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Well I said I start to do some of the "Chains" or "Big Boys." So here goes. Culver's started in Sauk City WI over 20 years ago. Now it is in every town and city in Wisconsin it seems, plus other states. I just go there for their frozen treats and chicken sandwich. I have not had a burger from there in 10+ years. So that should tell you something. I order a double Cheeseburger meal deal or whatever they call it, #1 lets say. I get my beverage, grab a paper and find my booth. My burger arrives a little too quick. I guess I am use to burger joints that cook it for you to order. Culver's says they use fresh beef but I wonder if they do the old cook it and throw it in a warmer. My first bite reminds me of something I can cook in my own frying pan at home. It is also suppose to be a butter burger.....HA. I think they take a little brush of that fake liquid butter and put it on the bun. I could not even taste it. I finish my meal and remember why I don't eat burgers at Culver's. Best part of my meal was the fries. I have to say that this burger was better then what I got served at Sonics. That is easy to do though.
Now I got word that Culver's got voted "Best Burger" in Madison for 09'. There had to be some voter fraud for that to happen. Yes Dotty Dumplings got knocked out of the top three.... I plan to visit the two other places to do some research, The Gold winner I know is not a great burger but to bring knowledge to you burger lovers.... I will make the sacrifice!
Like I said I go to Culver's for treats and their chicken sandwiches. Their prices are high so be ready to spend a $15-$20 real easy for two of you.
Finally the Lake Mills WI V.F.W. is open!!! I learned about this spot from George Motz and did a run with him to the V.F.W. last November. It was closed when we visited but you can get caught up by clicking here..... Lake Mills V.F.W. The V.F.W. is open only on Fridays during the summer. Memorial Day to Labor Day I would think. They open at 10 am on Friday and close... " When they run out of patties." I was told.
I got there with my girlfriend close to 7 pm on. I told her this is her first burger run, Sonic does not count!!! We get in line, yes line. There is about 12 people in line, with another 4 waiting for their orders. I guy in front of me said "It is like this at times and there are times when there is no line." The Burgers are cheap! $1.75 for a Burger and $2 for a Cheeseburger. Toppings, all you can get on it is fried onion and boy can you smell it when the wind blows just right. They write your order on a Brown Paper Bag. I order 4 Cheeseburgers, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. The cashier writes on the bag.. 4C and "P" "DP" Which means 4 Cheeseburgers, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, pretty simple. I should have ordered 3C but thought Amy wanted 2 also, wrong. So I put down 3 Cheeseburgers. I would say they are about 1/4 lb. They have a t-shirt that says " Have a slider with us." The Burger is large so to me it is not a slider but it is greasy so it will "slide down." I will have to get a shirt the next time. I have a couple shirts from places I visited.
We take our order and go across the street to the Park. The grease is starting to show through the bag, good sign right. Now the first bite reminded me of Wedl's in Jefferson WI. It was really peppery. I put down the 3 Cheeseburgers no problem... ok the 3rd one I had to catch a second wind. I go back to the stand and wait to talk to the cashier to get some info. An order for 20 burgers had just gone in. I don't know how they fit 5 people into this place guys!!! Yes it is that small. I ask the cashier when they open and found out 10 am till they run out.
I plan to go back. For one I have to finish research with George there and second I plan to take my Corvette Club there. Yes it is a good burger and yes it is "Hamburger America."
Burgers lovers there is a Hamburger Triangle east of Madison WI. Lake Mills V.F.W, Wedl's in Jefferson and Zweig's in Watertown. All in a short 20 minute or less drive from each other. If you have the stomach for that many burgers and time try to do the "Wisconsin Burger Triangle!"
Well I said I would start to hit some of the "Fast Food Big Boys." My first stop Sonic. Sonic just opened in Middleton WI, burb' of Madison. I also heard an east side location is going to happen. East side for you out of towners means the "East side of Madison." I have seen the commercials for years but there was never one close to me... until now. I ordered a Cheeseburger (which is a double) and Tots. My girlfriend ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger. Now they have "Car Hops" on skates but no staff on skates this night. They actually are looking for "Car Hops" that can skate!!
Our order arrives..... wrong! Two Cheeseburgers. No Bacon on any of them. We send one back and get one with Bacon. I have heard they screw up a lot at this location, so it was expected. It was not that good but I did not think it would be. One thing though they put shredded lettuce on a burger your eating in the car. I was picking that off myself a lot. I asked my girlfriend if she do Sonic again. She said " Only for the treats." Enough said.
I caught word that the Food Network was doing a "Best of/Most Interesting Burger in Wisconsin" for it's June/July issue. Actually every State. Here is a link so you don't have to go waste money on a magazine. 50 States 50 Burgers. Of course here I will be talking about the burger picked as Wisconsin's "Best/Most Interesting."
Let me start off my saying that Food Network contacted Doug Moe, writer for the Wisconsin State Journal. George Motz has used him as a source, as have I. Well they could not use Doug because he was not a "Food Critic." Are we not all critics of food! They wanted to be consistent across the country with their sources so they use food editors and critics. Here is Doug Moe's article, Brat Burger
The Burger chosen for Wisconsin was from the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. The Burger is called, The Great Dane's Brat & Bacon Pretzel Burger. That's a mouth full and so is the Burger. It is interesting. Here is what is printed in the menu:
A one-third pound U.S.D.A. choice ground beef patty and a one-quarter pound bratwurst patty grilled with caramelized onions and topped with applewood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles and tomato. Served on a pretzel roll with a side of Peck's Pilsner mustard. $9.75
The pretzel roll was the best part of this Burger.....Burger, it was a Monster. Now in Wisconsin Bratwurst or "Brat" for short, should look like a sausage link...NOT A PATTY. We just had Brat Fest over the holiday weekend in Madison WI. They did not serve Brat Patties. I was thinking this Brat Burger would have a Traditional Brat spilt lengthwise and put on top of a Burger. We use to have something like that where I work. We called it a Turtle, because the Brat/Burger look like a Turtle... with the bun the Brat stuck out a little and look like a Turtle poking its head out. Sorry side tracked.
I order it and get some fries, you get a choice of sides. I order my Burger, medium.
Well my Burger comes and it is huge!! I open my mouth as wide as I can and try to take a bite. The first bite mostly pretzel. Everything is starting to slide around and making it hard to eat. Let me tell you this, by looking at the patties it was hard to tell which was which. They looked a lot alike. Which is bad. I had no pink in the burger patty oh wait that is the brat patty. The burger patty has no pink either. You want to take a bite to get all the flavors to blend together with the burger but it is hard. I don't even remember tasting the bacon. I remember seeing it though. Well I finish the beast, the Bartender ask "How it was? I wanted to say "I can name you 10 Burgers off the top of my head that are better then that." All I said was "Good." That was a stretch.
This is one Burger I will not have again and will tell people not to have. This Burger just did not work well. Too much of this and too little of that. What this and that is I don't know. Everything did not blend well as I said. All I can say is the Pretzel Roll was the best part of the sandwich, I said that before didn't I. Maybe to get a point across.
Have you Burger lovers notice a scary trend??? Gourmet Burgers, Non-Traditional Burgers. Look at some of the national chains like Red Robin etc.... What is happening??? What happen to ordering a juicy Bacon Cheeseburger or a juicy hot Hamburger made right in front of you!!! Some chains have it right, like Five Guys. If you want to experience Hamburger America folks... you got to go to the Ma and Pa Joints!!!
Time to get on my soapbox, oh wait I am already!
Now here is a little word to the Food Network. Leave your little office in N.Y. City and go out in the real world. Get out there and try some Ma and Pa Burger Joints. They usually make the best Burgers and are hell lot cheaper then the Build a Monster Burgers. Don't phone it in or email it either Food Network. I am sure some of the places listed in the 50 are great Burgers. They may even be Ma and Pa Joints but I doubt you even had one bite of them. I love going out to research Burgers. Sure I stay regional but hey George Motz travels this nation why can't you. On runs I meet nice people. I hear great stories. I take family and friends with me on Burger runs and they love it also. So next time you do a list Food Network try leaving your own zip code! You took a swing and missed big time for the State of Wisconsin best/most interesting Burger.
Sorry I had to do that. OK I will get off my soapbox now.
I have decided to try some research at some of the chains/fast food. I have done Five Guys and Culver's is big here. Don't worry I will still be doing the Ma and Pa Joints. Actually doing a run this weekend, end of May. I just have to see why a trend towards chains/fast food?? It may be fast but is it good?
I like burgers but this is too much. Heart Attack Grill in Tempe AZ. I get burger related stuff sent to me and I thought I share it with you Burger Lovers. I have not done any research on Burgers lately but don't worry, I will be posting some Burger Joints I have visited soon.
After eating at the Nook, I was off to the Band Box, downtown Minneapolis. I hop into my car, type in the address for my GPS and I am off. I miss my turned so the GPS takes me on a different route. I am sure glad I had a GPS on this trip. Every trip actually. I get to where I want to go but I don't see a sign. I drive a bit further down the block and find the Band Box. I park around the corner and go inside. This is your typical diner from way back. The Band Box is the oldest diner still in operation in Minneapolis. If my memory is correct I think it open in 1932 or is it 38'? There is just one table full, me and 3 others at the counter. The man to my right is getting an omelet.... It is huge!!! I order a hamburger that is it and a coke. Now this patty is frozen but George told me to check it out anyway. I get my burger and it is hot! Now the Burger was good, I should have gone with cheese, maybe being fresh would help also but the Band Box is Hamburger America. It is what it was like 60+ years ago. You would go to a diner or Hamburger shack, get a Burger cheap, quick by people you knew. Nowadays it is Fast Food joints with commercials and gimmicks. That is why I like to go on Burger Hunts, find a Ma and Pa joint and enjoy their Burger.
Now each Burger experience is different for me. Maybe the cook was off that day or staff. I pointed out that I liked the 5-8 Club Lucy better then Matt's Bar. The thing is Matt's has more character as a place then The 5-8 Club. I am not out to find the best Burger. I point out that I enjoyed it, it was great or it was sub par. As I posted earlier, people ask me what is the best Burger I have had.... My answer changes each time. The Burger is part of it, what else I enjoy is the atmosphere and people I meet.
Now after that Burger I go back to my hotel room to rest. I then head out to The Wienery. I saw it on the Food Network. I was about to walk in when I changed my mind. I had Burger overload, so I head back to my hotel. I actually did not eat a Burger till the following Thursday, that is 5 days without a burger, which is odd for me!
Overall a great time in the Twin Cities. I have to get back there, I learned about some new places I have to try.......Another road trip to the Twin Cities, Yes!!!
Band Box Diner
729 S. 10th St.
Minneapolis MN
Stop #3 was Saturday morning March 14th. After filling up on Burgers on Friday surprising I was ready for a Burger. I grab my GPS and headed to Caspers & Runyon's Nook, The Nook as it is known. I got there just a few minutes after 11 am. There were already 6-8 tables full. I sat at the corner of the bar, which seats 10-11 people. A regular takes a seat a few stools down and asks Nicole, the bartender it they opened early? "Nope, just everyone came at once." Good sign right!!! They open at 11 and it is busy already. The grill area is tiny and 3 guys are working the grill area!! How they do it I don't know. I mean small maybe 8 x 10 area!?!? I mean you have to side-step, shuffle through the area. It is like the guys are taking small dance steps to move around. Now it is 11:15 and there is a waiting list to be seated. There is a fake water spill on the bar, I fall for it!!! I ask for a bar towel, the bartender just smiles.
The jukebox is playing anything from Classic Rock to Stevie Wonder. When she has a chance I talk to Nicole and ask what to order. She likes the Paul Molitor, which is a Lucy stuffed with Pepper Jack Cheese. I am tempted but I want to stay simple. So I order the Nookie Lucy (American Cheese) and fried onions, no fries went with coleslaw. I have other Burger stops today. By this time 10-12 people are standing in the corner and by the door waiting for tables to open, this place is packed!!
I get my order, Nicole tells me to wait a bit before I start. After a few minutes I take a bite. The cheese starts oozing out the Burger. The Burger is medium and is the way it comes unless order different, which is good. I don't like well done, which Matt's Bar does. The 3 ladies to my left are waiting for a table and are eyeing my Burger. I wave my hand over my Burger to waft the aroma towards them. The lady seated right next to me goes "Ohh that smells good!" " I can smell the onions." I have to say this is one juicy Burger and not just because of the cheese!
I make small talk with Dave, who is seated to my right. Is every guy named Dave here?!?! Once again you get little bits of information of what to try and where to go. He like me is a rookie at the Nook. He tells me to try The Gopher Bar...."If I am not Burgered out I will try." I tell him.
Overall a great place. I still cannot believe how busy it was, right away. It is a small place but still it filled up fast. So get there early if you can. Once again a neighborhood bar that makes a great burger. The place is filled with nick-knacks and beer signage. I wish I took a menu, they had some history of the place on it. My opinion is The Nook makes a better Lucy then Matt's Bar. Matt's is way to done for me. I would say go to The Nook and The 5-8 Club if your looking for a Lucy.
Next stop, The Band Box which was suggested to me by George.
The Nook
492 Hamline Ave. S
St. Paul Mn 55116
