Burger Babe in Hawaii

Hawaii, not just for Spam lovers anymore. No really. Feast your eyes on this beauty! This little secret spot is Annie's Burgers and Beer in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. We wandered in after a successful snorkeling adventure to the Captain Cook Monument looking for something to satisfy a swimmers hunger. This monster burger would satisfy even Michael Phelps. The Steakhouse Burger, featuring grass-fed Kona beef, fresh sauteed Hamakua mushrooms, gorgonzola, and arugula. Topped with a parsley caper relish and served on a toasted ciabatta bun. It was delicious and possibly the best burger west of the Mississippi.

The Craftsman

Burger Name: Beef Burger / Venison Burger

Although The Craftsman was not originally on our list, a friend's recommendation and a desire for a healthier burger led us to its warm and welcoming door. We sat down to a table lit with candles and immediately fell into a relaxed state. After passing on the affable waiter's entree recommendations (we'll be back), we declared our mission and decided to each order one of the two burgers offered by The Craftsman - the Beef Burger and the Venison Burger. Holding true to it's name, The Craftsman burgers were well-crafted and full of rich flavors. We must admit, we did experience a moment of "My burger's been switched!" pandemonium, but soon realized the waitress had simply miscalled the burgers as she set them on our table. It was reminiscent of a neonatal nightmare, but our discerning palates and quick-thinking got us through it without disrupting our dining ambience. We liked the Beef Burger, a 1,000 Hills Farm patty topped with cheddar, bacon and harissa, for it's non-greasy bacon and excellent flavor combinations, which paired beautifully with the sweetness of the harissa. Hands down, the Venison Burger stole our hearts. The ALL-venison patty was stuffed with small bits of soft bacon, and was topped with bleu cheese and chili ketchup. We were impressed by the smoky taste and moist texture of the venison. Good venison is not easy to prepare, and The Craftsman has nailed it. As a self-confessed french fry addict, I must add that The Craftsman's french fries are some of the best I've had in the Twin Cites, and they are also served with the chili ketchup. Although we can't award these burgers the #1 spot, we whole-heartedly recommend them, and any dish served at The Craftsman, to anyone who appreciates well-prepared, high quality and local food.

Shaw's Bar and Grill

Burger Name: The Shaw Burger

If you or anyone you know suffers from cachexia (physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle mass due to disease) or are otherwise emaciated we have found the burger for you! Slathered with a special mayonnaise sauce, two kinds of cheese, bacon, and 1/3lbs of beef (also lettuce, tomato, onion, and sauteed shrooms), this burger is NOT for the cholesterol conscious. Don't get me wrong, it looked absolutely delicious as I stared at my partner's juicy goodness while I waited for my own Shaw Burger to arrive.

I bit into it once, and kept taking bite after excruciating bite in anticipation of it somehow getting better. But low, the burger just became more and more unruly and less and less tasty. I fought hard to keep the patty and all of the co-stars inside the bun, but I was no match for the slippery special sauce. Yes, I did finish the burger, but that's not the point. I felt mine was overdressed in sauce, and I found it hard to taste anything else. No part of the burger stood out, nor any ingredient made it special. Don't eat the Shaw Burger unless it's the only thing you eat for an entire day as it is more than a days worth of calories and fat (lucky for me, it was the only thing I ate that day :)). By the last bite I was sure my gall bladder would fall out of my body. Next time (if there is a next time) I would ask to hold the mayo and special sauce. Actually, if I did this, then it's not a "Shaw Burger" anymore, so I would get something else entirely. Others swear that this is one of the best burgers...um, yeah, whatever man.

Southern Flair

I know it's been a while since the Burger Babes have been in action, but we're planning on hitting the pavement to continue our quest for the Twin Cities' best burger soon. This post is in honor of my brother and his new wife who were married this weekend in Kingsport, TN, a place full of southern charm and of course, delicious burgers. While in Kingsport, we had the gastronomical pleasure of visiting Pal's - a burger joint known for it's Sauceburger, shakes, frenchie fries and 32 oz. sweet tea. Now, I'll be honest. I do enjoy the ring the name "Sauceburger" has to it, so perhaps that's part of why I find it so delectable. The famed Sauceburger is your typical fast food burger, done just right and without warranting complaints, smothered with Pal's special sauce. What is the special sauce? No one knows. Our best guess says it's a mix of ketchup, mustard and relish, but whatever it is, it's just plain good. I'd say it's safe to say that most of the wedding guests did not leave Kingsport without a Sauceburger, or two. Up here in Minneapolis, I'm already missing their sweet tea. 

The Groom

I also wanted to include this photo my brother sent me while honeymooning in South Carolina. Looks like a Burger Babe kind of honeymoon! He came across this juicy-looking creation while at Poe's Tavern in Sullivan's Island. This burger boasts pimento cheese and fried onion straws - genius!!! I hear their other burger offerings include one topped with a crabcake and another topped with buffalo shrimp. 


I don't know about you, but I think it's time the Burger Babes take a trip down south. And hey, with old man winter on his way, that might not be such a bad idea.

Matt's Bar

Burger: Jucy Lucy

We did it! We got into the bar (as opposed to standing on the sidewalk), and getting a seat did not look promising. We noticed there was one bartender, one cook, and one waitress...cash only. It took some doing, but after 20min or so, on a Tuesday night at 7:30pm (?!), we finally sat down to experience the recently famed Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar. In few terms, it is simply the Rolls Royce of dive bar burgers. It includes onions (raw or sauteed), pickles, beef, and of course the molten middle of gooey cheese, which oozed in perfect harmony with the meat and fixings. There was also a nice crunch which we couldn't place, but we think it was the grilled meat, and/or pickle. Though not gourmet in any way, this burger must be appreciated for the simple tradition that is apparent after the first bite. We could both see why it's craveable and we agreed it's what to eat after a long backpacking trip. The cheese was the star of this burger, while the bun brought up the rear. Thanks, Matt's, for making Minneapolis the undisputed birthplace of the Jucy Lucy!

We feel that with all of the "stuffed" burgers we have to taste on our journey (because MSP has so many to offer!), they should not be ranked against non-stuffed burgers as they are in a class all by themselves.

Common Roots Cafe

Burger Name: Burger

Calling all hipsters and athletes in training! We have found the burger for non-burger eaters. The fresh ingredients include a yeast-less sourdough ciabatta bun (baked in house), bright red thinly sliced tomato, fresh pickle, fini cheddar, baby spinach, and a juicy beef patty. The side of tangy mango salsa was an unexpected condiment, but I found myself pouring it over the entire burger while all of the wonderful juices dripped from my fingertips. This burger has several star ingredients but we mostly raved about the dense, springy texture of the bun, the crunchy pickle, and juicy (not greasy!) beef. While very satisfying, eating this burger did not leave us feeling like we had to work off the calories, nor did it undo any previous workouts; it was completely guiltless. I'm hooked. This burger gives the Anchor Bar a run for it's money.

Burger Babes Down Under?

Thanks to busy schedules and trips out of town, we're taking a short break from the burger tour. In the meantime, check out what the Aussies are up to. Perhaps their propensity towards making giant statues of random objects brought about this big idea. Burger Babe AUS tour, anyone?

Bulldog NE

Burger Name: House Burger

Since Bulldog NE is a dog-friendly restaurant (except to a certain french bulldog we know) and our dogs were smelling fresh thanks to recent trips to Ollu Dog Wash, we considered bringing them along. After some thought, we decided to keep to our bikes and fill the dogs in later. With numerous burgers on the menu to choose from, we weren't sure which one to sample. Similar to our visit to Monte Carlo, we decided to go with their House Burger, which came with a regular toasted bun, butter lettuce, tomato and red onion. We appreciated the juicy, specially seasoned Kobe beef and thought overall the burger was reminiscent of one you would enjoy at a backyard BBQ. This burger is one that could be ordered over and over again without diner's remorse. We also sampled the Chimay Burger, which came with Chimay beer cheese, beer mayo, lettuce, red onion on a slippery brioche bun. Although we probably won't recommend this one to friends, it might be suitable for a crab fisherman who had just returned from months at sea.


The Conclusion: With Kobe beef and numerous creative burger selections, Bulldog NE is one of the top dogs in the Twin Cities burger world. Pair a burger with a side of their house-made truffle fries (warning: addictive) and you've got a meal that you won't want to be slipping under the table to Fido. Don't forget to save room for dessert; the homemade cupcakes are not to be missed. Go when the weather is nice and you can take advantage of their plentiful outdoor seating. Just make sure to go early - as one of the Nordeast neighborhood's hot spots, it fills up fast.


House Burger - $8.00; Chimay Burger - $12.00

A Sign of Good Things to Come?

So looks like one of the restaurants on our "Not Yet Patronized" list has recently been featured in the local news for "building the perfect burger." Will the Bulldog NE burger win our hearts and propel it into the top spot? Only time will tell. 

Click here to read the news story.

Calling All Burger Babes!

Burger Babes across the globe - we want to hear from you! We know there are babes outside of the Twin Cities who appreciate a good burger, and we thought it was only fair to include a forum, here on our blog, to post your burger reviews. Not entirely selfless, we don't want to be caught visiting a city without an idea of which burger to eat, and we're sure you don't either. So don't be shy, send your review (300 word max.) of your favorite burger offered in your city, complete with photo to mplsburgerbabes@gmail.com, and we'll post it on our new "Burger Babes Worldwide" page (at right). 

Burger Babe Art

With temperatures in the 70's and sunshine galore, we spent a good part of our weekend whirling our way through what is recognized as the country's largest open studio and gallery tour - NE Minneapolis' Art-a-Whirl. As fans of bicycle-inspired poster art, we made sure to make the Bicycle Theory studio in the Northrup King building one of our first stops. As we oohed and awed over renowned poster artist Adam Turman's prints, we came across something we just had to have. A BURGER BABES poster! If you haven't already, we implore you to visit Adam's website and check out his work (www.adamturman.com). Chances are, you'll find something you just have to have, too.

Another fun Art-a-Whirl find from jewelry artist Katy Schmaty (www.katyschmaty.com)! Something every Burger Babe should have in her jewelry box...

Monte Carlo

Burger Name: Hamburger

If you're looking for a good ol' American burger, look no further. It's here, under the outdoor umbrellas and guise of a swanky steakhouse in the Minneapolis Warehouse District known as Monte Carlo.

Although this burger is nothing to write home about, it's nothing to complain about, either. It's the classic American burger, perfectly unpretentious. We savored its organic, homey feel and both agreed it was something that would please a 10-year-old's picky pallet. Very simple. Although it lacked any distinct seasoning, it wasn't lacking. We enjoyed the uncomplicated clean taste of the meat, cheese (we opted for Muenster) and bread combination so much, we didn't make use of the condiments or the accoutrements provided. The meat patty was cooked perfectly, not at all dry, but melt-in-your-mouth juicy. The cheese was a good choice to add to the otherwise plain hamburger; it oozed beautifully into the bun. Bland, but not boring, it could be a good choice for someone who suffers from GERD.

The Conclusion:  This, my friends, is the 1970's Schwinn bike of burgers. It's a classic. True, it isn't knocking our #1 burger off the top, but it still deserves proper recognition. If you're visiting in one of Minnesota's fleeting summer months, enjoy one outdoors, under the umbrellas and in the shadow of Target Field. The impressive indoor bar is worth checking out, but Monte Carlo's patio atmosphere, complete with a fountain and lush greenery, is pretty hard to beat.

Since a good burger should also be a good value, we've decided to add prices to our reviews. The Monte Carlo Hamburger - $9.95.

The Anchor Fish and Chips

Burger Name: The Helicopter Burger

Knowing we were visiting an establishment boasting an award-winning burger, we were expecting good things to come out of the Anchor Bar. An indulgent combination of grass-fed beef, Irish cheddar, a fried egg and Canadian bacon-style ham left us wanting to honor this delectable creation with our own award. Although we have only sampled one other burger as part of our journey, this burger is currently tops on our list. We're putting it up on this pedestal for it's toasty, buttery and not too cumbersome bun; the tangy and creamy Irish cheddar; and the not-too-salty yet breakfast-reminiscent ham. We both agreed that this burger has the potential to be the ultimate cure for a late night overindulgence. To contrast with The Butcher Block fried egg burger, this one had no lettuce and no 'special' sauce. The bun was toasted on the grill which was nice because it was moist and buttery, not like trying to swallow saltines on a hot day.

The Conclusion: Again, this burger is #1 in our books at this point in time. Although we have only sampled one other burger on our tour, we can't help but compare it to other burgers we have eaten in the past. We're sure their fish and chips also merit a visit to this quaint NE establishment, but if you're craving a burger, this is the place to go.

 

The Butcher Block

Burger Name:  Beef Burger

Being our first visit to The Butcher Block, we had no idea what to expect. We had heard good things, but neither one of us had stepped foot inside the Hennepin Avenue establishment. We're sure glad we did...

After reading the description of the Beef Burger, we knew we were in for a treat. As indicated on the menu, the burger is made up of a 1/2 pound of house ground beef and without having to wonder exactly what this meant, we were told it was ground downstairs. Guess that explains the name, "Butcher Block." Once we took our first bite of the well-sized and presented burger, we immediately commented on the freshness and savory flavor of the burger patty. Not too greasy, not too dry...perfect. Although the quality of the meat could have been reason enough to declare this burger a success, the harissa aioli, smoked pancetta, mixed greens (which we appreciated were thoughtfully placed on the bun and not one piece of green slapped on there), and, drumroll please, fried egg served to take this burger to the next level of goodness. Might I also mention that the fried egg wasn't too runny, nor was it too bland - it was seasoned just right and cooked to a consistency that served to enhance the flavor of the meat. The flavors melded together nicely; none was overpowering. Let's not forget another outstanding aspect of this burger - the bun. The flavor of the bread was somewhat sweet, and upon inquiry of the wait staff, we learned it was indeed an egg-based brioche bread. Lovely. Perfect complement to the savoriness of the burger. For you fellow french fry lovers, these were nicely spiced and possibly even sugared, served with a ramekin of harissa aioli for dipping.

The Conclusion: If you haven't visited this NE Minneapolis gem, go...now. We admit the entrance is a little intimidating, with the formal hostess stand and curtain marking the entrance to the restaurant, but don't let that deter you - the restaurant fits in well as another neighborhood dining spot on the Hennepin strip, and the atmosphere is comfortable and the wait staff very attentive. The burger was fresh and well thought-out. Attention was obviously given to the details, which made this burger stand out. We'll definitely be back to visit.