Burger at Abe & Louie's

[Bostonbob3]

Had steak there many times. But strangely, for a self-proclaimed burger expert, never their hamburger.

Site search indicates they're really good. Any recent experiences?

What's the size? Type of beef used? Accompanyments?

[ShelT54]

I've heard the $17 burger in Bristol Lounge @ 4 Seasons is really good, if you have your heart set on paying through the nose for a hamburger. If not, Bartleys in Cambridge and Sullivan in Somerville should take care of your burger lust for about half the price.

[tamerlanenj]

Not to start this debate again, but really, R.F. O'Sullivan's sucks. I can name 10 better burgers off the top of my head.

Abe and Louie's, Eastern Standard, 75 Chestnut, Flat Patties, The Lower Depths, The Druid, Solas (yes, Solas), The Palm, Bartley's, Fuddruckers....

[MC Slim JB]

I can see why people dislike O'Sullivan's (weak "fries", a burger too big to eat with hands comfortably), but I've had 20 burgers there, and never had one cooked anything but perfectly. So it looks like an experience of consistent, proper execution counts for a lot, hence my dislike of Abe & Louie's.

I normally love the Audubon Circle burger, but on a hectic pre-Sox night recently, mine was cooked through completely, yuck. (For the record, that's the first time that's happened to me there, and I'll estimate I've eaten at least fifty of their burgers.)

My own preference is strongly for a quality traditional bun, which aces out ESK in my mind: I really dislike their choice of a brioche roll. Further, they will not substitute for it (I asked), despite the fact that they do have plain rolls in that kitchen for use on other sandwiches. I think Bartley's is good, but probably not as good as the hype. Fuddrucker's is actually not bad, but you have to endure that soulless chain-restaurant atmosphere.

Vivre la différence.

[Joanie]

I can't believe Audobon overcooked. As I've mentioned, I find their burgers to always be quite less cooked than what I asked for (medium is my usual). Must have been the baseball crowd confusing them.

[MC Slim JB]

It was before Friday night's Sox-Yankees game, so that's a bigger crowd around Fenway than usual, plus a combination of a pre-Sox crowd and the Friday night crowd at Audubon (and students still in town). I almost never go to weekend games, so I'm rarely in there on Fri-Sun. It was definitely as packed and crazy as I've ever seen it, one of those times where it's good to be a regular, as the bar staff really took care of us in the scrum.

[Gabatta]

We hit ESK before the Sox game on Saturday, and I am thinking of renaming it The Salt Lick. Not only were my burger and fries WAY oversalted, but the majority of the food everyone else got was as well.

The dirnks were great as usual, but the food we ordered on our last visits has not been up to par.

[MC Slim JB]

ESK lost their chef to KO Prime, so some changes are inevitable.

[Joanie]

But ES tends to be on the salty side. I did request less salt on fries once and they listened.

[jonship]

It's $19, but delicious. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and I would estimate that 50% of Bristol Lounge patrons ordered the burger.

[MC Slim JB]

One of the reasons I'm not an Abe & Louie fan is this: three times ordering their burger at lunch medium rare, three times getting a well done burger. You're a steakhouse, and an expensive one at that: your whole reason for being is grilling meat properly, yet you can't cook a ground beef patty to the right internal temperature? Sorry, moving on.

[tamerlanenj]

Of the half dozen or so A&L burgers I've had, I've gotten overcooked ones at least once that I remember, and it is annoying. And, yeah, it wasnn't like medium instead of MR, but completely well done. I sent it back, and got back a nice medium rare one, however.

[tamerlanenj]

I'm also a big fan of the A&L burger, but I have no idea of the specifics of the beef. i'd like to think there's some high quality prime trimmings in there, like the Luger burger, but I've never asked and the menu doesn't indicate. Get it with the sweet potato fries!

[Bostonbob3]

Ooo, I've actually had the burger at Peter Luger (and the porterhouse of course). If A&L's burger is anywhere near that good, I'm gonna have two.

Thanks for the sweet potato fries suggestion.

(This all started because someone gave me a $50 gift card there. Not enough for dinner, but perfect for burgers for two.)

[Rubee]

I agree with everyone about the sweet potatoes fries. In fact, we made special plans for lunch just to try the burger and sweet potatoes fries for the first time last month - all because BBHound had recommended it in a previous thread. Thanks BBHound!

[tamerlanenj]

I actually like dunking them in the steak sauce. Though I'm a bit ashamed to admit that.

[BBHound]

Abe & Louie's has a great burger but only at lunch. It's 8 oz. cooked to specifications (none of this only medium well stuff). Great flavor. It comes with carmelized onions and cheddar cheese. Also, it comes with fries, but the best part is you can substitute their sweet potato fries instead. A great deal at $12.