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.