Harry's Bar & Burger

Providence, RI
harrysbarburger.com



The Order: Frita Cubano (2 sliders). Classic Cheese, Cuban ketchup and crispy potato sticks.
Side Order: Sweet potato fries with Kryptonite Aioli ($2.59)
$4.79 + $2.59 = $7.38
Drink Order: Stone Cat ESB
Burger Menu Rating: 6.5/10




I might love Providence. Its just a really cool little city with a ton of stuff to do. The two nights I was there, there were tons of people from RISD doing performance art in the parks, there was a giant concert going on, and the bar scene was lively. And my friend Ali was determined to show me that Providence's burger scene has merits.


This is definitely a neat little place. Two floors, interesting layout, and each room has its own decor. The burgers are well priced, and delicious, if a bit greasy, and the staff here are very friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They have a great beer list, which is all moderately priced, though some of it is a bit expensive. Also, a fantastic selection of music. Discovery, then Peter Bjorn & John, then Phoenix, then The Whitest Boy Alive. All great stuff.

All of the burgers here are not burgers, but sliders. There are no full sized burgers on their menu (apart from their black bean burger... which might be a full size burger, I didn't ask, and which doesn't count). And they all have interesting combinations of toppings and flavors. All of the sliders are relatively simple, but each one is very different from the next. The Frita Cubano though, stood out because of the Cuban Ketchup. The burger seemed both simple and exciting at the same time, so why not? Right?

The texture added by the potato sticks was interesting to say the least, but they were less crunchy than I expected and more a vehicle for the meat juice than anything else. The Cuban ketchup was on the sour side, and sweeter than regular ketchup, and really stood out as the 'big thing' for these sliders. The sweet-and-sour-ness of the ketchup combined with the meat juice being trapped in the potato sticks actually worked to the advantage of the sliders as each bite really packed a huge burst of flavor. The only problem I had was that you couldn't specify how to cook the meat, but with the size of the patties I can see why they just come out medium. I mean, they're all sliders, so it would be much more difficult to cook to order. Altogether the burger was tasty, but like most sliders, was really greasy, and really salty too, which isn't a detriment, but something to keep in mind if you're watching your cholesterol. That being said, I'd totally go here again, especially during 3p-5p every day for half priced burgers. I'd definitely go to try the others for sure (I had a bite of the Crunch Burgers and they were pretty great).

The sweet potato fries were great here, but their 'Kryptonite Aioli', which was supposed to be spicy (according to a conversation overheard at the next table) was not spicy at all. Perhaps it's just named for the green color of the sauce? It was like a pesto, which was only just fine on the fries. Not a great combination. Much better with plain old ketchup.

Go here for the 3p-5p half priced sliders every day (dine-in only).



Presentation/Plating = 2pts
Design/Ingredients = 2pts
Value = 2.5pts

Go Burger

Manhattan, NY - 38th st.
www.e2hospitality.com/go-burger



The Order: "The Anime" - 4oz patty, medium rare. With scallions, Miso-Russian dressing, Hoisin Sauce, pork bellies, sesame seeds and shredded lettuce.
Side Order: Vidalia Onion rings ($5)
$7 + $5 = $12
Drink Order: Coke
Burger Menu Rating: 12.5/15




Amazing! Juicy! And NOT ON THE MENU! Go here NOW and get this burger to be one of the first to try this new amazing creation. Before I moved to New York, I'd heard a lot of people naysay when talking about Go Burger Los Angeles, so I was skeptical the first time I went to the NY chain. A decent normal burger, a little pricy, but not so huge that it made you regret eating all of it. Then! This past Monday, I had a morning meeting right next door to Go Burger, and well, of course I was craving burgers by the time I got out at 11:30a, and since I just so happened to be right next door, what the hell? Right? I walk in, and am preparing to order when the server stops me and very excitedly asks me if I want to try their new burger. "Do I ever?!" She was even so excited about it, that she took a picture of one when SHE ate it (she's already speaking my language by this point). With excitement coursing through my entire body, I took a seat, waiting for my burger order to be up.

So again, I say Amazing! Juicy! The taste of the pork bellies comes through right away, in an amazing way! It mixes with and is enhanced by the different sauces on the burger, but is by no means overpowered. This is the second burger I've had with pork bellies on it, and I'm starting to think that burgers can never go wrong by having them. They add a richness in flavor, and a sweetness that is impossible to match.

The 4oz patty on this burger doesn't offer much in the way of taste, but this seems to hit the mark perfectly in this case. Any larger of a patty, and you wouldn't focus as much on the other toppings, and this is DEFINITELY toppings-burger. What it does offer, however, is mouthfeel, and it grounds it firmly in the realm of burgers, rather than straying towards a sandwich on a burger bun. The somewhat course texture of the small patty is a perfect contrast to the smooth surface of the pork bellies. You might say that $7 is a little steep for the size of this burger as a whole (4oz patty notwithstanding), but this burger doesn't know that its small. It packs a huge punch, and is totally satisfying. You're also getting a really interesting burger. If it wasn't so tasty and exciting, $7 would be outrageous.

The onion rings are awesome. Perfectly cooked, soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Lightly salted, and with the vidalia's natural sweetness, they combine for a really great taste. Delicious, and a decent sized portion too. These need no sauce of any kind to eat. Go Burger's Rings stand on their own, golden and proud.

I am serious when I say that this burger is not on their menu yet. As of the time of this post, it is NOT on their 38th st. online menu, and it is NOT on the board at their brick and mortar location. I am also serious when I say that you should change your lunch plans and go there immediately. You won't regret it. And please let me know when you've tried it!


Cooked Correctly = 5pts
Presentation/Plating = 2pts
Design/Ingredients = 3pts
Value = 2.5pts

Cheeburger Cheeburger

Plainview, NY
cheeburger.com



The Order: Semi Serious, medium. Cheddar, lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions ($.50), banana peppers, artichoke hearts and thousand island dressing.
Side Order: Best of Both Basket (Fries and Onion Rings) - Regular size. $6.49
6.99 + .50 + 6.49 = $13.98
Drink Order: Dr. Pepper
Burger Menu Rating: 9/15


Having grown up going to Cheeburger Cheeburger, it holds a special place in my heart, and always will. This is by no means a gourmet burger, but what is fantastic about their menu is that you get to choose everything and your burger is cooked to order. You can create so many different options by working with the size of the burger, the free toppings and sauces, and then moving onto the specialty toppings.

The Semi Serious is a 1/3lb burger, and the norm for most people who go there. There is, however a Serious, and a Delirious, the latter of which is a whopping 20oz burger before they cook it. If you FINISH a Delirious, they'll take your picture and put it up on the wall along everyone else that has done it before (there's a separate wall for repeat offenders), but keep in mind that you have to eat all the bread and finish all of the toppings as well. Your plate must be CLEAN. This is not for the faint of heart. A friend of mine did it in a high school (something like.. 11 years ago), and he was laid up for the rest of the night with stomach pain. You've been warned.

The other fantastic part of their menu is their massive list of milkshake options. These have to be flavor additions, but there is seriously a ridiculous number of flavors to choose from. 378,000 different flavor combinations! Amazing. Unfortunately, a full shake isn't as big as it used to be. You used to be able to get one, and they'd give you a ton of left over shake in that metal cup as well, but no more. Saving money? Or just someone that really knows the proportions of a shake. Either way, I'm not a fan.

The entire place (all of them, its a chain found in 29 cities, as far west as the state of Nevada), is themed like a 1950s diner, complete with ugly pink neon and all the 50s tunes you could want. The pink neon actually kind of makes your eyes hurt by the time you leave. But they must be doing something right, because I've never gone into one and seen it empty.

The fries and rings? Not much to say about them really. You get a giant basket (you better, for 6.49) and you can order some dipping sauces on the side (which are totally not worth it). The fries themselves are decent, and the onion rings are really large, but neither are anything special. I'd say you're probably better off just passing on the fries/onion rings and getting a milkshake instead. If you're planning on getting both, forgo the fries for the sake of your stomach and the ache you'll have trying to finish them. Its the same ache I've made the mistake of having many times before at Cheeburger.


You'll notice at the top of this post there's a new feature! I've finally put together a numerical rating system! It's laid out as follows:

Burgers (out of 15 points)
Cooked Correctly = 5pts
No choice of how you want it cooked? = -1
Presentation/Plating = 4pts
Design/Ingredients = 3pts
Value = 3 pts

Sliders (out of 10 pts)
Presentation/Plating = 4pts
Design/Ingredients = 3pts
Value = 3 pts

It's pretty self explanatory right? The total score will always be at the top, and the breakdown will be at the bottom of the post. Get excited for more reviews coming every Wednesday!



Cooked Correctly = 4pts
Presentation/Plating = 2pts
Design/Ingredients = 1pts (Build your own)
Value = 2 pts