Square Burger - McKinney, TX (February 2012)

On a recent visit to the land of burgers, I asked the fellow I was visiting with if there was a good burger close by.  He thought for a minute and said, "there's Square Burger downtown?"

I was sold, so when lunch time rolled around we drove to the square in downtown McKinney.  We found a parking place and walked in.  The first thing I noticed was the decor - wood floors, high ceiling, long bar on the left wall.  While it wasn't an issue at lunch, I imagine that this place could get LOUD.  In a hurry.  The bar was lined with at least 30 taps and they had a modest wine list on the chalkboards on the back wall.  Floor to ceiling windows lined the streets.  A very attentive maitre d' appeared out of nowhere and took us to a table.

This was definitely an "up-scale" as opposed to a "hole-in-the wall" burger joints with burgers in the $7-$12 range a la carte.  The selection was broad - ten listed burgers (including salmon, tuna and turkey) along with salads, plates and some appealing looking sides (three mini-grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup).  At least they looked appealing from the menu description.  The special menu included a celery root and apple soup, pork chops, a chicken dish and a charcuterie and cheese plate.  

My companions ordered sides for the table.  A big bowl of French fries and sweet potato fries, with sides of ketchup and mayonnaise. 

The fries arrived first and were thin, crispy, hot and slightly sweet.  Good start.  I have a fundamental problem with a great burger served with bad fries.  Are you listening Burger King?  These fries portended good things to come.

My lunch mates ordered a turkey burger on wheat and a Smokey Jack burger (smoked mozzarella, monterey jack, apple-smoked bacon and fried onion strings).  I went with the High Society Burger.  

Seven ounces of locally sourced Genesis beef, topped with thinly sliced prosciutto di San Daniel, aged balsamic, arugula and fontina cheese (I had the roasted red pepper relish on the side), served on a slightly oblong roll.  The waitress recommended it "medium" and it was cooked perfectly. 

I devoured every bite.   Then the three of us fought over the last few crispy fries.  Definitely a winner.

Flip Burger Boutique, Atlanta, GA (February 2012)

 

I think the first time we tried Flip Burger Boutique was well before I started my blog, shortly after it opened (early 2009, maybe?)  Weekend before last, we were downtown and decided to give it a whirl, iPhone in hand.  Flip is the brainchild of Top Chef season 8 winner Richard Blais and is designed around his "new American" food sensibilities.

This place is almost always packed, so we figured that 3:00 pm on a Saturday might be a time to get in fairly easily, and we ended up with the last two seats at the chef's counter.  

Jo had the Veg burger - house-made black bean patty, avocado puree, bibb lettuce, grilled onions, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime juice - and aside from the fact that it fell apart as she tried to eat it, found it to be good. 

Making the healthier choices of the two of us, she had a side red & gold beet salad with goat cheese and and trail mix.

I, on the other hand had gone for a "burger", so I had the RBQ - pulled brisket, (hold the) cole slaw, rbq sauce and smoked mayo - 

A culinary winner.  The pulled brisket was excellent, the sauce was just right (for me) and the burger was cooked as I ordered it.   And the smoked mayonnaise?  Decadently tasteful, especially on the fries.

So the burger is really good, but what elevates Flip to the level meriting a return trip is "the shake":  a Krispy Kreme shake, fueled with liquid nitrogen.  Imagine what a Krispy Kreme doughnut would taste like if you could fill it with ice cream, freeze it and then throw it in a blender.  That's THIS shake.  Oh. My.    This is the reason I return - one of my favorite desserts in the city.  (Notice the two straws - I did share.)

Bonnie's Place, Lansing, MI (December, 2011)

It's a been a while since I've posted, so I was checking to assure that I hadn't missed one.  And, sure enough, I had.   Bonnie's Place is a bar (there's really no other description for it) in Lansing, MI, just off the campus of Michigan State.

I was in Detroit on business and realized that if I left the office by 5:00 pm, I could make it to Elderly Instruments, over in Lansing, for an hour or so before they closed.  Elderly is one of the guitar meccas in the country and I had never been so I jumped at the chance.  As these guys seem to know everything about vintage music, who would be better to ask about a good burger?  They gave me a series of turns to follow that led me to the gravel parking lot in front of the building above.

Walking in, it was Wednesday night and all of the regulars were carrying on lively conversations at the bar.  Did I mention that this was a bar?  The seating, to the right, was more like a Denny's, with a bar down the left side.  The waitress led me to a table, and listening to all of the folks around me, they all seemed to be ordering the same thing.  So I ordered a Bonnie Burger (1/2 pound cheese-burger with 1/4 pound of shaved ham on top (??)).

I've never had a burger with ham on it before.  Bacon?  Sure.  But, it actually was good.  Not great, but good.  Industrial (read: Wendys-like) fries, but it sure beat eating in the restaurant at the hotel.