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?

[KCUnited]

The best hamburger I've ever had is $13, with fries and a solid beer it comes to around $25 and my wife and I split the fries (if we even order any). I'm totally fine with paying that. It's ruined most every other burger for me, including my own, which pretty much echoes what any out of town guest we've taken there texts us after they get back to wherever they're from. There's way more "gourmet" burgers up here, but this one just maximizes each ingredient/flavor to work together.

Super lame video, but it showcases the burger well.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/au...r-0241657.html

[Garcia Bronco]

I went to 15 Guys the other day and decided that 15 bucks was too much to pay for a burger fries and a drink. The location was next to a 10 Bucks coffee place so I am just not going to head down there anymore

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

I went to 15 Guys the other day and decided that 15 bucks was too much to pay

Stick with it. You'll find a nice guy in your price range eventually.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I want to like buffalo burgers because they're lower fat, but I swear that they never seem as juicy as a beef burger. They don't taste as good as beef to me.

Hmm, how could something with less fat have less moisture and flavor?

[Baby Lee]

I would take something more than ground cow, bread and veggies to justify going over $10 with sides but before drinks [I'm usually a water drinker, and rarely a soda or shake drinker, never beer or alcohol unless it's a festival or ball game].

MoF, I'd say the surroundings dictate the price more than the quality of the burger. Few burgers you can get just anywhere are worth more than $10 or so, but if you're in a luxury suite or getting a lap dance or are sitting on top of a skyscraper, that's different

Two best I've had have been at O'Connell's a Blueberry Hill, and they both hover in that area, depending on whether you go with fries or onion rings or something more exotic on the side.

That said, I'd pay pretty well for a decent side salad to go with as well. Love a decent side salad. Don't need a entree salad, just a bowlful to start things off.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, I'm glad it's not just me. I always feel unsophisticated when I reject the buffalo burger on the menu in favor of the beef burger.

Bison can be pretty tasty, and is much better for you. My family raises and butchers a few every year. But I'd argue with anyone saying it's better than a nice fat hunk of beef. It's simply too lean. Which makes it very delicate to cook correctly. Cook it just a minute too long, and it's almost ruined. Not nearly as forgiving as beef or pork. Because it's so lean, it also lacks that mouth watering juicy burst of flavor like good marbled beef has. Bison is tender, but rarely has as much flavor.

In the right cook's hands, bison can certainly be just as good as beef, or better than cheap poorly prepared beef. But it's too easy to end up with something much less delicious than beef.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Fish

Bison can be pretty tasty, and is much better for you. My family raises and butchers a few every year. But I'd argue with anyone saying it's better than a nice fat hunk of beef. It's simply too lean. Which makes it very delicate to cook correctly. Cook it just a minute too long, and it's almost ruined. Not nearly as forgiving as beef or pork. Because it's so lean, it also lacks that mouth watering juicy burst of flavor like good marbled beef has. Bison is tender, but rarely has as much flavor.

In the right cook's hands, bison can certainly be just as good as beef, or better than cheap poorly prepared beef. But it's too easy to end up with something much less delicious than beef.

Tell me about this butchering and how I acquire some of your meat.

/no homo

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah, it's awful.

Plus, cooking on a gas grill with an open lid results in the most bland burger of all time.

And what's even worse is that the hot dogs are inedible at these cookouts, too.

Who cooks with the lid open? Is this a thing for real?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Who cooks with the lid open? Is this a thing for real?

It's the most ridiculous thing of all time.

We've been to four cookouts over the last four weeks and in every single case, the food has been grilled with the lid open.

Not only were the hamburgers awful, the hotdogs were shriveled and tasteless.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It's the most ridiculous thing of all time.

We've been to four cookouts over the last four weeks and in every single case, the food has been grilled with the lid open.

Not only were the hamburgers awful, the hotdogs were shriveled and tasteless.

I have honestly never seen that. Wow.

And you have to salt and pepper the damn things. Jesus, these Cali folk are nuts!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I have honestly never seen that. Wow.

And you have to salt and pepper the damn things. Jesus, these Cali folk are nuts!

I use a combination of fresh ground pepper, Lawry's seasoning salt and Rufus Teague Meat Rub.

Those people used nothing. I think I'll pass the rest of the summer and stick with the salads and veggies.

[RobBlake]

I can't justify to myself spendin 15 bucks or more while dining out for a burger.. while it's one of my fav. foods.. i'd rather spend the extra couple bucks on a steak variety.

[saphojunkie]

Hamburgers>>>>steak IMO.

I got a flat cast iron that I put on my grill. Don't overwork the meat, salt and pepper. Butter on the cast iron and a little beer later to create steam and melt cheese.

I'd rather spend $20 on a burger than any amount on a steak. Now, prime rib...

[Third Eye]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Hamburgers>>>>steak IMO.

I got a flat cast iron that I put on my grill. Don't overwork the meat, salt and pepper. Butter on the cast iron and a little beer later to create steam and melt cheese.

I'd rather spend $20 on a burger than any amount on a steak. Now, prime rib...

I don't even know how to respond to that.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Hamburgers>>>>steak IMO.

I got a flat cast iron that I put on my grill. Don't overwork the meat, salt and pepper. Butter on the cast iron and a little beer later to create steam and melt cheese.

I'd rather spend $20 on a burger than any amount on a steak. Now, prime rib...