Zebb's

Zebb's
3/4 lb "Two Fisted" Burger

****

This is the restaurant that gave me a love for burgers. It's like a classic old diner in appearance but they give you large delicious portions. It is reminiscent of Fuddruckers in that you can add your own toppings or get a burger already made up for you. I went for their biggest burger and then added a giant scoop of jalapenos, onions and pico de gallo. The fresh cut fries just add to the yumminess of the place. For dessert we had a giant hot apple rush and they brought us 3 spoons. My grandfather was so cute because he had never ordered a burger in a restaurant before and was grumbling about all the choices and the price until he bit into it. This is no McDonald's burger!!!

Dinosaur BBQ

Dinosaur BBQ
Diablo burger

****

A legend, I had to eat here when I was back in Syracuse and I wanted to complete the Man vs Food circuit (Dinoasaur BBQ, Heids & Mother's Cupboard) while I was home. The diablo burger sounds a little scary but it is very tasty and not too hot. It is more of a cajun burn and diablo sauce is good even for the spice wimpy. The mac & cheese was to die for and carrot raisin salad was a really tasty alternative side. While you are eating you can't help but notice the many dinosaur paintings throughout the restaurant. Parking is a lil rough but luckily my sister is an aggressive parker. They are spreading out across the Northeast so if  you have a chance to stop in or get some take out it is highly recommended.

Hardee's

Hardee's
Low Carb burger

****

Whenever I am tempted to get fast food, Hardee's low carb burger is my #1 choice. I could care less about low carb but being wrapped in lettuce you get just the burger taste without all the bun involvement. Plus then I don't feel as guilty about eating the onion rings. It's 1/3 lb of Black Angus charbroiled so it really has flavor and they always have a giant slice of red onion they adds to the taste. The lettuce is nice & crisp although I have made the mistake of trying to eat one of these while driving, The paper it is wrapped in is hard to distinguish from the lettuce until you have bitten into it.

Burger Club

Burger Club
the Nuclear burger

***

I had been very excited to try the Burger Club. I had read a few good things about them and even considered their Burgerasaurus challenge. I know i said I was never doing a food challenge again after the Behemoth in Chicago but the Burgerasaurus challenge let you have a partner that could take up the slack. I met an old friend there and as we were walking in she said that I was probably going to be disappointed but she'd let the burger expert decide. They used to have chalk paint on the walls and kids could draw but people complained about getting chalk on their clothes so it was redone. :(  I went with the Nuclear burger because what could be better for a jalapeno lover then something "Nuclear"? It comes with  a spicy burger, jalapeno jack cheese, deep fried jalapenos and hot sauce. Sounds impressive and a little daunting but I have to say it really was only just the littlest bit spicy. I only drank one glass of water with it which is nothing. Also the side dish of onion rings was really shocking when it came out and was only 3 rings. They were very large rings but very unimpressive on the big tray. My friend sent her burger back twice because it was incorrect and then she just said she didn't really want it anymore so they took it off the bill. After trying the burger I definitely didn't want to try 8 lbs more of the same for the challenge. It was a beautiful looking burger but nothing much to the taste.

Cafe di Sol (take 2)

Cafe di Sol
Andy's Burger

*****

I know you are probably thinking "wasn't she just there?" I couldn't help it, their burger is so good I had been thinking about it all week. Their burger is so yummy I even drove the hour from home just to have it and then I drove back, a 2 hr commute just for a burger. I can not emphasize enough how delicious the Andy's burger is with the garlic aioli & the garlic roasted shitake mushrooms. Every bite is a taste explosion. It was a chilly night but the restaurant was busy so I sat on the enclosed porch which was really a pleasant temperature and cute setting. It would be nice for a romantic evening with the red lights on the ceiling and the flickering red candles on the table. The thought even crossed my mind to rent an apartment nearby so I could enjoy more of their selections. They even have a brunch menu so might have to drag my butt down on a weekend morning.

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday
Ruby's Classic burger

***.5

I have to give props to Ruby Tuesday as their burger is pretty tasty for a chain restaurant. I ordered it as plain as you could get it and it was still really tasty. At 8 oz it is a fairly hefty burger for a chain restaurant also. I am not sure what Ruby's mayo is but it tasted like good ol' Hellmans to me. If you are particularly hungry there is always the salad bar to add on but to me a burger & a side of fries is almost always enough. I want to be able to enjoy it and not need a wheelbarrow for my tummy.

The Vortex Bar and Grill

The Vortex Bar and Grill
Guacamole Burger

****

World famous not only for their food but also their crazy menu and decor, the Vortex is a treat for all the senses. Vortex was voted one of top 10 burger places in all of the US in numerous polls. I agree it is definitely great plus the Midtown location has the world's smallest comedy club as well. You can have an awesome burger & then laugh it off.  The people watching is top notch as well.The guacamole burger had an enormous scoop of guacamole on it so that I could taste "guac" in every bite. The jack cheese was just a bonus. I, of course, had to have sweet potato fries with it. I definitely recommend the Guacamole Burger but I am trying to make my way through their entire burger selection so that I can more accurately choose my favorite.

Troll Tavern

Troll Tavern
Tavern burger

**.5

Most of the fun at the Troll Tavern involves sitting by the river, sipping imported German beer and laughing at the tubers. Since I was there in December I had only the ambiance inside the restaurant and that's not much to speak of: fake newspaper print tablecloths, grumpy wait staff and a giant mirror to make it look bigger inside. The burger was half-pound of ground beef on a Kaiser bun with lettuce, tomato, & onion. It had a lot more flavor than I imagined it would but that isn't saying much. I did like the really fresh onion but I was still hungry after nibbling on this hors d'oeuvre. Stick to the beer when you are here unless nothing else is open which is how I ended up there.