In the ultimate too much of a good thing can ruin a burger scenario, Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain fires on all cylinders. Unless of course you subscribe to the theory that the burger is flawed, seriously flawed regardless, it won’t make much of a difference. I secretly love places like this though, in that underground, hidden burger destination that no one is aware of, this is not the typical spot for a burger, kind of in that Craigie mold without it actually being any good. But that’s kind of a major difference. It would have been superb if it were actually superb, but don’t be fooled by the atmosphere, the intimacy, or the cheffy tricks they try to pull. This burger is done-in by a dreadful bun that is about five times the size of the patty itself, and far too many components that all get muddled together. Bacon aioli and A-10 Sauce sound great, and on their own they taste great, but when you pile them onto an already monstrous burger with caramelized onions, cheese and lettuce, it’s too much to handle. Literally. continue reading »
James’s Gate
The burger at James’s Gate is everything it needs to be: a stripped down, honest offering that is not dressed to impress. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good; rather, it is what is, no gourmet bullshit, just a burger. Reminiscent of Highland Kitchen, after discarding a mealy and pale looking end piece of a tomato and a much too large and wilted piece of lettuce, you’re stuck with beef, cheese and a bun. Isn’t that the way it should be? It’s a burger, people, evaluate it for what it is, additional toppings need not apply. Of course to achieve burger perfection, you have to bring it. James’s Gate is close to being very good, and in many ways it is, but overall it’s close but not close enough. continue reading »
The Haven
It’s not my fault, I promise, I’m new to the world of Scottish cuisine, and I’m sure most of you are too. Very, very excited to try Haggis and even more excited for what was promised to be a delicious burger, The Haven just didn’t do it for me. I’ve eaten a wide range of cuisine in my day (still plenty out there to try) but Haggis was a new one. I’m not sure what I should have expected when I tried the Lambs’ heart, liver, and lungs, but even in croquette form, it was just off-putting to me. I’m aware this is a burger blog, but it has to be noted, whatever flavor was present in the Haggis that I found so off-putting, seemed to be in the burger as well. Or maybe my palette was just thrown off and couldn’t recover. Could have been a combination of both, really, but I wasn’t the only one among the four diners who felt this way. continue reading »
