The Pony Bar – Heavy On Hops And Expectations

Posted on 09/09/2009 by Rev

The Pony Bar
http://theponybar.com/
637 10th Ave
New York, NY 10036

THE STORY
This craft beer bar opened up recently only a few blocks from my house. With my love for micro brews (check out my beer blogs on the website for the bar I am opening with some friends: One Barrel Bar) I was damn excited. Then the sign went up “The Pony Bar – All American Craft beer – Cask Ale – NYC,” and I was pretty upset. How do you open a craft beer bar and not serve all the great beers from Germany, Belgium, England and so on and so on?!?!?! But when I realized they do it just so they can keep all pours $5, I thought that was pretty damn cool. For those of you not in NYC it’s common to pay $6 for a Bud Lite in this town so $5 for a craft beer is a great deal. I stopped in shortly after they opened and realized not only was it a great deal but whomever was choosing the droughts, they knew what they were doing. If you follow The Pony Bar on Twitter, they update when they changes kegs so if there is something you like, you know when it’s on tap. This is important to know, when a tap runs dry, they don’t replace it. They grab a different brew and change the taps. You can also check out the current taps in real time on the website. Often times, the printed beer menu on the tables is already outdated by the time you sit down for a beer. On their website you can see a list of every beer they have ever served and while you are in the bar, they will keep a tally sheet on file for you to write down every beer you try and your personal rating. Pretty damn cool.

So right, this isn’t a blog about beer or bars, so what the deal? A few weeks after opening, The Pony Bar opened up a kitchen and put out a very limited menu. On that menu, a 6 Oz sirloin burger.

THE BURGER
The Pony Bar has quickly become my fave local haunt. The beer selection is great, the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere is fun. I love going there so the expectations for their burger was pretty high. I ordered mine with American cheese and as always, medium-rare. They don’t serve fries but they do give you a choice of cole slaw or their hand-cut potato chips. The burger is served on a fresh onion roll and accompanied with “Adirondack Bill’s Pickles.” I can’t stand pickles but my friends loved them and said they are spicy as if they had been marinating with jalapenos. The bun was fresh as was the very green shredded lettuce. The cheese brought some good flavor to the party but the burger itself, was just OK. Maybe my hopes were too high or the beer is just so good that it made it hard for the burger to compete. The chips are really good and make for a great salty companion to the craft brews. A friend has the roast pork tenderloin sandwich and loved it and every time I walk into The Pony Bar, I see people lovin’ them some sirloin burger. Maybe a 2nd shot is in order.


6 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

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The Apple Pan – Cause For Cursing At The Elderly

Posted on 09/06/2009 by Rev

The Apple Pan
http://www.applepan.com/
10801 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

THE STORY
Topping out nearly every “best burger in LA” list I have ever read, The Apple Pan has been serving the city of angels burgers since April 11, 1947. It’s owned by Sunny Sherman and Martha Gamble, grand children of the original owners Allen and Ellan Barker, a true family business. The Apple Pan gives you the difficult choice of only 2 burgers, the Steakburger or Hickoryburger, your noodle might burst before you also have to decide whether to also get french fries, pie or both. (Please take note of all intended sarcasm!) Chances are you will have to wait for on eof the 26 seats around the u-shaped counter. It’s kill or be killed when it comes to seating so pick a target and just stand behind them until they get up. Be weary of angry Mom’s with children who like to yell at a nice elderly couple who are looking to enjoy a Sunday afternoon burger…or maybe that was just during our visit. Notice in the pictures below, we didn’t all get to sit together. Zach had to sit by himself, while Cara and I got to enjoy the company of his lovely wife (and Burger Conquest virgin) Amanda.

THE BURGER
With no hesitation, I ordered a Hickoryburger (no pickles, medium-rare) with a slice of Tillamook , fries and a Dr. Pepper. Moments later I was sipping an ice cold soda server over ice in a paper cone resting neatly in a metal holder. The gentlemen working the counter followed them with a paper tray of well done french fries to which he saddled up an empty plate and poured us out some ketchup. Loved it!

If you sit at the counter on the same side of the entrance you can watch the chefs preparing the food. If you sit to the right, you get to watch the apple pies. Either position, will make you very, very, very hungry. There is a massive vat of the hickory sauce (a smokey ketchup like BBQ sauce) sitting on the burger counter and right before they wrap the little gem in paper, they slap it with a HUGE dollop from the bucket. It makes the burger one of the messiest but most delicious, unique and wonderful burgers in the free world. With only a few bites in my stomach, I started to eat slower, thinking “I have to savor this.” Thought about ordering a 2nd one but I was told the apple pie is not to be missed. Zach on the other hand, swallowed his in 2 bites! The cheese, sauce and burger mix together to form a tangy, smokey, meaty, soft, warm and delicious explosion of pure burger awesomeness. I haven’t used this term in a while but The Apple Pan is a without question, a beef touchdown.

My only thoughts were on the burger, I almost forgot to breathe! But then I remembered…dessert!! We ordered a slice of apple pie with ice cream. Shortly one gigantic, flaky, warm slice of apple pie with 3 scoops of pure vanilla ice cream was placed in front of us. Cara, Amanda and I grabbed for our forks like 3 medieval warriors racing to grab their broadswords before a massive battle. While eating my hickoryburger, I was thinking,, if the burger is this good, why is the place named after the pie? Now I know, because it’s freakin awesome! A sweet and cinnamony blast of of warm, soft pie filling surrounded by flaky and crunchy crust off set with a really strong tasting vanilla ice cream comes together to make of the best down home, country cooking style pie that seems like you can only get at Grandma’s house. The sweetness is unmatched and makes for a really intense taste juxtaposition from the also amazing hickoryburger.

I loved The Apple Pan so much that I might not only make it a regular stop on my trips to LA but also considering a second website…www.applepanconquest.com!


9 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



Apple Pan 090609 020

Posted in Best Of, Burgers, California, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Jack In The Box Mini Sirloin Burgers – A Big Mistake / Summer Eatcation 7

Posted on 08/29/2009 by Rev

Jack In The Box
http://www.jackinthebox.com
 400 Geary St
San Francisco, CA 94102

THE STORY
West Coast fast food chain, Jack In The Box makes a nice burger. On the last night of our Pacific Burger West Summer Eatcation, I got a case of the late night munchies. My wife had passed out in the hotel room and I was contemplating running out for a snack. That’s when I remembered there was a Jack In The Box next to our hotel. San Fran is known for being a very liberal city embracing all kinds of people and the ones in this Jack In The Box were the shadiest, strangest and drunkest ones of all! I had intended on a cheese burger and fries until I peeped the mini sirloin burgers on the menu. Mmmmmmmmmmmm, MMMMM, I do love me some sliders so why not?

THE BURGER
I grabbed my minis, curly fries and soda and high tailed it back up to my room. The curly fries and ranch dip were darn tootin and a reason to choose Jack In The Box over their competitors. The minis though, I won’t lie, they were terrible. The buns were dry, the meat tasted like a room temperature sponge dipped in garden soil. The onions, which normally are the best part of a slider, were flavorless and gross. I couldn’t even finish them off. What a let down. Should’ve known better and just ordered a regular burger. Sliders are better off made from a greasy spoon that specializes in the delicacy.


1 out of 10 Ounces
-Rev

Posted in Burgers, California, Fast Food, Hamburgers, San Francisco | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

AT&T Park – Go Green and Get Full / Summer Eatcation 6

Posted on 08/27/2009 by Rev

AT&T; Park
http://www.sfgiants.com
24 Willie Mays Plaza

San Francisco, CA 94107

Summer Eatcation Part 6 (of 7)

THE STORY
The #1 industry in San Francisco is tourism and if you are going to pay a visit yourself, be sure to include AT&T; Park, home to the San Francisco Giants, on your itinerary. Out of all the baseball stadiums I have been to, this is my favorite. The Park sets the standard for which all of the new stadiums should be measured against. With it’s breath taking views of the San Francisco bay and amazing selection of food and drink, it’s sure to please. AT&T; Park is the MLB stadium since 1962 to be privately financed and was named in 2008, Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal. The Park claims the unique ability with it’s location on McCovey Cove to call “Splash Hits;” any fly that lands in the water without hitting the Arcade or Portwalk. The Giants home also claims the title to the first professional sports venue to offer WiFi, maybe that has something to do with its namesake?

Listen, let’s put this simple and easy to understand, AT&T; Park kicks ass!

DIGESTIONS
With the intentions of eating our faces off, the wife and I did a lap around the park first to build up a little extra hunger. It’s very picturesque and there are a lot of places to snap off some good photos.

After a lap around the park, we moved right in on our first target, Gordon Biersch Gilroy Garlic Fries. Quickly becoming a baseball stadium sensation, the AT&T; Park garlic fries are the best in the business, they are also the greenest. AT&T; has set forth an initiative to be “the greenest park in the majors” and the Gilroy Garlic Fry stands is the leader in environmental efficiency, they also have the tastiest treat in the park!! I washed my down with a tasty Gordon Biersch Marzen. As we sat in the stands shoving the fries in our faces, we watched the amazing colors of the sky during sunset which was followed by the fog rolling in. This helps to create the unique experience that is AT&T; park.

There is a myriad of micro brews available all over the place and I did my best to sample as many as possible. After a few rounds of Lagunitas IPAs, we were ready to eat again. Round two went to the King Street Carvery where you can have your choice of carved brisket, turkey or pulled pork. Gravy, cranberries and horse radish are all available as toppings. We opted for the turkey with gravy and cranberries. This bad boy lasted about 90 seconds before all of it’s sweet and savory goodness succumbed to the tug of war between Cara and I. Holy crap, it’s awesome.

The sandwich didn’t even make it back to our seats where we had a few more drinks and watched the game. After hit Joe’s Cable Car and Dottie’s True Blue Cafe earlier in the day, we had become quite full. While the sandwich was digesting I Googled “hamburger AT&T; Park” on my blackberry and came up with some very unappetizing results. What to do? Get a Giants Dog from the Doggie Diner instead! I mean really, which baseball stadium can NOT be judge on the merit of their hot dog?!?! I slathered one up with some mustard and went to town. Pretty damn good, well maybe the beer had something to do with it, but I definitely enjoyed.

With so many more great food choices, I definitely wanted to keep eating. However, after the dog, I thought my insides were going to burst and had to call it a night. I can’t imagine the damage I could do at a double header!!!!!!!


Gilroy Garlic Fries
-9 out of 10 ounces


Turkey Sandwich from King Street Carvery
-9 out of 10 ounces


Doggie Diner Giant Dog
-7 out of 10 ounces




Posted in Baseball, Burgers, California, Hamburgers, San Francisco | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Joe’s Cable Car – A Burger Addict’s Haven / Summer Eatcation 5

Posted on 08/27/2009 by Rev

Joe’s Cable Car
http://www.joescablecarrestaurant.com/
4320 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94112

Summer Eatcation Part 5 (of 7)

THE STORY
San Francisco was the last city on our summer vacation and on the top of my priority list was a stop at Joe’s Cable Car. The place is pretty famous and has been covered by Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Hamburger America, A Hamburger Today, Zagat and many more. “Joe grinds his own fresh chuck daily,” and has been since 1965. I put that in quotes because it is written so frequently about the place that it’s practically part of the restaurant’s name. Joe’s special grinding process has been satiated thousand and thousands of burger fanatics and now it was my turn!

If you’re in San Fran and don’t have a car, I suggest and afternoon rental because Joe’s is WAAAYYYYY on the South side of town. Plus, if you are sight seeing the city, its really drivable. For $38 we got a compact car and saw Alamo Square, the Painted Ladies, Coit Tower, drove across the Golden Gate bridge, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Haight-Ashbury, the Presidio and of course, Joe’s Cable Car!!! Once you pull onto Mission St, there is no way you can miss Joe’s. The parking lot is covered in signs and the brightly lit building covered in neon make this a total eye catcher. Walking into Joe’s, it’s even more over the top. It’s a restaurant only an Italian-American could build. You’ll find yourself caught up in the photo galleries, signs, propaganda, menus, decorations and of course the butcher shop!! But then the smell gets you..

THE BURGER
Although it’s mostly burgers, or as Joe calls them “ground beef steaks,” there is a lot to choose from. You can also pick your patty size; 4, 6 or 8 ounces. I went with a 6 oz Tom (served on an English muffin – my fave!) with sharp cheddar, cooked medium rare, as always which is how Joe prefers to serve them. It’s recommended that once served, using a fork, you take a small piece of the ground beef steak to try it out. As if I wasn’t already salivating like a bull dog on a hot day, the one little bite sent a wave of savory taste sensation across my tongue. Look at the picture below, you can see how tantalizing the inner burger with all it’s juices looks. I slapped the little guy together and practically inhaled the first couple of bites. Bursting with natural juices, Joe’s beef steak is so fresh and filled with flavor. After only a few bites, I almost ordered a second patty no bun or toppings as it’s just that good. If I lived in or near San Fran, you would probably see me here once a week attacking a Joe’s ground beef steak like a vampire after a month’s feeding drought!

One gallery in particular caught my fancy and I hope one day to be listed in it!!


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev





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Kidd Valley at Safeco Field – Catch A Grand Slam / Summer Eatcation 4

Posted on 08/24/2009 by Rev

Kidd Valley – Safeco Field
http://kiddvalley.com/
Industrial District, Seattle, WA

kidd_valley_safeco_field_burger_conquest_Seattle_Summer_eatcation_09 166

Summer Eatcation Part 4 (of 7)

THE STORY
It’s the first day of school and your assignment; write an essay on how you spent your summer vacation. Well Mrs. Burley, you’ll be proud to know, I am still writing these damn things! My wife Cara and I took a week off to travel around the Pacific North West eating, drinking, sight seeing, catching up with friends, sleeping in late and going to baseball games. There is just nothing that can compare to sitting outside, drinking a beer, eating food and hanging with your pals at a baseball game. It’s a tradition of true America. So while in Seattle, we snabbed up our two friends and with the help of Donald from the MLB and Kelly from the Seattle Mariners and walked across the city to Safeco Field. One of the best parts of the stadium, nope, not the retractable dome (it takes 20 minutes to close and cover the field), the great food and beer selection, but the location. Safeco sits on the South side of downtown Seattle and is less than a 30 minute walk at a casual pace from the North end of town. It’s a beautiful modern stadium that upon entering, we noticed had a striking resemblance to NY Mets’ Citifield. Although the extremely unique baseball chandelier in the entrance is like nothing I have seen before. In fact, at first I thought it was made of deer antlers! A quick waltz around the stadium with a couple cold brews and we found it…Kidd Valley.

Kidd Valley is a Seattle area burger chain that serves “Old-Fashioned” burgers and shakes. Owner John Morris opened the first location in 1975, styling it after a hamburger stand near Mt. St. Helen’s that his parents used to take him to as a kid. Since then, they have grown into 8 store fronts and 7 stadium locations.

THE BURGER
As I approached the “bench” (counter) ready to order up a cheese burger and “One Full Pound” of Grounder’s “World Famous” garlic fries, I saw a sign that made me step out of line. Just on the left side of the Kidd Valley stand just past left field is a big neon sign that reads “Be Sure To Eat A Lot At Safeco Field.” I felt like a private answering to the Sargent at boot camp “SIR YES SIR!” We grabbed the burgers, garlic fries, another round of beers and headed back to our AMAZING seats, just behind home plate. The garlic fries were really good but honestly, you could put a chopped garlic sauce on fried shoe leather and I would eat it. Why they serve it with one apple slice though, still escapes me. I peeled back the foil on my cheese burger excited to taste a memory of John Morris’ childhood. The burger reminded me of a fresh not frozen, local chain version of the international Burger King Whopper with less toppings. It was immediately obvious that this burger had been sitting around a minute before I ordered. It was cold and dry and a real let down. I was excited to taste a slice of a Seattle burger success story. It wasn’t horrible and honestly, I wouldn’t hesitate to try another but it would have to be freshly made and from a store front Kidd Valley, not a baseball stadium location that has the terribly difficult task of serving thousands of people as quickly as possible.


4 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

OTHER DIGESTIONS
If you go to Safeco Field, march right over to Porter’s Place DixieBBQ. You have the choice of BBQ pork, chicken, beef and hot links. But the real foodie in you will want to order one of the following;
“Porter’s Special”- “Spicy sausage covered in BBQ pork served on a hoagie bun.”
“Dixie’s Special” – “Spicy sausage covered in BBQ beef served on a hoagie bun.”
“Grand Slam” – “Spicy sausage covered in BBQ chicken served on a hoagie bun.”
I asked the kind lady running the stand what I should get. She answered “Porter’s Special,” and I replied “Is the pork better than the chicken?” “Well honey, the Porter is our #1 seller but if you are asking me, it’s all about the chicken!” Without hesitation I asked “Can I have 1 Grand Slam please?” Along with a bag of chips (that I couldn’t have possibly eaten) and a Mac and Jacks DELICIOUS African Amber, I carried this culinary explosion back to my seat. Cara’s jaw almost hit the floor! “WHAT IS THAT?!?!?” We dug in. To say it was amazing is a vast understatement. The Grand Slam was not only delicious but one of the most unique sandwiches I have ever eaten. A blatant over the top concoction that by all regular means is unnecessary but at the same time, a foodie must have. The BBQ chicken was juicy and flavorful while the sausage was smokey and flavor full. The sauce practically melted the hoagie roll adding to the mess of eating this monstrous explosion of food. So big in fact was the Grand Slam that it brought the potential devouring of other stadium treats like the patented Ichiroll (a sushi roll dedicated to Japanese-born Mariner Ichiro Suzuki.)

You gotta eat this thing, seriously.




Posted in Baseball, BBQ, Burgers, Hamburgers, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Eastside Big Tom – All That’s Missing is an Electronic Elephant / Summer Eatcation 3

Posted on 08/23/2009 by Rev

Eastside Big Tom
http://www.eastsidebigtom.com/
2023 4th Avenue East
Olympia, WA 98506

Summer Eatcation Part 3 (of 7)

THE STORY
Before Cara and I left for our vacation, I emailed the “Burgerati” and asked for suggestions of tasty burgers in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco. George Motz from Hamburger America replied immediately (buy his book and movie if you haven’t yet!) “If you are driving from Portland to Seattle you must stop at Big Tom’s in Olympia.” That’s good enough for me, so I reached out to Eastside Big Tom’s and got a reply from Mike Fritsch, “We look forward to hearing from you. ” As we headed out of Portland this morning, we locked the Tom Tom GPS on Eastside big Tom’s and headed North to Olympia.

As we pulled up to old school street sign at the end of the lot, I was surprised to see the small size of this WA Capitol City burger joint. It’s a building, slapped down diagonal on a corner lot, no more than 8’x15′ (a true measurement that I made up for this story!) There are 2 drive up windows, 1 per side, both of which had a long line of cars anxiously waiting a sunny Sunday afternoon lunch.

People were frantically running from the burger booth to cars and back as well as from patrons who had walked up. Orders were being taken, burgers were being served and there was nothing but smile’s all around. Mike, son of Chuck (sounds like a modern day Ninja title) who owns Big Tom came to a dead halt in front of us. “You must be Rev. Chuck will be here in just a few and we’ll have some lunch. He’s been off with Grandma at the casino. If he has a big smile, you’ll know how they did.” Just as quickly as he appeared, he darted off to serve another customer.

A few minutes later a SMILING Chuck waltzed up onto the lot. “You the Burger guy that Mike is waiting for? Let me get your order.” We had obviously come for burgers and ordered accordingly but when given the choice between tot or fry, we ALWAYS go for the magic of the former. Chuck said “I pay way too much to serve quality french fries so I’m gonna throw in an order so you can try em!” Coming pre-warned, we also asked for a side “goop.” Big Tom’s signature burger sauce or “goop” is a thick salad dressing style sauce made from mayo, mustard, pickle relish and a secret salad seasoning It’s also known to make a sweet dip for your spuds. Chuck jokingly made fun of the both us for ordering or burgers without pickles. “Where’d you grow up? Russia?!l” before heading off into the hut.

We walked over the corner of the lot where the picnic area is located. Made up of 3 picnic tables, wood chips, burger graffiti from a local teen artist, garden gnomes and a collection of odd signs, the picnic are also has a few low backed chairs made for taking a breath after gulping down your meal. It was an absolutely gorgeous day outside, perfect for a burger picnic. A few moments later one of the car hops can bolting across the parking lot with a few brown bags covered in the East Side Big Tom logo and stained with fresh made, warm grease stains. It felt like fairies we’re dancing inside of me. We tore open the bags at the same pace of the workers and dug in.

THE BURGER
With grease adorning my fingers, I wrapped my mitts around the sandwich and chomped down. damn. Damn. DAMN…it was good. I got the “Little Tom,” double meat, double cheese, onion, goop, hold the pickle! It’s a classic old school burger, nothing fancy or crazy about it but quality beef made in a quality fashion by people who care as much about the quality of the food as they do the quality of the experience. The burger was just savory enough to have the sweet/savory goop meld together with the cheese in your mouth like it was dancing on your tongue. After a few bites, I looked up at Cara and she stole the words from my full mouth, “Damn. This is a really good burger.” We plowed through the sandwich and as many goop covered fries and tots as we could pile into our slop gullets. The tots were perfectly crispy and yes, Chuck, the fries are totally worth it. Just looking at these pictures is sending memories and now cravings back into my brain.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE REST OF THE STORY
As we finished up our food, the lunch rush came to an end and Chuck and Mike sat down with us for a friendly Sunday afternoon chat. Chuck told stories about the restaurant, burgers, town politics, family, an animatronic elephant and 2 ceramic life sized bulls he once tried to buy for the parking lot of Big Tom. Mike colored in the stories with the details that only the crazy son of a crazier father could tell. Before Chuck bought the restaurant at age 25 it was originally a local chain called Egan’s. Some of their modern day customers have been coming around for so long that they still call it by the name and write checks out to Egan’s as well. However, it actually started with the name “In and Out” until later adopting the Egan name. Yes, they had the name first. The place started in 1948 and eventually grew to 9 locations. Since then they’ve paired down to just the one location where Chuck and Mike still run this family owned business. Chuck went on and on about the ever changing capitol city politics, 1.3 million bumper stickers he once bought, specialized golf shoes, Big Tom work practices (they pay higher than most jobs in town and even offer insurance) while Mike chimed in about their massive Halloween fundraiser, travel tips and managed to slip in that he was a vegetarian. These 2 are a special breed of people who just love life and people. We could’ve sat with them for hours and if we weren’t meeting friends in Seattle for dinner, we would’ve sat their listening until we got hungry again for more burgers!




Posted in Burgers, Hamburgers, Road Trip, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon – Burger Narcotics / Summer Eatcation 2

Posted on 08/22/2009 by Rev

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=55
836 N. Russell St.
Portland, OR 97227

Summer Eatcation Part 2 (of 7)

THE STORY
Portland is widely known as a hipster haven of art, culture, food, outdoor activity and micro-brews. Buds and Miller Lites are few and far between…thank god. Nicknamed “Beervana” this region of Oregon claims the home of 14 different kind of hops inside the Willamette Valley. Take a walk around and you won’t travel more than a few blocks without bumping into a Portland brew pub. One of the more interesting and unique brew chains is McMenamins. Opened in 1974 by two brothers, the McMenamins now have 55 different spots where you can sip their malted beverages, try some others’, eat some food and see some entertainment. Some of them even have hotels in them and one in question, became the perfect spot to quench the thirst and hunger of a 15 mile bike ride around “Beervana.” But this isn’t a beer blog…Originally we planned to visit the World Famous Stanich’s for a burger but much like us, they were on summer vacation.


With my frustration came along a deep need for a beer and we headed immediately to McMenamins White Eagle Hotel. Housing Portland’s oldest bar, the White Eagle is also known as “The Rock ‘N’ Roll” hotel. With nightly live music and a hotel, this bar has come a long way since its inception as a social club for Polish immigrants. Choose the outdoor beer garden or the large oak filled dinning are and get ready to eat and drink.

No sooner had Cara and I took a seat the bar when Breck, the knowledgeable, friendly and humorous bar tender asked to take our order. After suggesting a damn tasty McMenamins Hammerhead, he asked if we wanted to see a menu. Before placing them in front of us, he informed us that if we waited a whopping 3 minutes, it would be happy hour and everything would be cheaper. Tick, tick tick…

THE BURGER
Honestly, I had not planned on having a burger but after I read the following, I could feel the tide changing. “Third-pound Country Natural Beef patty with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, & secret sauce on a traditional bun. Served with your choice of fresh-cut fries, tater tots, small mixed green salad, or cup of soup.” Breck suggested Wilbur’s Jumbo Deluxe with bacon, Tillamook cheddar and a fried egg. I was sold. He then took one look at me and suggested “you know what makes that burger really good? A dollop of peanut butter!” I looked up at him and asked “Are you inside my head?!?!?!?? I’ll take one medium rare with tater tots.”

When the burger arrived, I almost pee’d my pants. It looked divine. Breck then informed us that the we were about to bite into Oregon all natural free range country beef. The bun to burger ratio was perfect and the warmth perfectly held in all of the tasty toppings. Holy god damn Christ! This was one of for the books!! The warm peanut butter ran down my chin while the cheese and egg mixed with the beef to create a taste sensation like no other. One would think the toppings would over power the patty but the all natural beef has a very distinct, almost gamy flavor. It’s subtle but you can definitely pick it up. Unfortunately it was a little over cooked but I can over look it. The sweetness of the Widmer Bros Witte I ordered provided a fantastic balance to the salty overload of my sandwich. As I “ooohed” and “ahhhed,” Breck laughing told me the place used to have a speak easy and a opium den. Maybe that’s what made the burger so enslaving.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



Posted in Bar, Beer, Burgers, Hamburgers, Oregon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Clyde Common – Euro-style Hipster Eatery with a Rotating Menu / Summer Eatcation Part 1

Posted on 08/21/2009 by Rev

Clyde Common
http://www.clydecommon.com/
1014 SW Stark St
Portland, OR 97205-2610

Summer Eatcation Part 1 (of 7)

THE STORY
Portland was the first stop on summer vacation with my wife Cara. We stayed at the unique Ace Hotel. Connected to the hotel, as well as sharing a food and liquor license, are both Stumptown Coffee Roasters (wear your ear plugs, its LOUD and prepare to wait in a line) and the Clyde Common restaurant. When the hotel front desk informed us that our room was not ready, we decided to get something to eat. The hotel concierge suggested Clyde, but to check the menu first as it changes daily. When I noticed the “Clyde Common Burger; with white cheddar and a fried egg,” listed first, my mind was made up! Opening in 2007, Clyde Common is made up to be a European style tavern but features an impressive list of micro-brewed beers, American whiskeys, European bitters and interesting list of wine selections.

THE BURGER
After selecting a tasty micro-brew, the first step in any meal consumed in Portland, I asked for the burger, cooked medium rare with a side of fries. Cara, knowing we would be eating burgers at a break-neck pace on the trip, opted instead for the grilled shrimp sandwich, served with spicy aioli, avocado, piccalilly, iceberg lettuce along with a nice red wine. She loved it.

The burger was dripping an egg yolk / grease happiness. After a few bites, I removed some of the over powering pickled onions and the overtly large array of lettuce. We can not have these things in the way of the real flavor. The bun was good but over toasted and too large, while the egg was just a little too under-done. Eggs need to have a warm runny yolk and a solid albumen to work just right on a burger. The burger comes accompanied by house made tomato jam, full-seed mustard and an unmixed mayo and tomato sauce. The mustard was worth the trip alone and it’s great flavor earned it a second swipe on the sandwich. Thankfully for the overall creation, the perfectly cooked patty was jammed with flavor and won Clyde some taste points.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


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Shake Shack Citifield – The Wright Stache, Metal Sucks and Genghis Tron join forces with Burger Conquest

Posted on 08/17/2009 by Rev

Shake Shack – Citifield
http://shakeshack.com/
12301 Roosevelt Ave
Flushing, NY 11368

THE STORY
Earlier in the summer, we took metal band Shadows Fall for a Burger Conquest at the Arctic Roadrunner in Anchorage, AK. It appeared as a guest blog on Metal Sucks.

Readers of both blogs and fans of the band really seemed to enjoy it. Vince from Metal Sucks and I said we should definitely do another cross blog about burgers and metal again. With a 3rd Shake Shack location opened at Citifield, where the NY Mets play, we had a perfect target. But why stop at 2 blogs? We like to go big so we invited the Jose’s Chin Pubes from The Wright Stache (“The Internet leader in encouraging David Wright to grow a mustache”) and Mookie from the metal band Genghis Tron, to join our pursuit for a tasty burger.

If you read this site, you live in or near NYC and like burgers, you know all there is to know about the Danny Meyer “roadside” burger stand, the Shake Shack. If this is the first you have heard of it, there’s a reason for the hype; it’s awesome. You can read more by clicking here. One of my favorite summer pastimes is drinking and eating my way around a baseball park (See Yankee Stadium / Dodger Stadium) this was lined up to be a lot of fun. With Mustaches adorned, we set off on our Conquest.

THE BURGER
Just like it’s 2 predecessors in Madison Square Park and the UWS, the line at the Citifield Shake Shack location is no joke. In fact, it’s guaranteed to be a 2 inning wait. If you like baseball, maybe not how you want to spend the game. If you like burgers, definitely worth it and there’s the giant jumbo tron behind the score board so you can watch the action. As we got in line Chuck made the suggestion to get a sausage with peppers and onions to quell our hunger and impatience. Gotta love Chuck. The Shack location is behind 2nd base in a little terrace called “Taste of the City” along with Blue Smoke, El Verano Taqueria and Box Frites. Not NY enough for you? Each of them features their own special Brooklyn Brewery beer! The Shake Shack offers up the Shackmeister Ale, an American Pale Ale with an bitter but slightly sweet herbal taste. It was really good and complimented the burger well. Oh yeah…the burger!

After waiting in line for 2 innings, my hunger and excitement was growing. 2 Shackmeister Ales and one Double Shack burger, no tomatoes. It looked good, it smelled great and sure enough, it tasted fantastic. The Shack delivers a juicy burger in a soft potato roll with a delicious west coast style sauce. It’s so good and there is no need for any other condiment on these hot little numbers. They’re savory, their oozing with grease and cheese goodness and bursting with flavor. I will say that in comparison, the 2 Manhattan locations are better and my burger was a little over cooked but that didn’t change my feelings, this is an awesome burger. Too bad the Mets suck and getting to and from Citifield is about as easy as pulling your bottom lip over the top of your head.

“Casual burger eaters love to shit on the seemingly endless lines that plague every Shake Shack–and Citifield is no exception. We waited on the line for a solid two innings, but HOLY SHIT was it worth it. Everything about this burger is fucking perfect: the meat patty isn’t over-cooked and is damn tasty–the toppings are fresh and the sauce is tangy–no ketchup or mayo needed. This place never ever disappoints–and considering the Mets were inevitably embarrassing themselves and all their fans, I didn’t mind missing a couple innings.”
-Mookie, Genghis Tron

“The Shake Shack burger was absolutely delicious. Despite the Rev’s insistence of ordering a single burger (“more food later”), he ended up ordering a double and was all the better for it. I usually don’t go for hyped food, especially when waiting in long lines is involved, but I have to say the Shack Burger is really worth it. Any time I’m at Citi and hungry, I’ll definitely go for the delicious, juicy, tangy Shake Shack! Perhaps Livan ate a few too many this year leading to his lackluster performance of late.”
-Jose’s Chin Pubes, The Wright Stache


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

OTHER DIGESTIONS
Premio Sausage with onions and peppers – 7 out of 10. Could’ve used a little more spices
Brooklyn Brewery Shackmeister Ale – 7 out of 10
El Verano Taqueria Chicken tacos – 8 out of 10
El Verano Taqueria Carnitas tacos – 9 out of 10, best tacos I have had in NYC!
Brooklyn Brewery Sabroso (APA) – 8 out of 10, bummed you can’t get this in stores. Muy Bueno!

Big ups to Burger Conquester Chuck for the tickets, along with entrance into the Ebbets club with free beer and pretzels as well as entrance into the Acela Club! Made for a great time and a great story. All in all, Citifield is a modern park, with great views, wonderful food and drink choices. The one that had me laughing the most, the “Bottle Beer” stand that only had been in cans but at least they had Brooklyn Lager! Too bad its way out in BFQ and don’t go looking for that bar next to the park where you can meet up with friends, it’s all alone in a big parking lot.









Posted in Baseball, Burgers, Hamburgers, New York, Queens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments