Blue on Highland

February 7th, 2012 by Richard Chudy

Sometimes all I want is a normal burger; but the line between simple and boring can be hard to detect. It’s not difficult to go from promising to adequate to disappointing. But, many past burger successes have been attributed to keeping it low-key, nailing the beef and letting the supporting cast do what they do best. The burger on the menu at Blue on Highland in Needham is fairly straightforward, and after cooking for some of our clients in the neighborhood, lunch was in order. I pretty much had zero expectations prior, but sometimes that’s when I end up pleasantly surprised. continue reading »

Bocca Bella

December 1st, 2011 by Richard Chudy

I receive burger recommendations from people everywhere I turn, and my parents are no exception. Being  a natural born cynic, if it’s a restaurant I’ve never heard of or there’s very little buzz about, I’m hardly in a rush to go there. After being pushed for months to check out Bocca Bella, I finally ventured back to my Newton roots to see what all the fuss was about. Billed as a “Cafe and Bisto,” the lunch menu is dominated by sandwiches while the ever-changing dinner menu is predominantly Italian influenced. And there sits the mighty hamburger, once again a mere pawn in the dinner game, overshadowed by heartier fare and almost to the point of being off-menu, aka not the focus. But why should the burger be the focus, aside from being delicious, the burger isn’t exactly sophisticated. Sure, upscale options abound on menu’s all over, from the fancy to the faux fancy, like a cold sore, the burger is always there and not always so easy to get rid of. continue reading »

The Sunset Grill

October 18th, 2011 by Richard Chudy

Much loved by unsuspecting co-eds, much loathed by everyone else, The Sunset Grill boasts one of the most extensive beer lists anywhere in Boston, while serving some of the most mediocre food in town. It’s hell on earth with a good beer selection. I suppose most people don’t come here to eat, and it’s hard to argue with the overwhelming options of imbibery. The burgers are steamed in beer, self-described as “famous” to “preserve its optimal flavor and juices.” But if you start with mundane ground sirloin you’re probably going to end up with mundane sirloin, no matter how much beer you steam it in. Luckily, the burgers are relatively cheap; $6 will get you a hamburger, but why stop there, most add-on’s are around $1, and the fries come a la carte for another $2. Still in the under $10 category, although I’m not so sure that makes much of a difference here.  continue reading »

The Avenue

September 23rd, 2011 by Richard Chudy

A wild card in the making, The Avenue in Allston should have no business being in the great burger discussion. Our memories of this place are not positive; a seedy bar overtaken by seedy college kids, cheap beer and darts are the name of the game, surely they are incapable of serving decent food. But a new ownership and a complete interior overhaul has done wonders, at least in the confines of a weekday afternoon, who knows what lies between the walls when the construction workers are swapped out for scantily clad co-eds. At least for the lunch shift, The Avenue serves up above-average burgers. The price is right too, unless you’re ordering a turkey burger (and really, why would you do that?) all of the burgers cost less than $5. On Mondays, the Avenue Burger (lettuce, tomato, secret sauce) is only $1, extra toppings costing a mere .50 cents, you won’t top out for more than $2 for a more than respectable burger. continue reading »

Scarlet Oak Tavern

July 19th, 2011 by Richard Chudy

I’ve explored the depths of non-city burgers once or twice, most recently here. I’m a city boy, more or less, but I have no qualms about traveling all over this state, region, or country for great eats, never mind a great burger. Hingham isn’t exactly the farthest destination, but far enough for the SBK and I to enjoy a little car ride while I swear at traffic all the while. Scarlet Oak Tavern was the destination, and I’m happy to report it was worth the trip. I opted for the Gus Burger (cheddar cheese, smoked bacon and a fried egg) for a mere $12. Arriving hot, juicy, and with a dominating char aroma, it was satisfying and worthy of the price tag. Not without flaws, but if you’ve read anything on this website before, that shouldn’t surprise you. continue reading »

Local 149

July 1st, 2011 by Richard Chudy

The food at Local 149 can described as uneven; this after multiple attempts, a couple of very good burgers, and a couple less than stellar. The people behind The Biltmore in Newton take on a similar vibe in the new Southie spot, a very ambitious gastro-pub of a menu, that isn’t always triumphant. At it’s best, the Local Cheese Burger is a delight; with grass-fed sirloin, cheddar, pickled green tomato and seaweed salt fries. Trust me, this is as normal as the menu gets, which isn’t to say I don’t appreciate at least reading the menu, the flavors are often presented as bold and unique, but my taste buds don’t always agree. The Patty Melt is less successful; two all-beef patties, sauerkraut, Muenster and 24 hour ketchup. Yeah, there’s a lot going on, individually the components work, but never fully unify to become the great burger they could be. continue reading »