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(4 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
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Frostop Root Beer www.frostop.us 402 Government Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (map)
When I think back to my first memories of a burger joint, I think of Frost Top on the corner of Range and Florida in Denham Springs, LA. I remember the chocolate dipped ice cream cones. I remember the super, huge cookies. I remember root beer floats. Most of all I remember their amazing color changing jukebox that played 7″ vinyl records. Unfortunately that Frost Top location is now a Walgreen’s but one still remains in Baton Rouge! On the last day of my Easter Vacation, I managed to gather four Burger Tymers from our Baton Rouge chapter to join me in experiencing nostalgia in its fullest. The location in downtown Baton Rouge has been around since the 50’s. Now, Frost Top’s claim to fame is their root beer, which I will talk about later, but we were there for a burger! The interior of this location was not as childhood, dreamy as I remember the other one being but it had it’s own appeal. From the big root beer mugs on the side of the road to the the black and white checkered tile, this place is classic! It was reassuring that when we arrived a little after noon that the parking lot was full. We walked in and got in line to place our order. There are a few options at Frost Top including poboys, burgers, sandwiches, and even gumbo. Frost Top classifies their burgers as “Lotaburger” and “Wholotaburger”. That translates in to 1/4 lb and 1/2 lb respectively.
So we made it through the line and I placed my order for the “Lotaburger” with cheese and everything on it. I also ordered a side of fries and of course, the Frost Top Root Beer. While paying for the order I inquired as to whether they made their own beef patties and was informed that in fact they do. While waiting for our order I enjoyed the frosty mug of root beer that I ordered (more on this later). Our number was called after a few minutes and we sat down to a very good looking burger spread. Every element of the burger was pretty good. The bun was fresh as were the veggies. The 1/4 lb patty was a not particularly flavorful or juicy. The cheese was not as melted on the patty as I like. As you can see, it was placed under the patty on the burger which is not that big of a deal, but I like to see the cheese slice draped on top of the patty, like a burger patty shirt. The fries were adequate. They were freshly fried which was good but were of the frozen, not fresh cut variety.
Everything combined at Frost Top for a good burger but not a great one. The atmosphere and the history of Frost Top were very cool and make it worth checking out. While there was nothing wrong with the burger, nothing quite stood out to make it great. The 1/4 lb patty was a little thinner than I would have liked. Perhaps I should have opted for the “Wholotaburger”. All in all it was a good Burger Tyme for around $6 including burger, fries, and a drink. Oh, and what a drink. The Root Beer at Frost Top is AMAZING!!!! They keep the mugs chilled in a freezer which as the root beer leaves the tap and hits the glass, begins to frost up in the mug. It creates a thick layer of root beer ice around the mug which I loved! It was like drinking candy! I may return to Frost Top if only for the burger but I will DEFINITELY return to Frost Top for the Root Beer. It’s that good!
Hint – Frost top also had great milkshakes. My wife and I ordered a large chocolate shake to split which was about $4. It was HUGE! Between the two of us we could only drink about half. My sixteen year old, high school football player younger brother, however, was able to drink the whole thing.
(6 votes, average: 6.83 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Cheeburger Cheeburger, though hard to say, has been a favorite of my parent’s in Baton Rouge, LA for the past few years. I took a few days off of work for Easter so my wife and I made the 5 hour drive to stay in Baton Rouge for the holiday. Our first night here I rounded up a few willing family members and headed out for my second Burger Tyme in as many days. Cheeburger is a 50’s diner themed burger chain that allows people to customize their orders to an almost obscene amount. From the dozens of burger combinations to the 78 different shake options, an unprepared customer has a lot of decisions to make. When we arrived we were greeted by the milkshake “bar” were the milkshake orders are filled. Cheeburger Cheeburger prides itself on their delicious milkshakes of which I’ve heard good things but we are here for the burgers. There is a disclaimer on the menu stating that orders are cooked fresh when you order and that you can expect to wait about 15 minutes while they prepare your burger. I’m OK with that. I can wait for a good burger. This place is more of your typical sit-down restaurant with a waiter who takes your order as opposed to most burger joints where you wait in line, place your order, and then find a place to sit. Once I opened the menu and viewed the list of options for the burger, I knew I had my work cut out for me.
Given the plethora of options I was not intimidated. I managed to order my usual 1/3rd lb cheeseburger with what I consider typical toppings; lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and American cheese. Fries come separate at Cheeburger. We ordered a large basket to split for the table of four. True to their word, we waited about fifteen minutes and our burgers were delivered to our table. The patty was very thick and juicy. It was made of fresh ground beef and was adequately flavorful. The cheese was nicely melted over the patty. The veggies were OK but were unevenly spread on the burger. The bun, I thought, was good. It was soft and slightly chewy (in a good way). One problem I had was that the bottom bun was slightly soggy which in my mind makes the initial bites unpleasant. Once I bit in I was delighted by the combinations of all the flavors as they worked together well however they all began to slide around and juices were running down my arm. I guess what I’m saying is, this is a good but messy burger. Fortunately they provide each table with an entire roll of napkins! The fries were exceptionally good. They were fresh cut and fried to a nice crisp.
I’ve had Cheeburger a few times before but this was the first time I went with the goal of finding great burgers! As I previously mentioned, this is a favorite of my parents and I can see why. Everyone that came with us was pleased with their burger orders of various combinations. Some had onion rings and honey mustard, while another had Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces on their burger. We ordered shakes too but I’d have to say that for the cost, skip the shakes unless you want a dessert. They are thick and not really drinkable while you’re eating your burger. Another thing to note is that Cheeburger Cheeburger was one of the more costly Burger Tymes. While the burger and fries were very good, the burger, fry, and regular drink combo is going to run you about $10 or more.
Here’s a hint – if you like onion rings but want fries too, you can order “frings” which is a basket of half fries and half rings.
(8 votes, average: 6.50 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Five Guys Burgers and Fries www.fiveguys.com
I was first introduced to Five Guys by a friend in Washington, DC where some of the first Five Guys were opened. My wife an I ate at one of the original five guys in Alexandria, VA and for a “chain” burger it was darn good! I think the secret to their success is the simplicity of the menu. I realize that I’m not going out on a limb by saying that but good burgers are simple burgers and they have it down. One detail I liked that was unique to this chain was the cork board that displayed customer “art”. There was a stack of 3″X5″ index cards and some pencils for customers to write notes, draw pictures, or whatever else you can do with fifteen square inches of real estate. My wife and I found that along with the boxes of roasted peanuts it was a good way to pass the time while we waited for our order.
The menu is short. Burgers and Dogs. I ordered my usual Cheeseburger but ran into a hiccup when I said everything on it. At Five Guys you have a list of around sixteen items and condiments you can put on your burger. I had to specify lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, mustard, mayo, and ketchup. The burger itself was made from very good ingredients. The patties (that’s right, there were two) were hand formed and the toppings were fresh. This is a fried burger but I actually prefer a fried burger to a grilled one because they tend to be juicier. This burger had just the right amount of grease and juiciness though it became a little hard to manage towards the last few bites.The bun (or as I like to call them, bread gloves) was also a notable component to the whole Five Guys experience. It was soft and a little chewy (in a good way) and held everything together pretty well. The fries are a big selling point in my book. My wife and I split an single order of Cajun fries. To our surprise a single order means a brown lunch bag full of fries. The cajun seasoning was different at first but matched really well with the ketchup and the burger. After my wife and I ate at the one in Alexandria I tried it at the one in Georgetown and most recently in Houston, TX. The burgers were consistently good.
An item that I found to be both good and bad was the variety of toppings and condiments you can add to your burger. While the menu is simple, the condiment selection can really get complicated for the unprepared. I tend to freeze up in moments like this because I’m afraid that I may pick something like barbecue sauce or green peppers and essentially ruin a perfectly good burger. While I applaud Five Guys’ commitment to the customers’ unique tastes, I’m fearful that people who aren’t the most burger savvy may choose a topping(s) that would make an exceptional burger just OK or even bad. But hey, it’s worked for them so far. For a “chain” burger this one probably tops my list.
