Restaurant Widow

Return of the Best Burger in Ohio Hunt::Graffiti Burger

above: the Junior (yes, I said Junior) burger, Graffiti style

***update 2*** In my original review, I said the fries could use a double frying method.  Today we visited GB again and agreed the fries are probably indeed double fried.  my mistake! ****

***update*** I forgot 3 things in the original review:

1. it can be hard to hear your name called when your order is ready, so be sure your ears are perked up.
2. there were actually vanilla beans in my milkshake.  Lots of them.
3. my only beef with Graffiti Burger was the styrofoam takeout box. There was no recycling logo on the bottom of it; I would love to see a simple paper/cardboard box instead. They are about the same price.

 When I began the Best burger in Ohio hunt many many months ago, I received tons of great suggestions.  Far before Five Guys ever came to Ohio, I had received lots of suggestions for them.  I tried to go to the campus location the other day. I walked in the door, and the smell and feeling of grease was so overwhelming I just stood there in shock for a few moments before wandering back out onto High Street and heading across the street to Potbelly.

Friday, when I was on All Sides with Marilyn Smith, everyone was talking about Graffiti Burger and how delicious it was. They got so specific about the shakes, the toppings, the yummy toasted buns, that I was hoping my growling tummy couldn't be heard over the radio waves.  I left the studio and headed straight for 5th ave, making an illegal U turn in my haste to get there.

There are 2 Graffiti Burger locations: Sawmill at Hard Rd (Dublin, North of 270) and 5th ave, in the former Starbucks location (don't worry, the other Starbucks right down the street is still open).  The building is clean and bright, and appropriately enough, filled with airbrushed, graffiti-style art. The painting was good, but I would have loved it if they had a few different artists do the painting so there was variation.

There was also this painting, which I couldn't decide was disturbing or funny. Of course, those two are rarely mutually exclusive.  

 

  The 5th Ave location features a long bar down the center of the restaurant, which is nice for waiting for your order if you are getting carryout.  On a Sunday afternoon visit, the bar was full of well-behaved children of all ages.  It seemed to be the thing to do for parents to deposit their children at the counter and then sit at nearby tables.

Graffiti burger makes things easy by not providing a million choices. I am quite fond of this sort of eatery, because sometimes it's hard for me to make up my mind and when I'm in a place that does one thing really well then I don't have to think about it.  

On my first visit, I ordered the Graffiti burger for myself (which includes a great slaw, pickles, graffiti sauce, and tomatoes) and a burger with mustard, pickle and onions for Husband, who supposedly doesn't like slaw.  I also ordered a large basket of fries and a chocolate milkshake.  This order was for carryout.  I've gotta start by discussing the milkshake.

There are 2 varieties of shakes: chocolate and vanilla.  Both have a base of vanilla ice cream and milk, with chocolate syrup thrown in for the chocolate option.  The shake comes with real whipped cream (of the RediWhip variety, if I had to put money on it) and a cherry on top.  So immediately when you are presented with your shake, you are happy, because whipped cream and a cherry make everything better.  The shake was the perfect texture, flavor, everything.  It was delicious.  It was so good that I sucked down every bit of it on the drive home and then could only eat 2 bites of my burger.

The standard burger ($4.99) is a double patty - hand-formed, tasty, big patties, topped with American cheese and placed atop a very good bun toasted in butter (toasting is very important when it comes to burgers).  There is a list of basic toppings which are free and the a few premium toppings available for $1. 

We were pretty happy with our carryout burgers.  So happy, in fact, that we went back only 2 days later.  This time we decided to eat in.  Due to the enormity of the regular burger, this time I went for the Jr. burger with all of the toppings included with the regular Graffiti burger (the Jr. version contains only one patty, and costs $3.99).  Again we shared a large basket of fries which was perfect for us (some people in our family can really put away some fries). I resisted the shake because well, I had ice cream for breakfast and there just has to be some restraint every once in awhile.  

Toppings are very fresh and tasty.  Behind the counter is a very clean double cooler filled with fresh topping which are all dated and well organized (probably something only a restaurant veteran would notice, but still very important). The slaw is great; it is not a mayo-based slaw, and has curious additions such as sweet pickled banana peppers. The patties, said to be never-frozen Angus, have a great meaty flavor.  We both commented that the meat flavor stood up perfectly to the toppings.  The patties don't suffer from over-seasoning, just letting their meat flavor shine.  Buns are very nice, maintain decent integrity considering the toppings (the 2 patty Graffiti burger gets a little messy, but it's worth it), and are nicely toasted in butter.

The fries at Graffiti burger are of the very fresh, very potato-y, hand cut daily variety.  My only gripe is they aren't too crisp and could benefit from a double fry preparation.  They are very tasty; I sprinkled my share with some malt vinegar and extra salt.  The fries have such a pronounced potato flavor that you almost feel like you are eating a healthy potato product and not something cooked in a vat of oil.

Halfway through his burger, Husband said a little wistfully "if only they had grilled banana peppers...."

Service was quick both times, especially considering long lines on both visits. Lonely ladies, take note - Graffiti Burger is full of men, especially during lunchtime.  

Husband and I both agreed: Graffiti Burger is the best either of us have had in Columbus; as much as I love the Rossi, I have to admit, the Graffiti Burger edges beats the Rossi burger by half a fry.  Graffiti Burger does, indeed rule, just like their website says.

A solid 4.5 fries, maybe even 4.75. 

    

Info: Graffiti Burger 7561 Sawmill Road (Dublin) 1505 W. 5th Ave (Grandview)

Best Burger Hunt Revisits Gallo's Tap Room

**Just as a sidenote - although Gallo's address is Olentangy River Road, most people (myself included) would consider it to be on Bethel Road - it is in the Olentangy Plazy shopping center, the same one as Columbus Asian Market at the corner of Bethel & Olentangy, further east than CAM.**

As a blogger, there are certain occasions which are really weird.  I had one those a few months ago when I was at work and was introduced to a very nice man - Tommy Gallo.  And he knew who I was.  You may read my previous burger hunt here.

There's this really weird moment when coming face to face with someone whose product you've been less than blown away by.  But you know what?  Tommy was a stand up guy.  He was super cool about it, and he stood by his product.  And made it better.

First of all, a little bit about Gallo's - if it were closer to my house, we would be there a lot.  It beats a lot of bars in beer selection, especially on tap, and they take their bar food seriously.  The owners are awesome, really, and, they show the Steelers when they aren't on TV.  Now, I know a few of you think I'm joking when I say I'm a Steelers fan, but I'm not.  I married into it and found it was much more fun to embrace it than whine about it.

So, we headed out to Gallo's on Sunday around noonish.  One of you very nice readers told me I had to have the wings at Gallo's.  Now, I am a wing lover.  I even love bad wings.  Husband and I used to eat tons of wings together.  It worked out perfectly, because he loves drummies and I love flappers, and since you usually get about equal parts of both, it was the perfect sharing situation.  However, some where along the way, he stopped loving wings.  And I was alone.  So, thanks to the reader who said I had to try the wings, I was determined.  I ordered 6, but Husband overruled, and ordered 12.  We had them medium. 

WOW.  The wings were delicious.  Hands down, best wings in Columbus, no questions asked.  I don't know what they do to these wings - we were warned by the bartender that their wings take a lot longer than we might be used to in other restaurants, but we are restaurant people, and we're patient.  Well, we're patient in restaurants, anyway.  These wings were plump but still maintained a good meat to skin ratio.  The skin was crisp but not dry, and the interior of the wings were delicious - incredibly moist, tender, juicy - we were amazed.  I have a few theories about how they come up with this - brining, baking at high heat, and then frying are involved, and we tossed around a few ideas.  It doesn't matter, because we'll never make wings at home.  But seriously, go try these.  They are really good.  Even Husband loved these.  We really couldn't stop talking about how good they were.  These wings get 5 flappers.  A perfect score.

So then we were on to the main dish, even though in truth, I was nearly full from the 6 flappers I had.  Husband chose the Big Easy, Gallo's version of the New Orleans Classic Muffaletta, and I opted to give the burger another go around, because Tommy stood behind it. 

And you know what?  I'm glad I did.  This time around, it was really great.  The ciabatta roll remained, but this time it was lightly grilled on the cut side and soft and bite-throughable on the outside (I managed to easily cut through it with my plastic knife).  The burger was juicy and had a great chargrilled flavor.  The fries are really good, and my only disappointment is that after the wings I made it through about half the burger and 6 fries.  I wanted to keep going but I was defeated.  And the giant Rogue beer I was trying to suck down at 1 in the afternoon wasn't helping.  Husband agreed that this was, indeed, the burger we had heard about.

Oh, and his sandwich was very tasty as well, although it was mostly boxed up and taken home in favor of eating the burger while it was still hot.

Husband and I concur, we were very happy with our Gallo's revisit.  We've always like the bar and the food, and we were very happy to find the burger worth talking about.  Oh, and another really nice thing about Gallo's is they have a good selection of lighter items, so while you might want nothing but the tasty fried mushrooms, wings, and burgers, you can get grilled chicken breasts and portabella sandwiches.

Gallos Tap Room Burger 4 Fries

Info: Gallo's Tap Room 5019 Olentangy River Road (actually in the Olentangy Plaza Shopping Center) 614.457.2394

The Best Burger in Ohio Hunt Goes to Cincinnati - Terry's

While in Cincinnati for his Advance Sommelier test, Husband created this dispatch from the road, just for you . . . Thanks Husband!

I love you Rossi, but you’ve met your match.

And its name is Terry’s Turf Club.  Fortunately, my test mates were kind enough to invite me for a post-service exam burger and beer and I was smart enough to go along.  Terry’s is situated near the Ohio River on the outskirts of Cincinnati.  We travelled east from downtown, crossed through a few less-than-savory neighborhoods until we finally reached a small neon-accented restaurant across from a ragged factory.  Some garish 80’s-era neon accents the outside (and part of the inside).  Kitschy, junk-all-around restaurants are now a dime-a-dozen, but Terry’s junk seems to be come by honestly…and some of it is really wonderful junk.

Take the Bevador for example.  It’s a beverage cooler which resembles a small missile or grain silo with a faux beer cap on top.  The inside contains multiple round shelves which can rotate and be accessed through a door in the side:

Neither my descriptions nor my pictures can do these imposing shining coolers justice.  Two sit behind the bar and one sits in the dining area.  All are in use and all occupy an integral part of the “décor.”  While the décor is great, it’s the drink list and ultimately the burger that bring the magic.  I know of no burger joints where you can get Ommegang Hennepin Ale, old Armagnac and Pear Eau-de-Vie in addition to Rolling Rock and Budweiser.  And, while the drink selection is top-notch, it’s the burger…the glorious burger…that is the center piece here.

Following the lead of my classmates, I ordered a burger with everything and grilled banana peppers.  Said burger, accompanied by potato chips, arrived on a beautifully glistening bun.  According to my classmates, the patties are all hand-formed and the tomatoes are hand-picked for size and overall deliciousness…and delicious it was.  The beef was juice and nicely beefy.  It was perfectly balanced by thick-sliced ripe tomato, grilled onion and, most importantly, the tangy smoky heat of the grilled banana pepper.  I’m not sure who first proposed the idea of the grilled banana pepper, but I’d like to meet them, maybe shake their hand, buy them a beer, put them in my will….it’s a fiery tangy component that takes a great hunk of beef to another level:

In addition to being a delicious hunk of beef, it’s a juicy hunk of beef.  I learned that the proper way to tackle the burger was to hold it over the plate, thereby allowing the juices to soak into the accompanying potato chips.  The chips take on a little sog but the delicious beefy juices more than make up for the slight sog.

Honestly kitschy atmosphere, excellent drink selection and, most importantly, a burger par-excellence.  5 fries. Thanks Mary & Laura, for taking me along!

Terry’s Turf Club

4618 Eastern Ave

Cincinnati, Oh 45226

(513) 533-4222

 

New Burger Hunt!!

Only at the new Restaurant Widow Online Community!

The Great Best Burger in Ohio – Not Just Columbus – Goes to Lima::the Kewpee

Update: thanks to everyone who pointed out my egregious misspelling of "Kewpee."  I have corrected the mistake, and I regret the error.
I think I might have mentioned at the outset of this burger hunt that I originally wanted to separate our best burger hunt into 2 categories: best "fast food" or greasy spoon hamburger, and best "gourmet" burger. I mean, you really can't compare say the Rossi Burger with a White Castle. But I was vetoed, so every burger has to be evaluated on its own merit.

One great benefit to marrying a boy from Lima was my introduction to the Kewpee burger. At first, I was a little incredulous, but I became a convert. Husband's family has a tradition: every Christmas Eve, his grandparents go to the Kewpee and pick up a giant bag to go. Typically, Husband and I straggle in after a night of work and the long drive, and we put a few Kewpees on a plate and pop them into the microwave. A bit of a novelty for us, actually, being that we don't own a microwave and would typically never eat fast food more than 10 minutes after purchase, but the Kewpee is different.

The Kewpee space (not the cute uptown one, but the one on Bellefontaine), leaves a little to be desired – there is no piped music, and you actually feel a little like you're eating in the cafeteria of a steel mill. I'm only happy that the smoking ban has passed since our last visit. All of the workers wear all white, in the old-school style of hamburger joint.

What separated the Kewpee from other fast food joints is their use of fresh, never frozen meat. Furthermore, the meat is grown locally, so it's perfect for those who are watching their food miles, if not their waistlines. The burgers appear to contain no fillers – the patties fall apart much more readily than their lesser counterparts in other fast food restaurants. Also, the burgers are square.

That brings us to the (perhaps) apocryphal story that Dave Thomas originally offered to franchise the Kewpee, but the owner refused, so Mr. Thomas took the concept and made Wendy's. The owner of the Kewpee has always kept the chain small and manageable, which has enabled them to keep the quality in tact.

The Kewpee is the quintessential fast food burger – there's nothing gourmet about it (except its use of aforementioned fresh and local beef). It's grilled on a flat top and the condiments are slapped on at eye-popping speed by a remarkably efficient 16-year-girl. The burgers are wrapped in the charming white wax paper wrappers bearing the cute Kewpee doll and the Kewpee trademark phrase "Hamburg, pickle on top, makes your heart go flippity-flop." The burger is nicely sized, just right for one, and comes topped however you like it – Husband's family prefers mustard, pickle, and onion (scathing, white, uncooked onions which make the whole fridge smell gloriously stinky) and the condiments are always generous. I get the feeling they aren't going around berating the employees and reminding them "only one pickle per!!" They always have about 5 pickles, which combined with the mustard and aforementioned onion, can make you think twice about eating one on a date. 

The Kewpee offers things other than the burger, of course, such as good chili, and cold cheese sandwiches.  The little old lady in line behind us ordered a "degreased burger on whole wheat bread."  Hmm.  Degreased?  Why bother?  There are also homemade pies on the menu, and during the large Christmas Eve rush, lots of whole pies were going home to happy families.

I realize my picture of the Kewpee burger is a little lackluster, but it was 24 hours old, at the bottom of a giant bag full of Kewpies, and had been reheated.  Just goes to show the power of a good burger.

Fries are a little blah, which might give some credence to the Wendy's rumor, because Wendy's has the worst fries in fast food land.

At any rate, the Kewpee is a Lima institution, and I envy them for it.

For what it is, a delicious fast food burger, I give the Kewpee 4 fries.

Info:  Kewpee Burger (several locations) 1350 Bellefontaine Ave in Lima.  419.229.1385.  If you go, I might recommend going to the uptown version, which has a much more charming atmosphere.  The "frosted malts" come in old fashioned milkshake glasses with metal handles.

The Great Best Burger in Ohio Hunt Finally Continues::Gallo's Tap Room

Finally!  I think I have more readers nagging me to continue the burger hunt than times my mom nagged me to stop wearing all black in high school!  That's why, when Sunday came around and our game wasn't televised, I suggested to Husband we visit Gallo's Tap Room at the recommendation from a reader.

Gallo's Tap Room is located on the NW side, in the Olentangy Plaza shopping center, which is home to one of my favorite Asian Grocery stores (Columbus Asian Market) and what might be the most depressing place on earth (KMart, but that's neither here nor there).  Gallo's is kind of a sports bar for beer snobs, which is just fine with me.  I'm not really the sports bar sort, so it had never occurred to me to wear some sort of team-related paraphernalia ("should we get matching Steelers jerseys?" I said to Husband, who merely replied with a glare); I wasn't aware of the sports-bar code.  It's this: if you are wearing a Steelers jersey, your server will kindly tell you what giant TV screen will be showing your game.  Who knew?  If you happen to be wearing a green tee shirt and a tan cardigan, your server will just assume you are out of place and not mention that you are about to watch the Browns.

As mentioned before, and as the name of the joint implies, Gallo's Tap Room has lots of beer on draft.  Each specialty beer is poetically described on the menu, making ordering very helpful.  They have Brooklyn Lager on tap, which is just fine with Husband, who is quite fond of it.  I chose the Unibroue (the fine folks behind such Cbus faves as Fin du Monde) Éphémère, which is a delightfully crisp and light apple beer with a nice sweet & tart apple flavor.  Perfect for the time of year.  The beer was served in a snifter (every time) which seemed a nice touch for a sports bar, especially given how busy they were for football Sunday.

Husband, strangely enough, wanted to start off with the fried mushrooms.  Tiny button mushrooms are coated in crunchy breading and fried, served with a side of housemade horseradish mayo.  The portion was generous, the nuggets were great with beer, and I really appreciated the hot bite of the horseradish sauce (which begged for some prime rib).

Okay, have I said enough good things to get to the burgers?  Gallo's burger is a hand-formed Angus beef patty, served with your choice of cheese on a ciabatta roll, with fries on the side.  The fries, which are very potatoey (I'm not being cutesy - sometimes fries taste more like used fryer oil and seasoning than potatoes), had a light and dry interior and persistent crunch which alluded to either double frying or the rare fryer frying at the correct temperature.  Our server was nice enough to take a temperature on our burgers (we ordered them medium); unfortunately, they came out well done and dry.  I think these burgers suffered from at least 2 problems - overcooking and not using a fatty enough cut of meat to begin with.  I know everyone wants you to think 90% lean ground beef or ground sirloin is really good for you, but we're talking burgers here, folks.  If you want healthy, get sushi.  If you want a juicy burger, use the 80% "lean" ground chuck, which will even stand up to overcooking.  These burgers had no juice.  Although the meat tasted good quality and was well-seasoned, neither of us could get over the dryness, which was exacerbated by the chewy (although toasted) ciabatta roll.  There were also no pickles on the burger (a spear came on the side); I did ask for a side of the housemade mayo (an extra 50 cents), which was light and studded with black pepper.  Although I don't typically go for mayo on burgers, this did quite a bit to save the dryness of the patty.

I liked the burger slightly more than Husband, and was willing to give it the "average" 3 fries, but Husband grimaced when I asked for the fry count - "I think only 2," he said.  Which is too bad, because I think the folks behind Gallo's seem really nice and hardworking.  Fortunately, I think the burger can be saved with a decent burger bun, fattier meat, and including the mayo and pickle on the plate.

Service at Gallo's was efficient, especially considering our server was serving the entire room of about 35 people single-handedly, without taking notes, remembering everyone's drinks and keeping their tabs straight.  The crowd was far better behaved than I had expected, especially considering there were a few holdouts from the 1 o'clock game.  Although Gallo's was a good place to watch the game, Husband and I nonetheless petered out around halftime, took our loss, and headed out into the rain.
 
Verdict: 2.5 fries - although the fries, mushrooms, and beer selection ensure a revisit.  If we lived in the area, we would certainly put Gallo's in our bar round, so there's no reason to let the burger issues keep you from visiting.  As a bonus, they actually have a few healthy selections on the menu.

Info:  Gallo's Tap Room 5019 Olentangy River Road (actually in the Olentangy Plaza Shopping Center) 614.457.2394

Whine & Ye Shall Receive::Burgers at the Press Grill

I received a comment from a reader, "ed" - who I've decided is probably this Ed, ahem (it isn't that Ed, just for the record, but I'm leaving the link in anyway, because I like his blog) - who complained about my lack of burger hunts lately.  Touché, snarky reader, touché.  This post is dedicated to you.  There are various reasons for my lack of burger posts (the number one being calories), but you are correct, I have been slacking in the burger hunt department, and I still have so many places to visit - Swenson's, Johnny's, Kewpie - not to mention the places still in Columbus.

Husband and I visited the Press Grill a few weeks ago to test how the new owners were transitioning.  Of course, we've eaten at the Press lots of times - especially when we lived in the Short North, when we made frequent use of their daily specials ($1 tacos on Wednesdays, $1 Nathan's chili dogs on Mondays, and the $10 Strip Steak on Sundays).  Now we don't make it as often as we used to, but it's nice they serve late so we can visit from time to time after work.

When Husband and I began our burger hunt, I suggested we divide the hunt into two categories - greasy, "fast food" style burgers vs. "gourmet" burgers.  For example, I would classify the burger at the Rossi (which we just revisted this week, and it was still a 4 fry burger - maybe even a 4.5 fry burger) as a gourmet burger.  It's big, thick, grilled and meaty, you can have it cooked to your preference, it's a hand formed patty, etc.  Then there's something like the Press burger, which is probably frozen, cooked on a griddle, and soul-satisfyingly greasy.  About a month ago, Husband ordered a triple Press burger after work one night, and complained that the bun couldn't stand up to the burgers within.  "Husband," I said, "What do you expect?  Three greasy patties?"  He conceded he had probably demanded a little more of the bun than it could have possibly delivered. 

All of this to say, we decided not to have separate categories, but within each review, we could just specify the sort of burger and not try to compare it to other burgers.  Each has its own place.

The Press serves my favorite variety of burger: burger topped with fried egg and cheese.  Oh, how I love thee, burger topped with fried egg and cheese, may you never be removed from my favorite menus.  I have also discovered that this is a burger best consumed late at night, preferably with a beer.  I had it for lunch, and, although delicious, I did suffer a weighed down feeling that I'd rather sleep off than work through.

At any rate, I think you can see from the picture (top of post) that the egg is a large part of this equation.  The properly cooked burger-topping egg should be cooked on a griddle with lots of butter, and should have brown, lacy edges. Check, check and check. The yolk should be soft but not liquidy - you really don't want yolk going all over you (at least I don't), but you still want it to ooze very slightly and flavor the rest of the burger.  Cheese glues the egg to the burger, crisp lettuce and pickles make a nice foil for the richness, and mayo makes the burger completely over-the-top rich.  The bun is nicely toasted on aforementioned buttered grill (which is probably really coated with something "butteresque" with loads of artery-clogging transfats). And guilt-inducing, quite frankly.  It is for this reason that I can really only justify eating this burger again without a little "liquid guilt-remover," (ie, Basil Hayden).

So, how did I feel about this burger?  Pretty good, actually.  I give this burger 3 fries.  It's a greasy, heart-stopping guilty pleasure.  Husband's burger - the regular Press Burger with cheese - gets 2.5 fries, simply because it didn't contain an egg.  And it comes with the Press' blah fries; pre-frozen steak fries (not to be confused with steak frites, mind you) which are not well seasoned.  Or even seasoned, so it would seem.  Fortunately, the fried egg burger (the 740 burger, if you want to get technical), comes solo.  Skip the fries and go for the mac and cheese.  I mean, clearly you aren't eating this on a diet, right?

Oh - I would be remiss if I didn't mention the yummy wedge salad at the Press.  It's one of the few things in any after-work dining establishment which I can eat with only a modicum of guilt (never mind the cups of bleu cheese dressing, the bacon, the egg, and the crumbled bleu):

info: Press Grill, 741 N. High St (in the Short North) 614.294.2860  For the rest of my burger hunts, click here.

The Great Best Burger in Ohio (or at least Columbus, for Now) Hunt, Lilly's Kitchen Table Edition

I received a complaint that my burger hunt hasn't yet ventured from Columbus (have you seen gas prices?!) so Sunday night, while Husband and I were planning our next burger destination, I said we had to at least drive to Delaware or Grove City.  Grove City won.  I did receive a recommendation for Lilly's Kitchen Table, but I first heard about it when John Corby and his roving band of Big Bass Brothers reviewed it (don't hate me because I listen to talk radio) very favorably.  Alas, it's one of the few podcasts they don't have; but you can read a recap through the link.

And so it happened that Husband and I found ourselves driving of the edge of the map, all the way to downtown Grove City, which is actually pretty cute.  We had never been there before.  There are scrapbooking shops, quilting shops, and even a Graeter's and a yoga center.

Lilly's is a diner; I have no doubt they have some incredible omelets and plain old fried eggs for breakfast, but we were here for the burgers.  I'll probably never find out about breakfast, because it's a trial for Husband and I to get to Northstar for breakfast, and they're only 2.5 miles away.  No matter.

Lisa's Review:
Husband tried the "Townsfair" burger, a basic cheeseburger (pictured at the top of the post), and I chose the "Wally" burger (pictured above), a cheddar/bacon/bbq sauce affair; one of my favorites.  Husband opted for fries while I took the house made chips.

The Wally burger (cut open, pictured above) came on the very important toasted bun.  It was covered - covered - with cheese.  The construction of the burger was interesting in that the patty had been covered with bbq sauce, and then bacon, and then topped with the cheese.  This kept the toppings from slipping and sliding all over the place - very smart.  Husband's burger was also covered with cheese, and came with topped with mayo, lettuce, tomato, white onions and pickles.  I was a little envious of his condiments, truth be told.  My burger was tasty. The bacon was good and crisp, and of course there was all of that cheese.  Always a good thing.  The good beef (hand formed Angus patty) wasn't drowned out by all those toppings; my only complaint - a big one - was the burger was cooked a too far, in my opinion.  This made it really dry and made me yearn for some pickles, lettuce and tomatoes.  I stole some mayo-covered lettuce from Husband's burger and confirmed my suspicion that condiments would have improved the burger.  The housemade chips which accompany the burger are first rate.  Thick but not too thick, they are doused with a good dusting of salt and pepper and are crisp and savory.  I would probably drive all the way back to Lilly's just for a plate of the chips.  Bun held up for the most part throughout the eating process; quite a feat considering the toppings and sauce involved.  The Wally burger gets 3 fries; the dryness would have earned it a 2.5, but those chips edge up fry score.

Husband's burger was a triumph of a cheeseburger.  The aforementioned condiments kept it moist and flavorful, with a good balance of rich meat/cheese/zingy pickles/onion/mayo.  I'm not sure if his was cooked less than mine or it was the condiments that kept everything juicy and tasty.  The fries which accompanied his were probably frozen - they were a strange cut - but they had been well-chosen, instead of just choosing whatever kind of fries were the cheapest, someone actually tasted fries and chose some good frozen ones.  They were dusted with seasoning salt and were very addictive.  I'm giving Husband's burger 4 fries.

I'm trying not to let the distance influence my decision, or the fact that they were playing a steady mix of "old guy" rock (I still have American Pie in my head).  Lilly's was really, really good. 

Husband's Review:
Two tanks of gas for two burgers…what a haul.  Wife and I both worked near Grove City years ago but neither of us had ever ventured into downtown Grove City.  Quite a haul from Hudsonville but a nice little downtown and nice little diner. In what seemed a typical small town diner ritual, two Wrangler-clad fellas listened as a loud-mouthed old fart held court at the table next to us … dispensing opinions and info on relevant and irrelevant subjects alike.  Strangely charming in a down home, blade-of-straw-in-your-teeth, Aw Shucks sort of way.

Be warned, Lilly’s is only open from 7am-2pm.  We were the next-to last table to arrive at 1:15.  Although Wife’s Wally Burger was an OK version of the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, the house made Potato Chips were great.  Clearly sliced and fried there, they were crispy on the edge and still a little starchy potato-y in the middle.  Unusual, but really great.  My Cheeseburger was first-rate.  A nicely-grilled and juicy patty on a puffy bun.  Crisp lettuce, mild onion, mayo and the all-important pickle provided the right balance to a slice of good-ol’ American cheese.  The Fries were clearly brought in but were wonderful.  Long and wide with ridges running the length.  Crispy goodness.  Quite an experience and quite a good burger.  4 Fries (Husband's burger only).

Consensus: Stick with the basic burger, and be sure one person in your party orders the fantastic housemade chips.  3.5 fries

The Great Ohio Burger Hunt - Latitude 41 Edition

I haven't revisited Latitude 41 since my initial lunch visit, although I have thought often of their chorizo corn dogs.  When someone suggested in my Call for Suggestions to try the Latitude 41 burger, it seemed like the perfect time to give it another try.

The first time I visited Lat 41, I think I commented on how it feels really "hotely," as though this were a bad thing, but I'd like to retract that.  It does have a hotely feel, don't get me wrong.  It might have something to do with the stunningly beautiful day we were having, but walking into the hotel made me feel as though I were on vacation.  It was a good feeling, even if it was fleeting. 

I would like to mention a few things consumed other than the burger, namely the two soups we had as an appetizer; my sweet corn soup with coconut green curry, which was rich, smooth, and delicious.  Too rich to consume the entire bowl, alas, but still quality: the top was dashed with a chiffonade of Thai basil:

Husband opted for the spicy vegetarian gazpacho, which was also a winner.  My only complaint about the soups is that they are both a little ahead of their time, seasonally speaking.  It's not hot enough out yet for gazpacho, not to mention we are months away from peak tomato season, ditto sweet corn season.  This is the season for asparagus and sweet pea soups, chefs of Columbus! 

Lisa's Review:
This is a big burger; the menu touts it as being one pound, and while I left my scale at home today, I wouldn't doubt it starts its life as a pound or so.  The hefty patty, blanketed by a layer of Ohio Cheddar, is served on a large, delightfully toasted bun - in truth, the first thing I noticed was the buttery, savory, toasted bun surface.  It is served with lettuce, tomato, white onions, and the all-important "special sauce."  At first, I thought there was a lack of pickle - sure to cause a few dings in Husband's book - but upon closer inspection, I noticed the pickles where there, in the form of sliced gherkins in the special sauce, which was wonderfully reminiscent of a fast food special sauce, a savory blend similar to tartar sauce with a dash of ketchup thrown in.  No other condiments needed.  The server didn't ask for a temperature, which concerned me; I was unnecessarily concerned the burger would arrive well done, but it was cooked to a juicy medium.  The burger was clearly cooked on a grill, maybe even a wood grill; I couldn't see anywhere wood might be hiding, but usually I can taste the telltale chemicallyness (of course that's a word, look it up) of gas-powered grills (I'm sure it's psychosomatic, and I'm willing to accept that).  The grill flavor was good, but the outside of the burger had such a grill (or char) flavor, that it kind of overwhelmed everything else.  If the meat had just a touch more "meatiness" to it, or was spiked with a dash or ground lamb or something, it might have been able to compete for my taste buds' attention.  As it was, the char obscured the other good flavors of the cheese and sauce.  This might be a boon to Husband, who loves grilled burgers; I'm willing to admit this might be a personal thing, because it did really taste like a burger which just came off your backyard grill.  It's my only complaint about this burger, and kept it from being a 4 fry burger in my book, but just by a hair.  Lat 41 gets bonus points for really great, probably double fried frites. 3 1/2 fries.

Husband's Review:
Latitude 41.  Despite two good lunches, I’m still inexplicably leery of Latitude 41.  Maybe it’s the fact that use of the first, middle and last name (the restaurant is billed as a "Dean James Max Destination Restaurant") is usually limited to serial killers, Confederate Generals and the pretentious, maybe it’s the stunningly poor wine list or maybe it’s location in a hotel. Reasons aside, the place doesn’t set well with me.  However, it does offer a fairly tasty burger.  The tall and toasty bun is served with crisp edges; a big plus in my book. The accompaniments, thinly shaved white onion, tomato, cheese and horseradish mayo, played together very well.  The juicy patty would have rounded out an exceptional burger if it hadn’t been overly charred. The accompanying fries are light on their feet and well-flavored. A little pricey at $11 but, with the exception of the chalky char, a solid burger.   3.5 Fries.

Consensus?  The overly charred exterior of the burger patty marred an otherwise excellent burger.  3.5 fries (somewhere between 3 fries = good burger, would eat again without reservations, sticks in memory, and 4 fries = excellent burger, will definitely eat again)
   

Info:  Latitude 41 Restaurant, 50 N. 3rd Street (Downtown, Gay and 3rd) 614.233.7541.  To read the rest of the burger saga, click here and scroll down.

The Great Best Burger in Ohio Hunt - Flatiron

When I made my request for your favorite burgers, I had a few suggestions for the Flatiron.  This was convenient, because I love the Flatiron, and yet, have strangely never written about it.  The only problem was, going to the Flatiron without having a Po'Boy. . . oh, the sacrifices I make for you!

Husband agreed to order the burger (truly a sacrifice, as I think I've mentioned before how he will order the same thing every time he visits a favorite restaurant).  I'm not sure how many times Husband has had the catfish Po'Boy at Flatiron, but I think he only wavered once when he opted for the Oyster Po' Boy special.  So, thanks Husband!  As there was only one burger on the menu, I rounded lunch out with some red beans and rice, which I have heard great things about.

I would also like to mention at this point that Husband and I decided to walk to the Flatiron (3.5 miles each way) and back, and for some reason didn't think that, even though it was sunny and hot outside, we might need sunscreen.  We are both now rather rosy-cheeked.  And headed, in Husband's case. 

But on with the burger. . .

Lisa's Review:
The Flatiron's burger include pepper jack cheese and ancho mayo, in addition to the standard pickle/tomato/lettuce combo.  Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?  Although it might sound spicy at first, it really isn't.  It is, however, meaty and savory.  The burger is large - about 8 ounces, looks like a hand-formed patty, and tastes of good-quality meat.  I doubt there's a box of frozen patties lurking about.  The burger is placed upon a nice bun which, nonetheless, was a little stale.  I believe all of the bread at the Flatiron comes from Eleni Christina bakery (641 N. High in the Short North; the store front is actually on Russell), which is nice, unless you are getting the last of Saturday's bread.  A little toasting would have covered up the staleness and added a pleasing crispness (I am strangely fond of toasted buns on hamburgers, and always consider it a nice little bonus when the bun's spent a few seconds on the flat top, preferably macerating in some burger juices or butter; of course, this burger was grilled, but they still could have toasted the bun).  However, the bun did not get soggy, which was nice.  No salt was required, nor additional condiments.  The cheese was above the standard processed slice sort, and the ancho mayo gave the burger a nice little savory kick.  I'm giving the Flatiron burger 3 fries.  I also have to give props to the Flatiron's fries; they are delicious.  They might be some of my favorite fries - I believe they are housemade, with the skin still on.  They are deliciously browned, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.  They are some fine fries.  Other things I love at the Flatiron: crab and corn cakes, gumbo, aforementioned Po' Boy sandwiches, and their house-made andouille.  Not crazy about the red beans, but that's a personal preference.  The sausage is really good.  BBQ is usually quite good, as well.  You should go there.

Husband's Review:
A burger well earned… I’m not sure I’ve ever worked so hard for a burger. The round trip walk from the Chez Widow Zoo to the Flat Iron Grill was nearly seven miles. The burger was all but walked off by the time we got home. All of that aside… I have to admit, the urge to order a shrimp or catfish Po’boy was strong, but this was a burger hunt. The Flat Iron cheeseburger has one big thing in its favor…the grill. The patty itself was thick, juicy and nicely grilled. It was topped with an ostensibly nice collection of toppings. Unfortunately, the lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, pepper jack cheese and ancho mayo blur together to form a sloppy and non-descript blur. It’s a shame because the ancho mayo was quite tasty but its smoky spice was lost in the mix and, frankly, the well-cooked burger and tasty thin fires deserved better. 2 ½ fries.

Concensus: I enjoyed the burger more than Husband did, but not enought to make it replace a Po' Boy in either of our minds. 

Info:  Flatiron Bar & Diner 129 E Nationwide Blvd (Downtown, especially convenient to the Convention Center, for all of you Columbus visitors) 614.261.0033

The Great Best Burger in Ohio Hunt - Queen Bee

Two burgers in two days!  We had to erase the memory of the Barley's burger somehow.  Today's burger was suggested to Husband and I by the same reliable source who clued me in to the Jeni's Butterscotch and Cocoa Nib ice cream. 

The Queen Bee is a cozy little diner on 4th Street at Rich.  They serve breakfast (which I hear is pretty tasty) and lunch only, closing at 3 pm.  The joint is staffed by the owner, a nice lady who recently purchased the 'Bee, and another nice server, who was polite and efficient.  Another bonus after Barley's.

Just as a reminder, here are the guidelines:

1 fry = eat at your own risk
2 fries = acceptable, decent burger
3 fries = good burger, would eat again without reservations, sticks in memory
4 fries = excellent burger, will definitely eat again,
5 fries = transcendent burger, will dream about until such time as can revel in its burgery glory again and again.
We will each assign a fry rating, and then will average it for the end summary.

Lisa's Review:

We're back on the upswing.  Husband and I ordered the two signature burgers at the Queen Bee: the Queen Bee burger, which is 2 patties on a kaiser roll with American cheese, pickles, tomato and onions; and the Stinger, a half-pound Angus burger on kaiser with smoked cheddar, onion petals (fried onion slivers), and "special sauce."  I ordered the Queen Bee burger (pictured whole above, cut open below); must remember for the future that I prefer the higher bun to burger ratio offered by a single burger, but that's neither here nor there.  I promised on the outset we would order signature burgers.  First of all, the fresh bun: a nice, firm bun which never sagged, grew soggy, or failed to hold the ample burger meat in any way, so that's a big bonus right off the top.  The burgers were good-quality, full of that greasy burger flavor; the meat was good and, although fully cooked, was still very juicy.  Again - juicy, but the bun still did not become soggy.  The onions were nice and crunchy, without stench (this is important to me for some reason; onions can make or break the burger)  Accompanying fries were the out-of-the-freezer-bag variety, but were at least hot and salted.  The Queen Bee burger is a nice, solid burger.  It is well worth its $5.99 price tag and would make a nice lunch for anyone nearby.  3 fries.

Husband's Stinger was a hand-formed Angus beef burger.  The meat definitely tasted more meaty and rich and had less of that "ground beef" flavor than my non-Angus burger.  The Queen Bee special sauce tastes like cocktail sauce doused with a good bit of mayo.  Nothing wrong with that.  The tang of the special sauce, combined with the tart pickles, worked well with the rich meat and smoked cheddar.  The onion petals (although another out-of-the-freezer bag and into the fryer option) were an interesting addition.  The Stinger arrived on the same solid Kaiser roll, which also maintained its integrity throughout the dining process.  The Stinger is well worth its $6.99 price tag - a solid, flavorful specialty burger.  4 fries.

Husband's Review:
Great place and a great couple of burgers.

How can you go wrong with a huge slab of Angus topped with smoky
cheese, crispy onion petals and a tangy barbecue-esque sauce?
Pickles.  Yes, the humble pickle adds the right crispness and tang.
They take an otherwise good burger and transform into something
great…the Stinger (pictured whole above and cut in half below). 3 fries + a side of ketchup.

I expected the Queen Bee to be the "lighter" burger option.  But, two
patties glued together with American cheese proved to be substantial.
A little gilled onion adds sweetness with lettuce and tomato providing
nice contrast.  3 fries.

As we were paying the check, Husband commented that it was twice the lunch for half the price of Barley's.  Two could easily have lunch for around $15.  Not bad.  In summary, the Queen Bee was a good burger - we will definitely revisit in the future.  I'll have to revisit the 'Bee for breakfast; I'm always on the lookout for some eggs over easy with fake-butter smeared white toast on the side.  Three and a quarter fries:

Info:  Queen Bee 248 S. 4th St ( Downtown Columbus) 614.221.4710

The Great Ohio Burger Hunt - Barley's

Would that we had started with a lesser burger, we might not have been so disappointed on our second venture.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  For this leg of the Burger Hunt, Husband and I headed to Barley's, after their Kobe Blue Burger was recommended when I made my call for suggestions.  Barley's is a local brew pub, and they have a variety of great beers on tap.  They also have great sauerkraut balls and really good (grilled) wings.  Okay, now that I've started with a few positives, let's get on with things.  I chose the Kobe burger ($12) and Husband went for the Barley burger.  I know I said we'd try different sides, but we were both in the mood for fries. 

Just to recap, here's how the rating system works:

1 fry = eat at your own risk
2 fries = acceptable, decent burger
3 fries = good burger, would eat again without reservations, sticks in memory
4 fries = excellent burger, will definitely eat again,
5 fries = transcendent burger, will dream about until such time as can revel in its burgery glory again and again.
We will each assign a fry rating, and then will average it for the end summary.

Lisa's Review:
I have my opinions about whether Kobe is best used when ground into hamburger, but I'll save those for another day.  I suppose you have to do something with all of the trimmings, and grinding it into $10 a pound hamburger is probably a good option.  This was my first Kobe burger - I have had American Kobe before, but only in steak form.  I was a convert.  I thought the meat was a little lackluster until I tasted Husbands standard beef burger.  But I digress.  The Kobe Blue burger comes topped with caramelized onions and crumbled blue cheese, and a good smattering of nearly whole peppercorns.  I typically don't like nearly whole peppercorns, but these were okay.  The burger was set atop a less-than-adequate bun; it arrived already soggy on the bottom.  I don't even feel like I should have to say I don't like soggy buns - who does?  I cut the burger in half, and most of the bun just fell apart after the first bite:

The burger was okay.  One of the problems I have with the idea of the burger is this: if you are going to spend $10 a pound for ground beef, why would you top it with strong flavors such as bleu cheese and peppercorns?  it should only need salt.  The best things need the least gussying up. 

Husband's burger, the Barley Burger ($8), was topped with ale washed onions.  For some reason, I had the idea these would be Barley's skinny little fried onion rings, but these were just limp, soggy rings of very, very b-o-ey (you know, body odor oniony stench) onions which added nothing to the taste of the hamburger, which tasted as though made with about C grade hamburger.  There was not seasoning - salt or otherwise - perceived in the meat, just a gamey, substandard, depressing ground hamburger flavor.  We're not supposed to discuss the hamburger whilst dining, but I couldn't help the grimace which overtook my visage.

I'm sorry about my less than stellar pictures, but I can assure you that no amount of perfect lighting and focus would make these burgers taste any better.

The fries were of the absolutely boring, tasteless, frozen variety.  They hadn't been salted after frying and weren't particularly hot or fresh.

I realize this is about the burger, but the table service at Barley's was about as charming as the beef in Husband's burger.  Both servers who came to the table were absolutely flat, unsmiling, and unhappy.  Service was prompt, however. 

Although I thought my burger was edible, it wasn't worth its $12 price tag, and the soggy, tasteless bun was unforgivable.  I'm giving the Barley's burgers 1 fry.

Husband's Review:
The Pendulum swings the other way…

Where to begin?  How about the lesser of two evils, the Barley Burger.
Although the burger itself was cooked properly, it was covered by a
pile of ale-y but otherwise flavorless onions.  The combination of
onion juice and  burger juice made the bun soggy.  Little flavor and
soggy texture, a pretty poor burger all the way around. 1 fry:

The Kobe Blue Burger erred in the other direction.  A note on Kobe…its
appeal, what makes it exceptional, is the marbling of the steak.
Grind it up and it's hamburger…expensive hamburger…nothing more.  Case
in point, the Barleys Blue. An otherwise unexceptional patty is piled
with Blue cheese.  When the Blue melts its earthy moldy character
becomes overpowering.  Despite onion, lettuce and pickles the burger
tasted overwhelmingly of rotten milk.  1 fry…barely.

In summation: there is very little chance we will ever consume another burger at Barleys.  One fry.

Info:  Barley's Brewing Company 467 N. High St (Short North/Convention Center area) 614.228.ALES(2537)

The Great Ohio Best Burger Hunt, Part One::The Rossi Burger

I feel, at the beginning of this burger hunt, I should specify that I am not a burger aficionado.  This is really Husband's department.  While I like to try something new every time I visit a restaurant, if Husband has a good burger/risotto/squirrel cake/what-have-you, he will order it every time he visits the restaurant.  Maybe this is a characteristic of the male of the species.  Everyone I know who goes to G. Michael's for the fried chicken, as mentioned before, is a boy.  At any rate, I rarely order a burger of my own free will.  Actually, I suppose that isn't true.  I am particularly fond of a certain sort of odd burger - we'll get to that at a later date.

So it happened that Husband and I decided to test the Rossi burger for our inaugural burger.  It's close to home, they have killer pizza if we don't like the burger, and they have a decent little wine list for a bar (we opted for a $21 bottle of Grüner Veltliner whose name escapes me at the moment.  An admittedly odd choice for burgering, but what we were in the mood for, nonetheless).

Here's how it worked:  Husband and I cut the burger in half; he ate his half and half of mine.  We made notes to ourselves and did not discuss the burger.  I wrote my portion of the review and gave it the fry rating, and Husband did the same.  He emailed his review and I will post it below, under my review.  Here's the rating system:
1 fry = eat at your own risk
2 fries = acceptable, decent burger
3 fries = good burger, would eat again without reservations, sticks in memory
4 fries = excellent burger, will definitely eat again,
5 fries = transcendent burger, will dream about until such time as can revel in its burgery glory again and again.
We will each assign a fry rating, and then will average it for the end summary.

There is only one burger on the Rossi list; for this reason, we took the opportunity to order the Rossi burger and then back it up with a pizza (sausage and giardiniera, baby, it's the best). 

Lisa's Review
I thought this burger was a really, really good, solid burger.  It came with lettuce, tomato, pickles, raw red onions, mayo, and American cheese.  This is where things become more than their parts; I don't care for American cheese, I'm not particularly fond of tomatoes on sandwiches (in April, anyway). One thing I liked about the presentation was the entire burger came already assembled:

It was very tasty.  The onions weren't b-o-ey, they were crisp and sweet.  There was a very nice balance of burger/pickles/mayo/tomato.  Neither of us added ketchup or mustard.  One thing which impressed me the most about this burger is that I didn't have to add salt.  The meat tasted very high quality and was perfectly seasoned.  It was expertly cooked and juicy.  I was mesmerized by looking at the burger meat, squishing the bun, and watching the juices flow.  The burger is only made a better meal by the addition of the Rossi's great house made fries.  My only complaint about the fries is that, although delicious, they have a tendency to be a little limp.  (This doesn't bother Husband at all).  We ordered the fries with basil aioli as an appetizer and still ate all of the fries that accompanied the burger:

Just so you don't think we're gluttons, we took half of our pizza home.  And ate it later that night, whilst watching the Sopranos.

I have to give this burger 4 solid, aioli-covered fries.

Husband's Review:
Our first stop on the Burger Trail and the bar has been set high.  From the family of restaurant/bars who brought the city such infarction-inducing delights as the Triple Press Burger (three patties with cheese and a fried egg), comes the  Rossi Burger.  A well-grilled and thick patty is set between a softly sweet Kaiser Roll.  It’s set apart from the rest of the herd of bar burgers by the right combination of toppings…sweet red onion, tangy pickles and a rich base of Mayo.   This tasty burger is made even better by thin homemade fries and basil aioli…an accompaniment so good, we had an order as an appetizer.  The combination of a flavorful burger and top-notch fries more than justifies the asking price of $8.50.  4 Fries.

In summary, this is a fantastic burger.  I, a non-burger-orderer, will certainly have this burger again.  We both agree:

Info:  The Rossi Bar & Kitchen 895 N High St (in the Short North) 614.299.2810

Call for Suggestions

Husband and I are starting a new, non gourmet series for the summer:

Ohio's Best Burger.

We are acceptiong recommendations based upon the following criteria:

• Must be beef; we might consider a side project of "specialty" burgers - bison, veggie, squirrel, what-have-you.
• Must be in Ohio, preferably within a 100 mile radius, although we are planning a trip to Cleveland soon and will accept those suggestions as well.
• No national chains will be reviewed.  Local chains, such as the Kewpie in Lima, will be visited.  Of course.  I've mentioned before the Kewpie burger is the only fast food product I will place in a microwave and reheat hours after purchase.  This is a Christmas tradition with Husband's family.  We don't have a microwave and therefore wouldn't be able to do that.
• Of course, we prefer local hangouts.
• I think the burger should be in a bun, but Husband will accept a burger on Texas toast.
• House made fries, chips, slaw, etc. are a nice bonus but are not necessary.
• Okay, I have just decided if you aren't in Ohio and would like to tell me about your favorite burger I will happily listen, but I can't guarantee a review. 
• Husband and I will each order a burger: one will get a simple, "traditional" burger, and the other will select the "signature" burger, if available.
• Fries will, of course, always be ordered, although in the interest of our waistlines, one of us will order a non-fried side dish.
• Any doctors who would like to donate samples of Lipitor, please e-mail me and I'll send along shipping information.
• If the server says "Everyone around here gets it this way," we will take the recommendation.
• When you are suggesting something, please let us know why you like the burger, your favorite way to indulge, and if there's anything else exciting we should know about the joint.

Okay, readers, you have your assignment.  Discuss.