Username
Password
Remember Me
(2 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Please leave a comment with your vote.
—
–
Triple XXX Root Beer http://www.triplexrootbeer.com 98 Northeast Gilman Boulevard Issaquah, WA 98027 (map)
Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! and it was sadly coming to an end. Of the few things left to look forward to experience while in Washington, one stood out in my mind high above the rest. Triple XXX Root Beer. In my preliminary research I found that XXX Root Beer ranked as high or higher than Red Mill Burgers in Seattle. Nestled in the outskirts of Seattle in a little place called Issaquah sits a gigantic root beer barrel atop a classic looking restaurant a midst a very well kept boulevard that looks straight out of the 50’s. The sun was shining and the weather felt fantastic. It was a good indication of the Burger Tyme to come. We walked up looking for the entrance and met our first challenge… Where was the entrance? Sure there were plenty of doors to enter in but we could not make out any discernible shape of a counter for ordering due to the amazing amount of memorabilia that covered every inch of the inside. It looked as if TGI Friday’s, Apple-bee’s, Chili’s, Bennigan’s, and Ruby Tuesday’s were all having a garage sale and XXX Root Beer was the garage… After much searching we were able to make our way to where we would place our order. The menu was the next challenge. The names. “58 Impala” “Chevelle SS 396” “49 Woody”. These were all names of classic muscle cars that my friends and I would talk about in high school, we used to say that the first thing we were going to do once we had our cars was to get onesureinsurance.co.uk/van-insurance. How does this convert into a Burger? Well, I was hungry and didn’t want to try to figure it out. Fortunately in big bold letters at the top of the menu read “Famous ‘Incredible’ XXX Burger”. The topping sounded amazing, special fresh baked XXX bun: lots of beef, grilled onions, three cheeses, lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, and XXX dressing. I asked the girl behind the counter how big it was. “Three quarters pound” was all she replied. I asked if it cam in a smaller size to which she only shook her head. This will eventually lead me to my next challenge. THE LARGEST BURGER IN BURGER TYME HISTORY!!!!!!!!
So I did it. I ordered the FAMOUS INCREDIBLE XXX BURGER. My wife was borderline mad at me, I’m sure out of concern for my poor, normal sized heart that was about to be introduced to an abnormal amount of Burger Tyme goodness. So I placed the order with everything on it because I couldn’t possibly add any more than it already came with. It came with fries and I also ordered the signature XXX large root beer. There were many pictures on the wall of people trying to eat the burger that I just ordered and few seemed successful. Our wait was brief but our anticipation great! After about 10 minutes my name was called over the intercom. I approached the counter and couldn’t believe what I was about to attempt to eat. This burger was HUGE!!! The girl behind the counter told me the burger was 3/4 pound but it had to be 1 1/2 pounds at least! It had what looked like five quarter pound patties lining the muffaletta style toasted bun. It was loaded with lots of veggies and the special XXX dressing. This burger took all of my two hands to manage. My first bite, though messy, was delicious! For being such a huge burger the flavors came together well. I couldn’t really discern how each component was contributing to the overall taste but I knew it was good. Was it juicy? Yes. Was it messy? Yes. Was it a typical burger? No. Everything combined to a very juicy, flavorful burger. The fries were just OK. They really seemed to be an afterthought. The root beer was probably about 64oz. It was quite good though not as good as the root beer at Frost Top in Baton Rouge.
So what is the verdict? This was one burger that I wasn’t able to finish. I got about half-way through it (which is saying a lot) and about half-way through the gallon pitcher of root beer before my stomach could take no more! This was the biggest burger but was it the best? Well, I think it was very good. Would I recommend XXX Root Beer for Burger Tymers around the Seattle area? Absolutely. Of all the items, XXX was my favorite. The flavor was good, the root beer was better, and the summer weather of Washington State was the best. The nostalgia of the giant root beer barrel was cool too. This was a great Burger Tyme. I would recommend, however, trying a smaller version of this burger combined with the original XXX Root Beer.
(2 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Miner’s of Yakima 2415 S 1st St Yakima, WA 98903-1603 (map)
Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! After our brief foray in Seattle we headed east to visit family on the wife’s side. Aside from being covered in fog, the drive was beautiful! We passed through mountains and tunnels and lakes and valleys. We were heading to a small town called Naches, Washignton (nah-cheese) which is just outside of another town that I have slightly heard of, Yakima (Yak-em-aw). I love the town names in Washington. A lot of Native American influence. So while we were in Naches visiting I asked where was the best place to get a burger. “Oh”, said my wife’s sweet grandmother, “You have to go to Miner’s!”. She said that people will drive in from all around to have a “Big Miner’s” burger. SOLD! I had to try it. So for the second installation of Washington State Burger Tyme we headed to Miner’s of Yakima to try it for ourselves. Did I mention how beautiful Washington is? The drive from Naches to Yakima is about 15 miles and is filled with all kinds of fruit orchards and mountain ranges (in case you can’t tell, I grew up in the south where mountains are still a novelty). We arrived at Miner’s of Yakima at dusk and the scene was pretty amazing. It is a very large restaurant, much larger than traditional burger places we’ve been. The drive-thru featured a row of five full menus which in an of themselves featured a wide array of burgers and sandwiches. Miner’s of Yakima has a signature burger called the Big Miner Burger. There were a selection of 30 or so Milkshakes which was pretty exciting. Fortunately we arrived right before the rush which formed a line behind us.
I placed my order for a Big Miner Burger with cheese, with everything on it, a side of fries, and a chocolate shake. While waiting I looked at some of the accolades that were hanging on the wall including Best Burger in Yakima and also a photo of a prize winning cow that Miner’s bought and used for beef, I’m assuming. We went a grabbed a few tables in the HUGE dining area. Since the food is not pre-cooked we expected to wait but the actual wait was not very long, about twelve minutes for eight people. This can probably be attributed to the twenty plus people they had working behind the counter preparing the food. When our order arrived the first thing that struck me was the size! The Big Miner Burger definitely lived up to it’s name. It was BIG! and full of everything you could ever want on a burger. The patty was probably a third pound or more. It was hard to gauge because it was so big that it was a thin patty but still a lot of meat. This is a fried burger, like I like it, but the patty was not noticeably flavorful or juicy. Rather it provided a good foundation for all of the other flavors to build on. The cheese was a big slice of American that covered the whole patty. The bun was buttered and toasted on the griddle but still was soft and chewy, very nice. The veggies were great. There were about four large slices of tomato and lots of onions that added to the juiciness of the Big Miner. This is definitely a burger that requires both hands to manage. The fries were good. They were very thin cut and fried to a good crisp. They reminded me of how I remember McDonald’s fries tasting when I was a kid. The chocolate shake was good too. It was thick but drinkable. I was able to wash down bites of the Big Miner with big gulps of chocolate. I hada a cup of water for backup in case my mouth got a head of my throat.
Oh vacation! I can’t think of a better way to spend your time off than by going to beautiful parts of the country and trying different burgers! Miner’s of Yakima’s Big Miner Burger is like a good burger that has been enlarged to an almost absurd proportion. It was quite good. It was not too big that I could not finish it but I definitely wanted to take a nap afterward. One feature I liked at Miner’s was the sauce dispensers. You could get five different sauces including ketchup and fry sauce to dip fries in or dress your burger even more. We were there with a group of nine people and were easily accommodated and quickly served. It was a pleasant Burger Tyme. While I’ve never been to Washington and never thought I would end up in Yakima, I would recommend Miner’s. Recommendations would include:
1. Come Hungry!
2. Bring family
3. Enjoy the ambiance.
Stay tuned for more of Burger Tyme adventures in Washington State including the BIGGEST BURGER in Burger Tyme history! That’s right, there is a bigger (much bigger) burger coming!
(3 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Red Mill Burgers http://www.redmillburgers.com
Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! So what did I do with the time that I had off? Well, I went with the wife and her family to Washington. I had never been so I looked forward to the trip. Of course I did a little planning and found a few potential Burger Tyme locations! I’m always searching for the best burger and was looking forward to branching out to the northwest! So our flight arrived in Seattle late and we made it to the Hotel at around 11:30pm. I didn’t have time to eat that night and slept late the following morning so needless to say by lunch time I was ready for my first WASHINGTON STATE BURGER TYME! For this edition we made our way, in laws and all, to the supposed Best Burger in Seattle, Red Mill Burgers. This was also rated one of the TOP 20 Burgers you HAVE to eat before you die by GQ magazine. I read some mixed reviews from locals who warned me of the Cash Only and No Cell Phones policy (I like to show up prepared). After weaving our way through hilly downtown Seattle we headed north-ish to 1613 West Dravus St. When we pulled up I saw a line of people that was to the door. This is always a good sign that we’re in for a good Burger Tyme. We parked, walked up, and got in line. The menu was pretty straightforward with a wide variety of burgers and sandwiches. Burger Tyme’s vegetarian member would have been pleased to see the number of Veggie Burger options. Then line did not move particularly fast but we were in no hurry. We were in the mood for a good burger!
Once our turn came up in line I placed my order for the Red Mill Deluxe w/Cheese with everything on it, a side of fries, and a chocolate shake. When I stepped aside to let everyone else order I saw the most amazing thing. BACON! Bacon as high as the the eye could see. Seriously they had the biggest pile of cooked bacon that I’ve ever seen ready to be put on some lucky burger. After recovering from “bacon awe” I sat down and waited for our order to be called up. Given how busy Red Mill was at this lunch hour, it only took about 10 minutes for our order to be ready.
While waiting I was able to enjoy various memorabilia on the wall including a letter from a child begging Red Mill to open a restaurant in West Seattle. Once I got my order I was first struck by the vegetables. The best way to describe them is “pretty”. It was the nicest lettuce, tomatoes, and onions I think I’ve ever had on a burger. The patty was 1/4 pound and fried. It’s juiciness was overpowered by the large bun which was toasted on the griddle. They put a special “Mill Sauce” on it which seemed to be some variation of ketchup mixed with mayonnaise and a few other seasonings. It was pretty good. The fries were thick and well cooked. They were very crunchy on the outside and still soft on the inside. Other Burger Tymers ordered the onion rings which were quite good (I don’t even really like onion rings). The milkshake was good but not great. They did have a large variety of shakes to choose from so maybe I should branch out next time.
So what did I think of the best burger in Seattle? It was pretty good. It could stand a little more flavor and a little bigger patty. I should have followed the GQ’s recommendation and tried the Double Bacon Deluxe with Cheese. This burger has been rated the top burger in Seattle for many years but I would venture a guess that is by virtue of the lack of true burger competition in the Seattle area. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good burger, but it felt unfinished, like it had all of the right ingredients but lacked something that would make it stand out as unique amongst other burgers. All in all, if you are in Seattle and are craving a good burger, you will not leave Red Mill Burger unsatisfied.
Stay tuned for more of Burger Tyme adventures in Washington State including the BIGGEST BURGER in Burger Tyme history!
(3 votes, average: 7.33 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Oh holidays. The fourth of July was just around the corner. By the time most people were off of work for the holiday, I rounded up a few other coworkers who were craving a Freedom inspired Burger Tyme and decided on the great American Sam’s Deli Diner. Most of us were working near the energy corridor in West Houston which fortunately (and most importantly) is where Sam’s Deli is located. After a few carefully orchestrated emails instructing time and place we all arrived at Sam’s Deli. I did not expect to find the legendary Sam’s Deli in a strip mall. From what I understand, they have moved into this new location recently. But don’t let the outside appearance fool you. Once you cross the threshold of their glass doors, you feel like you’re in a diner world all by itself. The first thing you see is a looong counter, with signs telling you to “Place Order Here”. There were a lot of people there for lunch when we showed up. Almost every table was filled. Fortunately we knew exactly were to go thanks to the many helpful people behind the counter who were very busy taking orders, grilling burgers, making milkshakes, and calling peoples names to pick up orders. While we were waiting to place our orders we were asked many times if we would like something to drink while we waited. I thought this was great. The first thing I noticed while looking over the menu was the prices. They seemed about 5 years out of date. I’m not complaining but my lunch budget was suddenly able to get me a little more than I was used to.
My turn came and I was excited! I placed my usual, Cheeseburger, everything on it, seasoned fries, a chocolate shake (made with Bluebell ice cream), and a cup of water. Feeling adventurous, I asked the lady if I could get a fried egg on my burger. “Absolutely” was here response and I was absolutely thrilled when this all came out to less than $8! The wait gave us a good opportunity to find a place to sit. After about ten minutes or so my name was called. I sat down and beheld a pretty impressive spread. Upon my first bite one thing stood out from all of the other burgers I’ve ever eaten. It was a tender burger. I bit through it effortlessly. It was very good. The patty was fried to a juicy point that complimented all of the other ingredients. The veggies were good with the tomato standing out as being very good. The bun was fresh and soft and was toasted on the griddle just the way I like it. The seasoned fries were great! They would be more accurately described as seasoned battered fries. The milkshake while good seemed more like runny chocolate ice cream than an actual shake.
Sam’s Deli is one of the best places in Houston to get a burger. I was surprised when the other Burger Tymers told me that this was not the best burger they have had at Sam’s Deli. Is it possible to get better? Apparently so. I loved how friendly the employees were. I loved the large menu and how flexible they were with adding things that weren’t the “norm”. I didn’t love the milkshake. It was good and went well with the burger, but it was nothing more than the Bluebell Ice cream they claimed it was made of. That being said they do have somewhere around 20 different flavors so maybe I should try something other than chocolate next time, because there will be a next time. Happy Independence Day!!!!!!!!! Find more info
Texas Burger Guy
Cook’s Tour
(4 votes, average: 7.75 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Please leave a comment with your vote
Lankford Grocery http://www.lankfordgrocery.com 88 Dennis Street Houston, TX 77006 (map)
Lankford’s Grocery… If only life were like Lankford’s Grocery. I really wish that we lived somewhere that we could just walk down the street and enjoy delicious home cooking from friendly people who are also our neighbors. This is the case here. Nestled inside of some neighborhood some where in Houston, lies this time warp of a restaurant. From the outside, it looks like an old house. The inside is no different. One thing you will notice aside from the sloping floor and sagging ceilings, is the festive decor for whatever holiday is most near, be it Valentines day, Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick’s day, July 4th, or tax day. This particular Burger Tyme was festive as well. A few friends from work joined me for some Tyme Travel as we were celebrating Friday, the greatest of days. We made our way over to Lankford’s early. If you’re not early to Lankford’s you are going to have a hard time finding a seat. Also, if you don’t know how to get to Lankford’s just drive around, you’ll find it. Fortunately for us, the weather was beautiful and they had some new picnic tables outside. We were greeted by our waitress who is a sweet older lady who has been there as long as I can remember. In fact almost everyone that works there has been there as long as I can remember. The menu is not terribly complicated, they have burgers, they have daily lunch specials (which are great by the way), and they have sides. Their burgers range from plain hamburger to the Soldier Burger (burger with a fried egg) to the Fireman’s Burger (more pepper’s than you can imagine) to the One and a Half Pound Wholey Cow Burger.
So our order was to be taken and what was I to get. I deviated from my usual only because you don’t get this option at most burger joints… The Soldier Burger. I love a fried egg on my cheeseburgers. It makes them messy, it makes them difficult for other people to watch, but it makes them GOOOOOD! So a soldier burger with cheese and a side of tots and a coke. I could hardly wait. While we waited we saw the tables inside and out fill up quickly. Seems like we got there just in time. Within about 10 minutes our order was on the table. This was not my first Lankford’s burger and it won’t be my last but as I bit in, all was new. Th first thing I noticed was that the paper that the burger was wrapped in was nearly transparent (usually a good indicator of how delicious a burger is going to be). The patty was big and pretty juicy. It tasted just salty enough but still had a dominant beef flavor not withstanding the cheese that was melted perfectly over the patty. This is a fried patty which I prefer to grilled. The bun was a fresh hamburger bun with poppy seeds. Though not made fresh at Lankford’s it was still an above average bun. The veggies were all fresh and delicious. Most notably the onions were fresh cut and still crisp. The tots here are my favorite tots in all of Houston! I’m not sure but I think they make them themselves.
If not, they should never reveal their secret supplier of perfect prohormones, for my health’s sake.
Now some may not like it, but the fried egg on the burger was great! It was cooked over easy so after my first bite the burger became really messy. Thankfully there was a full paper towel roll at the table.
Lankford’s Grocery is one of my favorite places for a Burger Tyme or an Any Tyme. Not only are the burgers good but their other dishes are good as well. There’s a very quaint feeling about the place that makes you feel like you’re part of the neighborhood. There burgers are a good value as well. Burger tots and a drink will run you around $7. Oh and CASH ONLY. One of the plain signs that Lankford’s is operating from a different era is you basically pay by the Honor system. They take your order, they bring you your food, and when you are ready to pay you go up to the counter and the find a ticket for your table but you always end up just telling them what you ordered anyway. It’s a great place!
Here’s a hint – If you like Chicken Fried Steak, go to Lankford’s on Thursday because it is their daily special and it is GREAT! I’ve heard that all of their specials are really good.
Here’s another hint – Get there early on Thursday because they will run out.
Other Reviews:
Cooks Tour
