I Love Lucy

Venue: Whitman's

Location: 406 East 9th St, New York, NY

Date of Visit: Wednesday, Aug 29, 2012

Burger: Juicy Lucy

Average Score: 7.8
Price Range: $$$$$

Mike: After having failed during our last Burgerler episode with the Plan B Burger, we were looking for stuffed burger redemption.  For that, we went straight to the source, Whitman’s, to try the famous “Juicy Lucy,” herself.  Their version of the Lucy that is juicy consists of a beef short rib blend patty stuffed with pimento cheese, topped with caramelized onion, Bibb lettuce, tomato, spicy pickles and special sauce atop a sesame seed bun.

            When my burger came out, the first thing I noticed was the tomato slice; this thing was huge!  It was like Saturn’s rings, if this burger were a planet.  So, in contrast, the tomato made the patty appear even smaller, which was already somewhat dwarfed by the bun.  Albeit, the patty did have a hefty girth, being that it was stuffed with cheese and all.  After I topped off my burger with the upper half of the bun and took my first bite, any reservations I had toward the size had immediately left my mind.  This burger really packed in the flavor, let me tell you!  The blended beef short rib was savory on its own; but the melted pimento cheese packed inside took it to a new level.  The caramelized onions brought forth a touch of sweetness, along with the tomato, that gave the burger more dimensional flavor.  If that weren’t enough, the spiced pickle and special sauce combination rounded out the flavor profile with perfect completeness.  Additional kudos to the chef for placing the lettuce beneath the patty; therefore, preventing the juices from destroying the lower half of the bun.  Speaking of the bun; it was a sesame seed bun, but because of all of the excitement that was happening in between, the somewhat monotonous nature of the bun wasn’t a critical factor.

            Overall, Whitman’s “Juicy Lucy” was a home run! Okay, maybe it was an inside the parker or a ground-rule double.  After all, it was a bit on the small side and didn’t fully satiate my appetite; but, my taste buds were satisfied.  And, if I had ordered a side of fries for myself, rather than to share, I’m sure my appetite would have been fully satisfied as well.  Plan B, take a lesson!

Overall Rating: 7.5 

Kenny:  August 2012 is now the month of the stuffed burger.  This brought us to Whitman’s to try their famous Juicy Lucy, which on paper seems to be a step above the Plan B Burger.  Their Juicy Lucy is created from a beef short rib blend stuffed with pimento cheese and topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, spicy pickles and their special sauce.  Let’s not forget the warning label on the menu: Caution: Juicy Lucy is VERY HOT in the middle and might squirt.  That got a giggle out of me.  Before ordering the waiter comes by to state the specials, wings and a "Bluesy," a Juicy Lucy with Blue cheese.  The Bluesy sounded interesting but we were here for their flagship, which I ordered medium like everyone else. 

            About ten minutes later the waiter came up the stairs with a few small plates and a bowl of sweet potato fries, and yes, we roll that way.  The Juicy Lucy was served on a small white plate that appeared very comparable to the size of the burger without making it look small.  The patty is about the size of my palm, and what was that, the largest tomato slice I have ever seen.  It was slightly bigger in area than the top of the sesame seed bun.  Under the large tomato slice was a light spread of their special sauce with three of their spiced pickles, and below the patty was the lettuce; this was a very pretty composition.  After inspecting the burger, no squirting had prematurely occurred, so I went in for my first bite.

           This bite was full of all types of flavors and textures all mixing together.  First, the meat was seasoned well and had a good mixture of grease with flavor and texture.  Then there was the mixture of the meat with the warm pimento cheese, which was delicious and maybe my first experience with this kind of cheese.  The special sauce was like every other special sauce, but the spicy pickles brought a little bit of heat with them.  The onions added a sweet flavor and contributed heavily to the overall texture of burger.  There was only one thing I wanted, the patty to be a little bigger.  Don’t get me wrong, I was satisfied with the burger and a few sweet potato fries, I just wanted a little more meat.

Overall Rating 7.9       

 

Jeff: This would be our second go at a cheese stuffed burger; and with a name like Juicy Lucy, it better not disappoint. The burger is made with a beef short rib blend and stuffed with pimento cheese. The day we arrived, they were also offering it with blue cheese. I’ve never had pimento cheese but was game to try it, so I ordered mine in it’s normal fashion. Whitman’s shows a small looking burger on it’s webpage, so when the Juicy Lucy arrives, you will see a familiar site. This thing is small. Kudos to Whitman’s, though, for serving it on a plate that compliments the burger's dimensions. Oddly enough, emphasizing the burger's smallness was the massive tomato slice that, not only dwarfed the width of the patty, but extended out past the bun as well. What’s going on here?

              I’ll tell you what’s going on, flavor. My god, this is one of the best tasting burgers I’ve had yet. The moment you bite into the burger, the flavor of the beef short rib shines, and you know everything else you’ve ever had is just ground beef, probably purchased at your local Associated Grocers. Seriously, if more burgers were made with ground beef short rib, then more places could actually claim being the “best burger” of whatever year. Well, maybe they’d have to do more than that, but it would at least help in that proclamation.

             Now, once you get over the taste of the beef, you have to recon with the caramelized onions and the pimento cheese. Are you kidding me!? This is a win-win combination. Both of them compliment each other, yet neither overpower or are unjustly affected by the light spread of special sauce that’s on the bun. The sauce has a slightly sweet flavor that works well with the onions and the tanginess of the cheese. I’m still not sure what pimento cheese is, but after this, I think I’m going to seek it out. Even after having cheese ooze out the back of my burger, it still had plenty within the patty. That’s how you stuff a burger. Stuff it! Speaking of the bun, it’s nothing special. It could be your generic store bought sesame seed bun, and maybe that’s the perfect pairing. In this case, the bun is only there to hold everything in place. Yes you’ll taste it, but it’s presence, I feel, is really to let the flavors of the beef, cheese, onions, tomato, and butter bib lettuce shine through. Well played Whitman’s, well played. 

              One thing, I have to return to is the size of the burger. It is small, and at $10 you may feel as though you’re paying a lot. I am the first to show disgust at overpriced burgers in New York, and let’s face it… New York has a lot of them. Here, however, we have a truly flavorful beef short rib burger and a balance of ingredients that work very well together. Considering the oversized, mediocre burgers costing the same, or more, with lame fries, I will gladly pay $10 for the Juicy Lucy.

           They say big things come in small packages, and oh, what a punch the Juicy Lucy packs. 

Overall rating: 8.0

If Plan B Fails, Order the Wings

Venue: Plan B

Location: 626 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, NY

Date of Visit: Tuesday, Aug 14, 2012

Burger: Plan B Burger

Average Score: 6.2
Price Range: $$$$$

Mike: This week, we ventured into Brooklyn's Prospect Heights to sample the offerings at Plan B.  Plan B is a “sports bar and grill,” so their menu is full of fan favorites like buffalo wings, nachos, potstickers, and a whole slew of sandwiches.  I had also heard that they serve up a pretty good burger as well; so that’s what we were there for, The Plan B Burger.

            The Plan B Burger is an “inside-out” burger stuffed with the choice of American, Cheddar, Swiss, or crumbled blue cheese with lettuce, tomato, and red onion atop a sesame seed bun.  Self-proclaimed “famous,” as stated on the menu, The Plan B Burger is basically their version of a Juicy Lucy.  At any rate, I ordered mine medium with crumbled blue cheese.  We were given the option of a variety of different fries, or to substitute a house salad for fries; I went for the latter.  When the burger came out, it wasn’t all that much to look at.  The burger patty look a bit on the small side, especially for a stuffed one; but it did come served on a shiny aluminum skillet and the salad improved the overall presentation by adding a bit of color. 

The flavor from the blue cheese completely consumed my first bite.  I’m a big fan of blue cheese, but I was searching for more flavors from the meat.  I attempted a bite without the cheese and found out why it was so difficult; the meat just didn’t have a lot of flavor to begin with.  So, ultimately, I was happy with my choice of cheese.  The bun was nothing special, like they weren’t even trying.  The only thing going for it was the sesame seeds, which says a lot, or a little depending on how you look at it.  The bun wasn’t even toasted.  At least that would have added a bit of flavor, and texture, to the tasteless lump of bread.  Since this was a Juicy Lucy, I mean “inside-out” burger, I was afraid the grease would just destroy the bottom have of that poor bun.  Luckily, the chef had the forethought to layer the lettuce, tomato, and onion beneath the patty, creating a barrier to avoid such a catastrophe.  Kudos! 

Overall, the Plan B Burger didn’t impress me in the slightest.  The meat was under-seasoned and the bun was simply uninspired.  The blue cheese saved this burger from a complete washout, but I was still hungry after finishing.  Bacon would have been excellent on this burger, especially combined with the blue cheese; but in reality, it would just have been a band-aid on damaged goods.

Overall Rating: 6.2   

Kenny: Walking into Plan B felt like walking into any other sports bar. It featured a long bar with a cute bartender and lots of televisions playing Sportscenter.  We decided to sit at a table next to a window near the bar because the place was empty when we arrived.  Soon after settling in and ordering our first round of happy hour beers, the bar was flooded with older bros who proceeded to order large mounds of wings and beer.   The bartender came back and I ordered my Plan B burger medium stuffed with American cheese.    The Plan B Burger is a reincarnation of the original Juicy Lucy from South Minneapolis, where the  community debates which of two burger joints created it, and which has the best.  I first heard about this debate on Man vs Food; I then had to try and create one for myself, but the Plan B Burger was first I had ever paid for.

              I was almost through my first beer when the burger arrived.  Whoa, this is a unique presentation for a burger and fries, a mini cast iron skillet.  The burger looks like a meat disk that fit perfectly between the sesame seed bun, which was not toasted.   After removing the top bun to add a touch of ketchup, I noticed the lettuce, slice of tomato, and onion were under the patty.  This placement saved my bottom bun from becoming a red mess all over my hand.  The meat's main flavor was its’ char, then the cheese followed closely behind, and lastly the bun.  I wished the patty had just a little more seasoning; otherwise, the meat was juicy and cooked perfectly.   For a double patty burger, it was smaller than I had imagined.

          Overall, I enjoyed the burger and the bun was quite fresh.  Aesthetically, the burger looked perfect but after finishing my last bite, all I wanted was more meat.  

Overall Rating 7.1

Jeff: The idea of a burger being stuffed with cheese brought up similar thoughts I had when Dominos started making cheese stuffed crust pizza.  Why? What’s the point? Isn’t there enough already?
         I ordered my burger medium with pepper jack cheese hoping the cheese would provide a little spice and seasoning that is oh so often missing from burgers these days. I was wrong. My burger arrived and it was not a feast for the eyes. It was small. So much so that I thought maybe it’s narrow diameter would be made up by its thickness; it wasn’t. I commented on this and one of my burger cohorts stated that it was close to that of a double cheeseburger. Ahhhh, and there in lies the problem. At least with a double cheeseburger from a national fast food chain you can taste the cheese. I tasted nothing of the pepper jack that was supposedly stuffed in my burger. There was no pepper and no jack. I saw remnants of cheese when I bit into it, but nothing else. The bun was bland and there was nothing distinguishing the cheese from the beef. The cheese wasn’t even visibly discernable throughout the whole patty. The patty tasted like ground beef, it was juicy but definitely not noteworthy. Would a dash of salt and pepper kill the grill man? Just a couple of dashes are all I seek. For some reason I was expecting the patty to look more home made, especially in such a neighborhood bar type environment that Plan B is. Perfection in its imperfection of irregular roundness would have been nice. This patty looked like it was pressed out of a mold. There were no signs of cheese within the burger. It was all concealed, the cheese, the flavor, and the joy of what could have been. 

          They say one should always have a plan b in store for when things don’t work out. Mine was an order of hot wings.

Overall Rating 5.3

Bring Back My Bonnie

Venue: Bonnie's Grill

Location: 278 5th Ave., Brooklyn, NY

Date of Visit: Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Burger: Spiced Black Angus Sirloin Burger

Average Score: 8.3
Price Range: $$$$$

Mike:  Located in Park Slope, Bonnie’s Grill has the look and feel of a classic diner permeated with an Americana vibe.  It also has a reputation for serving up one of the best burgers in the city.  So, this week, The Burgerler set out to try the “Spiced Black Angus Sirloin Burger.”

            I ordered my burger medium rare with lettuce, tomato, red onion, sautéed jalapenos, pickles, Canadian bacon, and cheddar cheese.  At Bonnie’s, all of the food is prepared up front behind the bar; so, while I waited for my order, my mouth began to water as I took in all of the tantalizing odors emanating from the grill.  Everything about this burger seemed impeccable once my food had arrived; I couldn’t wait to take that first bite.  The patty was a good size and matched that of the bun perfectly; and all of the toppings were placed and distributed evenly across the burger.  So, I topped off the burger and took a bite.  The beef was juicy, prepared to my liking, and was seasoned pretty well.  It also possessed a touch of char from the grill that added another layer to the overall flavor profile of the burger.  Unlike regular bacon, which tends to dominate with its flavor, the Canadian bacon was subtle and fused well with the beef.  I’m glad I ordered the jalapenos because the beef wasn’t as spicy as I’d hoped.  So the peppers supplied the necessary kick I was looking for out of a “Spiced Black Angus Sirloin Burger.”

            My main problem, and really my only problem, with this burger was the bun.  Though it was the right size and had been toasted, the bottom “half” was much too thin to handle the juices that this burger put out.  There was no amount of toasting that could have held these juices at bay.  The bottom bun had completely dissolved about three bites away from me finishing the burger.  Additionally, the bun held a modest flavor, at best, and could have been fresher.  With a burger as flavorful as this one was, it deserves a bun that can accentuate those flavors; this one did not.

            Ultimately, I really enjoyed this burger, despite the issue with the bun.  Don’t be fooled by what might seem like a low score for such a praiseworthy burger.  In all fairness, the bun was its weak link, and it must be considered.  With that being said, I would definitely return to Bonnie’s for another go, knowing full-well that I may end up with grease on my hands.   

Overall Rating: 7.5

Kenny: I found myself wanting to venture to the heart of park slope to visit Bonnie’s Grill after I saw Peep Meat’s list of the best burgers in New York.  At the top of the list was Bonnie’s Grill.  After a little research, I was intrigued and wanted to go as soon as possible.  Since, Bonnie’s has been appearing on all kinds of burger list, so it was easy choice; time to try their Spiced Black Angus Sirloin Burger.  Here is a Bonus; you can top your burger with almost everything you want for free.  You can choose from lettuce, tomato, red onion, sautéed jalapenos, pickles, Swiss, American, or cheddar for no extra charge. Its two dollars for Canadian bacon, American bacon or avocado and one dollar for caramelized onions or sautéed mushrooms.  In New York, this is almost completely unheard of; even McDonald’s charges 50 cents for cheese.  Then there were the sides; you can choose from a salad, French fries, cup of soup, cup of chili, or their spicy coleslaw.

               Choosing from all the options for toppings, I added lettuce, tomato, American cheese, pickles, red onions and Canadian bacon.  The waiter suggested the Canadian bacon by simply stating that it pairs well with the spicy sirloin burger.  After ordering the burger medium with a side of French fries, we sat and talked about comics and movies until the big burger arrived.  This was a beautiful sight to behold, the patty fit wonderfully between its two bun counter parts.  After adding a bit of ketchup and mustard, I dove right in and I could only think one thing, YUMMY!  This thought kept repeating in my head as I continued eating.  The sirloin patty was cooked a little more than medium, but the flavor of the meat was delicious.  The spices they used to prepare the meat were very prominent and the Canadian bacon added just enough flavor while not overpowering the patty.  The only real downside was that I had a good portion of bun left over.   

            It has been a while since I’ve had a burger that I was actually happy with and Bonnie’s did more than provided me with an excellent burger experience.  Also, the fries where pretty good!

Overall Rating 8.7

Jeff:  I've been to Bonnie's before. It was a couple of years ago, but I can't recall what it was that I ordered then. This time, of course, I ordered their burger, medium rare with cheddar cheese.

              When it arrived it reminded me of what a burger can look like. It arrived with a nice thick patty, ample melted cheese, a decent layering of Canadian bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onions, and a proper bun... this looked good. I went without ketchup or mustard, as I wanted to taste the combination of the Canadian bacon and spiced beef.

                 Wow! This, this was good. The Canadian bacon was subtle yet noticeable. There was a light charred flavor that I'm not sure if it came from the beef or the Canadian bacon. My second bite was more thorough, allowing everything to be savored. The tomato actually had flavor, versus the pink colored bland versions I've had in other establishments. The onion, pickle, beef, and bacon all complimented each other. The cheddar cheese, which at first I thought I might have liked stronger or sharper, was nicely balanced. I can't forget about the bun. The bottom was as thick as the top, and for good reason; it had to support a lot. It was lightly toasted, top and bottom, and tasted great. It fit my patty and it's toppings perfectly. There was no burger overhang and no extra bun extending beyond the circumference of the patty. I will say that my patty seemed cooked a little more well-done than medium-rare, but it was still juicy and delicious. It was like it was cooked on an outdoor grill. This was a damn good burger.

            On my final bite my bottom bun finally gave way. It did its job well, holding everything in place. Oh, and that lovely char taste from before? It's from the beef. There's no way I will forget having had this burger, no way at all.

Overall rating 8.7

 

This Bird Has Flown the Coop

Venue: The Burger Guru

Location: 98 Berry St., Brooklyn, NY

Date of Visit: Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Burger: Ostrich Burger

Average Score: 6.6
Price Range: $$$$$

 

Mike:  Anytime someone makes an assertion that something is the best, it tends to pique my genuine interest.  However, when it’s a self-proclamation, the only thing piqued is my skepticism.  This was the case with The Burger Guru and their “Ostrich Burger.”  Though, I will admit that I was both interested and skeptical.  For one, having never before tried an ostrich burger, I was interested in giving it a taste; on the other hand, I remained skeptical because, can it truly be the best, as they claim it to be?

            At The Burger Guru, their basic burgers come with your choice of meat, green leaf lettuce, red onion, tomato, and a “really good pickle” served on a sesame seed brioche bun.  As mentioned, we were there to sample the ostrich.  Having never tried the bird before, I asked the staff how they recommended it be cooked.  When the reply came, “I don’t know, I’ve never had it before,” I questioned the validity of their “Guru” moniker; then I decided to order it medium and hope for the best.  Because ostrich is such a lean meat, I feared it would become dry if overcooked.

            The burger arrived prepared as ordered, but the patty was a tad on the small side; and, I don’t know if it was the ostrich or what, but it was severely lacking in the flavor department.  The few toppings that this burger had were fresh enough, but that wasn’t enough compensation for the weak patty.  And, really, there should be no bonus for fresh toppings; that should come standard on any burger.  The bun, perhaps, was the winner on this burger.  Its flavor stood out far and above any of the other flavors on the burger.  This, in my book, is a problem.  The bun shouldn’t be the only worthwhile and memorable thing about a burger. 

On paper, the Ostrich burger had promise; in actuality, it was dull and uninspiring.  It just looked barren and pathetic.  If you feel like trying it, despite this review, I might recommend upgrading to one of their “House Combos,” where you have the choice of several additional topping combinations.  Several of the “House Combo” options could vastly improve this burger; or they could just serve as a Band-Aid for a wound that will never heal.  Oh, and that “really good pickle?”   …I can’t say that I even remember there being one.

Overall Rating: 6.6    

Kenny:  Walking into Burger Guru, I was excited to try my first ostrich burger; of which I did little research on how I should have it.  I ordered the burger medium and normal, without any of Burger Guru’s house combos, which are what makes Burger Guru so interesting.  The house combos have extra toppings, like "The Sunshine," which has avocado, baby arugula, and Monterrey Jack, or "The Village," which has fried egg, bacon and yellow cheddar.  All standard burgers are served with green leaf lettuce, red onions, a slice of tomato, and a pickle on the side.  After waiting for a bit, the new frontier of the ostrich burger finally arrived on a big metal tray.

          My excitement was overflowing as I started to construct the burger with the fixings provided and a bit of added ketchup.  The first bite was now at hand and it was gamey.  Outside of how gamey the ostrich meat was, it did have a good flavor and its supporting cast was great.  The topping were very fresh, but the burger lacked any kind of flare.  However, the sesame seed brioche bun was my favorite part of this burger.   I would like to return to Burger Guru to try a different type of meat and one of their house combos.

Overall Rating 7.1   

Jeff: Guru: noun

4. A leader in a particular field: the city's cultural gurus.

           I’ve always wondered what eating the meat from a flightless bird might taste like. I knew ostrich meat was lean and can easily be overcooked if one isn’t mindful. I ordered the burger medium per the waitress’s suggestion and without cheese. I wanted to taste what clean organic ostrich would taste like as a burger. My burger arrived in a tin tray, open-faced. The burger looked small. A precooked weight of 6oz is decent enough but this looked really small. A huge bun didn’t swallow it up; the bun fit it just right. Maybe it was the massive amount of fries that came wit the burger in the same size tray. Trust me, two people can easily share one order of their fries. After my first bite I could see why the diameter of the burger was so narrow in comparison to its thickness. If the thickness of the patty were thinner then one might not taste anything. This was a bland tasting burger. No salt or pepper could be detected, but the red onion and tomato definitely shined through. The patty was more moist than juicy, which is a weird sensation to bite, chew and taste. The bun is ok but nothing to call home about. It held up well, but there wasn't too much that it had to contend to begin with. What’s going on? Was this not prepared by a burger guru? Where’s the flavor? I added what I recall was the chipotle mayo in hopes of that helping things but it didn’t. This is one bird that has flown the coop.

Overall Rating 6.1

Jerry Lee Has Nothing On This Killer

Venue: Killer Burger

Location: 4644 NE Sandy, Portland, OR

Score: 8.3

Price Range: $$$$$

A tiny burger joint with large aspirations of becoming a legendary chain spanning the Americas and bringing burger enlightenment to all the McDonalds heathens.  And by God I think they might do it!  I would put this place in a class right up there with In-N-Out Burger, which has long since gone unanswered by California’s northern neighbor.  Burgerville tries (supporters of local farms and fresh seasonal specials) but they just fall a little short in the delicious department.  Probably the most important feature of this burger place is the inclusion of bacon on EVERY 1/3 pound burger offered, what a simple yet brilliant idea.  I decided on their flagship, peanut-butter-pickle-bacon burger… odd??  Inticing?? Wrong??  It was oh so right!!  The best way to describe this is: a savory, sweet’n’sour, squishy-crunch.  By the time I was done analyzing all the mingling flavors I was nearly done and had to make a concerted effort to slow down and enjoy the rest of the ride.  The “peanut butter” used was a homemade blend that was a bit more of a peanut sauce than a traditional peanut butter but it worked.  The bacon was perfect, and the patty was cooked expertly, with a finishing sear that added a crunch to the outside of the burger and locked in the natural flavors.  The meal finished well with a side of fresh Yukon Gold fries and a local microbrew, delicious!  A final farewell was the board of changing specials, which means I will have to keep coming back to see all the new wonderful concoctions.  Well Killer Burger, you killed it.