Anywhere in Boston to get a hamburger where they grind their own beef?

[winedude]

After recently watching Food, Inc. (highly recommended), I've vowed never to eat another hamburger with ground beef that comes from one of the big packing houses, so it's "grind your own" or nothing for me. I know that in California, In 'n Out grinds their own, but I don't know of any place around here that does. Any suggestions?

[almansa]

Houston's. They grind it daily, and whatever doesn't sell becomes staff meal at th end of each day.

[nsenada]

and they are pretty tasty burgers, despite the brioche bun.

[hotoynoodle]

i was not wowed by the houston's burger and it had more than a few shards of cartilage or who-knows-what in it.

[nsenada]

At least they were "hand ground" mystery shards. I wouldn't put them on par with Craigie or Toro, and I'm not sure they are worth $15, but I thought the standard burger was pretty good. Last time I had it, the hickory burger was gross, with a big rubbery slab of Canadian bacon on top, that just made it hard to eat.

[nsenada]

Now that you mention it, I got some nasty cartilage in their rotisserie chicken sandwich, which was otherwise very good.

[Parsnipity]

Gargoyle's- one of my favorite burgers. I think most upper-tier restaurants probably grind their own. It's the pub-level places like John Harvard's and Joe Sent Me where the rest of the food is mediocre at best and a burger would often be my standby that I really wonder about. I've read a few articles in the NYT lately about the ammonia-laced slurry that makes it into low quality ground beef and have also made this vow. (By the way, Whole Foods grinds all their own beef in house if you're looking to make your own burgers.)

[nsenada]

Yep, I'm basically on the same slurry-induced boycott of mystery ground meat. My high school friends would get a good laugh out of that, as I was known to ingest the diciest of ground and processed meats, including some "dumpster dares." I finally bought a freezer and got in on some grass-fed beef. Hopefully, the uburger opening up nearby won't cause my determination to waver.

[Parsnipity]

mmmm....slurry....

[twentyoystahs]

i thought i remember reading that uburger did grind their own beef? no?

[Bob MacAdoo]

They do, a mix of chuck & sirloin. I've got to hit UB one of these days. It's been too long.

[winedude]

I'll have to check on Whole Foods grinding their own beef. I'm still hoping for one cow, one burger (not a huge gross mixture), but at least they won't have the "slurry", which is so disgusting as to be almost unbelievable that they permit it into US foodstuffs.

[hondodog]

John Dewar in Boston/Brookline/Wellesley grinds their own meat and I've been told, after serving a grilled BBQ from their meat, that the burger was the best they've ever had. The reviewer was a 9 year old, but she is picky and you have to figure that kids know burgers.

Their burger meat is some top grade blend with wonderful beef flavor, and being loose packed, is juicy and and just darn feels good in the mouth.

I don't know what percentage fat the meat is...I suspect it's low because it wasn't too greasy (and I like grease).

[phatchris]

Thats interesting seeing as when coleman beef had a recall for ground beef, whole foods was mentioned. Is this a new practice?

[debo]

Four Burgers in Central Square. Excellent - great grilled flavor with a nice slightly salty exterior.

[jgg13]

But even after 2 years they haven't figured out how to consistently cook a medium rare hamburger. They have one thing on the menu, burgers, and they don't even know how to cook it properly.

[Bob MacAdoo]

UBurger. Belond of Chuck & Sirloin. Better than Flat Patties IMHO.

[hotoynoodle]

smith & wollensky, radius, craigie st.

[9lives]

Sounds like you're looking for a restaurant and I'd guess Craige does, especially given the variety of cuts used.

You'll have to cook it yourself but Sulmona's Butcher Shop on Parmenter in the NE grinds their hamburger to order. Really a huge improvement over supermarket ground beef.

[winedude]

I'm glad to hear that Flat Patties grinds their own--I know they're working on an In n' Out model, but I've always gotten the chicken sandwich there. I wish they were somewhere else besides the Garage.

I'm actually looking for any suggestions in both restaraunts and more casual places, but also really appreciate the tip on Sulmona's. I had an old Italian butcher shop near my house in SF, and they ground hamburger to order--I didn't know anywhere out here that did it. Any others?

[cpingenot]

B.Good, a small local chain grinds their own. They have a couple of locations- in Harvard sq, and there's one in brookline, fairly close to Clear Flour.

[nsenada]

Also one near the Back Bay MBTA station. Wild Willy's has a grass-fed Hardwick Beef burger, though I don't know if they grind it themselves. I think Fuddrucker's may grind the beef fresh daily.

[twentyoystahs]

too bad the b.good burgers have no flavor...

[Dea]

You're going to get your wish, winedude. They're moving to the space formerly occupied by Calliope (children's clothing store) on Brattle Street, next to Brattle Florist. I've confirmed this fact with the owner of Crema Cafe, who is the daughter of the owner of Flat Patties. I don't know how long renovations will take at the new site, as Calliope didn't have kitchen facilities as far as I know, but I can tell you many of my colleagues are thrilled with this move.

[Luther]

Celebrity Pizza, Watertown

[robertlf]

Flat Patties in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

[Luther]

...which also has my vote for the best "well-done" style burger in town.