Earl's Kitchen + Bar - Denver, CO - Bacon Cheddar Burger

I had this little burger when I went down to visit Bubba and Rachel in Colorado.  I would say the burger itself was very good but definitely not worth a 14 hour car ride (ha ha).  It definitely is not the best burger I have ever had but it was worth eating and I would have it again.  The fries were great so that also added to the appeal.

Price: $16.00

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

WEBSITE

5-8 Club - Champlin, MN - Le Bleu Ribbon

I have always been a fan of 5-8 (this is where I have had a majority of my juicy lucys while growing up after all).  They have a 5 burger "Cheese-tastic Challenge" where you eat the five juicy lucys and get a free one and a shirt.  I thought "heck yes, lets do it!"  My and my friend decided to go with the Le Bleu Ribbon first as we both love a good chicken cordon bleu.  It is stuffed with cheddar cheese and ham chunks.  The burger itself was pretty good but then they put a "touch" of dijon mustard on it (really it was a lot of dijon mustard not a touch) that was the turning point for my dislike for this burger.  I thought it was way overpowering and made you not able to taste any of the other good things in this burger.  I would not recommend this burger.

Price: $9.99

Burger: 5/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 5/10

Website

Smashburger - Golden Valley, MN - Bacon Cheeseburger

I had a meeting at school this day so we decided to take our rare availability for a lunch out and go to Smashburger.  I went with the regular Bacon Cheeseburger this time.  I am much happier with this than the BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar burger from before.   I got the smaller one so I wasn't ridiculously full while sitting through the rest of the meeting and it was plenty of food.  The burger was good and juicy but done to nearly perfection.  Overall this was a very good burger that I would definitely have again.  It was not one of my favorites nor would I drive 30 minutes to get one but if you are in the area of a Smashburger I would get it.  Again, this location is very small and we caught a busy time for lunch.  There was limited seating and we had to wait in line for about 10 minutes before we could order... I wish the place was bigger...

Price: $5.99 ($1.99 more for fries)

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Five Guys Burgers & Fries - Maple, Grove - Bacon Cheeseburger

Well I could not resist stopping in and getting this burger while out shopping.  I am not mad about my inability to stay away from 5 Guys either.  I decided to splurge and get the bacon (it did cost a whole $1 more).  I was not disappointed as they definitely made it worth the money.  The bacon is below both patties and unlike most places who are very stingy with their bacon, 5 Guys gave plenty of it so that I had some in each and every bite.  Just like the first time I was there, the burgers were ridiculously juicy, the cheese was melted and gooey, and the fries were given in mass.  Remember, if you go there with someone else, you never have to order more than the small fry!  Trust me.

Price: $7.49 (not including fries nor drink)

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

Smashburger - Golden Valley, MN - Big BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar

This was a pretty good burger.  I am usually not a fan of deep fried onions on my burger (haystack onions in their words) but on here it was not bad.  The burger itself was very tasty and I would definitely suggest making a trip here for a burger.  I would not get this same burger myself again but I would try another one (maybe just a simple bacon cheeseburger next time...).  Downside: fries and drinks come separately so you are basically going to pay the same price as a sit down restaurant at this fast-ish food place.  I would compare the speed of this to Five Guys Burgers & Fries.  This location is very small and I can see being a hassle if it were busier but it was pretty slow when I went in.  Overall a good burger but probably not somewhere that I will put on my "have to go to before you die" list.

Price: $6.99 (Smashfries an extra $1.99)

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Armstrong High School Cafeteria - Plymouth, MN - Bacon Cheeseburger

This one goes out to the D Lunch teachers table 2014-15.  Well I think just by looking at this burger you can tell it is pure 100% high end beef... well maybe not...  It is not my least favorite burger I have ever had but you can tell these are made for mass production.  I have all the respect in the world for the cafeteria cooks but oh man... the burger was clearly not the freshest.  I am thinking these may start frozen pre-made and then heated up and put out for eating.   The bacon (at least I think it was bacon) was made into a circle to cover the entire patty so that is awesome at least (again hoping it was actually bacon...).   Long story short, I would not say you need to make a special guest appearance at Armstrong High School to try this burger out.

Price: I have no idea... $3 maybe?

Burger: 3/10

Bun: 3/10

Atmosphere: 9/10 - gotta love the lunch table!

Overall: 3/10

Website

Gold Nugget - Minnetonka, MN - Chimichurri Burger

So this may be a bit skewed as I was incredibly hungry when I ate this bad boy.  I was extremely excited to see that this was on the menu as it was the burger that won the Burgle Battle MN in 2014 and was the one I voted for.  The full size burger did not let down one bit!  The burger itself has mortadella ham and chimichurri in the patty.  With that in the meat it also had Gruyere, arugula, tomato jam, and a bone marrow mayo on top of the burger.  A lot of delicious things happening in this burger and they all go together oh so well.  The burger was given two options, pink or no pink and of course I chose pink.  It was cooked nearly perfectly with just the right amount of juice and pink.  The ONLY downside of this burger (other than it being a pretty spendy) is that the bun was bit too big for my liking.  If it had a less full bun I would definitely have given this a total 10/10.  This burger is a must try and the Gold Nugget should be on any burger lovers restaurants to try!  

Price:$14.95

Burger: 10/10

Bun: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

Burger Jones - Minneapolis, MN - White Trash Burger

Yet another establishment with the word burger in their title.  High hopes were in order for this place as well.  I actually saw this restaurant while driving to My Burger so I decided to go the next day to try it.  I asked the bartender what he liked and he then listed off 3 or 4 and then said the White Trash Burger was the most popular burger so I went with that.  I regret my decision.  There is just way too much going on with this burger that made me both almost have a heart attack and not enjoy the meal.  So whats on this burger?  Deep fried bacon (yep, you read that right; deep fried bacon...) and cheese curds.  I got so overwhelmed with the burger that about half way through I decided to just eat the burger part and I finished the cheese curds separately.  The burger itself was really good so I am planning on making another trip to this place and getting a less aggressive burger.  I think that this is more of a burger you say you ate because of how terrible it is for you rather than something tasty.  One last thing, I did not realize the waffle fries would cost me an extra $3.25 so just a head up on that one (not worth the $3.25 if you ask me).  Note: my rating of 5/10 is with everything on it, the burger alone was probably more of an 8/10 but I am judging the White Trash Burger here.

Price: $14.24

Burger: 5/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 6/10

Website

My Burger - Minneapolis, MN - Original My Burger (Double) w/ Cheese

I had really high hopes for this place, any restaurant with the name "My Burger" had better darn well have great burgers!  It is a fastish food place that I would compare speed wise and environment wise to Five Guys.  I will start with what I noticed first, the pickles they use are sweet pickles so if you are not a fan of those (I personally hate sweet pickles) than I would make sure to ask for no pickles!  Rookie mistake on my part.  The burger itself was very good.  It did not seem nearly as greasy as Five Guys burgers but that may have made it a little less delicious at the same time.  I went with the basic burger this time but next time will probably try one of their concoctions to put their burgers to the true test.  If I lived in the Uptown area I would probably make this a regular spot but as I do not, it may be a long while before I get here again.

Price: $7.75

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Applebee's - New Hope, MN - Triple Bacon Burger

Well this was my first burger after a brief hiatus and I was also excited to see that Applebee's had made a new burger.  The burger has bacon infused in with the beef and bacon on top.  Well to start, this burger is a complete mess, make sure you have extra napkins if you order this. The burgers are Med to Med-Well which I prefer more Med to Med-Rare but ah well that may just be nit picking.   I would say it is a decent burger but I would probably not order it again.  I think their normal burgers are probably better and have stood the test of time on the menu although I have not had one of those for probably 2 years now.  The staff was very friendly which is very usual at Applebee's from my experience.  Either way, worth an order if you are going to Applebee's but not worth a special trip just to get it.

Price: $10.49

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

3 Squares Restaurant - Maple Grove, MN - Blue River Burger

For my Dad's birthday he wanted to have a good burger so we went to 3 Squares again.  I decided to order something that was not a special (the last burger is no longer on the menu).  I went with this bad boy.  I will say you clearly will need to like Blue Cheese to get this (as it is a blue cheese burger) but if you do like blue cheese this is a great burger!  It was cooked to order and did come with a little pink as I requested.  The blue cheese did not overpower the burger taste (as many blue cheese burgers do) so that was yet another bonus to this burger.  I would definitely suggest this burger and am sure the other burgers they offer are delicious!

Price: $10.95

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

Clive's Roadhouse - Blaine, MN - Cheeseburger with Provolone Cheese

This was the first time I had ever been to this location of Clive's.  I have gone to the Champlin location many times though.  I will say that once I walked in I was greeted by the staff and welcomed with open arms.  I was there to grade papers and they let me sit for 30 minutes without ordering any food yet and only a Soda.  To the burger, I let the waitress choose my cheese (she chose provolone) and went with the basic cheeseburger.  This was a very average burger if you ask me.  It was good and I would definitely order it again but I would not make a trip just to get this burger.  It had enough juiciness and definitely seemed like it was never frozen beef (which they put on their menu).  I would say it is a safe order for sure.

Price: $8.95

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill - Plymouth, MN - Bacon Cheeseburger

I decided to give the Sunshine Factory another try for a couple of reasons.  1) I worked there for a summer for Sunday brunch a long time ago so I thought I would give it another chance and 2) One of my students would not let go of the fact that I did not like her favorite burger.  Well, I gave it another chance.  It looked like they had changed buns to me, this one did not look as thick and didn't have as over powering of a garlic taste to it.  BUT the bun was ridiculously hard.  It was so bad about 3 bites in I just took it off and ate the burger.  That was a great idea because the burger and the bacon together were very good.  So, the downside is the bun.  If you like hard buns this may be for you.

Price: $9.95

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 3/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 6/10

Website

Yard House - St. Louis Park, MN - Black Truffle Cheeseburger

The first thing I noticed about this burger was that the edges of the burger looked burnt.  I still am not sure if it was the tomato bacon onion jam on it or what it was but it definitely was not burnt burger.  The burger itself was cooked to a good medium pink and was juicy like a Med burger should be.  The truffle cheese was awesome and really tasty.  I would say this was overall a good burger but I think I would try something less "fancy" the next time I was there to get a true test of how their burgers match up to everyone else.  The really interesting thing about this place is that there are 3 pages in their menu of tap beers so if you are a beer connoisseur this would be a great place for you to check out!

Price: $12.95

Burger: 6/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 6/10

Website

3 Squares Restaurant - Maple Grove, MN - Matt P's Honey Apple Burger

I have been here a couple times before but never got the burger until now.  I asked the bartender what I should order and he told me about a contest the employees had to make the best burger.  This was the winner and so I am not sure if this will be a permanent staple of the restaurant or if it is temporary.  Either way, it was fantastic.  It had roasted apples that added a bit of sweetness to the burger along with a honey aioli sauce that did the same.  The gouda cheese was a nice mixture with those as well.  The burger itself was cooked to a perfect Med and was slightly pink with just enough juiciness.  I would definitely try this again and am hoping that this is not just a temporary burger on the menu although it was definitely a more spendy burger than a lot of other places.

Price: $14

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

Bumper's Restaurant and Sports Bar - Burnsville, MN - Bumpers Burger

This was a long ways to go for this burger (for me at least).  I would say it was a solid tasting burger but nothing too mind blowing.  The burger was a 7 oz Angus Burger, so it was decent sized.  The bun was really good though, I am thinking they doused it butter and garlic and then put it on the grill for a bit, very nice touch.  Unfortunately, you have to order fries separately (I do not remember if I got a discount with the burger...) which adds to the price.  I would definitely get it again if I was in the area but would most likely not drive 30 + minutes again just to have the burger.  Although it is a bigger place, the workers and customers clearly have relationships and has the feel of a small town bar.  This may have just been a lunch thing but it seemed like nearly everyone but me knew each other (but they did have some conversations with me as well).

Price: $6.79

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Blarney Irish Pub & Grill - Minneapolis (Dinkytown), MN - Garlic Bacon Gruyere

I was here before the Vikings preseason game with some friends (Laura, Alex, Sam and Emily).  The burger intrigued me from the ingredients listed (arugula lettuce, Gruyere cheese, garlic aioli) all making it seem like a classy burger hidden at a college bar.  Well the burger was tasty for sure.  It was cooked Medium (they did not ask how I wanted it but that's how I would have ordered it anyway) and had a little less juice to it then I would have liked.  The garlic definitely took over the taste of the burger a bit though.  I would say this is a solid burger to order if you are ever at Blarney but not something to make a trip just to get.  Overall a decent but not great burger.

Price: $9.75

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

The Freehouse - Minneapolis, MN - 1,000 Dollar Burger

I went to have lunch with Spike and he asked me if I wanted a really good burger that was kind of spendy.  Clearly I said yes.  I had high expectations going into this due to his statement.  This may have been the most unique burger I have had so far!  It is a mix of short rib, brisket, and sirloin with duck fat in there and white cheddar.  The entire thing is served on an English Muffin.  I was not to pleased to see that when it first came (shame on me for not reading the description first).  When I took the first bite there was a ton of delicious tastes floating around my mouth.  All of the different things coming together as one delicious taste.  I even liked having the English Muffin bun.  The only thing that would knock this off of my top burgers list is I don't know if you can call it a Hamburger due to the ingredients but it is oh so good!

Price: $15

Burger: 10/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

Buffalo Tap - Savage, MN - "THE" Juicy Lucy (American Cheese)

So I went to visit Kleffelhauf, and as the usual we went to the Buffalo Tap.  This time, I was not as courageous and went with the basic Juicy Lucy they have.  I was extremely happy with this!  Most times, the burgers are cooked more Well than anything.  This was closer to Med which is my happy spot.  This may be the best Juicy I have had yet in my search for delicious burgers.  I decided to stick with the Chips, and they were pretty tasty (as good as any kettle chips really).  Overall, definitely worth the drive!

Price: $8.59

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 9/10

Website

The Blue Door Longfellow - Minneapolis, MN - The Jiffy Burger

I went here with Michelle and Eva to wish Eva goodbye as she heads back East.  I decided to order this due to many suggestions from other people.  If you do not know, this burger has crunchy peanut butter lathered on top and below the burger.  I had never had a burger with peanut butter on it so this was a scary thought for me.  Overall, pretty good.  I do not think I would get it again myself but definitely worth trying!  The burger itself was between Med and Med-Well (some parts had a little pink left) so a little more cooked then I would usually like but overall tasty.  The Minneapolis (or Longfellow) location of Blue Door is much more spacious so I would recommend going to this one for seating purposes.

Price: $9.00

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

50's Grill - Brooklyn Center, MN - 50's Grill Burger with Cheese

50's Grill has a great family environment with a flash back to the 50's (surprise I know, the name doesn't give it away).  This was a tasty burger.  You got to choose your cheese (I chose American) and how you wanted it cooked (I chose Med).  I wish I would have chosen another temp only because everyone else at the table got Med so I not 100% sure that not all burgers come out this way.   The sauce definitely adds to the taste of the entree, I would say it is akin to the Big Mac sauce but different enough to add its own tastiness.  The burger itself was a decent burger, it tasted like a normal burger with definitely unfrozen patties (at least they tasted unfrozen).   I obviously had to order a malt as well (my choice was the Cookies 'N Cream... delicious).   With the environment and burger & malt duo, this is definitely a place to go.

Price: $8.95

Burger: 6/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill - Plymouth, MN - Bacon Cheeseburger

I had been to the old Sunshine Factory many times for their happy hour but never had their burger until now.  I understand why no one ever recommended nor talked me into trying these burgers.  First thing I noticed was that the cheese was not fully melted (I don't know if you can see it in the photo).  Yes, this may be very nit picky but it was very noticeable.  Next thing I saw was a huge bun.  I am a fan of thick burger buns as they usually take away from the taste of the burger but I thought I would give it a try (I have been proven wrong before).  This bun was thick and not the softest thing ever.  It also had a lot of garlic on the bun itself... I was not a fan.  The bacon was the best part of this burger, that was done nicely.  The fries were also great and the workers were very nice and welcoming.  I went during lunch when it was slow so I cannot say what they would be like if it was very busy.

Price: $9.95

Burger: 6/10

Bun: 2/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 5/10

Website

Bugaboo Bay - Alexandria, MN - Butcher Block Burger

This burger was terrible.  Other people at the table had regular burgers and agreed that the burger itself was horrible.  You could tell these were frozen burgers that seemed to be microwaved to be cooked.  One of the other people said it perfectly when he said it tasted like a bad salisbury steak frozen dinner.  The bacon was actually quite tasty and due to that, each bite taken with bacon was adequate.  The pulled pork/chipotle beef combo on top was good but again the burger was terrible.  On top of that, we waited about 20 minutes before the waiting staff even acknowledged us being there and then it took probably another 20 minutes to get drinks.  The only nice thing I have to say is that is was a beautiful day to sit outside and volleyball was fun to watch.  I do not recommend ever going here.

Price: $14.49

Burger: 1/10

Bun: 2/10

Atmosphere: 3/10

Overall: 1/10

Website

Snuffy's Malt Shop - Minnetonka, MN - Double Bacon Cheeseburger

So this was my second time to try Snuffys.  This time it was for a rehearsal dinner for Stevie and Brittany.  I decided this time I would go for a double.  It was definitely a good idea.  Although this time I did not add anything more than cheese and bacon (last time I had Mushroom Swiss and the Chili), you could taste the burger easily in this combination.  The burgers were just the right amount of juicy, the bacon was cooked well, and the cheese was melted.  Couldn't really ask for much more.  I am not 100% if it was the ordering a double, the different kind of burger, or the location but this time around was much better if you ask me.

Price: $7.75 (burger alone)

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

Website

Big Louie's Bar & Grill - Crystal, MN - The Big Louie Burger

So I got a Groupon to go here.  Definitely worth that purchase.  I asked the bartender which burger was the best on the menu, she told me to order this.  It is a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top.  It was cooked to order, I ordered Med but it came out a bit more Med-Rare then Med (which I am ok with because I like my burger either way).  This was a good burger if you are in the area but not something so uniquely delicious that you couldn't get it anywhere else.

Price: $10.59

Burger: 5/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Pub 42 - New Hope, MN - BBQ Cheddar & Bacon

So for you folks who know the area, this is where the Sunshine Factory used to be located.  The place still has the same welcoming open feeling that the old ownership had.  I decided to go with the suggested burger from the bartender.  I got to order it the temperature I wanted.  I decided to go with Med-Rare (just to change things up a bit).  It definitely was cooked to order.  It was very juicy with just the right amount of pink inside.  I would definitely eat this bad boy again but would not say it is worth a 30 minute drive to have (for anyone pondering if they should make a special trip).  

Price: $10.95

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

The BBQ Cheddar & Bacon. Cooked to order (which it definitely was cooked Med Rare as asked). Very good burger. Not the best I have had on my trips but still worth eating again. The fries were not so great (I like crispy ones and these were soft ones...)

Outtakes Bar & Grill - New Hope, MN - Bacon Cheeseburger

Well this was an experience... I bought a Groupon for this join.  I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger made to order and asked for Medium.  The first time they brought out the burger it was BURNT and it had Jalapeños on it.  I said something immediately to the bartender and he brought it back to get remade for me.  The second time was better but it was more Med-Rare than Med (which again I am ok with).  Another problem though, it still had the taste of Jalapeños.  I am assuming they either did not clean the prep area well enough or the grill itself.  The burger was pretty spendy once I added cheese and bacon ($2.50 on top of the regular price) and then another $2 for waffle fries over chips.  I probably wouldn't have paid for the waffle fries if it weren't for the Groupon (although their waffle fries were very good).  Either way, the non-Jalapeños bites of the burger were pretty good but I probably will not be going back.

Price: $11.49

Burger: 4/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 5/10

Website

Buffalo Tap - Savage, MN - El Diablo Juicy Lucy

So let me start out by saying I do not like Jalapeños so this burger was done from the start when I saw it (my own ineptitude kept me from reading the ingredients before taking the waiters suggestion).   I decided I would take the Jalapeños off, which made the burger very good.  It was quite hot so I imagine my weakness when it comes to the hotness of Jalapeños would have made me cry with one of those on there.  I would not get this exact burger again (because of my dislike for Jalapeños, not for lack of tastiness)  but I would definitely get another Juicy there.  The cheese oozed out and made it so I could get some on my fries.  It was cooked very nicely, sometimes places are prone to overcooking Juicy Lucy burgers so they did well in that aspect.  I will definitely have to eat here again and try another one to get my true judgement of the Buffalo Tap.

Price: $12.99 (with fries)

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

The Nook - St. Paul, MN - Bronco Burger (Burger of the Month Special)

This was my third trip to the Nook this year.  I saw their burger of the month and thought I had to try it.  This concoction is a Juicy Lucy with bacon and cheddar cheese inside of the burger with an onion ring and honey BBQ sauce on top of the burger.  As I have stated before, I was not much of a fan of onions before but thought I would leave the onion ring on the burger.  It worked out quite nicely with the mixture of everything else.  This was a good burger but I have had better ones at the Nook.  We got to sit downstairs again but this time sat at a table, not nearly as welcoming when sitting at a table as it is sitting at the bar chatting with the workers.

Price: Not sure but I think it was $10.95... could be wrong

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 7/10

Website

Wild Bill's Sports Saloon - Maple Grove, MN - Wild Bill's Works Burger

This burger was adequate at best.  I had a toss up between this and other burgers on the menu but was nudged in this direction.  I would never get this burger ever again.  The meat was dry and overall did not taste like the highest quality.  I would say don't waste your time heading there for a burger (or if you do go on their burger night which I believe is Mondays...).  The guy who waited on our table made the trip worth while though.  He was cracking jokes left and right, gave us a signal for if we needed anything (simply putting the Ketchup on its side... genius!).  I would say he deserves a trophy but the food... not so much.

Price: $9.99

Burger: 4/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 5/10

Website

Culver's - Champlin, MN - The Culver's Deluxe Double

So I had to rate my favorite true fast food burger I have had thus far.  The Culver's burgers are leaps and bounds ahead of their fast food counterparts.  You can tell these are made fresh for you and yes this does mean you may have to wait 5 minutes but definitely worth it!  If you need some greasy goodness that you can get quick, this is a good one to choose.

Price: $7.59

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: N/A - Ate at home

Overall: 8/10

Website

Gabe's Rinkside Bar and Grill - Blaine, MN - Double Cheeseburger

So Eric and I decided to stop here to show Tori (who is from Arizona) what Curling is (this has window seating to live curling at the arena).   They have a Monday special where a single patty is $5 and a double is $6.  I figured for $1 I would definitely go for the double.  The burger itself was very small.  I am glad I got the double for sure (maybe a small person would be content with a single...).  This was greasy goodness though.  It went down quickly and had a very good taste to it.  I would definitely come back for the food but also to watch curling (if you haven't been there yet I would suggest doing it).

Price: $8.45 (Monday special $6)

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Overall: 7/10

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The News Room - Minneapolis, MN - Build Your Own Kobe Burger

I chose to get the build your own Kobe burger on this trip.  There were many different choices (some of them costing more to add than others...) so I thought about taking this in for a combinations lesson in my classroom (yep, nerd alert).  I chose Cheddar cheese, a Basil Aioli, Lettuce and Pickles.  I got to order it the way I wanted to I chose Med-Rare (I went with Eric who ordered it Med so I wanted to see if they cooked them differently).  When I got it, you could definitely see the difference in our burgers.  Mine was more pink and extremely juicy.  This burger was awesome (although I think the Basil Aioli was a bit overpowering).  The downside, you have to go into the heart of downtown Minneapolis which I for one dread doing.  So when you go, take into account you will have to pay for parking (unless of course you work downtown and go during lunch).  I would recommend this highly!

Price: $11.95

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 9/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 9/10

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Shaw's Bar & Grill - Minneapolis, MN - Shaw

In the description for the burger, they say this is a three napkin burger.  They were not joking!  I think I actually used 4 or 5 napkins but thats just being technical.  This burger has sautéed onions (which I usually dislike), bacon, american cheese, mayo, lettuce, and shaws signature sauce.  It was a messy delicious mixture.  I would definitely go back for another.  On top of a great burger, the fries were small and crispy which was an added bonus (although they cost me and extra $0.50).  

Price: $8.45

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

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Wagner's Drive-In - Brooklyn Park, MN - Double Cheeseburger

Driving home the back way to avoid traffic I saw this old drive in and saw that there were cars there (for the life of me I thought they were closed down even though I have driven by the place tons of times).  So I pulled in and ordered a Double Cheeseburger and Fries (the fries are $1.79).  It was pretty quick (not like ordering McDonalds but faster than a sit down restaurant).   I would compare this to Lion's Tap (no not as good but a good comparison).  It was pretty cool with the change of environment sitting in my car while eating a meal.  I would recommend stopping by if you are ever in the area.

Price: $5.29 (Burger alone)

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 5/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

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Houlihan's - Maple Grove, MN - Cheesy Royale Yum Yum Good Times Burger

I went out with friends for dinner and saw the name of this burger and had to order it purely based on title alone.  For a franchise burger, this definitely did not disappoint.  The special sauce they have on it is delicious and makes the burger even better (although I would have like a bit more of the sauce on the burger itself.  The burger was a bit more Well done than I would have liked; it was not Well done but more Med-Well than Med.  I would say if you are here, order this but this would not be a burger that I would make a special trip just to eat.

Price: $11.95

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

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Victory 44 - Minneapolis, MN - The Perfect Burger

(Picture from www.vita.mn - sorry mine got deleted in a phone swap)

When you go to a place and they only have one burger on the menu and its name is The Perfect Burger... well you have to hope that it lives up to the name.  When the bartender brought me the burger he asked if I had ever eaten there before, of course I said no.  He then went on to explain every part of the burger down to where the bun comes from.  I also hate huge buns (as they take away from the taste of the burger) and their bun looked very large.  Luckily it is very soft and almost airy where it does not seem so large when you bite into it.  They put love into every little piece of this burger and most of it is either made in house, or by a local distributor (small business supporting small business).  The only downfall, it is a small coffee shop which is not really my "scene."  Definitely recommend and yes this would be a destination burger!

Price: $14

Burger: 10/10

Bun: 9/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 9/10

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JC's Bar & Grill - Maple Grove, MN - Double Trouble

I wend here for a place to get a burger and to grade some papers.  They were very accommodating of this and did not try to rush me out (given it was not as though all of the spots were filled and they needed me to leave).  With that being said... The burger.  As I was eating it I kept thinking I could taste taco seasoning.  I couldn't figure out why there would be taco seasoning on a hamburger until I looked over and saw a sign saying that there was a special on tacos that day.  Well that showed me that they either did not clean their prep station or the grill itself very well.  Either way, it made the burger terrible.  It has thousand island dressing on it which I usually like but mixed with tacos... yeah not so much.  The staff was very nice and did a good job though.  They do have great waffle fries so if you want to eat something, you should get waffle fries too.

Price: $11.98

Burger: 3/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 4/10

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Gold Nugget - Minnetonka, MN - Bacon Me Crazy Burger

I was a bit scared of having Gouda on my burger but with the mixture of burger and beef in the patty and also that it was topped with maybe the most delicious bacon I have ever had I think this burger worked out quite nicely!  The burger itself was cooked at a perfect medium (I was asked pink or no pink).  This is either the most or tied with the most delicious burger I have had thus far on my trip.  Definitely a must try!  [Note:  I just looked at the menu and they added a Fried Egg and Avocado to this burger... so may not be the same deliciousness as before but I would still try it... the price also went up $1]

Price: $14.95

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 9/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

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Mad Jacks Sports Cafe - Brooklyn Park, MN - Apple Jack Burger

This was another try for close to home deliciousness.  The burger itself was decent.  It was not amazing but one that could be ordered on a regular basis without disappointment.  I ordered it medium and it seemed to be medium when it was brought out to me.  It was a bit drier than I would of liked so it may have actually been closer to Med-Well than I would have liked.   The bacon was good but again nothing to brag about or jump around for.

Price: Do Not Remember

Burger: 6/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 6/10

Website - N/A

Five Guys Burger & Fries - Maple Grove, MN - Cheese Burger

Great "fast-ish" food place.  Greasy burger that is very juicy and delicious.  The burgers are definitely not frozen (or don't seem to be) and are fresh made right in front of you eyes (if you care to watch).  You get to order whatever toppings you want and they are made precisely the way you ask.  As you can see in the picture, the cheese is melted and gooey deliciousness.  The bun is nothing fantastic but much better than any real fast food place.  The fries are fantastic and you can either get them regular or with cajun spices on them (I chose cajun).  Unfortunately they are not provided in the price of the burger.

Price: $6.49 (burger only)

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

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Roasted Pear - Brooklyn Park, MN - Smokehouse Bacon Swiss

So I thought I would try a place close to home although no one had recommended it to me.  Mistake on my part.  I asked the bartender which was the best burger he told me to get the Smokehouse Bacon Swiss and then asked how I wanted it cooked.  Awesome I get to order it the way I like, fantastic.  I ordered it Med, unfortunately it came out Med-Well to Well Done.  Not what I like.  Very little juice at all.  The bacon on top was also burnt to a crisp.  It was like they put it on the grill and forgot they had put it on.    Even with that the taste was decent.  Not worth the money but decent at best.  The place is nice and they seemed to be very kind and talkative to their regulars (which I am not one of).

Price: $11

Burger: 4/10

Bun: 5/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 5/10

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Maple Tavern - Maple Grove, MN - Half & Half

The burger was a blend of bacon and beef seared together deliciously.  This mixture went so well together and tasted delicious.  The problem with the blend was that it did not stick together very well which led to a messy meal.  The mixture was topped with American cheese and an aioli sauce.  The combination was fantastic.  It was very tender and juicy which made for a tasty concoction.   The place itself seemed pretty decent.  The staff was very nice and a "manager" (I am assuming he was a manager...) asked us a couple of times if we were happy or if we needed anything (which we did need refills one time).  Overall a decent place.

Price: $12.45 with substitution of fries

Burger: 10/10

Bun: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 9/10

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5-8 Club - Champlin, MN - Juicy Lucy

I am kind of biased when it comes to the place because it is so close to my house and I have been here many times.  This time I chose the American Cheese Juicy Lucy and it lived up to its name, Juicy.  The burger takes time to get made (about 30 minutes to cook the burger) but goodness takes a while.  One of the perks of having gooey cheese is that when it comes out you can eat it up with the fries.  Oh so delicious.  The burger was a little bit overdone for my tastes but overall this was delicious.  The staff let me come and grade papers without being too pushy to get me out which was very nice. 

Price: $9.25

Burger: 8/10

Bun: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

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Snuffy's Malt Shop - St. Paul, MN - Mushroom Swiss Burger and Chili Burger

So this is a rare moment when I will rate 2 burgers in the same sitting.  My friend and I cut them in half and shared so I only had half of each burger.  The prices are without fries or any side, those can be ordered individually or to share with the table.  So here we go...

First the atmosphere, it was a malt and burger shop with the red and white stripes all over the place.  The place was packed and the service was so so.  I would say it was a cool experience but really it was adequate at best.  I would go back but would not be the person who said we should go there.

The left picture is the Mushroom Swiss Burger.  The bun was toasted which made this step up from what it would have been otherwise.  The mushroom and the swiss overtook the taste and made it so they were the main part of the meal rather than the burger.  I think this would have made for a much better burger had I ordered a double.  The meat was tender but seemed a little like it was frozen.  A decent burger but nothing to call home about.

Price: $6 (burger only)

Burger: 5/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 6/10

The right picture is Chili Burger.  The chili added goodness to this burger.  It was decent chili but not great.  Most of the observations from the first burger are the same for this burger.  I think having a double would have made it so the burger would have been the main event rather than the chili.

Price: $6.50 (burger only)

Burger: 5/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 6/10

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The Bulldog Northeast - Minneapolis, MN - Tillamook

This burger was decent at best... The only bright part of this burger was the bacon.  The bacon was thick cut, cooked so it was soft.  That bacon was delicious.  I would give the bacon a 10/10.  The fries were pretty darn good as well.  I would definitely not make the trip to get this.  The parking is terrible.  The people serving were nice but clearly in a hurry.  This is a meh for sure and somewhere I would probably not go again.

Price: $12

Burger: 3/10

Bun: 3/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Overall: 4/10

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Lions Tap - Eden Prairie, MN - Double Cheeseburger

Delicious.  Not much more you can say than that.  This was a nice greasy burger that is quickly made with love.  They have a very small menu and really stick to what they know (which are burgers).  Once you take a bite, you will have greasy goodness dribbling down your chin but you will be oh so happy about it.  The downside, this is definitely a destination burger.  For most, it is in the middle of nowhere and will take a while to get to.  It is also usually busy but the service is awesome.  Heck, they won't even get mad at you if you spill your Mt. Dew all over the bar (yep, I accidentally tested that theory).  Another downside is that you have to order fries separately.  As most of you already have tried this you will not be surprised that I recommend this most definitely.

Price: $7.45 (Burger Only)

Burger: 9/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

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VFW - Golden Valley, MN - Cheeseburger

Well lets start with the fact that this is a VFW.  There are obviously a lot of vets around who are extremely friendly.  They have pull tabs and bingo nights which is a bonus.  The servers are nice but rushed as there is usually only one person on when I have been in there.  On Tuesdays they have a deal for 1/2 burger for $5 (to add cheese and fries the total is a wallet breaking $6.50).  The burger was cooked to order which I asked for a Med and definitely got Med.  The burger was juicy enough but not completely red on the inside.  The beef tasted like quality meat which you will not always get for a $6 burger so I was pleasantly surprised.  The size and price really made this a great Tuesday night place to get a burger.

Price: $6.50

Burger: 7/10

Bun: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

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