Our Mission

As two women who aren't afraid to clean our plates, we're touring the Twin Cites to find the tastiest and most unique burgers these two food-loving cities have to offer.

The Challenge: To sample one burger from a different Twin Cities restaurant each week and evaluate the entire experience. Since our expanded food budget will limit our ability to purchase a new wardrobe, using bikes as a mode of transportation is a must.
The Burgers: We've developed a list based on recommendations from others, notoriety, and our own curiosity. Have suggestions? Please share.
The Evaluation: Contrary to the stereotypical "burger eater," we're here to savor every morsel and recognize a good burger for characteristics like creative flavor combinations and quality of ingredients. Because we all know a bad pickle can ruin an otherwise fabulous cheeseburger, we're paying attention to the details.
Why? Besides the fact that we like to know in advance what we're eating so we can spend days salivating over it, we're here to offer our female perspective on the Twin Cities' most sublime burger creations so you can make informed choices. So next time you have a burger craving, check here first. You can thank us later.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

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.

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