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.

Hooters

Baja burger
Hooters

***

I resisted going to Hooters because #1 it is a chain restaurant and #2 if I just wanted to see boobies while eating I could look down. I couldn't resist the burger that was covered in jalapenos, Pico de gallo, and ancho chipotle sauce with some baked beans on the side. However, I can only recommend the beans. The burger seemed to have no flavor at all except for the toppings which were tasty. Maybe if you drank a lot of beer firs & were distracted by the boobies it might be more memorable.

Kuma's Corner

Plague Bringer burger
Kuma's Corner

*****

I had read lots of good things about this place so I knew I couldn't miss out. The outside is so cute, it is on the corner of a building so I assume that's where the name came from. Inside there is heavy metal playing and lots of unique art both on the walls, the waitresses and the patrons. The beer list was as unique as the burgers so I had a hard time choosing. I finally decided on the J.K. Scrumpy's hard cider which not only sounded tasty but came in a 22 oz bottle. I decided on the Plague Bringer burger because it sounded delicious and I didn't have to worry about kissing any time in the near future. I knew ahead of time these were 10 oz burgers but I think it is 10 oz after cooking as compared with everyone else's measurements before cooking. I watched customer after customer have to box up the remainder of their burger but I knew I could handle it. Plus I had crappy food the night before so I was dying for something tasty. The couple sitting next to me said they were there from Iowa and never missed it when they were in town and actually knew Plague Bringer and had eaten their burger with them. It must be a good burger if the band it's named after approves of it. My mountainous burger arrived on a unique pretzel bun with waffle fries. Roasted garlic mayo, tortilla strips, hot sauce, fresh garlic, pepper jack, and sliced jalapenos were piled up high on it. I took a few bites as I rotated my burger, like an ice cream cone trying to get to the goodies inside. Tortilla chips were flying everywhere and jalapenos kept trying to escape. Even without all the yumminess on top, the burger itself was really delicious. I luxuriated in my burger and Scrumpy's for about 2 hrs before I decided that I could use the 6 block walk to the subway to be able to buckle my pants. Definitely a can't miss if I have to go back to Chicago.

Bandera

Cheeseburger

Bandera

***

This restaurant had come highly recommended plus it was close by my hotel so I set out to try it. First of all, I have definitely inherited my mother's sense of direction because I walked several blocks in the wrong direction before I realized the numbers were getting bigger instead of smaller. I turned around and headed back the correct direction but when I got to the address there was a private condo. I walked passed it and double checked the address. I went back and stood in front of the condo again and finally went in and asked the concierge, turns out there was more than one 535. I go back 2 doors and there is still no sign but 2 skinny doors leading to an escalator and a fur company. At the top of the stairs I finally find Bandera and decide they are going to for the chic word of mouth thing and not counting on people just popping in. I sit down at the bar as a jazz band starts playing behind me. I was surprised when the burger came out because I have never had a burger cut into 3 pieces before. It was sweet and tasty, I almost expected it to be a horror movie and them to come out and tell me I was eating Aunt Sue or something. It was tasty and enjoyable and the atmosphere made me feel like I was a hip big city girl.

Battle of the Burgers

From now on this day shall just be referred to as "A slice of Burger Heaven". I had been looking forward to the Battle of the Burgers

since I first heard about it a few months ago. What could be better? A fund raising event where you are surrounded by hamburgers! As I was headed for the park I saw an angry mob with signs a few blocks away picketing about better conditions for farm animals or something and all I could think was "those cows sure are tasty".

I was lined up waiting, along with a really long line of other people before

the gates even opened. Once they finally let us in, I rushed in with anticipation, not sure what to expect. Everywhere I looked big clouds of smoke were rising off the lil dome grills and I didn't know where to start first. Since I was an early arrival I was able to hit 10 booths in the first hour before my stomach started to complain about too much deliciousness. Since the place had really filled up I spent the next hour walking around re-examining all the booths and waiting in line for another bite and a delicious shake (I figured it could fill in around the nooks and crannies).

I really tried hard to sample all 15 hamburger offerings. Alas, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. I managed a meager 11 burger delicacies before I threw in the towel. Of the 4 I skipped, 2 I had already been to: Farm Burger and Grindhouse Killer Burgers and 2 sounded not as appealing : shrimp/grits stuffed burgers and PB&J burgers (pimiento cheese, bacon & tomato jam). I tried to give away my extra sampling coupons but everyone I talked to was completely stuffed. Hopefully they were able to raise enough money that they will make this an annual tradition!

Burger Heaven Indeed!