The Burgers of Burbank (Part 7)

Greetings, Readers!

Last week I told you about the first two burgers in our Five-In-Two-Hours Burgering Adventure, and while those two may have been a bit disappointing, the third one in this series definitely brightened the day a bit.

After the Peanut Butter Burger, we headed a few doors down on San Fernando Blvd. to the Burbank Bar and Grille.

It's been a long time since I was last in this restaurant, but this is a great place to eat with a clean sports bar vibe and a retractable roof on the patio on warm days/nights.

Settling in on a slow afternoon at the Grille, we decided to order the Angus Burger, which was essentially our only option at the Grille. The burger, a 1/2 pound patty of freshly ground Angus beef cooked to medium doneness, with a thick slice of gouda cheese and served on a brioche bun, this was definitely a step up from the previous burgers this day.

I added a few slices of onion and lettuce on top for a fresh and crunch contrast to the savory meat and cheese. The beef patty had a much more noticeable and palatable flavor than the previous burgers on this outing. While the gouda had a noticeable smooth and mellow cheese flavor, the Anugs patty was still able to shine through on this burger.

The sweet potato fries on the side were a nice addition to this meal, contrasting the flavor of the savory burger with a sweet crispness.

While this burger was delicious though, it wasn't a knockout, but if you're in the area and want a solid burger for lunch, The Burbank Bar and Grille would be a good option for lunch.

While I still have two more burgers from this day alone to write about, Readers, we are still a long way from the finish line. Having just spent an afternoon this past Sunday in Burbank, I have a lot more exciting sandwiches to tell you about in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

And make sure you leave a message in the comments below about your favorite burger, meat or meatless.

Until next week...



The Angus Burger
*** 1/2 Stars
Burbank Bar and Grille
112 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 6)

Greetings, Readers!

Two weeks ago I mentioned that on one of the days of our burgering adventures, Bryan and I had taken on the challenge of eating five different burgers in an afternoon.

The first burger that we sat down for at The Great Grill Restaurant caught my eye immediately when I opened the menu as it was a combination I never would have dreamed of: a peanut butter burger.

That's right. No joke here, folks. The 50's Nutty Burger features a 1/4 pound beef patty with lettuce, thousand island dressing, and a healthy dose of peanut butter.

I know, I know. Thousand Island dressing AND peanut butter? That sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster, but with writing a blog called "The Danger Sandwich" you have to go out on a limb and risk your life sometimes.

The main thing about the burger is that the peanut butter flavor is such a dominant flavor on the sandwich. For the most part you can't even taste the beef patty, and if it wasn't for the texture you wouldn't even know there was meat on the sandwich.

Every once in awhile you could get a little taste of Thousand Island dressing, but it wasn't as gross of a combination as you would think, especially since the peanut butter quashed any competing flavor from that ingredient.

The second burger we tried, The 1/4lb Great Burger, was more like a 1/4lb Average Burger (zing?). Sure bacon, avocado and cheddar were added to the 1/4lb patty, and this time around I could definitely taste the beef aspect of the hamburger, but nothing stood out. It was a pretty standard burger that didn't have me dying to come back for more.

This visit was definitely a disappointment. Where the promise of experimentation with burgers (the 50's Nutty Burger), and the possibility of deliciousness with a good old stand-by (the 1/4lb Great Burger) I initially had high hopes, but sometimes even the prospect of burgers can let you down.

Next time, I'll have a few burgers from our 5-in-one-day outing that will make these two look like an easily forgotten memory of sandwiching.

Until next week, Readers...


The 50's Nutty Burger
* 1/2 stars
The 1/4lb. Great Burger
** Stars
The Great Grill
126 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 5)

Greetings, Readers!

One of the most surprising things of this run of burgers is the sheer number of places in Burbank that are known for a particular burger.

Not counting diners or major chains, this town has an impressive lineup of this particular type of sandwich.

Not surprising on this outing was that we would find a burger worth trying at the world famous Bob's Big Boy.

Teeming with history, this location of Bob's has been around since 1949 and it's quickly noticed how much of an effect this restaurant has had on fast food and burger culture from that point on.

Take for example our choice for this visit, the Super Big Boy. Similar looking to a particular major chain's marquee burger, this sandwich quickly shows off why it's the superior option.

A double-decker burger with medium-sized patties, topped with fresh lettuce, melted American cheese, a special relish and a sesame seed bun, this burger was very enjoyable.

The burger patties have a great beef flavor that is still noticeable over the other ingredients. The lettuce adds a great crispy crunch, the American cheese was thoroughly melted and the relish adds an excellent tangy flavor to complement the delicious beef patties.

Overall delicious and so simple, the Super Big Boy shows you how it is the perfect template for a double-decker burger. Something that particular chains should take note of.

The Super Big Boy also is noted for having 50% more meat and double the cheese of the regular Big Boy, so if you're going to order a burger here I'm going to have to suggest the Super Big Boy over the original just to get more bang for your buck.

So the next time you're in Burbank, make sure to get a window booth at Bob's Big Boy, order up a super Big Boy and revel in the history of one of the oldest burger joints in the area.

Until next time, Readers...


Super Big Boy
**** Stars
4211 Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505
www.bobs.net

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 4)

Greetings, Readers!

Recently, while in the pursuit of the best Burgers in Burbank, Bryan (@818NewGuy) and I embarked on our most dangerous leg of the tour.

We tried FIVE different burgers in one day.

Actually FIVE different burgers in about two hours.

But that's another story for another day...well, the next five weeks I should say.

For this week though, I wanted to focus on a restaurant that I have passed by numerous times while living in the area but never actually got around to stopping in until recently: Mo's Fine Food.

While burgers aren't the only thing on their menu, or even the biggest section, it is obvious that this restaurant treats crafting their burgers like an art form.

We selected the Menage a Trois burger, a thick and juicy patty topped with a healthy dose of avocado, Swiss cheese and bacon (the Trois).

From the first bite of this burger, it was evident that it was bound for greatness. The half of an avocado on the top provided a very subtle buttery flavor with an incredibly smooth and creamy texture. The bacon with its smoky flavor was well cooked, but not done to a crisp. The Swiss cheese was thoroughly melted and added its signature smoky flavor. The lettuce on top of all of that added a bit of textural crunch and freshness.

All of that was delicious, and we haven't even discussed the main star of the sandwich: the beef.

A little pink on the inside, this was one of the juiciest and most delicious burgers I've had in quite some time and definitely the best burger thus far on this adventure. The flavor of the certified Angus beef here is stellar and despite the flavorful other ingredients, shines through at the same time as blending well with everything involved in this sandwich.

This was a handmade patty that was crafted with love for the art of burgers and it shows in every aspect of this sandwich. Even an excellent bun was selected for this as it held together easily until the end.

Applause is in order here as Mo's not only rocked with the burger, but also provides a great place to relax and enjoy some food after work. Low key atmosphere and dimmed lighting topped off what was already a great burger outing.


But let's not stop here simply because we've found an excellent example of a burger. There are still so many yet to come.

Until next week, Readers...


Menage a Trois Burger
*****
Mo's Fine Food
4301 Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 3)

Welcome back, Readers!

Have you been waiting over the past seven days for this adventure into the Burgers of Burbank to continue?

Well, Part 3 is finally here and it's a good one.

When Bryan and I had originally gone on our sandwiches of Burbank adventure last year, one place we stopped at was Moore's Delicatessen in Burbank, so when we heard their had a delicious burger on their menu as well, it seemed like a good idea to stop there.

Setting down at a table with beers, we waited for the Deli Burger, a fairly straightforward burger with cheddar cheese, pickles and arugula on a toasted sesame bun.

For such a simple burger, this is definitely one to write home about. The cheese was thoroughly melted with the bite of sharp cheddar. The arugula added a bit of fresh flavor, though having been on the burger (possibly on top of the burger while on the grill) it came off a little wilted and hence a lot less crunch than could be expected. Not exactly a negative though as the light green flavor was still there.

The burger patty itself is what's really on display here, which should always be the case. Vibrant meaty flavor permeates the burger, even rising above the sharp cheddar cheese. A hint of smoke and a medium cooked middle with a lightly charred outside made this a top burger so far on our trip.

So it seems that Moore's is more than just a great deli, it looks like they also make a pretty great burger too.

Well that marks the end of this week, but we are far from the end of the Burgers of Burbank tour. Do you have any suggestions for us to add to our list?

I'm curious if anyone knows of a vegan/vegetarian "burger". Let me know if you do.

Until next week...


Deli Burger
**** Stars
Moore's Delicatessen
271 E. Orange Grove Ave.
Burbank, CA

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 2)

Greetings, Readers!

Welcome back for the second of many installments on the Burgers of Burbank. For those of you reading this article first, I am on the hunt for some of the best  burgers in Burbank with writer Bryan Mahoney of The Burbank Leader.

Last week's burger was a bit disappointing, and after we left Alameda Liquor we quickly tried to forget about it with a new offering from a recommended place.

The Cafe Victory is a tiny restaurant we almost drove past twice without noticing because of it being on a quiet stretch of Victory Blvd. South and hidden behind a tree. A very inconspicuous place indeed.

Despite being in a less-traveled part of town, The Cafe Victory was packed. Speaking with the owner Rogel during our meal we found out that a lot of his customers are from his previous restaurant in Burbank and  followed him to his new establishment.

Dedicated patrons? Sounds like the food could be worth the visit.

We ordered two different burgers for this stop: A regular cheeseburger and a Kobe Burger.

I think most people would imagine that the Kobe Burger would be the clear winner over a regular cheeseburger. Surprisingly this was not the case.

The Kobe Burger with its blue cheese, grilled onions, and lettuce was simple and enjoyable but nothing incredibly memorable. The burger's flavor wasn't very strong and easily overpowered by the blue cheese. Not bad, but definitely not a standout on the menu.

The straightforward offering of the Cheeseburger fared significantly better though. The cheddar cheese was melted thoroughly, essentially encasing the savory and thick beef patty. Even with the lettuce and pickles on top, the savory deliciousness of the beef and smoothness of the cheddar shone through and complemented each other thoroughly.

So while the Kobe burger didn't live up to expectation, the Cheeseburger was definitely a nice surprise, and well worth a trip back to The Cafe Victory. Not only the food, but also the great service, and attentiveness by the owner himself, makes this little cafe definitely worth finding in Burbank.

So week two has proven much more promising than the last, but this is still the beginning of the long road to find some of the best burgers in Burbank. For those in the area, please let me know your recommendations, and all of my Readers, let me know what your favorite burger is from your town. You never know when I might make it out to write about it.

Until next week...


Cheeseburger **** Stars
Kobe Burger  *** Stars
The Cafe Victory
1608 Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA

The Burgers of Burbank (Part 1)

Greetings, Readers!

I hope you are sitting down, because today begins the trek through Burbank as Bryan Mahoney (@818NewGuy) and I try to find some of the best burgers in town.

Prior to the start of our expedition we planned out nearly 30 different places in Burbank that had a burger listed on their menu. Even diners were suggested for the list, as long as the burger was promoted as their best item, not just if it made an appearance.

So this past weekend we decided to make our first dent in the list and stopped at Alameda Liquor, which is a liquor store that has a grill right inside the front door.

Not wanting to fill up on our first stop, we decided to try the single cheeseburger and split it.

While waiting though we were told by a regular customer that the real sandwich to try would be the Double Pastrami with everything on it (note to self: get double pastrami later today).

The burger was really nothing to write home about. An incredibly thin patty, overloaded with mayo, ketchup and mustard with a little lettuce, pickles and onions underneath, we were left very unsatisfied and comparing this sandwich to a basic Burger King burger.

And if you like that sort of burger, and wanted to support a local business at the same time, this may be the one for you.

I suggested that maybe a double cheeseburger would have given us more meat flavor, since the taste of the patty was barely recognizable under all of those condiments, but i also feared this would just provide more room for more condiments to be added.

Okay, so should we have expected more from a grill inside of a liquor store? Maybe not, but you know, sometimes incredible sandwiches can be found in the least likely of places.

It may not have been the best start to our journey, but the good news is that it can only get better from here on out, and next week's blog will show you a shining example of a great Burbank burger.

Until next week...


Cheeseburger (sans tomatoes)
* 1/2 Stars
Alameda Liquor
929 S. Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502