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
Friday, August 12, 2016
Smoky Mountain Brewery - Maryville, Tennessee
About the 1970s a movement of creating
craft beers began. Americans consumers were looking for alternatives to the
pale lager beer sold by the major growing companies. If you wanted an old world
style beer you had to seek out an important. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the H.R. 1337 bill and home brewing
became legal. With the increasing popularity of home
brewing and the emergence of micro-breweries it was only natural that the
brewery pair with the restaurant.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasant interlude, the sharing of a meal with good
friends. By prior arrangement we met Mariano and Abbie at the Smoky Mountain
Brewery. Although we came from opposite directions we arrived almost
simultaneously. We seem to have it down to the seconds…
We were seated almost immediately. Joanna. A most charming and efficient
young lady and our server, was there in seconds to greet us and take out
preliminary order for beverages. I must
add that during the meal she was usually close at hand but never obtrusive,
certainly an asset to the Smoky Mountain Brewery.
The menu has lots of choices including appetizers, deli-style sandwiches,
wings, salads, ribs, steak and chicken, pizzas and calzones and some pasta
dishes as well as a selection of “Brewery Burgers.” From their menu: “Brewhouse
Burgers – Ground fresh daily and served on your choice of sesame or whole-wheat
bun. Choice of any side.” Those sides include honey mustard potato salad, fresh
broccoli and beer cheese, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or a basket
of fries. Not surprisingly, we all ordered from the Brewhouse Burgers section
of the menu.
Abbie and Janis both ordered the Brewery Burger ($5.50), the basic burger
that can be outfitted to taste with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Both
also chose the basket of fries for a side dish. The Brewhouse Burgers are in
the middle of the middle range of what could be called “gourmet burgers.” The meat,
somewhere between a third and half-pound patties, is cooked to order and the
chef has the cook time pretty well nailed; a nice sear on the outside and the
red to pink as ordered inside. The ladies seemed to enjoy their selections and
stated that they were quite good leaving only minor amounts for a doggie bag.
Mariano ordered the Grilled Mountain Melt (Swiss and American cheese, sautéed
onions, grilled rye bread - $6.50), basically a 2 cheese and onion hamburger on
rye. Mariano said it was a very tasty burger and that he did enjoy the
different taste and texture imparted by the grilled rye bread. He also noted
that it was a big sandwich, very tall and very filling.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
in Maryville,
Tennessee
743 Watkins Rd, Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 238-1900
There are a lot of
restaurants under the Copper Cellar family manner. They include such
restaurants as Calhoun’s, Cappuccino’s, Copper cellar and Copper Cellar
Catering, Cherokee Grill, Chesapeake’s and of course, Smoky Mountain Brewery.
There are four restaurants carrying the smoky Mountain brewery name. They are
all located in the greater Knoxville Tennessee area of eastern Tennessee and
are located in Turkey Creek, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Maryville. We visited
the Maryville location which is closest to our home.
About the 1970s a movement of creating
craft beers began. Americans consumers were looking for alternatives to the
pale lager beer sold by the major growing companies. If you wanted an old world
style beer you had to seek out an important. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the H.R. 1337 bill and home brewing
became legal. With the increasing popularity of home
brewing and the emergence of micro-breweries it was only natural that the
brewery pair with the restaurant.
Following the trend, in 1996 the first
Smoky Mountain Brewery store opened in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. On their website
they state, ”… the
restaurant and brewery combination has been a fun place to take the family with
its fresh mountain micro-brewed beer plus traditional pizza, one-of-a-kind subs
and sandwiches.” The Maryville store boasts of over 40 hi-def video screens and
that it is a great place especially during sporting events. Our visit was
during the Olympics and we did have a great view of many of the Olympic venues.
We arrived a bit before the dinner hour and there was immediate seating and it
was not at all crowded. By the time we had finished our meal it was well into
the dinner hour and the seating was full and there was a waiting line to get
in; plan your visit. As with many places these days, the ceiling is unfinished,
sporting the semi-industrial look with exposes AC ducting and the like. All of
those hard surfaces reflect sound and a full restaurant is a noisy place.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasant interlude, the sharing of a meal with good
friends. By prior arrangement we met Mariano and Abbie at the Smoky Mountain
Brewery. Although we came from opposite directions we arrived almost
simultaneously. We seem to have it down to the seconds…
We were seated almost immediately. Joanna. A most charming and efficient
young lady and our server, was there in seconds to greet us and take out
preliminary order for beverages. I must
add that during the meal she was usually close at hand but never obtrusive,
certainly an asset to the Smoky Mountain Brewery. 
The menu has lots of choices including appetizers, deli-style sandwiches,
wings, salads, ribs, steak and chicken, pizzas and calzones and some pasta
dishes as well as a selection of “Brewery Burgers.” From their menu: “Brewhouse
Burgers – Ground fresh daily and served on your choice of sesame or whole-wheat
bun. Choice of any side.” Those sides include honey mustard potato salad, fresh
broccoli and beer cheese, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or a basket
of fries. Not surprisingly, we all ordered from the Brewhouse Burgers section
of the menu.
Abbie and Janis both ordered the Brewery Burger ($5.50), the basic burger
that can be outfitted to taste with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Both
also chose the basket of fries for a side dish. The Brewhouse Burgers are in
the middle of the middle range of what could be called “gourmet burgers.” The meat,
somewhere between a third and half-pound patties, is cooked to order and the
chef has the cook time pretty well nailed; a nice sear on the outside and the
red to pink as ordered inside. The ladies seemed to enjoy their selections and
stated that they were quite good leaving only minor amounts for a doggie bag.
Mariano ordered the Grilled Mountain Melt (Swiss and American cheese, sautéed
onions, grilled rye bread - $6.50), basically a 2 cheese and onion hamburger on
rye. Mariano said it was a very tasty burger and that he did enjoy the
different taste and texture imparted by the grilled rye bread. He also noted
that it was a big sandwich, very tall and very filling.
I ordered the Swiss Mushroom Burger (mushrooms and Swiss cheese, $6.50). I
chose French fries as my side and a soft drink ($2.75 – when they glass gets
low it is quickly replace usually without asking. They serve Coca Cola
products.) When served the fries and burger were piping hot and the first bite
was a bit of a surprise. The burger was cooked to order. There was a good
portion of mushrooms covered with melted Swiss cheese. Served open face, the
opposite but had the lettuce, tomato, red onion slices and pickles. All of the
vegetables were fresh and appetizing looking.
When assembled it is a tall, imposing sandwich. First thought is, “How am I
going to get a bite of this?” No worries. When you are hungry and there is a
good burger in front of you it is certainly manageable. At first there is the tart
crispness of the pickles and onion. Then comes the silky smoothness of the
cheese, then the earthy goodness of the mushrooms and finally the juicy
goodness of the meat. Truly, the whole can be greater than the sum of its
parts. It was an excellent burger and one that I would definitely order again.
As it comes from the kitchen it is just about perfect. You don’t have to add
any condiments and what is on the burger already is just about right. I was
able to eat to the last one or two bites before the burger fell apart. The
French fries are whole potato fries, lightly seasoned and fried to a golden
brown, served hot, and a mere dash of salt is all that might be required plus a
dip once in a while in the ketchup.
It was a very pleasant meal; good food, good conversation in a congenial
atmosphere and amiable service people. The Smoky Mountain Brewery will
certainly be on our list of places we would like to return to.
Labels: American, brew, brewery, Brewhopuse, burger, cheese, craft beer, French fries, hamburger, Maryville, mushrooms, pickle, Smoky Mountain, Swiss, Tennessee
¶ 12:00 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
PJ's Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant - Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
www.pjsoysterbar.com
These burgers are in
the style of the roadside diner of the Route 66 era; cooked on a large hot
griddle, the buns toasting on the same griddle. Griddle cooked burgers have
their distinctive taste. The cook was trying to cook to order but perhaps just
a tad too long; on Gil’s well done order you can’t tell but my medium well was
almost well done but not dry. Nevertheless, the about 1/3 pound patties were tasty,
with a nice meaty flavor, the cheese nicely melted on top. The lettuce was
crisp leaves of Romaine lettuce and the tomato was ripe, juicy and flavorful.
We both enjoyed our cheeseburgers very much. Portions were adequate and we had
a filling lunch.
PJ’s Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant
500 1st Street
Indian Rocks Beach,
FL 33785596-5898
www.pjsoysterbar.com
My wife’s Aunt Effie and Uncle Gil needed a bit of help with
their computer. A promise of lunch out in exchange was a tempting offer I could
not refuse. On a rainy, blustery late morning we went to work on a computer. It
was a simple task really, downloading and installing software which was well
within their capabilities. It was more just insure that if something went wrong
there wouldn’t be a long delay in getting help. All went as it should have
(well, maybe one little snag) and a little after the noon hour we started off
for PJ’s Oyster bar and Seafood Restaurant. By the time we arrived it was still
cloudy and overcast but the rain had stopped.
The building has been there a long time. It is small, tired,
faded and worn but in reasonable repair. Inside the décor is what you might
call eclectic. There is a collection of items, some seacoast related and some
not, hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps PJ’s is best known for the dollar bills
that adorn just about every available wall space. On request a server will
bring you a felt pen and staple gun to add your autographed dollar bill to the
collection. After about 35 years in this location PJ’s is moving to a newer
building almost directly across the street. When the move comes the dollar bill
collection will be removed and the money donated to a local charity. Patrons
can jot down their guess as to how many bills there are on the back of their receipts
and place them in a jar at the exit. The three closest will be awarded a substantial
gift certificate.
A blurb on their menu states that when they opened their
door for business in 1985 their intent was to provide a family atmosphere, good
food at reasonable prices. We were about to test how well they succeeded in
their resolve. The small parking area in front of the restaurant was full and
there were several cars in the overflow parking across the street. It promised
to be busy inside. The interior is roomier than it would appear from outside.
We were shown almost immediately to a table in the center of the restaurant
next to a pony wall that divides the dining room in half lengthwise. From there
we had a vantage point to see the entire restaurant. Menus quickly arrived and beverage orders
taken.
It is not surprising that with a name like PJ’s Oyster Bar
and Sea Food Restaurant that the majority of the menu is seafood items. There
are salads, chicken, beef and pasta selections to satisfy the “Land Lovers” as
the menu says. Aunt Effie and Uncle Gilbert have been here several times and
they have their favorites. Aunt Effie ordered the Shrimp Salad Sandwich
($6.99 All sandwiches served with French
fries or slaw. No Substitutes.) The shrimp salad was piled high on her
split-top sesame seed bun. It was accompanied with crisp, green lettuce and a
slice of ripe tomato. The accompanying slaw was in a small serving dish on the
plate. Effie said the slaw was very good, a little sweet, a little tart, not
too wet and not too dry; just about right. She had no trouble finishing the
sandwich. She used her fork to pare down the pile of salad before making the
sandwich. She said it was good bur perhaps not as flavorful as she remembered
but qualified that saying it may well be the little case of sniffles that was
dulling her taste. Nonetheless, she did enjoy her meal.
My wife Janis ordered a Hamburger ($6.59 These burgers are for the true connoisseur
and grilled to perfection All burgers are served with French fries or slaw,
lettuce, tomato and onion on the side. No Substitutes.) True to the menu,
she was asked how she wanted it cooked. She chose medium for a pink center and
also chose French fries for her side dish. When the hamburger arrived it was
served with crisp green lettuce, a slice of ripe tomato and a nice serving of
crisp, golden brown French fries. Everything seemed to be in order save perhaps
the center of the patty was a faintly pink, just a bit over cooked from the
order. Other than that, the hamburger had good flavor as did the fries. It may
have been slightly over cooked but there was none left to take home in a little
bag for the hungry hounds.
Gilbert and I both ordered the Cheeseburger ($6.99 These burgers are for the true connoisseur
and grilled to perfection All burgers are served with French fries or slaw,
lettuce, tomato and onion on the side. No Substitutes.) Gilbert ordered
well done and selected French fries. I also chose the French fries but ordered
my burger cooked medium well. When the cheeseburgers arrive they were served
with crisp lettuce greens and slices of ripe tomato. The French fries were an
inviting crispy golden brown.
The menu also says that the staff members are sometimes a
bit “quirky” but dedicated… I’m not sure about the quirky part but the staff is
busy doing the host thing and doing well at making you feel at home. The food
is good as is the service. The karma certainly isn’t pretentious and one can
feel right at home in just a few minutes. To that end it would appear that PJ’s
has succeeded in their grand opening quest. When they move to the new facility
across the street they may lose a bit of the charm that has accumulated over
the years in their original building. I wouldn’t mind going back to see and
enjoy another cheeseburger or be even more adventurous and order something else
form the menu. I might just look a bit unto the future and see how things might
be by visiting their newer sister location in St Pete Beach (595 Corey Avenue St. Pete Beach, Florida
33706 (727)367-3309). I think you will enjoy what they have to offer.
About the money on the walls; the menu explains thusly, “ Returning from their plundering escapades,
pirates would come to shore to spend all their booty at local taverns on rum,
wine, women, alcohol and food. Legend has it, in order for the tavern owners to
insure that the tab would be paid, the pirates would mark their money and give
it to the barmaids to hang up behind the bar. At the end of the night
(sometimes even the weekend) the bartenders would simply take the money off the
walls to pay the check. Here at P.J,'s if your dollars come off the
wall, they are donated to All Children's Hospital. Your server will provide you
with a marker and staple gun to be a part of history and leave your mark...
Happy Dining.”
Labels: cheeseburger, dollar bills, hamburger, Indian Rocks Beach, Oyster Bar, PJ's, seafood, shrimp salad, St Pete Beach
¶ 1:15 PM 0 Comments
Friday, February 14, 2014
Red Robin, St Petersburg, Florida
This particular Red Robin is almost hidden. The large
parking lot of the mall makes for a large set back and there is no attention
getting sign; you sort of have to know where it is because it is not readily
apparent from the street. That didn’t seem to affect the customer base. Even
though we went a bit early for dinner it was quite busy. However, we had almost
immediate seating. We were shown to a lounge area table for two. That area has
elevated tables with stools and bench seats to match. I suppose they were
saving the regular dining area booths for larger parties. The seats are okay
once you climb up and in but I would prefer a regular booth the next time if at
all possible.
Our server, Sarah J was quickly there to take our beverage
order. A very personable young lady, Sarah took good care of us during our
visit and her kind words added immeasurably to the dining experience. Red Robin
features Coca Cola products (soft drinks
$2.79) which I prefer and my wife, Janis, ordered her favorite, a banana
milkshake (Classic Milkshakes and Malts.
Choose from chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana, raspberry or peach. Classic
$3.99, Monster, milkshake with a refill tin $4.99). The beverages arrive in short order and we
sipped as we read the menu. It is similar to previous Red Robin menus we have
seen but there are a lot of new additions as well as old favorites. There is a
section for substitutions and sides as well as a variety of sauces to “Customize
Your Order.”
In spite of the new and tantalizing dishes offered, we
ordered much as we have always when dining Red Robin. We are, after all,
creatures of habit. Janis ordered her usual, the Crispy Chicken Burger ($9.99 Anything between two buns is a burger
to us, even if it’s made with a premium whole chicken breast. The only things
that could top this burger are pickles, tomatoes, onion and mayo.) She
chose the bottomless fries as her side dish. It is a large serving of chicken,
the flattened breast overhanging the large bun on all sides. It was cooked a
nice golden brown and with a crispy crust, moist and tender inside. Janis said
it was very tasty and she had no difficulty in finishing her meal; well, a
small scrap of sandwich to take home for a couple of real dogs (who gave the
crispy chicken burger their seal of approval). The fries were, as expected,
very good. Red Robin is noted for their steak fries always served cooked to a
tee and served piping hot.
I have a couple of burgers that I switch between but this
time I chose the Bacon Cheese Burger ($9.99
Bacon. It makes everything better; even our cheeseburger which is tough to
beat. Topped with mayo, tomatoes and your choice of cheese.) The meat is
cooked to order. I chose Swiss cheese for my burger, and of course, I chose the
fries. Read the menu thoroughly. There are no-charge substitutions for the
fries, such as side salad, broccoli and coleslaw, which are bottomless like the
fries. The burger was made from a large, nicely toasted sesame seed bun. The
patty was grilled with a bit of crispy char, cooked to order, not pink, but
not well done, and was very flavorful beef. The Swiss cheese was nicely
melted and there were fresh tomatoes and crispy lettuce. The bacon was two full
strips cooked almost crispy. As I mentioned, the meat had a very good flavor by
itself and the rest of the ingredients made for a delicious hamburger, one that
I really enjoyed. I also love my French fries. I especially like the steak
fries served by Red Robin. I asked Sarah one of her frequent appearances for an
additional order of fries. It seemed that it was taking a long time but she
arrived right on time with the fresh, piping hot order of fries just as I was
down to the two or three from the original serving. I thoroughly enjoyed my
reintroduction to Red Robin. Sorry Dogs, there wasn’t anything left to bring
home.
Red Robin,
St Petersburg, Florida
Tyrone Mall
2468 Tyrone Blvd Suite 435B
St
Petersburg, FL 33710 (727) 345-3581
Our last meal at a Red Robin was during our last trip
together to Alaska some three or four years ago. During our Alaska residence it
was a favorite place to go for that special hamburger and a milkshake (not to
mention the “bottomless fries”). During our tenure in Florida, at first there
were no Red Robins. Not too long ago we learned that there was a Red Robin a
bit to the north of Orlando. As good as the Red Robin sandwiches are, a six to
eight hour driving round trip was just a bit too much. About the middle of last
year we read in the paper that Red Robin was going to build a restaurant in the
Tyrone Mall, just a few blocks from where we live. That was good news indeed.
That Red Robin was completed a bit before the Christmas season but we never
managed to make our way there for a meal until today. That’s not to say that
the spouse didn’t visit and get me a gift card from Red Robin to help fill my
Christmas stocking. With gift card in hand, we went to Red Robin for a
Valentine’s Day Red Robin Hamburger.
This particular Red Robin is almost hidden. The large
parking lot of the mall makes for a large set back and there is no attention
getting sign; you sort of have to know where it is because it is not readily
apparent from the street. That didn’t seem to affect the customer base. Even
though we went a bit early for dinner it was quite busy. However, we had almost
immediate seating. We were shown to a lounge area table for two. That area has
elevated tables with stools and bench seats to match. I suppose they were
saving the regular dining area booths for larger parties. The seats are okay
once you climb up and in but I would prefer a regular booth the next time if at
all possible.Our server, Sarah J was quickly there to take our beverage
order. A very personable young lady, Sarah took good care of us during our
visit and her kind words added immeasurably to the dining experience. Red Robin
features Coca Cola products (soft drinks
$2.79) which I prefer and my wife, Janis, ordered her favorite, a banana
milkshake (Classic Milkshakes and Malts.
Choose from chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana, raspberry or peach. Classic
$3.99, Monster, milkshake with a refill tin $4.99). The beverages arrive in short order and we
sipped as we read the menu. It is similar to previous Red Robin menus we have
seen but there are a lot of new additions as well as old favorites. There is a
section for substitutions and sides as well as a variety of sauces to “Customize
Your Order.”In spite of the new and tantalizing dishes offered, we
ordered much as we have always when dining Red Robin. We are, after all,
creatures of habit. Janis ordered her usual, the Crispy Chicken Burger ($9.99 Anything between two buns is a burger
to us, even if it’s made with a premium whole chicken breast. The only things
that could top this burger are pickles, tomatoes, onion and mayo.) She
chose the bottomless fries as her side dish. It is a large serving of chicken,
the flattened breast overhanging the large bun on all sides. It was cooked a
nice golden brown and with a crispy crust, moist and tender inside. Janis said
it was very tasty and she had no difficulty in finishing her meal; well, a
small scrap of sandwich to take home for a couple of real dogs (who gave the
crispy chicken burger their seal of approval). The fries were, as expected,
very good. Red Robin is noted for their steak fries always served cooked to a
tee and served piping hot. |
| Bacon cheeseburger on a serving plate |
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| Bacon Swiss cheeseburger in a basket (New Mexico) |
There was nothing wrong with our sandwiches and we will be
going back to Red Robin, that is for sure. I do have some observations about
perceptions and presentation that really didn’t affect the quality of the food.
In all previous visits to Red Robins, the service was in a more traditional
burger basket with a sheet of wax paper liner. The burger was also wrapped with
the top half exposed ala the roadside diner hamburger tradition. The back side
of the burger was compressed a bit and that forced some of the filling towards
the unwrapped top. The bun gaped a bit and the effect was a humongous hamburger. As well, the basket
was a bit smaller than the serving plate in use at this Red Robin and that made
the combination of burger and fries look very large indeed.
This meal was served on a flat, rectangular plate with the
burger sitting flat, unwrapped and secured with a wooden skewer. The fries are in a serving ring, much like a
fries to go carton but without a bottom and made of stainless steel. With the
contents of my meal displayed on the larger plate the effect was of a much smaller
meal than I remembered; the perceptions from the presentation. I had to look
closely to be sure it was the same sized burger that I remembered. The burger was delicious, the fries excellent
but even though I am sure the burger is the same size, I am also sure that the
supplier is cutting the fries from a slightly smaller potato that before; they
are good fries just a bit smaller. I don’t believe that is of any real
importance because you can have as many as you can eat.
If you haven’t been to a Red Robin in some time or the
restaurant chain is new to you, try them. I’m sure you will be glad you did and
it will become one of your favorite places to go for that special burger.
Labels: banana, bottomless, chicken, Coke, Florida, French fries, gourmet, hamburger, milkshake, Red Robin, Sandwich, St Petersburg
¶ 4:30 PM 0 Comments
Monday, September 23, 2013
Checker's Drive In - Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich
Checkers Drive In 6730 Central Ave St Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 347-4686 http://www.checkers.com/
If you drive any at all you have probably passed a Checkers
Drive in one time or another. They seem
to be in about thirty-two states, scattered coast to coast. In fact, there is a
Checkers Drive Thru a five minute walk from where I am sitting while I write
this. It is that close a walk but I would seldom venture there on foot. That
entails a crossing at a very busy divided highway intersection. A lot of
Florida’s old retirees regard the speed limit and red lights as merely
suggestions. Driving there entails getting the car to be going the right
direction on the proper side of the street which makes for a lot of going
around this or that block to get aligned; awkward to get to this store is one
of those places you wait until you just happen to go that way.
Over many years I have been to Checkers only a few
times. I suppose that if it were a Red
Robin I would have been a more frequent customer. That got me to thinking about what it was
about Checkers that didn’t draw me as perhaps another brand name would It also
got me to thinking about the criteria I use when I critique a food
establishment. All of this came about as
a result of an advertisement I read in the local paper one morning; Philly
Cheesesteak Sandwich, $1.99.
I have never had anything bad at Checkers. I have just never
had anything exceptional at either. If I
had to rate them against other fast food restaurants I would have to rank them
a bit below the more popular McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s. In spite of all the advertising hoopla I
think a blind taste test of similar items would prove to be very difficult to
tell the major players apart. Checkers is not quite to that level but then
Checkers menu is less expensive than the others. Checker’s offerings are
consistent and okay, just not great. Perhaps that is why I haven’t written
about checkers before. It is hard, for me at least, to grasp just what they are
and where they fit into the scheme of fast food restaurants.
Many food critics compare food to a fixed arbitrary
standard; sometime very picayune standards. I am a bit more liberal and judge
on a relative scale, by what I and you would expect to be proper for that
establishment. For example, if I go to
a McDonald’s and I am served a perfect a perfect Big Mac I would rate that
McDonald’s as excellent. But if I was served that very same Big Mac at a Red
Robin I would have to note that Red Robin was not serving food up to the
expected standard. Both the Big Mac and
the Red Robin burgers are great and I would love to have one or the other right
now at this late night hour. Neither is bad, one is just inherently better than
the other and I would judge them on the basis of what I would expect from that
establishment. 
That brings us to the inspiration for this blog, the
Checkers Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. It is too new an offering to be listed on
their on-line menu as of yet. I learned about it from a newspaper insert
offering the new Philly Cheesesteak Sub for $1.99. Ask anyone from “Philly” and
they will tell you an authentic cheesesteak sandwich is made thin sliced rib
eye steak and onions grilled and chopped to perfection, loaded on an Italian
roll and most often served with cheese, Cheese
Whiz or provolone. Anything else is just a poor copy.
Copies that they may be, local restaurants Feola’s and
Kissin’ Cuzzins offer their versions made with steak, onions, peppers and
mushrooms all covered in mozzarella cheese. They are scrumptious. But what about Checkers?
Checkers offering is steak and onions grilled with Swiss cheese on a sub roll.
Pretty close to the “Philly” standard. You can when ordering, augment you
sandwich with the burger topping at hand, lettuce, tomato and bacon. When I
ordered at the drive-thru they asked if I wanted to add bacon to it. Bacon?
What’s to lose? I said put it all on. That got me the lettuce and tomato. In
retrospect that was a mistake although not a bad one. There were enough flavors
in the meat and onions that the lettuce and tomato were almost lost. It would have
been better if they were not there but it was no great distraction either. I
had to look but there was bacon, also almost lost in the main ingredients. I
haven’t had an authentic Philly Cheesesteak sandwich since 1958 and have no
basis for comparison. Therefore I will compare Checkers to Feola’s and Kissin’
Cuzzins and I love both of their sandwiches. Checker’s is a bit smaller, has
Swiss rather than the mozzarella and it doesn’t have the grilled peppers and
mushrooms. Those things aside, the fillings all taste very much the same; all
are very tasty and satisfying. The Checker’s sandwich delivers a lot of good
flavor. Given the choice between a Feola’s and
Checker’s sandwich I would of course choose the Feola’s offering. But if
Feola’s or Kissin’ Kuzzins is not available, then Checker’s is a most worth
substitute. Considering that I can buy
three Checker’s sandwiches for the price of one at the other restaurants makes
the Checker’s offering a very good deal indeed. I also did a comparison picture
of the advertising picture and the product as delivered; very close indeed, one
is recognizable as the other.
Just a footnote:
Most Checker’s are prefabricated clone structures that make
setting up a new store almost a weekend affair after the foundation is laid.
They feature double drive through lanes, one on each side of the building. There
is no inside seating but most offer a small patio area for walk up customers.
Some new stores that have been placed in dense urban areas are using the store
front scheme as well. It may be a fluke of geography but the three closest Checker’s
to my location are on busy divided highway intersection corners. Plan your
visit ahead of time.
Labels: Checkers, cheese, Cheese Whiz, cheeseburger, cheesesteak, chicken, drive thru, fish, hamburger, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, peppers, Philly, provolone, rib eye, spicy, steak
¶ 11:54 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Colonnade - Tampa, Florida
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The Colonnade
33401 Bayshore Dr Tampa FL 33629
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| Dining Room 2 |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
Sunday, October 14, 2012
33 Mile Roadhouse - Haines, Alaska
33 Mile Roadhouse
Mile 33 Haines Highway
Haines, Alaska
(907) 767-5756
http://www.33mileroadhouse.com/
Haines Alaska is famous for the winter gathering of bald eagles. Many if the eagles are resident year round but in winter there is a migration of eagle form far and wide to feast on the salmon in the Chilkat River. People come from even farther and wider to watch and photograph the eagles in the largest gathering of eagles on planet Earth. A portion of the Chilkat River has been set aside as a bald eagle preserve. The Haines Highway parallels the Chilkat River. Although the best eagle viewing is between miles 18 and 24 of the Haines Highway the eagles frequent much more of the highway frontage. That is where I was off to today, to see the eagles; a proud symbol of our country. I wanted to get some good pictures of eagles in their natural habitat. The fact that it was a blustery cold windy day with pounding rain didn’t promise a really successful day so some contingency plans were made. Since I would be about thirty miles up the Haines Highway I added a stop at the historic and locally famous 33 Mile Roadhouse for lunch.
Mile 33 Haines Highway
Haines, Alaska
(907) 767-5756
http://www.33mileroadhouse.com/
Haines Alaska is famous for the winter gathering of bald eagles. Many if the eagles are resident year round but in winter there is a migration of eagle form far and wide to feast on the salmon in the Chilkat River. People come from even farther and wider to watch and photograph the eagles in the largest gathering of eagles on planet Earth. A portion of the Chilkat River has been set aside as a bald eagle preserve. The Haines Highway parallels the Chilkat River. Although the best eagle viewing is between miles 18 and 24 of the Haines Highway the eagles frequent much more of the highway frontage. That is where I was off to today, to see the eagles; a proud symbol of our country. I wanted to get some good pictures of eagles in their natural habitat. The fact that it was a blustery cold windy day with pounding rain didn’t promise a really successful day so some contingency plans were made. Since I would be about thirty miles up the Haines Highway I added a stop at the historic and locally famous 33 Mile Roadhouse for lunch.
Much of rural Alaska is historic, not plowed under in the name of progress. The 33 Mile Roadhouse is no exception. The log structure fits perfectly with the isolated wilderness setting. Chrome, glass walls, garish neon and red patent leather upholstery would be out of place in this setting. The original roadhouse was built in 1936 when the crude Haines trail was being built into the crude gravel Haines Road. Construction workers frequented the roadhouse for food and fuel. It really was a frontier then and the roadhouse has had its share of gun-toting patrons and irascible patrons that needed to be escorted out of the establishment at the end of a shotgun. That original building was lost to a fire caused during maintenance – thawing with a blowtorch – in 1984. A new building, the one here today, was quickly built and the roadhouse was back in business. The business has had several owners over the years. About five other people have owned and operated the roadhouse before The Lapp family purchased the business about 1970. They have operated for two generations until recently when it was sold by Jerry and Kathy Lapp to local restaurateur Robert Harris (2011). Over the years the Lapp family has earned a sterling reputation making the sixty-six mile round trip from Haines trivial when going for one of the 33 Mile Roadhouse hamburgers or a piece of Kathy Lapps apple pie. Mr. Harris has a high standard and reputation to uphold. It should be noted that the 33 Mile Roadhouse is the first goods and services visitors arriving in Alaska from Canada on the Haines Highway encounter. So, it wise to remember, that once you pass the roadhouse on your way north there will be no good or services available until the Haines Highway intersects the Alaska Highway some 160 miles later at Haines Junction.
The log cabin structure is almost thirty years old. However, it is immaculate. The Lapps have lavished much care and maintenance to the facility. It is clean and inviting to the hungry traveler. The décor, as would be expected, is Alaska kitsch, some antlers, whale bones, skis and maybe an old miner’s lantern. There are tables and chair as well as a counter with stools. I was quickly seated, given a menu and my drink order taken. Looking around I could see the clientele included some travelers, some indigenous people as well as some tradesmen taking a moment for lunch. They all stop in at the 33 Mile Roadhouse. I had been told by a friend way back in Chugiak about the roadhouse. They recommended the 33 Mile Hamburger. After looking over the menu, that is what I chose, the 33 Mile Burger (with cheese, mushrooms, ham or bacon, $10.25. All burgers served with our house dressing and French fries or potato salad. Substitute onion rings or green salad for $1.00). I chose bacon on the burger, the French fries and a Coca Cola®.
While waiting, I sipped my soda. It was a can of soda served with a glass and ice. Most of the time
I would prefer a can or bottle and not the sometimes watery fountain drinks. My food order was prepared in a reasonably short time. It was a large, almost intimidating plate of food; certainly no skimping on portions. The French fries were dark. On closer examination I could see they were the whole potato kind including the skin. Although I could be off the mark, that probably means they prepare the French fries from fresh potatoes and fry once; in order to cook through in the hot oil the outside overcooks a bit making the dark color. Cooked that way the texture is also a bit off, not the crispy outside we would expect. They tasted just fine with a dab of catsup and I didn’t leave any on my plate. We are conditioned, I suppose, to expect the golden brown, crispy French fries that have been parboiled, cooked once in low temperature oil to cook through and then later cooked in high temperature oil to crisp and brown. The 33 Mile Roadhouse may want to work a bit on the French fries.
The hamburger was already assembled. It was a tall assemblage. I carefully picked it up to keep it all
together, squeezed quite a bit to be able to get a bite. Everything was there in abundance. There were mushrooms, there was crispy bacon, some melted cheese, a bed of a crisp lettuce leaf and an extra not on the menu, a bit of diced onion. It was a juicy burger. It comes with the house dressing but I really couldn’t
tell what it was. All of the other flavors were right up front, all together. I did notice that the center of the fresh, hand-made patty was a bit pink. If it had been cooked to the 140° mark it just barely made it. If am cooking my own ground beef at home, rare is fine. But when I am eating out I would prefer to know for sure, for safety sake, that the beef has been cooked to the correct temperature. That is my personal preference but it wasn’t pink enough to keep me from finishing the burger and fries with some gusto. The burger was tasty, large and a real meal in itself.
Aside from the comments about the pink center and the dark fries, it was a really great meal. The young ladies serving the tables were charming, friendly and attentive. Not to mention that I was eating in a pace with a lot of history, a place in tune with its surroundings, it all went to making a great eating adventure. If you are traveling the Haines Highway I would recommend a short layover to partake of a good meal. If I am ever in the Haines Highway again, I will make it a point to stop by for another 33 Mile Roadhouse hamburger and see how the Lapp traditions are being carried on.
Labels: Alaska, bacon, cheeseburger, Coca Cola, eagles, Haines, hamburger, log cabin, mushroom, roadhouse
¶ 6:54 PM 0 Comments
