423633 Sun Jul 22 14:41:43 -0700 2007 54 8 Midwest 0 2772938 I am looking for the best burger in town. I have several favorites, what are yours? Sun Jul 22 14:41:43 -0700 2007 76252 lovempls 1 2772974 Turtles Bar and Grill in Shakopee, MN. Lions Tap (a little over-rated) in Eden Prairie, MN. Matts Bar in South Minneapolis, MN. Buck Hills Ski Area in Burnsville, MN. Chili's Bar and Grille that's everywhere in the U.S. Sun Jul 22 14:57:01 -0700 2007 2772938 113634 ribsnchicken 1 2773005 I had a really good cajun burger at the American Sports Cafe, right off of 280 & Como. The place is a dive, and I remember it being smokey (Not sure how/if that changed with the smoking ban). But I do remember the burger being tasty (with far too much juicy fattiness to it to be anything like the ones I make at home, which I must obviously use leaner beef for), and it was cheap too. It is definately a townie type bar (Think Mayslacks in NE) but they make a pretty darn good burger. Sun Jul 22 15:15:04 -0700 2007 2772938 90264 autmommy 1 2773245 The best in town is, hands down, Town Talk Diner's. Sun Jul 22 17:17:55 -0700 2007 2772938 13777 Jordan 2 2774103 Salut in Edina, i know, I know. Parasole Group. Town Talk has not wowed me with a solid med rare when a rare/med rare was ordered. Frickles? Not again. Dive burger: The Nook Diner burger: The Convention Grill Pedigree (Thousand Hills) burger: Cafe 28 Patio burger: Craftsman Chain burger: Culvers Mon Jul 23 07:30:10 -0700 2007 2773245 110572 blowphishery 3 2774209 I second the Nook. I particularly like the Nook's Moliter burger (i.e, Lucy with Pepperjack cheese) and their Lodge Burger. The buns are from PJ Murphy's bakery down the street and the accompanying fries are hand cut. I like the cajun Lucy (variant on the Lucy--burger stuffed with jalapeno peppers with pepperjack cheese) at the the Groveland Tap in St. Paul, as well as their turkey burger (same turkey burger more or less as Highland Grill and Longfellow Grill. It's got peanuts, jalapeño, onion, garlic and curry mixed in with the ground turkey and has pepperjack cheese on top, along with some kind of fancy mayo). I think 112 Eatery's burger on an English muffin with brie cheese is fantastically decadent. ~TDQ Mon Jul 23 08:07:31 -0700 2007 2774103 12005 The Dairy Queen 4 2774385 I have to fight the urge to try burgers all the time when I go places because I'd never try anything else on the menu. I tend to get burgers only when I'm at a place that specializes in them. As such, I have not tried the brie burger at 112. I have tried the kobe/brie/truffle oil/english muffin burger at Bulldog. Can't say how it compares to 112, but it is a damn good burger. Best I've had in a long while. Mon Jul 23 09:02:25 -0700 2007 2774209 88555 pgokey 5 2774403 I've had every dessert and all but 1 or 2 of the entrees, appetizers, and side-dishes on the menu at 112 Eatery, so, it was not hard for me to work in trying their burger. ;-) . Still, I have a lot of favorites on their menu, so, when I get their burger, I usually get it to share with my dining companion (they'll gladly slice it in two for you) so I can get some other things, too. ~TDQ Mon Jul 23 09:05:48 -0700 2007 2774385 12005 The Dairy Queen 4 2779648 It looks like I'll be eating at Nook on Thursday. I assume the prices are low? How much is the lucy there? Tue Jul 24 16:00:15 -0700 2007 2774209 88555 pgokey 5 2782266 Reasonably low prices. I want to say the lucy runs around $7 ish, and includes a lot of fries. Right folks? Wed Jul 25 11:06:57 -0700 2007 2779648 13324 diesel 3 2776020 I intensely disliked the frickles a year ago, when I first visited Town Talk. I tried them again last week and was very impressed. Something has changed ... I'm not exactly sure what ... and they're pretty addictive right now. Mon Jul 23 14:49:36 -0700 2007 2774103 13777 Jordan 4 2776161 I had them for the first time on Friday. I was so excited to try them, and wanted to like them so much. Alas, my table did not finish the order. The two guys I was with are both East Coast transplants, so they find our penchant for battered fried food curious - when I ordered them, they both said "That's so Midwestern of you!" But I just wasn't digging the flavors. I think the pickle chips should be thicker, and didn't like the sweetness of the pickles. I also thought the dill sauce had an odd after taste. Maybe the tongue needs an orientation period with them. Mon Jul 23 15:22:19 -0700 2007 2776020 88555 pgokey 5 2776525 Hmm. Maybe it's me who's adjusted, then. I had pretty much the same reaction as you when I first had them. I tried them again last week and was very impressed. Also, TTD's new appetizer of house-smoked salmon on potato pancakes is killer. Mon Jul 23 17:11:33 -0700 2007 2776161 13777 Jordan 6 2777400 Yeah, I was suggesting the process as more of a universal that has yet to happen to me, but apparently happened to you. I think I'll still wait until someone else orders them. Mon Jul 23 22:45:56 -0700 2007 2776525 88555 pgokey 5 2778760 pgokey, I'm with you! I so wanted to love the frickles, especially since I love fried food and would eat a baby's finger if it was fried! But I felt like the pickle chips were too thin, and I didn't like the honey-mustard dill sauce all that much either. The sweetness of the beer batter and the dill sauce was just too much. I do still love their cheese curds though. Tue Jul 24 10:47:31 -0700 2007 2776161 69182 drew13000 2 2774376 I do like the sauce on their kitchen sink burger. ~TDQ Mon Jul 23 08:59:20 -0700 2007 2773245 12005 The Dairy Queen 1 2773603 I don't have a favorite, but my husband had a burger at The Happy Gnome the other night and raved about it. He said normally for him a burger is a burger, but theirs was really really good. Sun Jul 22 19:52:33 -0700 2007 2772938 65040 cheetobrain 2 2773617 We like the burgers in the bar at WA Frost's in St. Paul. I remember it not being cheap but they're really good when you're in the mood for a burger. I also remember really liking the Convention Grill's burgers. Sun Jul 22 20:00:53 -0700 2007 2773603 71299 cherrylime 3 4013145 I have to retract my WA Frost burger comments above. Had it last night(first time there since the chef turnover) and it was at best average but probably below average. Not such a good thing for a $10 burger. The burger itself was tasteless, needed seasoning badly. The bun was either stale or had just been sitting out in the kitchen and was starting to dry out. Disappointing, especially since we went there especially for the burger. I should have know because we shared the garden salad as a start and it was also bad. Again flavorless with just a few mixed greens and halved cherry tomatoes. Couldn't detect any flavor in the dressing except oil. The other reason we went was for some good draft beer. They didn't have any pale ales or amber beers at all. 3 or 4 wheat beers and guiness and one of the belgian trappist type beers. All and all not a successful trip. Sat Sep 06 09:29:46 -0700 2008 2773617 71299 cherrylime 2 2774243 I'm not a big fan of the Happy Gnome, although I understand their beer list is very extensive. If I'm in that Selby/Dale area of St. Paul in need of a burger, I prefer the Muddy Pig down the street and around the corner on Dale, or Sweeney's a couple more blocks farther on Dale. Neither are my favorite burgers in the Cities, but I prefer both to Happy Gnome. I don't know why but I have a particular weekness for bleu cheese burgers and the one at Sweeney's hits the spot for me sometimes. These are both neighborhood bar-type places, btw, as are The Nook and the Groveland Tap. ~TDQ Mon Jul 23 08:19:39 -0700 2007 2773603 12005 The Dairy Queen 3 2777509 For a good bleu cheese burger, try Jax. They have only one burger on the menu. It comes with a different kind of cheese, but they'll substitute bleu cheese if you ask. Which I did, and I loved the result. Disclaimer: I don't eat many burgers - the average is 2 or 3 a year - so I'm not an expert. But I am very picky about my rare and treasured burger experiences. Jax meets all my requirements for a great burger. Anne Tue Jul 24 00:50:27 -0700 2007 2774243 12541 AnneInMpls 1 2773793 I'd give a second to the Convention Grill. I also enjoy the 5-8 Club for a jucy lucy (as well as Matt's). Downtown, I'd recommend The Burger Place (f/k/a L. Phillips) in the Soo Line Building. (It also had a sibling in the U.S. Courthouse, but I haven't been there for a while so I don't know if it's still there.) I also like the burger at My Burger. Vincent also has a high fallutin' burger with short ribs and smoked gouda worked into it. (I've had it at the happy hour where it wasn't too expensive.) Places mentioned so far (other than Chili's - too many): Sun Jul 22 23:13:38 -0700 2007 2772938 12826 bob s 2 2774194 I second My Burger. I wish they had a location other than the skyway though.. it's hard to get there when I'm not working downtown. Mon Jul 23 08:03:04 -0700 2007 2773793 71299 cherrylime 3 2774493 Their website lists a second location in Center City open through September. I don't know if that's easier for you.... ;-) 516 Grand Avenue Center City, MN 55012 My Burger has great shakes, but I slightly prefer the burgers and fries at The Burger Place. More places in thread: Mon Jul 23 09:25:17 -0700 2007 2774194 12826 bob s 1 2774213 Buffalo Tap in Savage on RT13 has a very good burger and also darn good wings. Mon Jul 23 08:09:18 -0700 2007 2772938 68103 Musky_Hunter 1 2774615 There's a new entrant in the Gourmet Burger category - Harry's Food and Cocktails. They've been open a few weeks in the former Nochee space, and Steven Brown (of Levain fame) is doing the cooking. We ate there after the Aquatennial fireworks. The burger has about 5 varieties - I went with "The Frenchie" which had truffle oil, brie, and grilled onions. It was very, very good - although the bun really didn't hold up to the burger. We also tried the Tomato Salad and the Asparagus - both were excellent. It is a great place to go before or after an event at The Dome, and they have a pretty big patio. My only complaint is that they're not open for lunch. (Here's the story from the Star Tribune that tipped me off to the place - it is more about the space than the food, but does describe the decor, and confirm that Steven Brown is cooking http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1301003.html) Mon Jul 23 09:53:48 -0700 2007 2772938 11349 Danny 2 2776027 No lunch? Rats. It's a block from my office. Mon Jul 23 14:51:25 -0700 2007 2774615 13777 Jordan 3 2776556 Thanks! Will do. Mon Jul 23 17:20:54 -0700 2007 2776341 13777 Jordan 2 2776715 I'm so glad Steven Brown is cooking somewhere again..that Star Tribune article is bizarre though; barely mentions him and talks about all that crazy corporate restaurant stuff. That stuff turns me off. I know Steven will be able to rise above it all though w/his beautiful food, he always does. Mon Jul 23 18:17:05 -0700 2007 2774615 71299 cherrylime 1 2774698 I had the burger at Cafe Maude the other night and was impressed. Ordered it medium rare, and it actually came out medium rare. Tasted beefy in the best sense of the word, and was thick without being obscene -- great bun, too. That said, I'm definitely a Culver's Butterburger guy. But I realize that my preference for thin, small, char-heavy burgers is an anomaly. Mon Jul 23 10:10:23 -0700 2007 2772938 28438 jrnorton23 1 2777031 See my review of BANK above Mon Jul 23 19:49:51 -0700 2007 2772938 16205 elrushbo 2 2777689 Here's a link to elrushbo's report on his lunch visit to bank, wherein he mentions a fantastic burger: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/424109 P.S. Anne--thank you for the bleu cheese burger tip at Jax! ~TDQ Tue Jul 24 05:55:42 -0700 2007 2777031 12005 The Dairy Queen 1 2777406 I had the blue cheese and mushroom burger at Bryant Lake Bowl tonight. I was actually a little disappointed. The mushrooms were really good, but the blue cheese all had melted and ran all over the plate - it was almost watery in its melted state. And the beef taste inherent to grass fed cows was ruined two ways: the blue cheese was sharp enough to overpower whatever beef flavor there was, and the burger was pretty well cooked. The server didn't ask how I wanted it done, and it came medium-well. There is no better way to ruin the flavor of beef than to overcook it. Mon Jul 23 22:50:37 -0700 2007 2772938 88555 pgokey 1 2778748 Love, love, love the burger at Vincent! Like a really high-class Jucy Lucy! Also second the Convention Grill and Matt's Bar. I also like the 5-8 Club version of the Jucy Lucy. It's just a little thicker and less charred than Matt's version. Tue Jul 24 10:45:15 -0700 2007 2772938 69182 drew13000 2 2779131 A second on the Vincent burger. I have enjoyed that bit of decadence for dinner and was pleased to see them grilling and selling them on Bastille Day on Brit's patio. Another good Jucy Lucy for rich people is at Mairin's Table, which has a version with gruyere. Nummy! Tue Jul 24 12:15:08 -0700 2007 2778748 80696 EarlOfSandwich 1 2778964 Try Ike's on 6th downtown Minneapolis. Tue Jul 24 11:38:01 -0700 2007 2772938 10675 Davydd 1 2779463 Craftsman has great burgers, particularly the venison burger. Also good is the Monte Carlo's burger, but we always get them takeout, I can't stand that place. Casey's, a total dive bar on Nicollet, has a decent burger. You expect Cisco, but you get a handpattied burger. Only good because it is two blocks from my house. Tue Jul 24 13:36:07 -0700 2007 2772938 56203 churchka 2 2780590 Hands down best burger is the Juicy Lucy at Matt's Bar. Its exactly what a burger should be, Yummy, oozing with (in this case molten) cheese and cooked on a grill you can see. I order a basket of fries (again perfectly yummy) with it and puncture my burger with the fries until it cools enought to eat. Actually, I think I'll go get one soon. Tue Jul 24 22:25:40 -0700 2007 2779463 114040 linc 3 2787591 I chowed down on a Matt's Bar Jucy Lucy today at noon. I expected a bigger burger but it tasted great just the same. It only cost $4.50. Not bad. Thu Jul 26 17:55:08 -0700 2007 2780590 10675 Davydd 3 4014270 I'm with linc on this one. Absolutely Matt's is the best. Washing the magma like cheese down with a cold beer tops the event off perfectly. Lake Street Garage used to have a pretty good burger. New owners I think. Sat Sep 06 19:15:25 -0700 2008 2780590 222796 P.Andy 2 3158178 I second the buger at Monte Carlo and agree about the place. We ate at the bar and that was fine, but I would not want to eat in the dining room. My Burger is another favorite. Tue Nov 27 08:12:07 -0800 2007 2779463 121761 bullygirl 1 2781278 I'll say it again, Convention Grill in Edina has great burgers...love their fresh cut fries....and they have the best grilled cheese sandwich that I have ever had in my life---I have them add fried onions and tomatoes to it. Wed Jul 25 07:42:15 -0700 2007 2772938 82201 nieves 1 2782992 Well, the new Harry's Food & Cocktails is not it, I'm afraid. Steven Brown has a half-dozen burger types on the lunch menu. I tried one with manchego and smoked paprika. Though ordered medium rare, it came out well done. It seemed like it had been high quality beef before the cook ruined it. The beef flavor overwhelmed the not particularly generous portion of cheese. Forget about tasting any of the undoubtedly expensive paprika. Disappointing. I will try the place again, once they get opening week problems out of the way, and we'll see if it improves. Wed Jul 25 14:12:37 -0700 2007 2772938 13777 Jordan 2 2786349 aw, man. . . :-( Thu Jul 26 12:30:25 -0700 2007 2782992 46030 soupkitten 2 2797537 That is some crummy news. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they're just getting the kinks out. Mon Jul 30 15:02:54 -0700 2007 2782992 59069 Foureyes137 1 2785792 It looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me~ Thanks for the feed. jason Thu Jul 26 10:43:29 -0700 2007 2772938 76252 lovempls 1 3155915 Ike's has the best burgers! Mon Nov 26 12:31:14 -0800 2007 2772938 145670 rmarth 1 3157982 I like to keep it simple, so it's the Convention Grill for me. Nothing better than sitting @ the counter for a late weekday lunch and putting Patsy Cline or Elvis or Hank Williams on the jukebox and pretending you've been transported back to the 50's Tue Nov 27 07:04:39 -0800 2007 2772938 57666 g rote 2 3535677 I had a really fantastic burger once at the Glockenspiel on West Seventh in St. Paul. Don't go for the apple strudel there though-they put cool whip on it. Thu Mar 27 22:00:36 -0700 2008 3157982 171426 jenniegirl 1 4016095 No question, Convention Grill. Smoky cheddar and the burnt (not fried) onions! Sun Sep 07 18:29:10 -0700 2008 2772938 120402 fm1 1 4016198 Like Blowphishery, I sheepishly (yet confidently!) loved the burger at Salut. Maybe it's my love of salty things, but there was a good saltiness to the burger that made it quite enjoyable! My experience at the Nook was subpar. I wanted to love it! And I did love the fries. But our service was terrible (we were sitting no more than five feet from the bar where our server avoided eye contact for nearly 15 minutes while she chatted with friends at the bar). When I walked over and asked her if she could take our order she appeared put out. Seriously annoying. Back to the burger: I had some sort of bacon and bbq "nookie". The sauce was so sweet it was inedible. And I'll eat darn near anything! I couldn't tell you what the actual meat tasted like, as I couldn't even scrape enough of the sauce off to enjoy the burger. Sun Sep 07 19:18:22 -0700 2008 2772938 219854 freezedriedicecream 2 4016970 I went to Salut (on Grand) on Saturday night, and really enjoyed the burger. On top of that, the fries are some of the best in town. Hand cut and seasoned perfectly. I'd also recommend the Bulldog NE. I had a burger there about 2 weeks ago, and it was excellent. I've never been to Matt's or the Nook, so I can't speak to the Jucy Lucy side of things. Mon Sep 08 07:20:14 -0700 2008 4016198 150060 BigE 1 4017877 Had a great buffalo burger at Buster's on 28th last night. It's covered in a chipotle cream cheese that gives it some kick. They've solved their ventilation issues by leaving the door open, apparently. This means that I spent my meal swatting away a persistent fly. Mon Sep 08 12:11:23 -0700 2008 2772938 69182 drew13000 1 4019101 Most people don't think of Mickey's for their burgers, but every once in awhile I really enjoy their patty-melt and a shake. Mon Sep 08 19:19:01 -0700 2008 2772938 130746 bworp 2 4019342 Totally back Salut's burgers... very good, but not without a price!! Also, hit up the Nook last nite.. showed up just in the nick of time as there was a 45 minute wait right after we got our table.. I had the Moli and my GF had the classic... soooooo good. I think the classic is better. The american cheese is definitely the secret weapon! I daresay better than Matt's.. which says a lot being a native son of the "right side of the river.." Plus, the service was FANTASTIC; which i can rarely, honestly say. The place was packed, and full of amateurs, but our server was really composed and nice, and managed to buy us a round!! Mon Sep 08 21:05:17 -0700 2008 4019101 215914 jsyx