Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Bandera -- The Verdict


A hot mess. The selling point of the burger is that it is ground on-site. Is that what attributes to a burger that breaks up in your hands? That the burger was served supported by four overgrown toothpicks -- more like stilts -- to hold it together was a warning sign of poor structural integrity. Frank Lloyd would not approve. But, how is the taste? While some found the burger a touch on the greasy side, most enjoyed the flavor of the beef. Few, however, appreciated the hodge-podge of unannounced toppings: mayo, mustard, BBQ sauce (ketchup?), pickles (long-sliced and diced, it seemed), onions, lettuce, tomato, and perhaps others that competed with the cheese for flavor. The toppings won the battle with the cheese; the cheddar, at least, was a non-event. "Just trust us," seemed to be the philosophy, but advance notice (either on the menu, or by server) would have managed expectations. Still, no hard feelings. Even some of the lower scorers would give the burger another chance. Low of 54; high of 80; average of 68.

Cheeseburger -- fresh ground in-house -- with Hand-Cut Fries -- $14




Exhibit 6 -- Bandera


Sunday, November 1, 2009

Naha -- The Verdict

Even more than the sum of its parts! Nothing but kind words from us for the Naha burger. "Good tasting"; "easy to handle"; "nice cheese selection"; "clean presentation." One reviewer absolutely loved it: "When it first arrived, it did not look *that* impressive. But, all together, it was a fantastic tasting burger." The ciabatta bun was well sized and shaped to handle the burger, and sop up the juices. Aged beef offered nice flavors, and the condiment array added a touch of class. Scores: Low of 79m high of 93(!). We have a new leader: Average of 86.

Half Pound Angus Beef Burger with Your Choice of Cheese on a Housemade Sea Salt "Crusted" Ciabatta Bun with Stone Ground Mustard, Glazed Onions -- $15








Exhibit 5 -- Naha