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.   

Cafe di Sol

Andy's burger
Cafe di Sol

*****

I have been dreaming about this burger since I tried the baby version at the Battle of the burgers. The restaurant itself is a cute, quirky example of the Virginia/Poncey Highlands area. There is a tiny parking lot next door and they were selling great smelling food on the curb. There is also a cute open patio out front that was lit up with small red lights at night. Inside the restaurant I wished I had an excuse to sit on the comfy couch facing the bar. There were a bunch of really interesting sounding martinis on the list too like expresso & grapefruit rosewater. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious. Starting with pan seared shrimp in some super tasty sauce. The burger itself was heavenly: Angus ground chuck, Gruyere, garlic-herb roasted Shiitakes with garlic aioli. I was licking my fingers by the time I was done. I even got to try 2 different desserts: brownie sundae and the Panna Cotta. The brownie sundae was fudgey & super delicious. I had never had Panna Cotta but it was really creamy and delicious. It tasted almost like a light cheesecake. I would definitely bring friends to this place the next time I am trying to impress them.

Jim & Nicks

Way South patty melt
Jim & Nicks

***

I have to say I was really disappointed by this burger. I am going to give them another try though since a patty melt is not usually considered a burger but it is technically. Also I couldn't resist the description's cheesiness  (I am part mouse afterall). Fresh-ground, hand-pattied and hickory-grilled patty topped with queso cheese, fresh pico de gallo, grilled onions, serrano peppers, and served on sourdough. The bbq there smells so good I was drooling at the thought of a hickory grilled burger. Plus who can resist their slogan "you can smell our butts for miles." However the actual burger was more like a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger tucked inside. my next trip will be to try to the regular burger then I'll stick with the bbq after that.

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes Black Angus burger
Sloppy Joes

**

I don't think I would have picked this restaurant if my friends hadn't all decided to meet there. A half pound of black Angus burger with mushrooms, jack cheese and red onions with sweet potato fries. I couldn't believe how anything that looked so tasty could have so little taste. I do have to give our waiter big props since we had about 50 people in our party & he managed to keep everything straight and brought out in a timely manner.