That Food Guy
Monday, July 08, 2019
Burger Master - Townsend, Tennessee
Burger Master – Townsend, Tennessee
Townsend, TN 37882
865-448-8408 Burger Master Website
Summer – Memorial Day thru Labor Day week
Mon – Sun 11am – 9pm grill, 10pm for ice cream
It was July, certainly a hot time of the year. I had been away from home for an extended period. We took advantage of some nice weather to take a drive through Smoky Mountain National Park. The deep shadows of the forest provided welcome shade and offered a pleasant drive with lots of scenic views. Exiting the Park we passed through Townsend and decided to stop for a late lunch at the Burger Master Drive In. The Burger Master, under various names, has been a roadside diner and place of interest for many years. It has a lot of history as does much of Tennessee. I have included a short passage from their website at the end.
There are a lot of touristy attractions in and around the park and Townsend. The Burger master is located adjacent to one of the river rafting concerns. You can’t miss the bright red and white façade. It does resemble what you would expect to find alongside the byways of years ago, before the Interstates. It is a drive-in, not a drive-thru. You order at one window and pick up your order at the next window. There isn’t any inside seating but there are some picnic tables under the awning and some others scattered about the grassy areas under the trees.
You can’t just go to an old fashioned drive-in and not try
the burgers and we did. The full menu is available on their website. We ordered
combos. Combos include sandwich, drink
and regular fries. I ordered the Cheeseburger Combo with a quarter pound burger
for $8.25. Janis ordered the regular Hamburger Combo quarter pound burger for
$7.90. Our faithful companion, Chena, was along for the ride. An avid
passenger, it seems that we can’t leave home without her. There was something
on the menu for her too. We ordered he the Dog Treat – Small dab of ice cream
& Milkbone® dog treat $0.50 which she thoroughly enjoyed. She does
like ice cream and her dog biscuits.
We found an empty table. IT was a bit weather worn but
sturdy. It was in the shade of a tree. IT was a very pleasant day but the sun
can still be quite hot. The burgers are not like the cookie cutter clone
burgers from the fast food chains. Don’t get me wrong. I do like those burgers
too but you have to admit they are all alike, made just so, exact amounts of
this and that. They are all exactly the same and only vary in their stages of squish
and squash. The Burger Master burgers are more akin to the hamburgers you would
make on your patio barbecue, with the lettuce, onions, tomato, etc., just the
way you like it. Sometimes they come out a bit lopsided but that is okay
because they taste just the way you want.
We ordered our burgers just how we liked them at one window.
When they were ready we picked them up at the other window, grabbed some
condiments and headed for our table. Personally I like squeeze bottles for
catsup, mustard, mayo and the like. But I can understand the ease and cost for
the provider so I do tolerate the little foil packets. We had more than enough of the condiments for
the sandwich and the fries. It took just a few seconds to be ready to eat.
The lettuce was crisp. There was a thick slice of beefsteak
tomato, some sliced onion and dill pickle chips. The patty was full sized, not
much shrinkage during cooking. The inside was cooked just about right, pink
just gone (At home I cook to medium rare but when I don’t know the source of the ground meat –
and that includes all burger places – I prefer it cooked just until the pink is
gone.) cooked but not overcooked and dry. All in all it was a very tasty and
enjoyable cheeseburger. The fries come in a thick paper cone, of ample contents
and just a bit of seasoned salt. A very pleasant weather day, a scenic drive
through the countryside, a tasty burger and fries ; what more could you ask
for?
“Known to the old-timers as simply “The Chalet,” Burger
Master Drive-In was built by the famous fisherman J.C. Morgan, in 1967. Morgan
and his family had recently relocated to Townsend from Knoxville. The ice cream
chalet was a good fit for the family’s growing horse riding business and
C-store, which was next door. J.C. Morgan had an entrepreneurial spirit that
never stopped. From horses and ice cream, to live fish wells and a buffalo
petting zoo, the Great Smoky Mountains offered something for everyone.
Fifty years later, the original lighted ice cream chalet
sign, attached to the signature sloped red roof is still shining bright to let
the faithful customers know it is finally summertime in Townsend, Tennessee.
The River Rat Tubing outpost sits next door on the old concrete pad of the Davy
Crockett C-store and where one can still see the backend of what was once part
of the horse stables. Come be a part of history, visiting the Peaceful Side of
the Smokies with a stop at the Burger Master Drive-In. Family owned and
operated!” Quoted from the Burger Master
Website.
Burger Master – Townsend, TennesseeTownsend, TN 37882
865-448-8408 Burger Master Website
July 28, 2019
Hours
(varies by season – check their website)Summer – Memorial Day thru Labor Day week
Mon – Sun 11am – 9pm grill, 10pm for ice cream
It was July, certainly a hot time of the year. I had been away from home for an extended period. We took advantage of some nice weather to take a drive through Smoky Mountain National Park. The deep shadows of the forest provided welcome shade and offered a pleasant drive with lots of scenic views. Exiting the Park we passed through Townsend and decided to stop for a late lunch at the Burger Master Drive In. The Burger Master, under various names, has been a roadside diner and place of interest for many years. It has a lot of history as does much of Tennessee. I have included a short passage from their website at the end.
There are a lot of touristy attractions in and around the park and Townsend. The Burger master is located adjacent to one of the river rafting concerns. You can’t miss the bright red and white façade. It does resemble what you would expect to find alongside the byways of years ago, before the Interstates. It is a drive-in, not a drive-thru. You order at one window and pick up your order at the next window. There isn’t any inside seating but there are some picnic tables under the awning and some others scattered about the grassy areas under the trees.
You can’t just go to an old fashioned drive-in and not try
the burgers and we did. The full menu is available on their website. We ordered
combos. Combos include sandwich, drink
and regular fries. I ordered the Cheeseburger Combo with a quarter pound burger
for $8.25. Janis ordered the regular Hamburger Combo quarter pound burger for
$7.90. Our faithful companion, Chena, was along for the ride. An avid
passenger, it seems that we can’t leave home without her. There was something
on the menu for her too. We ordered he the Dog Treat – Small dab of ice cream
& Milkbone® dog treat $0.50 which she thoroughly enjoyed. She does
like ice cream and her dog biscuits.
We found an empty table. IT was a bit weather worn but
sturdy. It was in the shade of a tree. IT was a very pleasant day but the sun
can still be quite hot. The burgers are not like the cookie cutter clone
burgers from the fast food chains. Don’t get me wrong. I do like those burgers
too but you have to admit they are all alike, made just so, exact amounts of
this and that. They are all exactly the same and only vary in their stages of squish
and squash. The Burger Master burgers are more akin to the hamburgers you would
make on your patio barbecue, with the lettuce, onions, tomato, etc., just the
way you like it. Sometimes they come out a bit lopsided but that is okay
because they taste just the way you want. 
We ordered our burgers just how we liked them at one window.
When they were ready we picked them up at the other window, grabbed some
condiments and headed for our table. Personally I like squeeze bottles for
catsup, mustard, mayo and the like. But I can understand the ease and cost for
the provider so I do tolerate the little foil packets. We had more than enough of the condiments for
the sandwich and the fries. It took just a few seconds to be ready to eat.
The lettuce was crisp. There was a thick slice of beefsteak
tomato, some sliced onion and dill pickle chips. The patty was full sized, not
much shrinkage during cooking. The inside was cooked just about right, pink
just gone (At home I cook to medium rare but when I don’t know the source of the ground meat –
and that includes all burger places – I prefer it cooked just until the pink is
gone.) cooked but not overcooked and dry. All in all it was a very tasty and
enjoyable cheeseburger. The fries come in a thick paper cone, of ample contents
and just a bit of seasoned salt. A very pleasant weather day, a scenic drive
through the countryside, a tasty burger and fries ; what more could you ask
for?
If you are lucky enough to be in the area one day, follow SR321,
the Lamar Alexander Parkway East until just before you would enter the Smoky
Mountain National Park. There you will find Burger Master and will have the
opportunity to have a very satisfying burger and fries. Don’t forget to bring
along the family dog. They will enjoy it too.
“Known to the old-timers as simply “The Chalet,” Burger
Master Drive-In was built by the famous fisherman J.C. Morgan, in 1967. Morgan
and his family had recently relocated to Townsend from Knoxville. The ice cream
chalet was a good fit for the family’s growing horse riding business and
C-store, which was next door. J.C. Morgan had an entrepreneurial spirit that
never stopped. From horses and ice cream, to live fish wells and a buffalo
petting zoo, the Great Smoky Mountains offered something for everyone.
The horse business grew to become the Morgan family’s focus.
The Chalet would pass through many more business owners creating memories for
the tourists who stopped for a classic drive-in dinner and ice cream cone. The
name “Burger Master” was added in the 1980’s and the covered awning in 90’s. In
2016, the Burger Master was purchased from Bob and Barb, who had added the
iconic extra-large serving on the ice cream cone along with lots of love and
care. The new owner happens to be the grandson of the late JC Morgan, bitten by
the same, apparently genetic, entrepreneurial bug as his grandfather!
Fifty years later, the original lighted ice cream chalet
sign, attached to the signature sloped red roof is still shining bright to let
the faithful customers know it is finally summertime in Townsend, Tennessee.
The River Rat Tubing outpost sits next door on the old concrete pad of the Davy
Crockett C-store and where one can still see the backend of what was once part
of the horse stables. Come be a part of history, visiting the Peaceful Side of
the Smokies with a stop at the Burger Master Drive-In. Family owned and
operated!” Quoted from the Burger Master
Website.Labels: Auitumn, burger, cheeseburger, color change, dog, fakk, French, fries, hamburger, leaf, Master, Miklkbone, Mountain, national, park, Smoky, Townsend
¶ 2:00 PM 0 Comments
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Colonnade - Tampa, Florida
.jpg) |
|
The Colonnade
33401 Bayshore Dr Tampa FL 33629
|
.jpg) |
| Dining Room 2 |
.jpg) |
| Dining Room 1 |
The Colonnade has been a Tampa fixture for about 75 years.
When it opened in 1935 it was a drive-up hamburger restaurant and it quickly
became a popular hangout for the local teenagers. One of those teenagers back
then was Gilbert Jones, my lunch companion for this visit to the Colonnade.
Gilbert also happens to be the uncle to my wife, Janis. Gil would give me some
rare insights to the Colonnade and how it has changed over the years. Once a
teenager hangout serving burgers, a tiny
place with only four stools, it is now an upscale dine-in restaurant that is
well known for its fresh-fish dishes.
 |
| View Of Tampa Skyline |
I suppose a word about how I happened to be at the Colonnade
that day would be in order. Uncle Gil and Aunt Effie live in Lake Seminole
Square, a retirement condominium complex. The square has staff members who are
charged with finding interesting things for the residents to do, to fill their
time. One such excursion was a harbor cruise to see the inner working of the
Port of Tampa. Unfortunately, Aunt Effie was unable to make it for the outing
and they graciously offered the available seat to me. You can see more about
the cruise portion of the excursion at http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/bug-smasher/
. After the cruise lunch was scheduled at the Colonnade.
After the harbor cruise, bus driver Lou and tour director
Ron Rotondo did a nose count. Everyone was accounted for. It was short drive
from the waterfront to the Colonnade. I’m not really sure how he did it but Lou
was able to bring that bus right up to the entrance to let us off and then make
the turn back to the parking lot. It would have been a tight squeeze for a
full-sized automobile.
The restaurant sits on a grassy expanse on Bayshore Blvd.
Known for its fish, the restaurant is also known for the view across the
boulevard and the bay at the Tampa skyline. Last remodeled in 1974, the
restaurant has a retro look; a bit worn but well maintained, a comfortable
place to be. The décor is no longer drive-in but now sports a pier-side motif. Comfortable
booths line the periphery and tables and chairs occupy the center of the dining
room. Stained glass partitions break up the dining area and help to keep the
ambient noise low.
I am always amazed at how a restaurant can absorb a surge of
patrons and carry on business-as-usual especially when the full menu is
available. Our group of about thirty was
quickly seated, beverage orders taken while we perused the menu. Uncle Gil and
I were seated in a booth. Bus driver Lou and tour guide Ron asked to join us.
They were welcome company for the meal and added much to the pleasant conversation.
.jpg) |
| Hamburger and Beer Batter Fries |
Uncle Gil ordered a cheeseburger just for old time’s sake. (Hamburger or Cheeseburger. Charbroiled and
topped how you like. Served on a toasted roll. $7.99 All sandwiches served with
your choice of steak fries or coleslaw.) The meat patty was about 1/3
pound, nicely grilled with prominent grill marks, looked cooked adequately but
still juicy, not dried out. The bread was not the traditional hamburger bun.
The squared sides suggest they are baked in house on a baking sheet. The
lettuce, onion, tomato and cheese were as requested. The side-order of fries
was a house specialty; beer batter fries. In presentation they looked very
good. I sampled a couple of Gil’s fries. They are not bad at all but certainly
different and I would suspect more of an acquired taste. If I had ordered fries
with my meal I would have had no trouble eating them. However, if I were
offered a choice of the beer batter fries and conventional fries, I would have
chosen the conventional fries, a taste and texture to which I am more accustomed.
Gil said his hamburger was excellent. I do believe I detected a note of
nostalgia as he remembered back to the first hamburger he ate here those many
years ago.
.jpg) |
| Coleslaw and Mini-muffins |
I chose the Combination Platter where you get to choose from
a selection of crab cake, various shrimp dishes, tilapia, scallops or chicken
breast. (Create Your Own Platter. Choose
from any two items from the selection below…
$15.99 Served with potato or
vegetable, tossed salad or coleslaw and hot muffins.) My particular
selection was fried bay scallops and breaded and fried chicken breast. As I write this I realize that the beer
batter fries, part of my order, were never brought to the table.
The coleslaw was a nice serving of salad with a just right
amount of creamy dressing over crisp and fresh cabbage (mostly green but with
some shreds of purple cabbage and carrots for color and texture). Very good.
The miniature muffins are another of the trademark offerings from The
Colonnade. They are tasty little morsels served with firm, wrapped butter
cubes. The small size makes unwrapping the muffins difficult often destroying
the muffin the process. I have mixed feeling about them; they taste good but
are a pain to eat.
.jpg) |
| Fried Scallops and Fried Chicken Platter |
The main course, the scallops and chicken, filled the plate
which is probably why I never missed the fries. Portion cups of a creamy tartar
sauce and cocktail sauce accompanied the meal. The scallops were the small size
that is most often served. It was a large serving, three dozen at least. There
were a couple of bits and dribbles of breading but most all was quality
scallops. The breading was golden brown and fried crisp. The scallop inside was
cooked through but still firm, not overcooked and mushy. The cooks in the back
have the oil temperature and the cooking time down to a science. The flavor of
the scallops was just as I would expect. I tried a bit of the tartar sauce, a
bit of the cocktail sauce. It was hard to decide which I liked best but the
cocktail sauce won out in the end.
The chicken was battered and deep fried. Again, the coating was
crispy, the chicken inside cooked through, not overcooked, tender and still
moist. Here, a thicker piece of meat, cooked to a different internal
temperature than the scallops but yet done just right. Excellent flavor and not
cross flavors from other fried foods. The chicken and scallops were a good
combination. Both are mild flavors that tended to complement one another and
not clash. It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal, large enough that I really didn’t
miss the beer batter fries at all.
As I noted before I am in awe of a restaurant that can
absorb so many customers sat once, offer a full menu and still serve them all
in a reasonable time. The last to be served in our group didn’t have an
excessive wait. The first served had a short wait until the last served were
paid and ready to resume the bus tour. Our servers were old pros and kept the
food coming and the drink glasses filled. The servers did a good job.
.jpg) |
| Gratuity Automatically Added |
Curiosities of note: the restaurant adds an 18% gratuity to
the bill automatically. And, as a contrast, the restaurant has developed a more
upscale reputation from the burger drive-in days. It is in a very upscale
neighborhood with an exquisite view and locally famous for its seafood. And yet
the tartar and cocktail sauce is served in the Dixie® portion cups, a bit down
scale, perhaps a throwback to the burger and fries in a basket days of the 1940’s.
I enjoyed the time I spent with Uncle Gil. I got to see a
part of Tampa that would have ordinarily been hidden and I got to try another new
and novel place to eat. Being that Uncle Gil remembers it form so many years
ago it added a whole new dimension to the dining experience. It is unfortunate
that Aunt Effie was unable to participate. Her misfortune was my boon for it
truly an ill wind that blows no one good. I also enjoyed and appreciate the
efforts of the condominium community staff members that work very hard providing
entertaining activities and safe transportation for the residents; certainly an
eye opener for future consideration.
.jpg) |
| A Pleasant Oasis Along Bayshore Drive |
Now that I have peaked your curiosity about the fine foods offered
by The Colonnade, here is a curiosity for you to unravel. It seems that, as the
story goes, back in the good ole days, they plunked an olive into each glass of
Coca Cola® they served. Why is lost in history but rumor is that if you ask you
can get an olive in your Coca Cola® too on request. Let me know what you find
out, if the story is true.
Labels: Bay, beer batter, Colonnade, fish, Florida, fries, hamburger, olive, scallops, Tampa
¶ 12:01 PM 0 Comments
