Newly Arrived in Bedford and Craving Burgers

[taterjane]

Hello,

I really, really need to find a good burger joint in this area soon. Bedford or Burlington would be preferred. Good fries are a plus; I don't care about atmosphere or anything other than how good the burger is.

Good burger to me means meaty, not dried-out, fresh toppings, and with a bun sturdy enough so that it doesn't absorb the meat juice and turn into a weird, flattened piece of dough by the time I hit the end of the burger.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[professor shorthair]

For Boston's best burger you have to go to O'Sullivan's ( chargrilled) on Beacon St in Somerville or to Bartley's (flattop) in Harvard SQ. I prefer O'Sullivan's but many prefer Bartley's.

[robertlf]

I've had O'Sullivans as reading their advertising about "best burger" or whatever. That should have sent up a red flag when ever someone boasts like that. It was okay but nothing great. I haven't been to Bartley's in years but remember it as greasy. Flat Patties is my top pick and Bouchee for a sophisticated burger.

BTW - Wild Willys burgers in Watertown = mediocre. Never tried UBurger.

[almansa]

Any thoughts on Johnny Rockets in the Burlington mall?

[robertlf]

It's okay but nothing great.

[robertlf]

Try FLAT PATTIES in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

[greygarious]

I see that no one has yet mentioned Max Stein's, which is next to Hanscom Field. I have not had their burger (10oz, w/fries, for $10) because that's just too big as far as I'm concerned. But I have had lunch there a few times - good food, fries very well-executed.

[cap]

Walden Grill in Concord does a good burger.

[justbeingpolite]

Sort of a chain, in Reading, in a furniture store but..... never mind.

Oh, what the... Fuddruckers in Jordan's furniture in Reading actually has a decent burger.

[taterjane]

Ha! That is hilarious, because I was actually thinking about Fuddruckers when I asked for a burger close by. So far the Fuddruckers burger has been the best around here but I was hoping for something a little closer. Haven't found it yet.

[justbeingpolite]

Have you tried Ken's, in the little strip across from Bedford Common where Ginger is? The burgers are pretty good, particularly if you like Fuddruckers, I think. Their fries are quite good as well, a deep fried crispy shell, soft in the middle (as taterjane, I'd be interested in your opinion).
Ginger's pretty great sushi, too, BTW.

Let us know what you think..

[MC Slim JB]

Good to know about the burgers at Ken's; I'm a fan of their deli sandwiches, but hadn't hazarded the burger there. Do you happen to know if their gyros is any good? Once a place shows me they can bring the pastrami and corned beef, I tend to discount non-deli items, probably an unfair prejudice.

[justbeingpolite]

I think I've tried the gyro once; not really impressed, but I don't remember it that well (maybe telling). I don't think they cut the meat fresh off the "turning spit 'o meat", the way I'd prefer. if I remember the sauce wasn't too memorable, either.

[taterjane]

Interesting-- I never thought of trying Ken's! (I think because that whole block looks kind of run-down). But I will definitely try it. Thank you for the rec!

I had heard good things about Ginger but we went to try it and it was just okay. I don't know if going on a Sunday had anything to do with that. I think it would be good in a pinch if we suddenly crave Japanese food but according to my husband, nothing is better than Ginza in Brookline (if you consider cost and taste).

[justbeingpolite]

Maybe you got Ginger on a bad night. I'd consider trying it again. Before driving all the way to Brookline for sushi, you might want to try Board favorites Toroya in Arlington, or Sushi Island in Wakefield. The board seems to lean to Toroya, I lean to Sushi Island (I prefer the cleaner and sleeker venue, perhaps)

[MC Slim JB]

So I gave the Ken's NY Deli burger a whirl. It's big, probably a half pound, oddly cut in half (checking doneness?) I asked for and got a good bulkie roll, though they didn't toast it as I requested. A fair amount of white American cheese melted on there, good lettuce, tomato, and thin-sliced red onion. Patty cooked well done. I'd say overall this is one of the better quick burger options near to Bedford, but the quality of the beef patty wasn't good enough to make me want it again. Their deli sandwiches are much better.

[taterjane]

Many thanks for all the recommendations--now I have a few places to try. I am sad to say I just ate some frozen french fries heated in the oven. They were disgusting, so I'm happy to have some other options.

[MC Slim JB]

Thirteen bucks, but they serve a fine knife-and-fork burger at the Capital Grill.in Burlington with excellent fries or slaw. This was a novelty to me, as my nearest Capital Grill (Back Bay) doesn't serve lunch, and they don't serve the burger at dinner.

[chowmel]

The Restaurant on Main St Woburn and Jimmys Family Restaurant in Burlington have good burgers.

[hargau]

Try Bedford House of Beef. I cant recall what their burgers are like since i have not been in years. But when i used to work in the area we would eat there a few times a week. Specialize in chicken kabob sandwiches/salads, roast beef, fried seafood/fries/onion rings, burgers,gyros etc..

[itaunas]

The lunch burger from Dalya's looked decent and I want to try it, but have never had it. I once enjoyed a freshly dressed burger from Sparta (which surprised me from being better than I expected), but its a frozen burger cooked well done. Bedford House of Roast Beef probably has a cheeseburger sub which is a local kind of thing, but well done patties (you could also try a Friendly's patty melt for something else local, but not exactly what you are looking for and often an iffy option for quality). I also think Max Stein's has a lunch burger (saw it on the menu), but haven't ever seen or tried it.

If you trek down to Arlington, Tryst has an excellent burger and good sandwiches in general (a tad pricey) with fresh and upscale fixings (good fries). Krazy Karry's is also in Arlington, but in Woburn closer to you and focus on burgers... but I never did very well with them in Arlington, dunno its a maybe. Jimmy's Steer House in Arlington is another possibility, but roll and toppings not nearly as nice as Tryst.

In the Burlington area, I have done ok with Joe's American Bar & Grill (a local chain) just over the line in Woburn. The same chain offers lunch burgers at Papa Razzi, both in Burlington and Concord, the Burlington one was ok but Joe's probably sells more of them. Cafe Escadrille wasn't as good as them, about the same as the nearby 99 Restaurant.

I like the burger and back bar at the Colonial Inn in Concord, which is one of the most hated restaurants on chowhound. Its a basic hotel style 1/2 lb burger premade but cooked to order, ok steak fries, about the same as Jimmy's above and sometimes a bit better. I only eat in the back bar though, which does have jazz. Don't get too adventurous with the menu, most of their bad reputation is deserved.

If you want to try something completely different, you could try a Brazilian X-tudo burger, which certainly has interesting toppings but they aren't necessarily fresh and the burger is going to be well done. Available in Woburn:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/546348

Dalya's, Tryst, Joe's, Colonial might be worth a try... Maybe Jimmy's or Krazy Karry's. The rest to expand your horizons.

[greygarious]

Krazy Karry's in Woburn failed - closed last fall. I was pleasantly surprised by the burger at Bickford's (stone's throw from Escadrille). When I worked in Woburn, I tried burgers at the 4-Corners 99 several times - didn't like the bulky roll they use rather than a bun, and the meat usually seemd old. The Greens Grill at Woburn Country club - off Cambridge Rd near Whole Foods, has a good burger. It's not a fancy place, don't be put off by the CC location.

[mjg0725]

It's in Lexington center, but Lexx's burger is very enjoyable.
http://www.lexx-restaurant.com/dinner...