“All American Food” is their tag line these days. The A&W rootbeer concept (started by Mssrs Allen and Wright) is thriving and growing under the YUM (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, KFC) unbrella, and it often co-located with one of its sister brands. Not much has changed on their menu since back in… Continue reading A & W – Anywhere, and Everywhere
Category: Hamburgers
California – Original Tommy’s
Sometimes, to the uninitiated, searching for a Tommy’s is a akin to searching for a pizza place named Ray’s in Manhattan. Success breeds imitation. So while there are a lot of places in Southern California with some variation of the name Original Tommy’s plastered on the front door, there is only one ORIGINAL TOMMY’s, albeit… Continue reading California – Original Tommy’s
Boise, ID – Bad Boy Burgers
It seems a couple weeks ago, I vowed never to try “the city’s best burger”. I forgot, and while trying to get to Boise’s pizza institution “Louie’s”, discovering it closed and replace by an Old Spaghetti Factory (their slogan should be “we know Italian like Olive Garden knows Italian!”, I happened by one of the… Continue reading Boise, ID – Bad Boy Burgers
The Dalles, OR – Big Jim’s Drive-In
While I have had hamburgers made with ground beef, shredded beef, ground pork, turkey, buffalo, alligator, I’ve never had a hamburger “made with love”, and that’s what Big Jim’s was offering. Found this place by accident off the frontage round from I-84, nosing around, not minding my own business, as is my want. Nothing on… Continue reading The Dalles, OR – Big Jim’s Drive-In
Beaverton, OR – Big Red’s Western Cafe (Yawn)
A non-descript place serving non-descript food. I was there at 1PM on a weekday, and was the only one in the dining room for half my visit – then in came a father with three kids in tow. The only reason for my visit was I was wasting time waiting on an appointment, the place… Continue reading Beaverton, OR – Big Red’s Western Cafe (Yawn)
Portland, OR – Cheesesteak & Burgers Cart, Courthouse Sq. (Snore)
Oh, come on guys, let’s at least try! A friend of mine was carping about this cart the other day, and how they put shredded lettuce on their burgers, which he finds distasteful. I concur. But what I found more distasteful about this operator, was a) pre-cooked food service patties warmed on the grill, b)… Continue reading Portland, OR – Cheesesteak & Burgers Cart, Courthouse Sq. (Snore)
Home Cookin’ Day
Home-bound for a couple days called for home burgers. Winco 80/20 ground beef, 1/3 pound hand-formed patty, pan-fried on cast iron, buttered, toasted delicious cornmeal-dusted bun from Wheat Montana, Farmhouse Brand Thick Bacon, shredded Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, house-cured kosher dills, home grown Walla Walla onion, and French’s Yellow Mustard. Superb. And no tipping!
Portland, OR – Laurelhurst Market
From the guys who brought us Simpaticaand Viande Meat Market, Laurelhurst is a meat market by day (literally), and a restaurant by night. With one of the most interesting dinner menus around, and access to their own butcher shop, Laurelhurst cooks up some interesting apps and entrees nightly from 5pm. On a Saturday night there… Continue reading Portland, OR – Laurelhurst Market
I Think Jack-in-the-Box is Funnin’ Us!
Went to check out the mini angus burgers today, they come three in a box, combo meal about five and a half bucks. While the patty tastes good on its own, staring at them, I first thought, “these must be hand-formed with their irregular shape.” I kept thinking about it, and looking at all three… Continue reading I Think Jack-in-the-Box is Funnin’ Us!
Portland, OR – Gracie’s at the Hotel DeLuxe
I like Gracie’s. My first exposure to it was my wife picked it for a birthday outing for me two years ago, and now it’s a regular stop for me. The décor is “old Hollywood”, and, with the exception of too many windows, I can sit there and imagine myself back at Musso & Frank,… Continue reading Portland, OR – Gracie’s at the Hotel DeLuxe