Articles tagged ‘bacon’

Union Bar and Grille

May 21st, 2013 by Richard Chudy

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It’s hard to say whether or not Union Bar and Grille is still a reliable food destination. It’s a shiny space with a comfortable bar setting, and that’s exactly where I found myself on a recent outing. It’s surely an enjoyable place to sip on a few cocktails, leisurely wasting the day away in the process. The burger certainly sounds appealing, as the “Prime Chuck Burger with smoked tomato remoulade with cheddar, bacon and fries” feels appropriately priced at $14.75. After placing our order, we waited, and waited, then waited some more for the food before it finally arrived. continue reading »

Burger Dive

January 29th, 2013 by Richard Chudy

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It’s not so much a different version, it’s merely a similar product to what’s already out there and established. Burger Dive in Somerville’s Assembly Square has the look and feel like many of its contemporaries, namely Tasty Burger, Wahlburgers, Five Guys and UBurger. Calling it anything short of fast food would be setting your expectations too high. No, it isn’t the golden arches but it’s a quick service burger joint and has all the stigmas that go along with that. It already has the appearance that it could multiply into even more locations; in other words, this one is pretty formulaic. But the menu is promising, with a healthy dose of the normal burger concoctions to slightly different arrangements including a 50/50 burger with half bacon and half beef,  plus different burgers showcasing Fritos and potato chips. The food comes out quickly but not so fast that it’s been sitting under a heating lamp all day. Heck, they even have a burger car parked outside the restaurant that piqued my interest. continue reading »

Farmstead Table

January 14th, 2013 by Richard Chudy

IMG_1113Yet another case of a burger that has slowly built a positive reputation, the new-ish Farmstead Table in Newton has received pretty good grades from some local critics, with more than a few of them being impressed by the burger. The fairly priced $15 burger showcases grass-fed beef, smoked baby Swiss, New Hampshire bacon and a choice of fries or a salad. Of course, you have to be a real weirdo to opt for the salad but if that’s your thing then go for it. While we chewed the fat waiting for our burgers to arrive, we tried to recall a grass-fed burger ever being exceptional. The short answer is no, at least not in these parts (I supposed anywhere for that matter) because grass-fed is simply too lean to be great. Technically the Craigie burger is locally sourced and grass-fed, but it’s the addition of beef fat and a few other unique touches that separate that burger from the field. The Farmstead Table burger arrives, looking like a winner if not oddly shaped. It’s very classically a pub burger in some ways, featuring a very thick and wide bun and patty with a slight softball appearance to it. continue reading »

Casey’s Diner

March 27th, 2012 by Richard Chudy

Photo by Katie Barszcz

Stepping out of my comfort zone from the fancy and upscale to the rugged and humble, I ventured over to Casey’s Diner in Natick with some fellow burger enthusiasts to experience a burger as simple as you can get. Walking into Casey’s is like a time-warp; with about eight seats at the counter, seating is limited, and the option of grabbing your meal from the take-out window is available too. Hot Dogs and Burgers are the focus here, and you can smell them a mile away. But I’m a burger guy (shocking I know) and only having a few minutes to eat, I was carefully instructed to order a burger with onions cooked into the patty, and don’t forget about the bacon. What they do to the onions and bacon is what makes this burger; reminiscent of White Hut, it’s all about the crust, the grease and the simplicity, the beef is not the star but it really doesn’t matter. continue reading »

Met Back Bay

December 7th, 2011 by Richard Chudy

If you’re going to talk the talk you’d better be able to walk the walk, and the Dry-Aged burger at Met Back Bay clearly has issues walking and talking at the same time. The epitome of a burger that sounds really friggin’ good on paper  (Dry-Aged beef, sharp cheddar, double smoked bacon, port wine onions, organic sesame seed bun) but is a colossal disappointment. There’s no debate that a higher price tag has to yield higher expectations and the opportunity for more critiques. It’s not nitpicking, that’s just the way it is, and this burger, priced at $18, fails in just about every aspect. 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 »