Hamburger Mary's - Blue Boy Burger

Hamburger Mary’s is a national chain with eleven locations. The one we have here in Orlando sits downtown on Church Street right next to the railroad tracks. Not only do they offer Shot Specials every time a train passes, but they also have Bingo on Tuesdays, Trivia on Wednesdays, and Female Impersonator Shows on the Weekends.

The ATMOSPHERE… Pastel colors that look like the set from the Golden Girls, a life size statue of “Mary” to take photos with as you exit, and your bill will be delivered in a red high heel shoe

The SERVICE… Service with a smile! Be sure to make a reservation for any show because the place gets packed for their weekly events

The FOOD… AppeTeazers, Souper Salads, Special-Tease, (right from the menu-I’m not making this up) but most people order one of the colorfully named Burgers (Proud Mary Burger, Barbra-Q Bacon Cheeseburger, Buffy…The Hamburger Slayer)

And then finish your meal with the Deep Fried Twinkies! Oh… and I have to mention the Full Liquor Bar (with great drink specials and bartenders with a heavy pour)

I started out my meal with Mary’s Black & Blue chips (Thinly sliced potato chips, deep fried, then topped with melted blue cheese crumbles and a balsamic reduction drizzle… $7) These crispy Potato Chips are well balanced with the “Salty” Blue Cheese and the “Sweet” Balsamic Reduction making them a mouthwatering AppeTeazer!

For my Burger I decided on the Blue Boy Burger (Blue Cheese Crumbles and Bacon topped with Blue Cheese Dressing. It is the cheesiest of them all…$10.50) I realize that I am going to be in “Blue Cheese Overload” with the selections that I ordered but I am OK with that! I upgraded my side item to Sweet potato fries for a dollar more. The Burger arrives, I bite in to it, It’s delicious! Served on the Bun with Shredded Lettuce and Pickles the Bacon is Crisp, the Beef is cooked just as I had asked, and the Blue Cheese is plentiful.

 I was expecting Hamburger Mary’s to be a “Kitschy” place with only mediocre Food, however I was thrilled to find that the Food Quality and Taste were both Top Notch.

Harry and Larry's Bar-B-Que - Beef Brisket Sandwich Combo

Harry & Larry’s Bar-B-Que was opened by two sisters and named after their grandfathers. It sits in the middle of historic Winter Garden and has been doing quite well since opening in 2009. From the outside it looks like a tiny hole in the wall, but once you get inside it is actually quite spacious with eleven booths.

The ATMOSPHERE… painted brick walls, exposed ductwork, a large “Piggly Wiggly” sign on the wall, but surprisingly clean for a Bar-B-Que joint

The SERVICE… order at the counter up front, then find a seat and your food is quickly brought to your table

The FOOD… a simple menu consisting of Bar-B-Que sandwiches and platters, Ribs, Pork, Beef Brisket, Turkey and Sausage (all smoked on premises), plus nine great sides to complete your meal

I decided on the Beef Brisket Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and Fried Pickles ($7.75) There was a variety of sauces to pick from, and as I usually do I chose the Sweet. The Brisket was juicy and tender and was served on two slices of soft Texas Toast. The Sweet Potato Fries were unlike any I had ever had, they were thick cut and quite large, much like Steak Fries. Usually when you get “Sweet Potato” instead of “Regular” Fries there is an upcharge, so I was delighted that these were included as a “Regular” side. But the most important item on the whole plate was the Fried Pickles, they were just salty enough and just crispy enough, while still keeping their delicious “Dill Pickle” flavor and not getting lost in the breading. The next time I go I would like to try some of their other sides but those Pickles are going to be hard to beat.

I normally steer to the kind of Bar-B-Que places that have thinly sliced meats served with garlic bread, but this was a very satisfying change with the thicker Beef and the Texas Toast, and the price cannot be beat! I am looking forward to going there again!

Dexter's of Winter Park - Greek Burger

Dexter’s has been going strong for around 25 years or so. I usually frequent the one in Thornton Park, however the other day I found myself at the Winter Park location.

The ATMOSPHERE… Nice décor, pleasant servers, be seated at a table or belly up to the bar.

The SERVICE… Dexter’s has standard service for a Winter Park restaurant.

The FOOD… Salads, Sandwiches, Fresh Pastas and ‘Dexter’s Traditionals” like Chicken Tortilla Pie and Baked Brie

Every time that I have dined at Dexter’s there is usually someone that orders the Sweet Potato or Cha-Cha Chips as an appetizer, they are awesome, so I was not upset when my dining partner ordered them at the start. They are crispy and delicious and are served with a couple of tasty dipping sauces. As I browsed what to order I saw that on the seasonal menu insert they were offering a Greek Burger (Ground Lamb Patty with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Tzatziki, Leaf Lettuce and Feta, served with French Fries) With all of these ingredients I thought it might be reminiscent of a Gyro so I decided to give it a try. A little skeptical because it was Lamb, I was unsure whether or not I would like it, but it turns out not only did I like it – I loved it! It was juicy and well seasoned with the perfect amounts of each topping. I ate every bite, even most of the Fries. I wish that it were on their menu all of the time because I would love to order it again, in fact I liked it so much that it makes me want to buy some ground Lamb and try to make Greek Burgers at home.

Good job Dexter’s.

Beaver Street Brewery - Beaver Street Burger

Whenever I visit a new city I check out Urbanspoon.com to get ideas for places to eat. I usually try to go to whatever restaurant is rated #1 while I am in town. Since my time in Flagstaff was limited, I had to check out their #1 spot, which took me directly to Beaver Street Brewery.

The ATMOSPHERE… A historic building houses plenty of homemade Beers, Pool Tables and is full of locals.

The SERVICE… Whether you are there to eat a meal or just have a couple of Beers, their staff will see to it that you get what you want.

The FOOD… Starters, Soups and Chiles, Wood-fired Pizzas, Fondues and Platters, Sandwiches and Desserts

I opted to go with the Beaver Street Burger. (Our own special recipe! A half-pound patty of Angus ground chuck blended with garlic, fresh basil, and sun-dried tomatoes and grilled to perfection. Topped with Havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato, sliced red onions and a side of basil pesto mayonnaise. Served on a crispy, chewy bun.) It also came with fries and a pickle.

As I bit in to it, I realized that I would have liked for the flavors of all of the Burger’s ingredients (garlic, basil, sun-dried tomatoes) to be more pronounced because they were barely noticeable and the menu description had me all built up. However it still tasted really good, and since I had a little extra Pesto and Cream Cheese from my appetizer, I spread it on the bun and when that combined with the melted Havarti it really made for a nice Burger.

The Parlor Pizzeria - Salsiccia Pizza

Food Network Magazine printed their list of the Best Pizza in each state. “The Best” in Arizona was to be found in Phoenix at The Parlor Pizzeria. Since we were going there on vacation, and we love good Pizza, we decided to see if we agreed.

The ATMOSPHERE… Beautifully designed with old school barber chairs that belly up to the bar, photos of barber shops (Oh, I get it – Beauty Parlor, Pizza Parlor – a theme)

The SERVICE… Our server Dusty could not have been nicer or more personable.

The FOOD… Antipasti, Salads, Sandwiches, Pasta, and of course Pizzas. Also there is a full bar and lots of great specialty cocktails.

I saw that you could make a customized “meat and cheese platter” that included grilled rosemary flatbread, basil pesto and peperonata. (Only $3 per selection) Not being able to resist I chose a Salami, a Cheddar and a Mozzarella. It was so good that I could have stopped there, but instead I decided to pack half of it up “to go” so that we could order this “allegedly best” pizza.

The suggested Salsiccia Pizza was topped with Schreiner’s Parlor Sausage Blend, Grilled Radicchio, Sage and Saba ($14 for a 12 inch). Upon its arrival at the table I knew that we were in for a treat. It had a rustic crust topped with an interesting blend of unique toppings and delicious flavors. The generous amounts of sage mixed beautifully with the cheese blend and other ingredients, and each piece was just as good the next day straight out of the fridge as it was fresh from the oven.

Food Network Magazine – We thank you for turning us on to this delicious Pizza and this great restaurant!

AZ 88 - Burger Alfredo

While vacationing in Phoenix there was one particular day where we had some activities planned in Scottsdale. I knew that we would need to find a delicious place to have an early dinner so I visited Urbanspoon to help me pick out the perfect place. I decided on AZ 88, and I am very glad that I did!

The ATMOSPHERE… Full Bar, Interesting Artwork, Modern Furniture, and some of the most peculiar Bathrooms that I have ever seen.

The SERVICE… Our server was excellent; friendly, helpful and full of spunk, and she also gave us plenty of recommendations for local things to do later that evening.

The FOOD… Appetizers, Salads, Burgers, Sandwiches, Desserts and Great Cocktails!

We started with the Hell’s Fire Chips (Homemade chips, sprinkled with melted bleu cheese and hot sauce - $7) This was one of the most enjoyable appetizers that I have ever had! The crispy chips were sturdy and individually layered with the perfect amount of bleu cheese and hot sauce. Their flavor was perfect and they stand out as a highlight of my vacation. The Burgers at AZ 88 are served in a basket with waffle fries, crudite, and fruit. I decided on the Burger Alfredo (with tomato slices, fresh spinach, and a sauce of parmesan cheese, butter and spices) Although I loved the presentation, I was slightly disappointed with the Burger. The Beef itself was pretty good, everything seemed fresh, but still somehow it seemed a little “blah”. The sauce was not what I would consider to be ALFREDO sauce, and seemed more like a little butter and some sprinkled Parmesan. I guess I just feel that a Burger that is called “Burger Alfredo” should be dripping with Cheese Sauce and be a little greasier then it was. (My God, am I complaining about being too healthy?) I guess it is just a matter of opinion. Now with all of this being said, I still really enjoyed AZ 88. The combination of Service, Atmosphere, and that Amazing Appetizer made it worthwhile. If I were in the area again it would be a place that I would want to return, so thumbs up on a great experience!

Flying Star Cafe - Blues Burger

The Flying Star Café is one of Albuquerque’s local gems that started in 1987, and has expanded into several locations over the years. After seeing the reviews on Urbanspoon I knew that I had to visit this place during my vacation. I ended up at the Downtown Flying Star, and as soon as I stepped foot inside I was glad that I did.

The ATMOSPHERE… This two-story building is quite large offering spacious booths, free WIFI, a large magazine section, and a rentable conference room.

The SERVICE… You order and pay at the counter downstairs, then you are given a number and your food is brought to your table. We chose to sit outside on the patio upstairs wondering if the runner would be able to find us, but he did with ease and was very friendly.

The FOOD… Fresh Baked Goods, Breakfasts, Burgers, Dinners, Salads, Sandwiches, plenty of Vegan options

Of course I had to order the Blues Burger (Bleu Cheese Crumbles, sizzled Applewood Bacon and Swiss $10.99) and I also had to get the homemade BBQ Potato Chips as my side item. The fresh baked Bun served as the perfect pocket for the delicious Angus Beef Patty, the Bacon, the Cheese and the Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle. Did I finally find the ultimate blend of Taste, Quality, and Ingredients? I think so; this was the best Burger that I had in my five days of New Mexico! And to top it all off the Potato chips were thick, crispy and spiced to perfection, and I rounded out my meal with a huge slice of Coconut Cream Pie from the bakery. This was definitely the most enjoyable meal that I have had in a long time, and I cannot stop thinking about how much I enjoyed it.

Brian's Restaurant - Big Blue Burger

Located on Orange and Virginia in the heart of the Ivanhoe Village district Brian’s Restaurant has been a greasy spoon diner staple for many years. From what I understand they had a break in and were vandalized, forcing them to close and renovate. It seems as if they have been gone for about a year or so, but as of August 2011 they have reopened.

The ATMOSPHERE… No longer are there feelings that the place could use a good cleaning. It is new and sparkly, more spacious then ever, and seems to be able to seat many more hungry diners.

The SERVICE… Our server Janet was firey and full of personality, giving us great suggestions and great service. All of the servers seemed to work well together.

The FOOD… Just as good as I remembered from years ago. Basic Diner Food, but at Brian’s you seem to get a wider variety of selections and larger portions for slightly cheaper prices then other diners.

Once Janet told me that the Burgers are big, I decided on the Big Blue Burger (with Fries, Bleu Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Dill Pickles - $8.95) When it arrived I noticed that it came with onions (not in the description) but they were easy enough to pick off. It was HUGE, and really tasty. The beef patties are pressed out daily (a bonus for me, I am getting sick of frozen patties) and there were plenty of Bleu Cheese Crumbles on it to make me really happy! I left with a satisfied stomach and a joy in my heart knowing that Brian’s is back and better then ever!

On a side note the sign says “Best Sweet Buns in Town”, I noticed them on the menu and I can’t wait to go back and try them!

Holy Cow - Blue Cheese Burger

Out in Albuquerque one evening looking for somewhere to have a tasty dinner we stumbled upon Holy Cow. After being lured in by the interesting building we were greeted with a huge sign on the wall that said “Burgers”. Could this be Heaven?
The ATMOSPHERE… Industrial Chic. Nice use of color.
The SERVICE… Your Burgers are served as if it was a fine dining establishment.
The FOOD… Several Burgers to chose from, or build your own, shakes and floats, french fries, onion rings, zucchini fries
I saw that the menu listed a Blue Cheese Burger (Bacon, Blue Cheese Crumbles and Grilled Onions, $9.50) and I decided to add Avocado for $1 more to complete it with all of my favorite ingredients. (Does not include side item) When it arrived I was so excited, what a great presentation! As I dove into it I was fairly pleased, the Beef was good, the Bacon was good, the Blue Cheese was good, the Avocado was good. I would have liked less Grilled Onions because they overpowered the Burger a little, and I would have liked the Bun to be a little less massive and dry. I ended up removing the top portion of the Bun and eating it “Knife and Fork” style, which was just fine by me. Our total cost with two Burgers, one Coke Float, one Orange Cream Soda float, and an order of Zucchini Fries was almost $32, and with tip was right at $40. Since we were on vacation we didn’t mind and really enjoyed ourselves, but if I was a local I might find the prices a bit high. I also wish that they had a proper website. I hope that they are successful because there are a lot of things about the place that I really like.

Christo's Cafe - Bacon & Cheeseburger

Christo’s Café has been open in Orlando’s College Park district since 1970 and I have been going there for as long as I can remember.
The ATMOSPHERE… A Classic American Diner/ Greasy Spoon with limited parking and a recently added covered outdoor seating area. (Watch out for the birds)
The SERVICE… is what you would expect from a Diner, friendly service, no frills
The FOOD… Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Bacon and Eggs, Patty Melts, Burgers, Sandwiches, there is a dry erase board with the vegetables of the day (usually at least ten or twelve to chose from) and the sign outside always has a “Special of the Day” listed.
The Burger section of the menu stated in bold red letters “BEST BURGER IN TOWN” and you know I am always up for that challenge, so I ordered the Bacon and Cheeseburger (1/2 lb, $8.95). I ditched the onions and the mayo and ordered it well done (a usual thing that I do), and I also substituted Sweet Potato Fries for an additional $1. I watched the server and listened to the orders and the two tables after me also ordered Burgers. (Maybe they were the best in town?) When it arrived I was pleased with the presentation, three crispy pieces of bacon and two slices of melted cheese! The server had also brought out some apple butter for the fries, which was unusual for me, but quite delicious. I was so excited to take the first bite of my Burger! Sadly, the beef had very little flavor. It was as though it had not been seasoned at all. The plating was beautiful, all of the correct components were there, but when it actually came down to taste it was the lack of flavor that ruined it. Sorry – Not the BEST BURGER IN TOWN! I do enjoy Christo’s and will definitely continue to eat there, however I will just be sticking to Breakfast options from now on.

The Cheesecake Factory - Macaroni and Cheese Burger

I’ve been a fan of The Cheesecake Factory for several years now, but I never get a Burger there. I think one time many years ago I got one and found it was too big to eat and too bland to enjoy. However there are so many delicious options on their menu that I never gave it a second thought, until my last visit when I noticed that they have added a section called GLAMBURGERS.
The ATMOSPHERE… Large and spacious with high ceilings, sometimes there is a slight wait, but the place is big enough to accommodate a lot of people. I have been to several locations across the country and they have all been consistent.
The SERVICE… In all of my Cheesecake Factory experiences I have had friendly, menu-rehearsed servers and have never had any complaints.
The FOOD… The menu is literally a book, featuring a type of cuisine for every palate. There are far too many choices for anyone to honestly say, “I can’t find anything that I like!” They offer Cocktails, Salads, Burgers, Sandwiches, and Pastas to name a few. They have several Chicken dishes that are all outstanding! And then there is the Cheesecake, there are about twenty to chose from, Delicious, Delectable and Decadent!
While looking over the GLAMBURGER section of the menu I found many that looked good, but it was the Macaroni and Cheese Burger that caught my eye. “Charbroiled and Topped with our Creamy Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls and Cheddar Cheese Sauce. Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Onion and Mayo” I had to have it! I ordered it my usual “Well Done” without the rabbit food and mayo, (pickles on the side) because I didn’t want anything to take away from the oooey goooey cheesiness of what I had hoped would be a Delicious Burger. The fries seemed to be Plain Jane, so I got a Salad on the side for no additional charge (I believe this Burger was $11.50) Upon arrival I was slightly concerned that the bun was too big for the burger and that it would end up “All Bread”, but once I took a bite of it I realized that they know what they are doing. The bun was toasted, and it was actually the perfect size to encase the contents of the Fried Mac–N-Cheese, the Cheese Sauce AND the perfectly seasoned Beef! It gave me a cross between a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a Cheeseburger! I might have even licked the remaining Cheese Sauce off of my plate it was so good. It will be difficult to go back and not get a Burger, my only dilemma now is “Do I enjoy the same Burger again?” or “Do I try a different one?” Either way I’m sure I will be pleased!