Wild Willy's Burgers in Watertown

[biga290]

Drove by it today after lunch. Looks interesting. Has anyone tried it?

[JoJo5]

If you use the "search the boardf" function, you'll find previous reviews of WW's.

Joanne

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Several years ago, it was the best bet in town for flat-patty enthusiasts. However, I have not been since the opening of Uburger and Flat Patties, both of whom do that style of burger much better. Good onion rings, though.

[chicken pot pie]

I've been there several times and have enjoyed the food immensely. The burgers are thick and juicy, not flat patties. Very fresh. Excellent fries and onion rings. They have homemade raspeberry lime rickeys and root beer too that are great. Never had a bad experience there.

[Luther]

Wild Willy's refuses to cook a rare burger. It is therefore either a flat-patty style establishment (press on the things until they get crispy and fatty) or they just overcook all their burgers.

[chicken pot pie]

I always get medium-rare burgers there and it's never a flat patty. I don't want to argue with anyone on the board including you but I just haven't had the experience you've had.

[hlerm2]

I always get it cooked rare to medium rare also. just ask

[Luther]

That's good. My information is from earlier board posts where people said that they were rejected when asking for rare (same with Uburger).

[Stride]

I've been about 3 times. I've always ordered mine medium rare and it's arrived just right - pink and juicy. And I agree about those onion rings - addictive!

[hynespb]

I've been there a few times. As someone else said, it used to be a good place, but now with the added competition i would rather go elsewhere.

It is a little on the pricey side too.

If you go make sure you get cheese fries and ask for the cheese on the side because they give you a literal ton.

[finlero]

I actually like Wild Willy's pretty well. The burgers are charbroiled, kind of like Burger King gone horribly, horribly right. I also think the toasted buns are about perfect. Perhaps best of all for this Southwesterner, I love that they do a green chile cheeseburger with real New Mexico green chile; it would be an understatement to say this is a rarity in these parts. I agree that it's on the pricey side, and not quite worth going out of your way for, but when I'm in the area, I look forward to getting there for a meal.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I usually get the green chile cheeseburger when I go there, but it usually just makes me miss living next to the Frontier for so many years.

[Spenbald]

Willy's is an establishment I'm happy to support. While I haven't tried UBurger or Flat Patties, I find Willy's burgers to be excellent, and for a mere $1.50 added to menu price, you can get any burger on the menu made with local, grass-fed beef. Yes, it's about $6.50-$7 for just a burger, but it's a sustainable practice that I'm willing to pay for. And I do find that the grassfed burgers are juicier tastier.

Early on, I know a lot of people complained about the fries not being crispy enough. At least when ordering food to go, popping the fries into the toaster oven for a few minutes brings them right back to life.

[terrystu]

Can't comment on this location, but I tried the one in Maine a few weeks ago and found the burger way too compacted, like it was made in a press, and the fries limp and soggy.
BTW, grass fed beef has less fat than grain fed, making the burger drier, not juicier.

[NSDishGal]

I really enjoy Willy's food. While not cheap and not fast, the burgers are big and juicy and cooked to specification. I like the flame broiled taste, the good-sized slices of tomato and lettuce and the fact that they butter and grill their buns. The same can be said for their grilled chicken sandwiches. The fries are hand cut boardwalk-style, so unless you eat them right away they do get a bit limp. While tasty, the onion rings are too heavy for me, and sit like lead in my stomach after eating. The homemade lemonade is also a fave.

[twentyoystahs]

Had a Wild Willy's burger today and it was delicious. It does have that char/flame-broiled flavor that I love and it was a decent size. When I ordered it, they asked how I wanted it cooked. I said MR and to be honest it was on the rare side of MR --would of course rather have it that way than overcooked. I will say that it's not a cheap burger. $6.30 for the most basic burger --if you want to add the local grass fed option that's another $1.50 so you're looking at close to 8 bucks for the burger alone. Add fries and a drink and it's over $10. I think it's a quality meal so I'm willing to pay it, but I do think the price point could be a tad lower (i.e. I think Uburger offers a combo w/fries and drink for something like $8. Not an option at WW I don't think)
Anyway. Fries were good, could have been served a tad hotter but they were clearly fresh and not greasy.

All in all , a good trip and definitely a burger I'd recommend for a relatively quick bite.