Bobo’s Gourmet Irish Burgers
http://bobos.ie
22 Wexford St
Dublin 2, Ireland
THE CONQUEST
I love Burgers. Way to overstate the obvious, I’m know. When I eat them it makes me happy. But it’s not just the Burger that I love, it’s sharing them with other people that I love the most. Enjoying a meal together is a sign of peace, love and understanding. It’s the most universal interaction of commitment we can have with another person. Meals bring people together for something they need to do, which is eat but it also helps to build relationships and understanding.
My favorite person of all times to eat Hamburgers with is Cara Lynn Shultz. She’s an accomplished author, a loving caregiver to animals and one of the brightest, most caring and funniest people on the planet. She’s also my wife and I sincerely cherish every minute our life together. Through that, we’ve shared a lot of great Burgers. Some with my Mom, some with her Mom, some with my Step-Mom, some with her cousins, some with her best friends, some with our best friends, some with others affected by Hurricane Sandy, some paired with her book “Spellcaster,” some in California, some in Mexico, in Argentina, in Italy, on road trips, some at weddings, at baseball stadiums, some at international food festivals, some for her birthday, on my birthday, with lizards and sea lions, at amusement parks, at restaurants that define the history of the American Hamburger, some on television with Buddy the “Cake Boss,” and so on and so on and so on. Cara’s passion for life, love and people also encompasses a deep appreciation for culture, travel and Food. That’s why I enjoy sharing meals with her so much.
To celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary we decided to travel. Both of us have Irish blood in our bodies and call a lot of their traditions and culture into our daily lives. We’ve both visited Ireland but never together and have always talked about doing it. When the conversation came up about how to celebrate, Cara suggested a quick jaunt to Dublin which got an immediate “I’m in” from me. As we started to plan the trip, I of course started to do some research on the best Burgers in Dublin.
Irish Burgers and Pub Food go hand in hand. You’d be hard pressed to find a bar without a Burger on the menu. Burgers are a hearty comfort Food meant to warm up and fill the belly as well as the soul. It’s food perfect to eat while relaxing with a pint at the end of the day. That’s sort of the central idea behind items like Lamb Stew, Roast Meat and Potatoes, Fish and Chips and Shepherd’s Pie. That being the case, there aren’t really just a lot of stand alone Burger spots in the country. But there is one place whose sole purpose is to serve up tasty, delicious, fresh, locally sourced, all day long; Bobo’s Gourmet Irish Burgers.
This all day diner, with 2 locations, serves up a large menu of Burgers with a choice of Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish and Vegetarian patties. You can top them with about anything you like or choose from menu combinations including something traditional like “The Dubliner”- a Prime juicy Beef Burger with Beef Tomato, Iceberg Lettuce, Old Dubliner Cheddar Cheese, Fried Onion, Gherkins, Tomato Relish, and BoBo’s Special Sauce, or something a little more crazy like “The Sun Blush” – Prime juicy Beef Burger with Chorizo, semi Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Rocket, Black Pepper and Garlic Aioli or a Sandwich that you would only find in Ireland like the “Grace O’Malley” – Chunky Fillet of Fish with Mushy Peas, Grilled Tomato, Iceberg Lettuce, Fried Onion, and Tartare Sauce. Most Burgers come with your choice of Chubby or Skinny Chips (French Fries) either of which can be ordered regular, with Coleslaw, Curry Sauce, Mushy Peas or Aioli. Wash it all down with a perfectly poured pint of Guinness a selection from their Wine list, something else Bobo’s specializes in.
THE BURGER
Cara knew from the moment we got off our red eye flight, I was ready for a Burger treat at Bobo’s. She however had the smart plan to go out sight-seeing around town, walking from place to place so that we could build up a good hunger and totally appreciate all that was Bobo’s. It was a great call. By the time we got there, I was ready to eat 100 Burgers. We both ordered The Bacon Cheese Burger – Prime Juicy Beef Burger with Cured Smoked Bacon, Old Dubliner Cheddar Cheese, Iceberg Lettuce, Beef Tomato, Onion and Mayonnaise. It wasn’t long before two super huge and awesome looking Burgers landed on our table.
All of the Burgers at Bobo’s Gourmet Irish Burgers have 7oz patties made from quality young heifer meat under 20 months old. All the Beef they use is fully traceable, 100% Irish and very importantly, never frozen. You’re pretty much guaranteed a great Burger and based on the one I had, it most certainly was. You could taste the freshness in the ingredients. The Beef had all natural, grass fed flavor. Add to that proper smoked and cured Irish Bacon (a personal fave) with the salty, intense aged flavors of the Cheddar and you’re already eating a uniquely Irish Burger. The Mayo added a nice layer of flavor while keeping the Sandwich juicy and also protecting the integrity of the freshly baked Bun.
I had to stop myself from wolfing the thing down in just a few bites. I did notice that while I was eating it, everything else around me ceased to exist. All that mattered was the tasty Burger. As I looked around at others eating Burgers at Bobo’s, it wasn’t just me. Pockets of silence happened at every table once bites were taken. When it came to the Fries, which we got both kinds, I was a little more partial to the skinny Chips. However, I suggest adding Malt Vinegar to the Chubby Chips or a side of Curry Sauce.
The Burgers at Bobo’s Gourmet Irish Burgers are everything I hoped they would be; fresh, delicious and bursting with local flavor and shared with my favorite person to eat Burgers (and anything else with!)
THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
665 Burgers
November 8, 2013
DUBLIN TOUR GUIDE
Never been to Dublin or looking for some places to check out? Here’s a list of pubs, sights to see, things to eat and places to check out.
SIGHT SEEING
Book of Kells Old Library
Trinity College, College Street, Dublin 2
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created by Celtic monks ca. 800 or slightly earlier (Wikipedia.) Located at the center of Trinity College, this piece of history is worth seeing for the amazing amount of talent and work that went into creating each of the hand made books.
You’ll also get a chance to walk through The Long Room, the largest library in all of Ireland. The library is a legal deposit which means it has the rights to receive published material in the Republic of Ireland free of charge and the only one in the country with similar rights for the United Kingdom. The room is decorated with busts of some of the most respected philosophers, writers and thinkers in history as well as the oldest harp in the country.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick’s Close, Dublin 8, Ireland
http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie
Also known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin, St. Patrick’s is the larger of Dublin’s two Church of Ireland cathedrals. It’s also the largest church in the whole country. The building, as it stands today, was built between 1191 and 1270 and currently has one of the largest organs in the world with more than 4,000 pipes. The cathedral is filled with artifacts, sculptures, burials and some of the most beautiful stained glass in the world.
Molly Malone Statue College Green
Grafton & Suffolk Streets, Dublin 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Malone
If you’ve been in an Irish pub on St. Paddy’s Day here in the US, you’ve heard the song and know all about the Cockles and Mussels as well as the wheel barrow. The versus of the song “Molly Malone,” tells the tale of a lady who sold fish by day and pleasures of the flesh by night. In 1988, to celebrate Dublin’s first millennium as a city, Jeanne Rynhart built a statue of the lady in song.
Phil Lynott Statue at Bruxelles
7-8 Harry St, Dublin 2, Ireland
http://www.bruxelles.ie/index.php/history
Outside Dublin’s “cosmopolitan pub” Bruxelles, you’ll find a tribute to one of the greatest rockers of all time. It’s a statue of lead singer and vocalist of the Irish rock band, Phil Lynott. He was the front man, vocalist and bass player for the band Thin Lizzy. The man was a legend and the band penned many, many great rock anthems like “The Boys Are Back In Town,” “Jailbreak” & “Waiting For An Alibi.” Phil died from pneumonia after collapsing on Christmas Day in 1985 from prolonged drug and alcohol abuse. His legend lives on in the music and with the statue built by Paul Daly.
Old Jameson Distillery
Bow Street, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7
http://www.tours.jamesonwhiskey.com
In 1780, John Jameson purchased the Bow Street Distillery and whiskey history was changed for ever. A Scotsman and former attorney, in 20 short years he grew the company to be one of the largest distillers in the world. At the turn of the century it hd become the 2nd largest one in the country, producing more than 1,000,000 gallons yearly. In 1966 Johnny J & Son merged with Cork Distillers and John Powers and moved all production to Cork. While the original location still stands, no whiskey is made there. It has been preserved though and is open for tours of the original facility.
It’s one of the coolest things you can do while in Dublin. They preserved the building and some of it’s equipment very well and give you a great insight into the basics of how whiskey is made. The Old Jameson Distillery also features a bar where you can sip all kinds of Jameson drinks, a restaurant where you can have a tasty pub meal and gift shop that carries everything from Chocolates to clothing to bottles of Distillery Reserve 12 year old Jameson, which can only be found there. Whiskey fans, locals, tourists & historians will all enjoy a visit.
Day Tours Unplugged
Afternoon tour to Wicklow Glendalough
http://www.daytoursunplugged.ie/groups/half-day-tour.712.html
Day Tours Unplugged – Part 1, Monastery
Getting outside of Dublin to see the beautiful and green, Irish countryside is easy to do. It may have a deep history and rich in life but it’s not a very big town. With some help from the people at Day Tours Unplugged, you can hop into a small van with a couple other people and escape to Wicklow Glendalough. Wicklow is a county in the province of Leinster. Known as the “Garden of Ireland,” it was originally founded by the Vikings and houses the ancient Glendalough Monastery. Glendalough translates from Gaelic into “Glen of Two Lakes” is a glacial valley and was founded by a hermit priest, St, Kevin, in the 6th Century. It was partially destroyed in 1398 by British Troops chasing rebels.
The gateway into the monastery is totally unique and one of the most important monuments in the country. The double archway is still preserved as is the round tower, the cathedral and part of the Priest’s house. One of the most unique structures located there is St. Kevin’s Church also known as the “Kitchen.” The building is nearly 1000 years old and it’s original stone roof only had to be repaired for the 1st time, 3 years ago.
Day Tours Unplugged – Part 2, Lakes & Tavern
Just beyond the grounds of the monastery are two beautiful lakes. Films such as “PS I Love You” and “Brave Heart” were filmed there. Pop into the Glendalough Tavern, part of the Glendalough hotel for a pint and a bite to eat.
Day Tours Unplugged – Part 3, Lough Tay
Once your time in Glendalough is over, everyone hops back into the van. The driver (ask for Martin if he is available) then takes you on a winding path along the military roads built to chase rebels to Lough Tay. It’s a small lake, located at the top of the mountains. The lake with is dark waters from a peat covered floor and white sandy beach resemble a pint of Beer from the brewery which also happens to own the land: Guinness. After a few minutes to observe the lake and take a few photos, the driver returns you quickly and safely back to downtown Dublin.
Totally worth doing.
Ha’penny Bridge
Wellington and Ormond Quay, River Liffey City Centre, Dublin 2
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hapenny-bridge-dublin
Made of cast iron, the Ha’penny Bridge was built in 1816. It’s a footbridge that connects two sides of the Liffey River which runs through Dublin city. For the first 100 years of its existence, a toll of half of a penny was required to cross it. This is how it got it’s modern name. The cost of the toll was removed in 1919 and it’s been free to cross over since. It’s an important piece of history in the city and absolutely beautiful once the sun sets.
REFINED DINING
Sheridan’s Cheesemongers
11 S Anne St, Dublin 2, Ireland
http://sheridanscheesemongers.com
Ireland is well know for it’s dairy products due to the vast amount of cattle and natural environments. There’s no better place to get your Irish Cheese fix than Sheridan’s Cheesemongers. Know in advance, that you can’t eat it there and nor can you take the Cheese on the plane ride home. However, if you plan to consume it while on the ground in Dublin or live in the area, you’re in luck. They have some of the best, freshest and local Cheeses available. While you can’t take any with you, if you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping by just to browse and sniff! You can however easily take home some of their Crackers.
Darwin’s Restaurant
80 Aungier Street, Dublin 2
http://www.darwins.ie
If you’re after a more formal and fancy meal, make a reservation at Darwin’s Restaurant AKA The Food Haven. The family run restaurant plays off a theme based on Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of the Species’ so expect to see portraits of primates up on the walls. Darwin’s specializes in contemporary international cuisine which to Cara and me says “big Steaks.” All the Beef, Poultry, Lamb and Game Meats are certified organic, fresh and local and is cut by their in house butcher. It’s pretty much a lock that you are going to have a tasty meal if you eat here.
The Winding Stair Restaurant & Bookshop
40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland
http://winding-stair.com
If you like Food, even in the least amount, eat at The Winding Stair. If you at all consider yourself to be a Foodie, Serious Eater, Food Fanatic or some other food obsessed nickname for yourself, relish in all that is fresh, local, delicious and amazing at The Winding Stair. This independent bookstore, one of the oldest surviving ones in Dublin, focus on smaller titles, local authors & fiction … and has an amazing restaurant above it. Everything they serve is made with care, precision and with as many local ingredients as possible. The cozy environment will make you feel like you’ve been invited to someone’s house for a special gathering of Food & friends. Everything I ate from the Ham Hock, Green Beans, Chicory Salad with a perfectly cooked Crispy Egg to the amazing Wild Irish Venison “cushion” with Root Vegetables, Quince and Garlic was absolutely outstanding. Plus you can wash it all down with interesting Wines, Local Beers and Gourmet Coffees. There are fancy restaurants for fancy people but then there are places like The Winding Stair where Food is made by Food people for Food people.
PUBS
Eating, drinking and relaxing at the local pub is not only an Irish tradition, it’s an institution. As one of our cabbies put it “how would I know what’s going on in the community if I didn’t go to the pub?” Dublin is not short on pubs so figure out what you’re looking for and head on over. Here’s a few suggestions;
The Ginger Man
40 Fenian Street, Dublin 2
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ginger-man-dublin-2
This is a great, high-energy pub with a friendly staff and lots of laughter. Think of this as your living room away from home.
The Hairy Lemon
41-42 Stephen Street, Dublin 2
http://www.thehairylemon.ie
Known for a very lively atmosphere, The Hairy Lemon is the kind of place you want to go unwind with a group of friends.
The Cobblestone
77 King St N, Dublin
http://www.cobblestonepub.ie
This was one of our favorite pubs in the whole city. If you’re looking for a loud, crazy, over the top, tourist destination or party go somewhere else. The Cobblestone is a local hangout mostly known for nightly performances of Trad music. If you fancy a pint, some good Irish music and a chat in a comfortable pub, look no further. They have a couple of good local craft Beers on tap and a very friendly staff.
The Black Sheep
61 Capel Street, Dublin 1
https://www.facebook.com/theblacksheepdublin
Ireland has an interesting Craft Beer scene happening. If you want to sample the best of it, head to The Black Sheep. Not only do they have a large array of local Beers on tap, they also have a large fridge filled with Craft Beers around the world. The space is rather large, boasting 2 floors and several seating areas as well as a very savory and delicious pub menu. If I lived in Dublin, you’d find me here quite often.
Neary’s
1 Chatham Street Dublin 2
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nearys-dublin
Neary’s is a comfortable lounge with 2 sides to sit on. There’s one reason to choose Neary’s over another establishment; civilized conversation. It’s a little quieter, a little order and a lot more comfortable than some of the high volume party bars in the area.
Horseshoe Bar at the Shelbourne Hotel
27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/dubbr-the-shelbourne-dublin-a-renaissance-hotel/
Looking for something a little more upscale or some unique cocktails? Head over to the Horseshoe Bar at the Shelbourne Hotel. It’s elegant, friendly and award winning. They have a very large list of drinks to choose from but the one to get is the “Award Winning” cocktail; “The No. 27. It’s a stirred drink with Bourbon, Herbal Liquor, Honey & Fresh Lemon Juice with a dash of Bitters. It takes a moment to make so be patient but when you get it, tell me if you too think it tastes like an Orange Lifesaver’s Candy. Whether you go with the fancy drink or a beer or your choice, the bar staff will be happy to bring you a small bowl of crunchy snacks.
The Porterhouse Brewing Co
16-18 Parliament St, Dublin 2, Ireland
http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/
With 3 locations in Dublin, you’re never far from Dublin’s oldest microbrewery. (They also have locations in Cork, Wicklow, London & NYC.) The one in Temple Bar is the oldest, originally opening in 1996. It’s a bit of a party scene but the vibe is very friendly and the Beers are great. They quite often have live music which always makes for a fun Dublin pub experience.
The Merchants Arch Bar and Restaurant
49 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland
http://merchantsarch.ie/
Temple Bar can be a bit of a whirlwind if you’re not ready for it. For us New Yorker’s, it’s like drinking at bars in Times Square on a Saturday night. In fact, the locals refer most of them as “Shamrock” Bars, which means “for the tourists. If you’re up for some music and a cold pint on Sunday night, check out The Merchant’s Arch. It’s a younger crowd but they feature local musicians playing a mix of modern rock, trad & pub tunes. We had an absolute blast drinking cold pints and signing along to the talented local bands they had playing. The building itself is something to see as it’s one of only two surviving Nineteenth Century Guildhalls in Dublin.
To my dear wife Cara,
If I haven’t already gone and made a complete public display made of gush, this should put it over the top. You are my favorite person to laugh with, eat with, travel with and in general share life. I could’ve ended that sentence after person and it would’ve meant the same.
Thank you for everything, not just eating Hamburgers around the world with me.
I love you to no end.
Blueberry Pie.
Tep Wireless
https://www.tepwireless.com
As Americans in a foreign country, one of our main concerns was the high price of staying connected while using our mobile devices. You can call your US provider and buy data access while abroad but it usually comes at a high price for very little connectivity. Our other options were to either rent a local mobile device which we would have to share it and still then pay by the minute to connect. Also seemed kind of silly to buy a device that we would use for only 3 days.
Our last option would be to just hope to find WiFi here and there, but then what, pay an exorbitant fee to connect for 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there. After exploring all these options, we found a service that absolutely solved our problems and at an affordable price; a Tep Wireless MiFi (personal wireless device.)
Our trip lasted 4 days and we paid less than $100 to rent a Tep Wireless MiFi that came with all the following attributes:
- Free shipping to you
- Free return shipping
- Tep Wireless MiFi device
- Unlimited access to MiFi
- Connect up to 5 devices at one time (at one point we had 2 iPhones, an iPad and a laptop running off it.)
- Carrying case
- All connection wires
- Fast customer service
The only issue was keeping it charged but finding power points is a heck of a lot easier than trying to find free WiFi. Or you can do what we did, for $17.99, we purchased a Intocircuit T5000 5000mah External Battery Pack. You can get up to about 2 full charges of an iPhone and it also works on the Tep Wirless device. I fit all of this into one jacket pocket.
I have to say I was completely impressed with the Tep Wireless device and service, especially for the price. I’d definitely suggest it as an option for travelers in the same scenario.
