The $16 Burger

[Rain Man]

The wife was out and about this afternoon and I had a calorie binge on my calendar, so I was wondering what to do. And it's kind of embarrassing to admit this, but I've been liking Wendy's recently. There's one near my house, and they fixed it up really nice and it's got wifi and one of those infinite soda machines and stuff. So I put my shoes on started walking.

However, a new place has opened next door to the Wendy's. It appears to be a local chain with a few locations, and after a bit of wavering I decided to give it a shot.

Good burger overall. Good fries and free soda refills even though they didn't have Pibb or Pepper. They had signs up about their fresh burgers, never frozen, and all that stuff.

But here's my challenge. I got a BBQ burger with bacon and onions, no cheese, fries, and a drink, and the total came to slightly more than $16. If I had walked next door to Wendy's, I could've gotten the same general menu items for about $10 or so for a pre-designed combo.

I'm not sure the difference in taste warrants paying nearly double for the local joint. I'll probably just do Wendy's next time I find myself in the parking lot.

What's the most you'll pay for a good burger?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

I think Houston's is $18 - no drink incld'd. But it's damned good IMO.

I think that's the same chain that's called Hillstone here. I'm actually not a huge fan of their burgers, but they've got a lot of good stuff on their menu here - french dip, ribs, chicken strips, and a nice ribeye with Hawaiian marinade.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

About any burger with fries and a drink from Burgr in Planet Hollywood will run you $30 but damn, it's reeeeeeeeeal good.

I'd have a big issue with a $30 burger, to be honest. That's a lot of dough for a burger.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'd have a big issue with a $30 burger, to be honest. That's a lot of dough for a burger.

That's what I thought. But to paraphrase Eric Stoltz's character in Pulp Fiction "when you eat it, you will know where that extra money went"

[EPodolak]

I take out a loan for that Mushroom & Swiss about now. But no tip.

[stevieray]

Last time I went to Flea Market in Westport, they wanted nine bucks. Eff that. Eating out is a rip off

[HemiEd]

Since Obama took office, everything has doubled, most noticeably fast food.

Five guys is too expensive for me as I paid $14 once. Recently in the airport I paid $18 and it took days to get over it.

Fortunately living out here off the grid fast food is not convenient. But when we go to Branson, a Freddies #6 that is a good copy of "IN-N-OUT" is in order.

I think it is about $8 for the combo.

[BlackHelicopters]

I once had an ostrich burger. $12.

[Red Dawg]

10 bucks. That's it for hamburger meat in my book.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I had a Mushroom Swiss burger from Summit Grill and Bar in Waldo. I believe it was 12.95, and it was amazing

Their food is great so I hope they do well and can stay long term...but that place/location closes and reopens every couple yrs with new owners etc and it hopes to get good business there. A few restaurants have been there since Everette's closed down.

Everette's was awesome and had this Cattleman's burger that had shredded bbq prime rib on the burger with bacon lettuce tomato. They had a location in Columbia that first closed, then the LS location wasn't far behind.

That Cattleman's burger was the best burger I ever had though.

[Bwana]

I can't remember what the cost was but the most expensive burger I have had in the last 5 years was at Elway's, in the Denver airport. It had been a long day and I didn't want to do the standard Burger King, or McDonalds so I ducked in there for a burger. The burger was decent but the price was waaay out there and it was hard to choke it down in that atmosphere.

[stumppy]

This makes the best burger you will ever have.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by stumppy

This makes the best burger you will ever have.

I use to think so as well. I have had some fantastic bison burgers and I have had some really really rank bison burgers. It's not exactly cheap and the last pack of bison burger I picked up at some health food store was bad. I don't know what the hell the bison in question was eating all its life but the meat was terrible. I took one bite and the dogs got it. They didn't seem to think it was too bad but that made for some very expensive dog food.

[Renegade]

Not meaning to highjack the thread. There is a National contest on which restaurant can create the best blended burger (it must contain mushrooms in the blend). I bet many of these burgers are $15+.

Some good looking burgers on this contest.

https://www.jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject/vote

[scho63]

$10 is most just for a gourmet burger

I had been going to Red Robin several times across from my townhome for convenience purposes but stopped going after I realized I was paying $14 for one burger with unlimited fries that weren't as good as other places.

Foster's Grill has the BEST burgers by me of anyone as they do them on a real grill. The meat is super fresh and tastes fantastic. I'll sit at the counter, order two beers and two cheeseburgers. Comes to around $22 plus tip. I'm not a fan of their fries as they taste like Five Guys to me and they never appealed to me. Their onion rings are great but I don't order them often.

[cdcox]

There is an up-and-coming burger chain in the southeast called Bad Daddy's. Our favorite burger place in town. Burgers run around $10-13 including a choice of sides. Drink is extra. With a craft beer and tip we are probably up to $20 per person. I would choose Bad Daddies every time over Wendy's unless we are traveling an time is an issue.