Gravy Biscuit
  • Fried Chicken Biscuit (I go spicy Chicken)
  • Hash Browns
  • Coffee

It was as good, if not better, than I remember! Looking at the pictures and writing these words is making be unbelievably hungry and sadly, only Biscuits from Biscuitville can tame my cravings!

World’s Largest Acorn
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/go/moore-square
200 S Blount St
Raleigh, NC
2:17 pm

Raleigh’s official nickname is “The City of Oaks,” for it’s many, many oak trees. As a tribute to it’s nickname, the city built a giant Acorn that sits daily downtown in Moore Square. Every year, during their “First Night Raleigh” New Year’s Eve party, the acorn is dropped from the top of the Raleigh Civic Center, as we do the “the ball” here in New York City’s Times Square. The “World’s Largest Acorn” is ten feet tall and weights 1,250 pounds, as compared to the Times Square ball which in it’s current configuration is 12 feet and a whopping 11,875 pounds. It’s also a great historical piece of Roadside America, which I love.

Chuck’s
http://www.ac-restaurants.com/chucks
237 S Wilmington St. (at Martin St)
Raleigh, NC 27601
2:35 pm

The alluring sign in front of Chuck’s reads “Half-Pound House Ground Flat Top Seared 100% Chuck.” What it doesn’t say is that it’s owned by popular Raleigh Chef and former Top Chef contestant Ashley Christensen. The local restaurateur owns several dining establishments in the area, all somewhat based on comfort type food dining. Chuck’s in particular only offers one thing, Hamburgers. Check out the menu, where every item, even the Belgian Fries are made with the most mouth watering combination of toppings and ingredients. There’s not much to the place, exposed brick, large windows in the front, a number of tables and chairs and other than large fake cow’s heads you won’t find much else to distract you away from Burgers like the “Spirit Animal” with Cream Cheese, Roasted Poblano Chilis, Grilled Tomatoes and Tortilla Dust. Try to walk by and not stop in to get one of these Burgers.

On our walk back across town from Moore Square en route to get lunch, that’s exactly what happened to us. The sign in front of Chuck’s may as well just read “REV EAT HERE.” 8 ounce, Ground fresh Burgers cooked on a flat top griddle!?!??! OH HELL YEAH WE STOPPED…i’ll say it again, on our way to get lunch.

I convinced the crew that we should split just one Burger because I had to had to had to try this. A quick look of the menu and a snap decision was made. It was going to be the appropriately named “Dirty South Carolina.” This monster fresh Ground Patty, came with Smoked Pork Shoulder, Anson Mills Sea Island Red Pea “Chili,” Crispy Tobacco Onions, Ashe Co. Mountain Cheddar and Yellow Mustard. I barely had enough time to get half way through my Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale before the Burger, served on a Potato Roll was on our table.

Let’s start with the negatives; The Patty, which no doubt was made with high quality and freshly ground Beef, was a little too tightly packed. Handled too much, a patty gets a thicker, chewier bite. The perfect Burger is barely pressed together which helps to give it that melt in your mouth feeling. This is merely a texture based attribute that has little to no affect on the flavor. Secondly, the Yellow Mustard, not needed. I get it. Chili has the flavor profile that you would add something to that’s vinegar-esque or based, especially in the South. I would agree, a Chili Dog definitely tastes great with Yellow Mustard on it. However, in this case, it just wasn’t needed.

Now onto the positives, everything else, and I mean EVERYTHING else about this Burger was awesome. The Dirty South Carolina Burger at Chuck’s is juicy, fresh, delicious and packed with a cornucopia of unique and intense flavor. It’s truly an artisan creation. My only regret was that I only got to eat 2 ounces of it!!


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

The Pit Authentic Barbecue

http://thepit-raleigh.com

328 West Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
3:33 pm

As most enthusiasts know, the word Barbecue or “BBQ” can mean something entirely different depending on your particular geographic location at the time. Memphis, Texas, Kansas City and Carolina make up the 4 major styles. Carolina in particular is almost always centered around Pork with a Vinegar based Sauce. But even inside the state of North Carolina, there are 2 distinct styles, East & West AKA Lexington. In the West it’s primarily about the Dark Meat from the Pork Shoulder. in the East, as it is at The Pit in Raleigh, it’s about the whole damn Hog, pulled, shredded & chopped with just the right amount of smoky flavors.

The Empire Eats Restaurants company, the folks behind The Pit, built the place with the idea to keep the traditional style in mind. The Pit sources only from local farms and as for the Pigs, they must be raised in a free-range environments. You know what they say, a happy Pig is a tasty Pig! They also serve other types and styles of Barbecue, all of which is purposefully paired with hand picked Beer, Wine & Spirits, in particular, Whiskey’s & Bourbons. They’ve been featured on many a TV show and without a doubt a stop on our Broh’d Trip to Raleigh!

After several eye-spinning moments looking over the lunch menu, from which I could’ve just said “one of everything,” I ordered the Chopped Barbecue – Eastern NC style with a BBQ Baked Beans and Mac N Cheese. When in Rome… It was juicy, succulent, smoky, awesome and even more amazing once I gave it a couple squirts of the Vinegar with Jalapenos sitting in it. OH YEAH. It all slid back courtesy of a Krampus by Southern Tier.

Pullen Park
http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html
408 Ashe Ave
Raleigh, NC 27606
5:17 pm

Pullen Park’s history dates back to the 22nd or March, 1887 when Richard Stanhope Pullen donated the land to the city of Raleigh. It became the very first public park in all of North Carolina. Located inside the park you’ll find a Cafe, Community Center, Aquatic Center and amusements like it’s Carousel, Train, Kiddie Boats and more which make it the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the world.

You’ll also find amongst the other interests in Pullen Park, a statue tribute to Andy Griffith & Opie from the Andy Griffith Show. While the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina is based on Mount Airy, NC, the original bronze statue is located in Raleigh. A duplicate was also made and it actually does reside in Mount Airy. Word is that the local folk from Mount Airy complained when the original statue was created for Pullen Park.

Snoopy’s Hot Dogs
http://www.snoopys.com
2431 Spring Forest Rd. (Atlantic Ave.)
Raleigh, NC 27616
12:22 am

While it’s open during the day too, Snoopy’s Hot Dogs is known for being a great location for late night eats. It started in 1978 when Steve Webb converted an old gas station into a quick serve restaurant. There are now 5 Snoopy’s Hot Dog locations serving folks craving Dogs, Burgs & Fries in the Raleigh area. Snoopy’s was one of the first restaurants in the area to stay open late (3am Thu-Sat) establishing themselves as the go to place for night time eats.

There’s no need to beat around the bush, we all know who is late night eating and after bar hopping around town, we were prime examples. Dave insisted we stop by for a Chili Dog on the way to our next location (see below.) As a native Detroiter, I grew up on Chili Dogs and was in NO condition (or desire) to argue. We walked up, order Chili Dogs and ate em right there in the parking lot. Make sure you know before you order, ALL Dogs & Burgers come topped with Yellow Mustard, Chili & Onions so a Snoopy’s Famous is just that. The fresh white Bread Bun had enough strength to allow of eating by hand, rather than fork. The star of this show, make no mistake, is definitely the Chili.

Char-Grill
http://www.chargrillusa.com
618 Hillsborough St (at Glenwood Ave)
Raleigh, NC 27603
12:43 am

There’s lots of ways to cook up a Burger, griddled, steamed, fried, etc but at North Carolina’s Char-Grill there is only one way and it’s all in the name. In 1959 Bruce Garner decides there is only one way and opens a take-out service only Hamburger Steak stand where orders are taken via paper ticket and Burgers are made in view of the customer. All Burgers are charcoal grilled on an open flame to give them that smoky, outdoor grill flavor that our fathers taught us to love. In 1975, Mahlon Aycock and Ryon Wilder re-open the Char-Grill, keeping in tact all of it’s original attributes. A 2nd Char-Grill opens in 1986 and eventually is followed by 7 more. Nearly every Burger Journo out there has had some shining accolade to say about the place and if you’re in town, there’s no reason you too wouldn’t want to stop by for a charcoal grilled Hamburger Steak Sandwich.

That’s exactly what we were going to do, when we side lined at Snoopy’s for a Chili Dog. You know how you know we love Food? For the 2nd time in the same day that we ate on the way to get something to eat. Also, Char-Grill is on the same block as Snoopy’s, so it was kind of hard to deny the idea. I was a little on the tipsy side from a full days worth of Craft Beer “sampling” so I didn’t know what to order, especially when I saw so many different Burgers on the menu. My eyes bested my stomach so I ordered French Fries, a 1/4 LB Hamburger Steak with Cheese and Lettuce, a Char-Burger plain and a Chili Dog.

Man, I was so so so so excited to eat at Char-Grill, especially after being ramped up by the review in George Motz’s Burger Bible, “Hamburger America.” Much like Biscuitville, this was on my MUST DO list for the Broh’d Trip. I figured a few “adult pops” as my Dad used to call ‘em would set the tone for Burger awesomeness. Unfortunately, I’m sad to say, it was not. Both of my Burgers were dry, over-cooked and tasted only of Charcoal Grilling. I couldn’t really get a sense of the quality or flavor of Beef used in the Patty, only the method of preparation. It was a total let down. I sent a a photo to George via text message of my Hamburger Steak. His return comment; “looked over cooked big time.” That aside, the Chili Dog was DAMN good and in fact, I would say better than Snoopy’s. I’d also throw an alley oop for the French Fries which were crispy, hot, golden and delicious.


6 out of 10 Ounces
-Rev


THE BROH’D TRIP – RALEIGH – DAY 3
Sunday, January 15, 2012

Jim’s Famous BBQ
http://www.jimsfamousbbq.com
115 S Elliott Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
2:10 pm

When doing my research for our Broh’d Trip to North Carolina, I happened upon a lot of glowing reviews for Allen & Son Bar-B-Q of Chapel Hill. While doing said research, I failed to notice that they’re closed on Sunday’s. You can probably imagine the level of disappointment happening in the BROH’D-MOBILE when we pulled up in front of a closed Allen & Son after driving all the way there. A quick tapping search of “best BBQ Chapel Hill” set us off in another direction as we were not about to be denied tasty ‘Q.

Jim’s Famous BBQ, located in the parking lot of the Whole Foods near the East Gate Shopping Center. Jim’s offers many BBQ types including East North Carolina, Memphis, Delta and more. Check the menu and you’ll a pretty wide array of smoked, grilled & pit cooked vittles. Grab a seat in the bar or be shown to a table and be sure to take notice of the decor. The place is covered in very cool Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll paraphernalia including a sweet Stevie Ray Vaughn poster and Robert Crumb’s “Heroes of the Blues” trading cards.

Between the three of this we ordered Smoked Sausage Links, Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, Chopped Pork, BBQ Beans, Coleslaw, Macaroni & Hush Puppies. Like I said, we were not going to be denied our BBQ! When the meal was done, there wasn’t a single bite of Meat left on anyone’s plates. We were damn hungry and nicely satisfied.

Carolina Brewery
http://www.carolinabrewery.com
460 W. Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
2:56 pm

No Broh’d Trip is complete without a trip to some kind of craft brewery and this trip was to be no exception. Nate, a good buddy of mine in the beer biz back in NYC used to live in Chapel Hill and speaks in volumes of his former place of employment, the Carolina Brewery. This instantly put it on my list of things to do in NC.

If you’re a proud Carolina and specifically an UNC Grad, the Carolina Brewery is for you. It’s an award winning Craft Brewery located in Chapel Hill that’s locally owned by UNC Alumni and Director of Brewing Operations, Jon Connolly. But that’s not the only reason to go there. They’re also known for their award winning Beers and the American Fare served in their brewpub. If you’re a fan of the beers, be sure to join their “Brew Crew” and eventually work your way up onto the Carolina Brewery’s “Wall of Foam.”

GENUINE OATMEAL PORTER

  • Porter
  • 5.4% ABV
  • Chapel Hill, NC

THEY SAY: This hearty dark ale with pleasing hints of molasses and chocolate is robust and full bodied. Fresh rolled oats compliment the brew by creating a nice silky texture and a creamy, rocky head. This style originally was a blend of three different beers that was called “Entire Butt” – we’re not kidding! Porter became a style of its own during the early 1700’s when it was the favorite drink of the porters in the produce markets of London, England.

REV SAYS: If bittersweet German chocolate could be a Beer, this would be it.

COPPER LINE AMBER ALE

  • Amber Ale
  • 3.9% ABV
  • Chapel Hill, NC

THEY SAY: This brilliant red ale, brewed with caramel and pale malts is a best seller at the Carolina Brewery. Using traditional brewing methods, the ale yeast provides a touch of fruit and works in tandem with the malt to make for a very drinkable ale. Kent Golding hops lend just enough bitterness and aroma to round out the flavor.

REV SAYS: This Beer is light, sweet and incredibly drinkable due to a very well balanced brewing process.

DOWNTOWN TROLLEY BROWN

  • English Brown Ale
  • 5.2% ABV
  • Chapel Hill, NC

THEY SAY: Chosen by our guests as one of their favorite specialty beers, this brown ale is freshly brewed in the distinctive American style with a deep garnet hue and more hops and malt than its English counterparts. The use of roasted barley imparts a nut-like flavor. These special ingredients make for a deep, mellow ale that goes great with any meal.

REV SAYS: This a great smelling Beer that’s a smooth, easy drinker with a smooth finish. It’s like a quick, easy flight with comfortable seating no turbulence.

Tasty Beverage Co
http://tastybeverageco.com
327 West Davie Street #106
Raleigh, NC 27601
6:15 pm

With only hours to go on our trip, it was missing that one thing, that special moment, that one more last item that put the entire trip over the top. Our plan was to sit home at Dave’s house, order in, chill, watch TV and drink some Beers. My sense of adventure had yet to turn off and another lighting fast, on the go search leads us to what we were missing.

1100 packaged Beers in one store.

Honestly, does anything more need be said about the Tasty Beverage Co. of Raleigh, NC. While they do have a selection of Wines, High Quality Sodas, Meats, Cheese and an in-store Tasting Bar, those are only the icing on the cake, 1100 “cakes” that is. You’ll find the store in The Raleigh Depot located in the Warehouse District. Be sure to start your Craft Beer shopping spree at the back of the store at the tasting bar so you can shop while sipping on craft Suds. Even with a vast knowledge of Beer, there’s a good chance you’ll be overwhelmed by the selection available. No worries, just ask someone in the store for some help in choosing six packs, cans, single bottles, large formats, local Brews, foreign Beer, Ciders, room temperature or already chilled Beers. If owner Sean Pratt is in the house, you’re in for a special treat. This man knows their inventory and what’s in each bottle as if he was keeping count of family members. Can’t find what you’re looking for, he’ll know if they have it, if they can get it, why they can’t get it or the next best thing.

We spent nearly an hour, 30 minutes past closing circling and circling around the stores on what turned out to be a $150 craft Beer shopping spree. Leo and Mike got themselves well under control before I did and yet we still walked out with 3 boxes of Beers. There’s no way we could’ve brought home this much tasty Beer if we had flown but thankfully, the BROH’D-MOBILE was ready to transport our brew booty.

Thanks to Dave for offering up the crash pad, pooch entertainment, beers, local guiding, laughs and WiFi. Hope the drums sound as sick as they look.

Thanks to Leo & Mike for a super fun weekend filled with all kinds of PIWO and extra lahvings. I had a great time doing this with you:

See you on the slip & slide.

Until the next BROH’D TRIP!!

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
475 Burgers

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Steak ‘N Shake – Now in NYC!

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Rev

STEAK ‘N SHAKE IS NOW IN NEW YORK CITY!
http://www.steaknshake.com
1695 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

THE CONQUEST
I’ve been to Steak ‘n Shake once before and I didn’t like it. Take a breath.

You back on board? OK. I’ve said this many, many times and 100% of the people I’ve admitted that too have looked at me like I just told them that Zombies are real. (MFZAR by the way.) It was about 10 years ago, I was on the way from the Milwaukee Metal Fest en route to the Chicago airport. I was incredibly hungover when we pulled over to eat there. The Fries were burnt and terrible. So was the Burger and incredibly greasy as well. Since then, every time somebody told me how much they love the 75 year old Midwestern Burger chain, I looked at them like they told me that Van Halen WASN’T referring to Hamburgers in the song “Everybody Wants Some.”

I maintained this despite all the funny looks. When Jim from Steak ‘n Shake was introduced to me by my brothers in the Burgeratti, it was the first thing I told him. Having said that, I told him, like I tell you now, I am definitely willing to give it another shot. Then this arrived in my mail…

Gus Belt opened the first Steak n’ Shake in Normal, Illinois in 1934 with a desire to bring premium Burgers and Shakes to the hungry people. Gus, determined to server the freshest possible Burgers he could, actually ground the Beef in sight of the restaurant guests. Since then, the fkat griddled sensation has grown into more than 500 stores. It’s a diner style restaurant, most of which have a drive-through for a sit-down & on-the-run service. Most of them are open 24 hours a day and maintain some of the cheapest Burger prices in all the land. Gus passed away in 1954 but his legacy lives on and now…it’s in NYC!

The NYC Steak N’ Shake opens to the public at 10 am on Thursday, January 12th, 2012. It’s located right in the heart of Midtown, directly next door to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Manhattan is more of a to-go concept, sans drive-thru, seating only 24 at a time and will close every day at midnight. Their regular menu has been reduced for the NYC to only a few Shakes, Fries, Steak Dogs, Shakes and the “Original” Double Steak Burger which is only $3.99 with Fries! However, there are 3 very important additions which can NOT be found at any other Steak ‘N Shake: Beer (in suds from Brooklyn Brewery), Wine & the all organic “Signature” Steakburger. It’s a fresh made 6 oz Beef Patty ground from cuts of 100% organic Rib Eye and NY Strip Steak. The Burger comes cooked medium well, as opposed to the well-done searing method given to the thinner patties form the “Original.”

THE BURGER
So how did it live up? It was awesome. All the hype is completely deserved. While I thought the Original was good and loved every seared and salty bite, I definitely preferred the Signature. Everyone thought I was crazy but as Seth Unger, Josh Ozersky & James Kenji Lopez-Alt pointed out, I didn’t grow up eating the Original like they did. Nick Solares however agreed with me; the Signature, for being a fast food Burger was juicy, succulent, delicious and actually cooked medium well. Look at the picture, there’s a little pink in there! I absolutely loved the melted slice of savory and creamy American Cheese as well as the very sturdy yet soft Bun.

The Steak ‘n Shake Signature Burger is definitely one of the freshest & tastiest Fast Food Burgers I have ever had.

The Fries were much better than I had remembered. They had a real Potato flavor with a softer inside to a crispier outside. I had a Peanut Butter Cup Shake and it my friends, was no-freaking-joke! I’m not much for sweets but this place respects their namesake by offering one hell of a good Shake.

While there, I met Kenneth Faulkner, VP of Operations for Steak ‘n Shake. As part of Ken’s job, he oversees R&D for the company. He’s been with Steak ‘n Shake for more than 30 years and has seen it all. When I told him of my original visit to Steak ‘n Shake, he replied “Oh Yeah. The Racine, WI store. That one’s been shut down a long time ago.” Amazing, truly amazing. I couldn’t have been more impressed. Funny to think though, the one time I had this historic Burger was at the one location that had to be taken away. HA!

I was able to snag a back to take back to the office which is all the way in Soho. That’s 7 Subway stops for those of you counting. Way out of a standard delivery range and generally longer than you would travel with hot Food in a take away situation. I’m happy to report that they Burgers maintained their structure, flavor and were still warm, thus answering the question, can Steak ‘n Shake offer to go Burgers. HELL YEAH.


8 out of 10 Ounces
- Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
472 Burgers

Jan, 10 2011 – 3:03 pm

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Cafe D’Alsace – Meat-tastic Meal for a King

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Rev

Cafe D’Alsace
http://www.cafedalsace.com
1695 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10128

THE CONQUEST
Every first Saturday of the year, for 7 years now, my buddies Jim, RAM & Matt all meet up for dinner and a night out on the town. Until last year we had always gone to Baltimore to visit Matt. On that trip we had Burgers and Beers at the Belgian themed Abey Burger Bistro. Last year, Matt picked up Jim & RAM in Philly and brought them to visit me in NYC. We crushed Burgers & Sausages at DBGB that night. As we started to plan the 2012 reunion, the guys wanted to come back to NYC and therefore dinner plans were on my back. We’re all a bunch of serious eaters, especially Jim, who hosts a gourmet food club, so I knew I had to nail this one.

Alsace is a region of France that borders on both Germany and Switzerland. It’s a center for European politics and International organizations. It has a long history of being part of the Roman Empire, fought over by the Spaniards and was for a time conquered by Germany. All of these cultures, especially German had influence on the culture and cuisine of this famous wine region, all of which are the inspiration for the Tour De France Restaurant Group’s Cafe D’Alsace. Their Chef, Philippe Roussel, has created a vast modern interpretation of the region’s cuisine, most known for Sauerkraut, Sausages,Pork and Potato dishes.  Not only does the restaurant have an intense and unique Food menu but it’s matched by an equally diverse and lengthy bottle list of Wines and Beers. The entire menu can be professionally paired with drinks by their in house sommelier, Gianni Cavicchi. Don’t hesitate to ask for suggestions on pairings, you won’t be lead astray. It’s perfect for serious eaters, Wine geeks and Beer nerds. All of it comes together with a touch of class, presentation from a true appreciation for a finer dining experience.

Thanks to my attendance at the Tour De France Sausage & Beer Festival, I knew Cafe D’Alsace was going to be a winner. Before they even got into town everyone was emailing me with what they wanted to order off the menu!

THE BURGER
Now I know this is a Burger blog but this meal was so freakin’ epic that I want to briefly roll through it dish by decadent dish.

Merguez Sausage with Sauerkraut d’Alsace & assorted Mustard’s – Fully flavored and a little spicy. One of the best I’ve ever had.

Cassolette d’Escargot sauteed with Garlic, Parsley & Butter – I won’t eat Snails but I did try the sauce and it was fantastic, almost Pesto-like.

French Onion Soup – Perfectly made, very savory.



Crispy Gruyere Cheese Gougeres, Creamy Gruyere in a flaky pastry made with Onions and Potatoes – It was as good as it sounds.

Classic Steak Tartare, Chopped Sirloin with Capers, Shallots & Dijon Mustard – Considering all the ingredients of this dish are very flavorful, this was light and more about the subtleties in the tastes. It was supreme.

La Moelle, Bone Marrow with Fleur De Sel & Country Toast – If there was even a speck of Marrow left on these bones once we were done, I’d be surprised. We practically sucked them dry!

Moules Frites, Alsatian Beer braised, fresh Basil Pesto & Fries, Apple Curry, White Wine, Apple, Spicy Curry & Fries – Again, not something I would eat but Jim told the waitress they were the best he’s ever had!

Braised Lamb Shank, wild Mushroom Risotto, Root Vegetables & Lamb Jus – Matt’s eyes almost popped out of his skull when this arrived at the table. It was absolutely juicy & succulent and much like the Bone Marrow, not a single bite left on the bone when he was done.



Seafood Risotto – RAM devoured this in about 90 seconds!

Chocolate Tart, Fleur De Sel, Creme Anglaise & homemade Caramel Ice Cream – I’ve been quoted as saying “why save room for Dessert when there’s still Meat to be eaten.” That being said, this was AMAZING! A perfect mix of salty and sweet, hot and cold. I seriously recommend it.

Creme Brulee, traditional Custard with Tahitian Vanilla Beans – Perfectly done with a crispy coating and very creamy filling.

La Galette Des Rois AKA French King Cake – A light Puff Pastry Cake only served in January, usually with a toy or trinket inside of it. Whomever gets the slice with the goodie gets to be the King. Cafe D’Alsace doesn’t add that to the mix for safety and health code reasons, but they definitely tell you the story. If this is the Cake that Kings eat, I could be happy being a King!

You know a restaurant is serious about their Burgers when they have a separate section of the menu reserved for them. Cafe D’Alsace offers a Lamb, Grilled Duck, Free Range Chicken, Veggie and the star of tonight’s show, the Burger D’Alsace. It’s a 10 Ounces Patty made of freshly ground Sirloin with Caramelized Onions & choice of Gruyere, Cheddar or Alsatian Munster Cheese. (I went with the latter.) It’s all action packed on a a sweet and sturdy Brioche Bun that has the difficult task of supporting this hearty Sandwich. The Patty was perfectly cooked, bursting with an intense Beef flavor that has a slight hint of sweetness mixed throughout it’s otherwise salty profile. It’s light to the bite due to it’s loosely packed preparation that you can tell was done with care and as minimal handling as possible. The expertly Caramelized Onions when mixed with the tangy Alsatian Muenster form what I would almost liken to a French Onion Soup.

SacreMoo!!! Cafe D’Alsace’ Burger D’Alsace is robust, juicy, intensely delicious and by far, one of the best Burgers in New York City!

With that, CONGRATS Cafe D’Alsace, welcome to the Burger Conquest TOP BURGERS IN NYC list! But to be honest, not only is this one of the best Burgers I’ve ever had here, it’s one of the best restaurants. I actually ate here the night prior to this and had a 4 course Venison meal that absolutely blew my mind.

Follow my Best Burgers in NYC list on Foursquare & Foodspotting.


9 out of 10 Ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
470 Burgers

Jan, 7 2011 – 8:47 pm

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what I consider to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, I can accurately asses how well your business is using social networking as a tool. My goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools.

Cafe D’Alsace scores a 6 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:

4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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The Pint of No Return – Sliding Into Victory

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Rev

The Pint of No Return
http://thepintofnoreturn.com
504 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10011

THE CONQUEST
Magazines, TV, friend’s recommendations, blogs (like this one!), online city guides, there area all kinds of ways people find out about restaurants and bars to check out. I use all of these and more and as it pertains to this post, I recently used a Taxi. Yeah that’s right and if you’re in New York, I’m not talking about an add on the TV screen. I was riding in one on the way home when we passed a new restaurant I had never heard of. The name was so interesting that I instantly Googled it and when I saw Burgers on the menu along side craft beer, my curiosity was up.

The Pint of No Return is right on the border of both Chelsea and the West Village, just West of Union Square and proudly boasts “Classic American cuisine, Comfy living-room style seating, Best craft beer selection in NYC.” The lengthy bar & restaurant also has a couch filled lounge for a more relaxed experience. The Pint’s bar menu offers a number of Beers on draft as well as a long list of bottle beers and even a few Beer made cocktails. Food wise, they have a selection of traditional American pub fare including a decent list of Burgers and Sliders.

When I noticed the  “Victory Black Velvet,” cocktail on their website, made with Victory Brewing Co’s Storm King & Prosecco, I instantly reached out to my friend Sean who works for the brewery. I LOVE Victory Beer, especially after visiting their brewpub on the first BROH’D TRIP. In fact, my favorite beer of 2011 was their Otto, a smoky-sweet and delicious Smoked Belgian Dubbel. Sean suggested we catch up there over a Burger and just like that, the first Burger Conquest of 2012 was on the books.

Sean, being the super rad mofo that he is, brought me a little gift, a bottle of Dark Intrigue. To make the Beer, they age their Storm King Stout in Heaven Hill and Jim Beam Bourbon barrels.

THE BURGER
Unfortunately The Pint of No Return wasn’t offering their entire menu at lunch and all they had was their Classic Burger with Cheese. It’s a thick pub style Burger served on a sturdy Sesame Seed covered Bun that was toasted very well. It’s a good thing because it has a very important job of soaking up the very juicy Patty. It was cooked with a nice pink center and held up well through the entire Burger. The Burger was good but damn, the French Fries were awesome.

Sean however, ordered a trio of Sliders; Sirloin, Pulled Pork and a Turkey topped with Cinnamon spiced Cranberry Relish and a grilled Apple. After tasting both the Pulled Pork and Turkey, I realized Sean was the day’s winner. I’d like to point out however, that The Pint of No Return’s Sliders are technically Mini-Burgers, very tasty Mini-Burgers.


7 out of 10 Ounces
-Rev


THE BURGERCOUNTQUEST
470 Burgers

Jan, 5 2012 – 2:10 pm

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what he considers to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, The Rev can accurately asses how well the business is using social networking as a tool. His goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools

The Pint of No Return scores a 2 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:
4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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Bill Thomas’ Halo Burger – Christmas Traditions

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Rev

Bill Thomas’ Halo Burger
http://www.haloburger.com
800 South Saginaw St
Flint, MI 48502

THE CONQUEST
Visiting Santa Claus, decorating the Christmas Tree, Christmas dinner with the family, gift giving, opening presents…common Christmas traditions that many people associate with the holiday. We do these in my family but we have another one that’s not so common. I grew up loving Hamburgers, not a real shocker there but so did my Mom. We would always go out for Burgers for special occasions and most of the time they were sliders or some form of flat top griddled Hamburger. Now that I moved to NYC from Detroit, I don’t get to see my Mom as often so when we get a Burger, it’s extra special. That’s why when I go home for the holidays, we try to go out for a Burger.

Michigan has a rich history of Burgers, many of which are still serving today.
Miller’s, Bray’s, Halo Burger, Hunter House, Motz Restaurant, Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger, Red Coat Tavern, Loose Meat sandwiches at your choice of Coney Island diners and even White Castle still command a demand audience of Burger lovers. While visiting home for the holidays, my wife and I joined my Mom on pursuit for a Burger we haven’t had in a long, long time.

Back in 1923, the Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs restaurant opened in Flint, MI by Samuel V. Blair. The business exploded and eventually around 400 Kewpee’s existed. As of today there are only 5 left, 2 in Michigan and 3 in Ohio. 10 years later William “Bill” V. Thomas started working at a Kewpee in Flint, MI. He eventually took over the license and until 1967 he operated as such. It was then that Bill re-opened as Bill Thomas’ Halo Burger. The full story and some amazing historical pictures can be found on their website. Halo Burger has since expanded to 10 locations all in the Flint, MI area.

The Halo Burger menu keeps it simple offering Hamburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Strips & Nuggets as well as Fries / Tots & Coney Dogs. All their Burgers are made fresh to order from 100%  fresh ground Beer and served on white squishy Bun. Their most popular Burger, the Q.P., a 1/4 LB Burger, photogenically spelled like it’s predecessor. The one thing Halo does that is not like the others, an Olive Burger which comes topped with it’s namesake & Mayo.

I fondly remember eating Q.P.’s when we would stop at Halo Burger on the way up North and couldn’t wait to return.

THE BURGER
We hopped in the car and drove up to the original Halo, still located in downtown Flint. My order, very simple; a Q.P. Burger, Cheese & Lettuce only, French Fries and an order of their Chicken Nuggets, which are shaped like dinosaurs. The Burger was just as I remembered it, fresh, hot & tasty. The small handful brought back all kinds of great memories of childhood road trips that were made even more special by pulling off the road and eating a Q.P. Burger. The Burger isn’t just good, it’s a piece of American history.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

Bronners Christmas Wonderland
http://www.bronners.com/
1515 S Main St
Frankenmuth, MI 48734

After our Burgers, we hopped back into the car and drove about 27 miles North to experience another piece of American history, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Bronner’s is the world’s LARGEST Christmas store. It’s located in Frannkenmuth, MI, a Bavarian style vacation village most famous for Bronner’s and the Chicken served at it’s various restaurants. Every day is Christmas in Frankenmuth and it’s all centered around the mega sized complex known as Bronner’s.

Wally Bronner originally opened the store in 1945 and is now open 361 days a year, hosting nearly 2,000,000 visitors annually. The entire store is the size of 5.5 football fields and offers almost ANYTHING you can imagine in the form of Christmas decorations. Whether it’s Trees, Ornaments, Snowmen, Mangers, you name it, Bronner’s probably carries it. After coming the store looking for 1 item in particular I found ornaments shaped like Pizza, Space Aliens, Hawaiian Shirts and even round ones emblazoned with the words “I Love My Gerbil.” The diversity in offerings is absolutely stunning and almost unending.

But leave it to me, I want the one thing they didn’t have, a Hamburger Ornament. Kudos to Bronner’s though, after I tweeted about my experience, they hit me back with: “@yeahman So sorry you missed our hamburger ornament bit.ly/wuWRts Stock is getting low but will be reordered.” Now you know what to get me for Christmas next year!

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
469 Burgers

Dec, 30 2011 – 3:11 pm

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what I consider to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, I can accurately asses how well your business is using social networking as a tool. My goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools.

Bill Thomas’ Halo Burger scores a 1 on The Rev Meter.

Bronners Christmas Wonderland scores a 7 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:
4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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12 Days of Burgers – The Best Burger Conquests of 2011

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Rev

I don’t even know what to say. It’s been 3+ years since I randomly started this blog and I have since documented 470 Burgers on it. I’ve eaten them in my house, at restaurants, festivals, VIP events, in my very own bar and even on 7 different TV shows! When I started my Glorious Pursuit For Delicious Burgers, I couldn’t have possibly imagined all the crazy places I would go, crazy people I would meet and moreover, crazy Burgers I would eat. Every bite I’ve had (except for that one Burger at T.G.I. Fridays) & every Burger buddy I’ve made were absolutely worth the countless hours spend in front of a computer screen typing about food & fun. I’m unbelievably honored to do this for you and I still can’t believe it’s all real…really delicious!!

What does it all mean to me? Well I covered that in my post about Burger Conquest’s 3rd birthday at Foodparc. Click to read.

150 Burgers eaten in 2011

At the end of 2011, THE BURGER COUNTQUEST is at 470 Burgers.

So, in the tradition of “12 Days of Christmas” I give you the final tally in my “12 Days of Burgers,” the 12 best Burger Conquests of 2011.

12.  You’ve seen them in LA,  you’ve seen them in NYC on their “Victory Lap” and you’ve seen them on TV but until now, you’ve never seen a Week In the Life of the Grill ‘Em All Truck.
Day 1 – Serving at The Other Door
Day 2 – Shopping at Charlie’s Fixtures, French Dips at Philippe’s & Serving at Verdugo Bar
Day 3 – Serving at Century Media Records
Day 4 – Grill ‘Em All vs. Nom Nom Truck & the BanHemoth
Day 5 – Gus’ Drive-In, Shopping on Olvera St & Paris Hilton

11. All the Sixpoint Beer you could drink, a ton of local chefs and all the Cookout & Country Fair food you can eat & a ferry ride to an Island, in NYC. Cookout NYC – An Awesome Day on Governor’s Island.

10. Sometimes you want a tasty Burg’ but you don’t want to leave your house. Sometimes the company that makes that easy to do, asks for my opinion and you get the Best Seamless Online Delivery Burgers in NYC by Rev, Burger Conquest.

9. Only 1 Burger I ate in 2011 was so good that it had to be added to my Best Outside NYC List;  Second Bar + Kitchen – What You Should Eat During SXSW.

8. You know him as Zach Carothers, the bassist for the band Portugal. The Man. Me, I know him as “Hammburger,” the author of “Dear Cheeseburger,” the only column on Burger Conquest. After writing for this site, the band went on to get their own Burger on the menu at the Hard Rock Cafe. I talk about being Burger Famous all the time & this year, like a Vampire turning it’s victim, I made helped him to go from famous to Burger Famous. It all started at The Jackalope – Dances With Wolves, Burgers and Portugal. The Man.

7. A year ago this time, I was full-time immersed in a career in the music biz. Fast forward to today, I am working for Thrillist as the Partnership Development Manager for Thrillist Rewards. It’s an e-commerce marketing and sales role in business development for an Internet company. It all started with an amazing event at the home to my favorite Burger ever, that sold out in less than an hour; Rub BBQ – Thrillist Rewards Exclusive Off-Menu Burger Bash.

6. Road Tripping is a time honored tradition, but no one has ever done it like this before! The Broh’d Trip – 3 Burgers, 3 Brews, 5 States & 3 Bro’s.

5. They say a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind and now I know, a fresh new shave means a fresh new idea. I grew a beard, got a shave, ate a Burger and “The Rev Meter” for Social Community was born. It’s a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what I consider to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, I can accurately asses how well your business is using social networking as a tool. It came to me at the Bierhaus NYC – The Rev Meter for Social Community.

4. I was honored when George Motz and the Food Film Fest crew asked me to host the opening night of this year’s NY Food Film Fest 2011 – Cheers To Burgers and Beers. There, a movie called “The Good Beer Seal” made about me and my bar, Idle Hands, debuted to a sold out audience, twice. If that’s not crazy enough, Mayor Mike Bloomberg showed up and made an official proclamation that Oct 13, 2011 would be officially recognized as New York Food Film Festival Day! Next thing you know, I am asked on board as the festival Beer Sommelier and executive staff member of the festival. NY Food Film Fest 2011 – I Tasted What I Saw On the Screen.

3. In honor of National Hamburger Month I pledged to celebrate by eating 31 Burgers in the 31 days of May. The idea was to eat 1 Burger every day for the month. Well, as I like to say, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” and I ate 47 Burgers in 31 days. The best part, was all the fun I got to have with my friends.
The Best of National Hamburger Month 2011.



2. I start a silly blog, eat a bunch of Burgers all around the world, tell some crazy stories & pledge to eat 31 Burgers in 31 days to celebrate National Hamburger Month. Then I get a phone call from TLC’s “Cake Boss”, Buddy (the “Cake Boss”) from Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken saw my National Hamburger Month challenge and wanted to make me a gigantic Hamburger Cake. Next thing you know, my friends, my bar and I are all on the Cake Boss – Buddy Makes Me A Burger Cake, I Make TV Better.

1. Before my Dad passed away in 1999 we used to talk all about the father & son Beer & Burger bar we would once own. On September 16 of 2010, with the help of some great friends, I opened Idle Hands Bar in New York City’s East Village. A year later, on the eve of our 1 Year Anniversary celebration, the 2nd half of the dream I shared with my Dad, came true with the help of my buddy Dan Petersen. That Burger Tent Takes Over Idle Hands and Billy Hurricanes.

THAT REV’S BURGER:

  • Meat marinated in Maker’s Mark
  • Grilled Pancetta
  • Crunchy Peanut Butter
  • Order it “Extra Blessing” style where the Patty is grilled with Hot Sauce

A Burger-riffic “Whoa Bundy” to all readers, my fellow Conquesters and all the fine places that made 2011 a Glorious Pursuit For Delicious Burgers. Here’s to total Burger domination in 2012.

See the 12 Days of Burgers from 2010
See the 12 Days of Burgers from 2009

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Michigan Beer and Food Road Trip – Hoppy Holidays

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Rev

Michigan Beer and Food Road Trip – Hoppy Holidays

Looking for the “best” of anything is an art form, at least to those of us you trust to do that for you. You want to know where to find the best Burgers? You come asking me. I’ve clearly done the research. It’s a guaranty that if I don’t know the answer to “where can I get the best Burger in Tulsa, OK,” I definitely know the right person to ask. Part of the reason I moved to NYC is because I heard it’s the best. Well, that’s pretty much true. However, there is one major exception to the rule.

The best Beer in America is NOT in New York. Hold it right there. I don’t want you to get all into a kerfuffle. New York has it’s fair share of awesome beers and I do mean AWESOME but pound for pound, or hop for hop, it’s my home state of Michigan. Do the research. Google it. Taste the Beer. The Great Lake State is known for top quality suds.

Michigan is widely celebrated for having down right stupendous brews and from all parts of the state. Why is that? It could be the passion of the brewers. It could be long standing tradition. It could be access to better grains. It could, and probably is a lot of things but most importantly, and you New Yorkers listen up, it’s the water.  People argue that you can take the Bagel maker out of NYC but you can’t take the Bagel. Why? “It’s the water.” Well that’s certainly true for Michigan but science backs up the statement, Michigan’s water is perfectly PH balanced to make Beer.

Beer can be made any number of ways, using any number of ingredients and unless you’re German, there are no rules. Wine tastes like Wine. Bourbon tastes like Bourbon. Tequila tastes like Tequila. Beer, well, Beer has the most diverse array of flavors of any alcoholic beverage available. The flavor wheel for Beer is like an artist’s easel with more colors and combinations than you could ever hope to use up. Beer is awesome.

As the Beer Sommelier at my bar, Idle Hands, I spent 2011 being absolutely obsessed with craft beer. So when I was planning my annual trip home to visit family & friends, I thought it might be fun for all of us to gather up into one vehicle and visit a number of Michigan’s fantastic breweries.

Quality Dairy
http://qualitydairy.com
Various Locations

Our trip began in Lansing where my friends Logg, Lynce, Adam, Michele and Pherf jumped into the rental van my wife and I had picked up at the Detroit airport. Even though I was still a little full from the Custom Burger by Pat Lafrieda Burger I had at Laguardia airport that morning, I knew I wouldn’t make it all the way across the state to our first brewery without a snack. First stop of our trip, Quality Dairy or as we call it “Q.D.”

Quality Dairy is a chain of 31 convenience stores located in the Lansing area of Michigan. Originally opened in 1936 by Gregory J. Martin and Harvey Mack, the original business was merely to supply fresh milk in a cash and carry retail store. A few years later they started making their now famous Ice Cream and the business was off to the races.

Q.D. now offers a variety of modern day convenience store items like Beer, Motor Oil, Potato Chips, Cigarettes, Lottery Cards and the like, but that’s not what sets the business apart. It’s all the fresh made Dairy Products, Baked Goods, Sandwiches, Coffee and the Donuts, especially the Long John! This Donut of mid-Michigan lore is a long, glazed donut, covered in various frosting’s and stuffed with various stuffing’s. It’s perfect in the morning with a cup of Coffee or as a late night snack on the way home from the bar. But for this occasion, it was best served as a road trip snack, washed down with another Michigan delight, Vernor’s Ginger Ale.


Founders Brewing Co
http://www.foundersbrewing.com
235 Grandville Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4037

Started by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, Founder’s Brewery keeps one idea in mind, make Beer you love. Specifically, according to them, they want to offer up “complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics, bigger body, and tons of flavor.” They’ve won all kinds of awards and accolades from any number of proven Beer organizations, which you can read about on their website. But more importantly than all of that, their Beers are truly delicious and I couldn’t wait to pull up a seat in their Grand Rapids Tap Room.

The Founder’s Tap Room offers a variety of whichever of their Beer’s are freshest along with a tasty and extensive Deli Menu. All of the Sandwiches are made to be washed down by tasty Beers and if you don’t know what to order next what what to pair your Food with, the incredibly attentive and friendly staff will guide you through a great suggestion. If they have it available, I definitely suggest a pint (or several) of the Tealow Chai Brown. It’s an amazing Beer that’s made with locally roasted Chai Tea Leaves that gives it a nice bright and spicy taste. Hell yeah brew dogs, it’s winner! Not playing the role of designated driver? Then point yourself right into a glass of the Bourbon barrel aged Backwoods Bastard.

I personally ripped through a couple Beers and a delicious “Charise’s Reuben” with Smoked Turkey, Dill Havarti, Baby Spinach, (hold the Tomato), Red Onion, Avocado, (hold the Slaw), and 1000 Island served on Sourdough.  Do not and I mean DO NOT, skip out on the Founder’s Beer Cheese Dip, made with Cream Cheese, Smoked Gouda, Founder’s Pale Ale, Red’s Rye, Centennial IPA, Red Peppers, and Spinach, baked and served with Crostinis and Tortilla Chips. You may want to get a second order to pour down your pants.


After our delicious Beer and Food tasting was over, Founder’s director of sales, Michael Bell, offered to take us on an exclusive tour of the brewery itself. Sorry folks, it’s not open to the public but if you open a cool beer bar in NYC and serve Founders to the people, maybe you too can get a glimpse into what makes their Beer so awesome.

Thanks Mike. We loved it. My only regret? The parking ticket we got while taking the tour. We’ll chalk the $20 up to tour guide fees!

Bell’s Brewery Inc: Eccentric Cafe
http://www.bellsbeer.com/eccentric-cafe/
355 E Kalamazoo Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3807

I’ve been drinking Bell’s Beer since I could get into bars (notice I didn’t say since I was “of age.) Before I even knew what the term “craft beer” meant, I was sucking down pint of Bell’s Amber, Lager, Solsun and more at various Michigan watering holes. They make some of the best god damn Beer on the planet and for some reason, no matter how many times I have called and emailed them, founder Larry Bell will NOT ship his amazing suds to my new home of New York City.

Bell’s Brewery began in 1985 with a vision that still remains in tact today, create unique, flavorful, artisan Beer that challenges the tastes buds as well as the mind. Their Summer Seasonal wheat beer, Oberon, their intensely hopped IPA, Two Hearted Ale & their rich, chocolatey Kalamazoo Stout are well renowned brews. If you’re ever in their hometown of “K-Zoo,” be sure to set aside some time to hang out at the Eccentric Cafe and taste some of the Beer wizardry that goes into the crafting of their delicious product.

While we only had about an hour to do just that but were able to knock through a decent amount of tastes before we had to take off.

Christmas Ale – Using 100% Michigan barley, they’ve made a dry + toasty holiday Beer that you can drink all afternoon.
Smoked Stout – It’s easy for a smoked Beer to taste primarily like smoke. but not this one.  You’ll mostly get good Chocolate and Coffee tastes with a light smokiness in the background. It’s like all the most awesome breakfast flavors in a glass.
Golden Rye – If this wasn’t 6%, I could drink this crisp and refreshing Beer all day long. I could see this being especially fantastic on a really hot summer afternoon.
Dagger Stout – Beware a dry hopped imperial Stout! This bad boy tastes sweet on the front end and has a lingering bitterness on the end. Then the ABV turns around and drives a knife through your liver!

Arcadia Brewing Company
http://www.arcadiaales.com/
 103 Michigan Avenue West
Battle Creek, MI 49017-3605

Battle Creek, MI is a truly historic town as far as this great country of ours goes and certainly one of the more important ones in the growth of Michigan as a state. If Tony the Tiger, Snap, Crackle & Pop or Dig Em the Frog ever graced your kitchen table, you can thank the Kellogg company of Battle Creek. More than 100 years ago W.K. Kellogg created Corn Flakes right here and your breakfast hasn’t been the same since. But that’s not all, Post Cereals and General Foods are from the town as well and that’s why it’s nicknamed “Cereal City.”

Sadly, tours of Kellogg’s are no longer available but who needs ‘em when you have Arcadia Ales? Founded in 1996, this brewery started with one goal in mind, to make handcrafted British-style Ales. From their process to their brewing equipment to the Barley that goes into the Beers, their is one commonality, it’s all sourced from England. You can stop by any time to TC’s Pub and try as much of it as you can handle. Enjoy a few pints, try some tasty in house food and do it all while watching them Brew the beer you are drinking right through the windows in the pub.

Pay attention to your beer calendar and try to visit Arcadia when you can try the Arcadia “Cereal Killer” Barley Wine or their delectable “Jaw-Jacker” Pumpkin Ale. Otherwise, all of their Beers are unique and tasty. Be sure to dip your lips into the “Loch Down” Scotch Ale. It’s one of their flagship brews and damned if it doesn’t taste a little like caramelized bananas. As for the Food menu, while there’s a lot to choose from, there’s two things TC’s is best know for. Their BBQ, which is all smoked in house and their selection of Pizzas. Steer yourself to one of the Pizza’s made with their own sweet Red Sauce, like the Tuscan Pizza. It’s Very garlicy but made with just the right amount of rosemary.


Michigan Brewing Company
http://www.michiganbrewing.com/
402 South Washington Ave
Lansing, MI  48812

Ever heard of Webberville, MI? Well they haven’t heard of you either! Even though I lived only a couple miles away from it, if it wasn’t for the Michigan Brewing Company, I wouldn’t have heard of it either. This small brewery started under all of our noses, making Beer and selling it right out of the brewery room floor in a small warehouse. Since then they’ve moved into a bigger facility, opened a brew pub in downtown Lansing, MI and inked a deal with one Bob Ritchie to make his signature Beer. Wondering who Bob is? Well, when I met him back in the 90s while he was Yodeling in the Valley, that was his name but you probably know him better as the Kid, Kid Rock that is.

Kid Rock worked with the MBC to create BadAss American Lager, a smooth, easy drinker that’s incredibly smooth and well balance. It’s the kind of Beer you can drink for hours on end and best served while you’re partying, rockin’ out or just relaxing with your friends. It would be easy for someone to point at the brewery and make all kinds of (silly) accusations. When you have drank as much MBC Beer as I, you realize something really quickly after just one sip of BadAss, just like EVERY Beer they create, it’s unique, incredibly well balanced and refreshing to drink.

We didn’t make it to the brewery but we did get a chance to table up in the downtown Lansing Pub and kick back a few coldies. One of the best parts about the MBC Lansing Brew Pub…the basket of fantastically roasted Peanuts in the shell that are waiting for you at the table. I triple dog dare you not to eat any. It’s impossible.

At this point, I was no longer in charge of driving us around. This created an opportunity to play one of my favorite games; Russian Brewlette. The rules are simple, I let the server (or bartender) choose my next Beer without telling me what it is or asking for any qualifiers. The only wrong answer, is something I’ve already been served on that visit. Our sever this evening decided to play a game back with me. She wouldn’t tell me what she brought and I had to guess after only a sip or two.

Celis Grand Cru -  This Belgian Style Strong Ale is actually light, a little sweet and almost Pale. Like a house facing west, it’s bright in the front and easy times in the back.
High Seas IPA – Can you say “I-P-Hey-oh”?!?! At 7.6% this is way too easy of a drinker to be safe. Be sure to put on your floaties before taking this one out to sea.
Nut Brown Ale – Damn. For a hearty Browne Ale, this Beer is very effervescent. I might even say it’s the most drinkable Brown Ale I’ve ever had. No one thinks of Wheat Toast as being awesome until you have a Wheat Toast that blows you away. Insert MBC Nut Brown Ale.
BadAss American Lager – Sometimes you just want a Beer. Not a Barley Wine or a Strong Ale or Belgian Dubbel, just something that you can drink, enjoy and get drunk on. BadAss is that Beer. It’s a Pale Lager, and it’s not meant to be offensive, wreck your palette or send you off wondering which hop producer or yeast grower helped to make it. It’s as definably an American “Beer” as a Chrysler is an American car.

FYI – I batted a perfect game, guessing every single beer she brought!

While we only were able to hit 4 Michigan Breweries, there are a whole bunch more worth trying and honestly too many to list out after what is already an epic post. But trust me, go to Michigan and drink the Beer. You’ll start to understand why Michiganders have so much pride in their state.

Cheers!

Dec. 28 & 30, 2011

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Custom Burgers By Pat LaFrieda – Screw Barth, Fly Delta

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Rev

Custom Burgers By Pat LaFrieda
http://www.otgmanagement.com/concepts-and-locations/
Delta Terminal
LaGuardia Airport
East Elmhurst, NY 11369

THE CONQUEST
What do grade school cafeterias, Times Square and airports have in common? You’re guaranteed to have a frozen, never fresh, meal probably made from a dry mix of cardboard & sand, topped with a sauce that might be Catchup or quite possibly glue. It’s the kind of food that erases taste buds and binds stomachs, leaving with you with nothing but regret and sadness. It’s the antithesis of good food, the opposite of tasty treats, the antipodal of awesome food. Whats worse, in Times Square & airports, you’ll pay NYC Steak House prices for the same cold, dry and flavorless sandwich that only cost $1 back in your grade school cafeteria!!

It’s food like the aforementioned that, unbeknownst at the time, inspires a blog like Burger Conquest. We’ve all had those meals that make us appreciate the true value of a freshly made meal created with quality products and constructed with love by a Chef, who much like us, grew up eating this:

Alas!! Sound for the troops fellow Food Fanatics!! THE REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!!

After years and years of suffering through the most generic, bland, reheated, garbage food we could possibly stand at America’s airports, the change has begun. Thanks to OTG Management, the Delta Terminal at New York City’s Laguardia airport has yanked the pin on the good food grenade. Welcome Custom Burgers By Pat LaFrieda! While the restaurant is not owned or operated by Pat LaFrieda, New York’s King of quality Meat purveying, they do offer a specialized blend of ground Beef that’s been hand selected to be served only at this airport counter restaurant. The menu is rather simple, offering a variety of Burgers, Sides, Shakes & Egg Sando’s for Breakfast. For those not afraid to get on the AM Burger Train, fear not, they are available during Breakfast hours. It’s all done made to order by selecting your order via a touch screen, or as some like to call it, Wawa style. A few minutes later, your Burger comes Shake Shack style, in a brown cardboard box with a sandwich wrapped in plastic paper.

Early AM flights unfortunately are a part of my reality, especially when I want to get where I am going right away. As a result, there’s been a lot of heat lamp Sandwiches, stale Muffins and bland Granola Bars in my past. This little discovery, on my way home to spend the holidays with my family and friends in Michigan was a bright and wonderful way to start off a nice little trip with Mrs. Rev.

THE BURGER
I don’t EFF around nor do I mess around, especially when it comes to Burgers. It can be the middle of the night, the afternoon or the morning and I will eat a Burger. Slap on some Eggs and you got yourself a great Wake Up Morning Burger. My order today; Hamburger with Pork Roll, Fried Egg, American Cheese, Bacon and Spicy Garlic Aioli. The Burger is griddle cooked and served on a soft and tasty Potato Roll. Let’s start with the negative; the Beef-t0-Bun ratio was a little off with a good 2-3 bites hanging out one side of the Sandwich. Not the biggest deal but worth mentioning. The patty, while made of great, fresh, quality Pat LaFrieda Beef was over cooked to a well done state, which I can understand being difficult to do less at A. an airport, B. a smaller sized Patty.

My last complaint coming from what one might consider false advertising. Pork Roll, or as it is also commonly known, Taylor Ham is a product most prevalently found in parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It’s a salty, smoky piece of processed Pork in a lunch meat like form. It’s absolutely fantastic on a hearty Breakfast Sandwich and a coveted local specialty. Cross the border into NYC and it’s as though the Meat is that of lore and can not be found. Seeing it on a specialty Burger menu at an airport in Queens, well that brings about a bit of excitement. Sadly I must report that the “Taylor Ham” at Custom Burgers is no more than steamed slices of Ham. I watched them prepare it and all excitement I had for a Pork Roll topped Burger was wiped out.

That aside, the Burger was pretty damn good, especially for airport Food! The Bacon was not like the skimpy, sad looking Bacon found on most fast Food Burgers but was hearty, think and smoky. The Fried Egg was actually cracked from a shell and cooked before placing a top the Beef, as opposed to a pile of preformed Egg cake, steamed or microwaved to room temperature. A nice slice of good old American Cheese was placed on top only to be followed by the tangy Aioli sauce, which replaced the need for the mix of Ketchup and Hot Sauce I would normally place atop a Egg Sandwich.

Overall, the freshly made, quality Hamburger at Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda will make the LGA your new favorite airport and Delta your new favorite airline.


7 out of 10 Ounces
-Rev

Dec, 28 2011 – 8:54 am

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
468 Burgers

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what I consider to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, I can accurately asses how well your business is using social networking as a tool. My goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools.

Custom Burgers By Pat LaFrieda scores a 2 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:
4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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Primehouse New York – Burger and Beer Power Lunch

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Rev

Primehouse New York
http://www.primehousenyc.com
381 Park Ave South
New York, NY 10016

THE CONQUEST
It’s the holidays and here in New York City, that means ‘Tis The Season for Boozy Power Lunches. We’re all so freaking busy and have so much going that it’s just about too much to take. But amongst the madness, we still have to eat so why waste that precious lunch hour on a greasy slice, an over-priced Deli Sandwich or a plastic tray full of reheated mix-and-match from the hot buffet? Call a meeting to talk year end review or call up some colleagues and cement the conversations to have a conversation about new business in 2012 and book up a table at that place you’ve been meaning to try and book yourself a Boozy Power Lunch.

That’s exactly what I did with my good buddy Mark this week. Mark is the New York area brand manager for the Lagunitas Brewery. Mark and I do a lot of work together you see and with a person as creative as Mark backing a brewery as special as Lagunitas, there’s always new and fun events in our horizon. Whether it was our Slayer Beer pairing event at Idle Hands, Kev and Rev’s Awesome Parking Lot BBQ at the Nassau Coliseum Warped Tour, the New York and Chicago Food Film Fests or most recently, the Get Real Beer Bar Fest, our professional paths cross quite often. With very little time left in the working year, Mark suggested we meet up to chat and power lunch over one of his favorite Burgers.

Plunked down, right off Park Ave, smack dab in the middle of the Gramercy section of NYC, you’ll find Primehouse New York. This NY Steakhouse is a member of the massive BR Guest Hospitality Group, bringing you some of the most popular and favored restaurants, bars and hotels, especially in the NYC area. Most NY Steakhouse’s are filled with dim lighting, lots of rich wood paneling, fixtures and furniture and have a lounge-y type feel. This is where Primehouse New York sets itself a part. The dining room, separated entirely from the lunch crowd filled bar area, is brightly lit due to massive glass windows and white tiling that give it an elegant palatial feel. The menu is simple, especially a lunch, offering a some apps, a selection from the Raw Bar, Salads, Steaks and of course, Burgers.

THE BURGER
No proper business lunch between two mavens of the Beer industry would be proper without some malty fun stuff, so we both ordered a delcious Anchor Steam Porter to start off our power lunch. Both Mark and I ordered the Classic Burger, Charbroiled with Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Mark’s with Cheddar and mine finished off with Gruyere Cheese. All of the Primehouse’s Burgers also come with Steak Fries, but if you’re an insider like Mark, you know to order them with Asiago Cheese & Truffle Oil! The massive and hulking Burger came served on top of a soft yet very sturdy Bun, topped with Sesame Seeds and is toasted before it’s served. The Beef is cut from a lean side of quality Beef and packed together before Charbroiling. The Red Onion, which was fresh, crisp and tasty was actually a little too much taste for the Burger and after a few bites, had to be removed. What was left; Beef, Cheese, Lettuce & Bun was a a great Burger for a power lunch. The Fries, MASSIVE in size, were cut from a full Potato, Skin in tact, were fantastic.

Whether you’re looking for a good Steak, a good Burger or a good power lunch, Primsehouse New York is a good idea to fit the bill.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

Dec, 22 2011 – 3:27 pm

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
467 Burgers

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what he considers to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, The Rev can accurately asses how well the business is using social networking as a tool. His goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools

Primehouse NY scores an 8 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:
4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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The Sunburnt Cow – Blow Off The Holiday Steam

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Rev

The Sunburnt Cow
http://www.thesunburntcow.com
137 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009

THE CONQUEST
When the end of the year comes a knockin’, the holiday cheer starts to spread and we all start looking to blow of some steam with family, friends & co-workers. Whether it’s a nice family meal, a bit of karaoke with your friends or hanging at a bar with your co-workers at the company’s holiday party, the holidays always need a little adult style libation to take off the edge. Well what happens when your “office” is the bar and your co-workers spend their entire year helping people to blow off steam? YOU DO IT TOO … at someone else’s bar!

At my bar, Idle Hands in NYC’s East Village, we’re open 7 days a week to make sure you have a location where you can unload from the daily doldrums with the largest selection of Bourbon in Manhattan and a list of 40+ craft beers that changes almost daily. It’s a fun time working there and all the people who are a part of it are fantastic, but hey man, we need to have fun too. Welcome to the Idle Hands 2011 holiday party. Seeing as Saturday afternoon is the only time we aren’t open, we gathered up to do what you do at our bar, at other bars!

Our day started off at the bright an early hour of Noon (hey, we’re open until 4 am on Friday’s) at Destination Bar & Grille. It’s a great bar with great drinks, great food and run by great people. Since we server drinks all night, our favorite time to imbibe is during the daylight, Destination is perfect as, they’re open at Noon. Not only do they serve Bacon Bloody Mary’s but also Jell-O shots, which makes for a perfect start to the holidays!

I’d rather drink with these people than the finest people on Earth!

From there, it was onto our “brunch” location which basically meant we had to eat some Foodstuffs to soak up all the drinking. We walked over to one of our neighboring bar / restaurants to eat of the Burger Conquest Best Burgers in NYC, the Sunburnt Cow.

The Sunburnt Cow (as well as Bondi Road, owned by the same people) is one of the few spots in NYC where you can chomp on authentic and tasty “Aussie Tucker.” Try the weekend “Endless Brunch“; your choice of entree (if you don’t get the Burger you suck) and unlimited drinks. Sit at the bar for a “counter meal” or ask to be sat on the back patio built to look like a cave. The menu is pretty simple, pick a dish, then pick a drink, then enjoy, all-you-can.

THE BURGER
What can I tell you that I haven’t told you before about the Sunburnt Cow? They serve their Burger Australian-style with “the lot.” For those of you unfamiliar with Aussie Slang, that means “everything” and specifically for a Burger, it means Lettuce, Tomato, Fried Onions, Cheese, Bacon, Beet Root, Pineapple and a Fried Egg as toppings. To Australians, it’s as normal as a Burger with Lettuce, Onion, Tomato. For me, it’s simply delicious! Fortunately for me, the waitress misheard my order and my Burger arrived sans Bacon. Why is that a good thing you ask? When I pointed out the discrepancy, she didn’t bring me just the Bacon that should come on the Burger, but instead a whole heaping plateful!

The Sunburnt Cow not only has one of the best and most unique Burgers in NYC but they’re ridiculously fun Brunch is a great excuse to blow of some much needed steam with your mates.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

Happy Holidays everyone. Nick, Hayat, Josh, Jessica, Rob, Marc and I look forward to filling your 2012 with Bourbon, Beer & Rock.

Dec, 2 2011 – 2:54 pm

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
465 Burgers

The Rev Meter for Social Community
“The Rev Meter” is a social community meter for assessing how optimized a bar or restaurant is with social networking. By taking what he considers to be the 10 most important social networks and creating a point system, The Rev can accurately asses how well the business is using social networking as a tool. His goal here is to educate and assist great business to better effectively use these tools

The Sunburnt Cow scores an 8 on The Rev Meter.

SCORING:
4 points or less    You’ve missed the 5 basics and are less than optimized
5 points                 You’ve covered the basics, which is better than most but far from optimized.
6 to 9 points        You’re doing better than most and on your way to becoming a well respected social community whiz.
10 points              Congrats on a perfect score! Are you hiring?

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