I'll be frank (Hi, Frank!): I was debating throughout the meal if this was really a five-star dive, or a four-star joint. I'll explain why I went full-star later, but either way, this was a solid experience, and one I would readily return for.
To start, the place was hoppin' on a Tuesday night! I was riding solo, though, so I found a spot at the bar right away. There was only one other open seat next to me, though, so it was pretty crowded, which is always a good sign.
Sitting where I was, I noticed a lot of orders for shakes to go. "Hmmm," I thought to myself, ponderously, "it would appear that shakes seem to be quite popular here. I should save room for one for dessert."
So, that meant skipping the traditional app (not a huge variety here anyway) in favor of a burger, some fries (some... ha!), and hopefully room for a tasty shake to round out the meal. Best to order that afterwards, just in case.
Let me explain the fries. They don't come with the burger, so you have to order them a la carte. But, for less than $5 you get enough fries to feed 2 or 3 diners easily! I think you could stretch an order to 4, if everyone was getting a drink and burger, but you might want to order more than one variety. They have several to choose from.
I had the smoked fries, and if I was disappointed at all, it was due to the absence of any real smoky flavor. They were good, don't get me wrong. There is a slight breading to them, almost a batter-dipped crunchy feel, but they are insanely addictive.
The burger, well... let's be honest. We all need to take our doctors' advice. We need to be serious when the prescribe us care. So, I had "What the Dr. Ordered," which is a 4 oz patty with 4 oz of 12-hour cooked short ribs doused in a smashingly good Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. If you told me I could have those short ribs with that sauce on a slider for $10... there is a good chance I would save up for it. It's really that good. Though, don't get any ideas jacking up the price, Black Sheep... I'm watching you...
So good.
Everything about that burger was great. The beef was fully flavored (both versions), the sauce was beyond good, the fried egg added it's liquid lava goodness, the veggies were ABSENT (as they should be), and the cheese and sauce complemented the rest of the ingredients. Even the butter-soaked brioche roll played its part to perfection. I would recommend extra napkins and a fork (to catch the drippings), but it was absolutely delicious.
Still, I felt kind of empty, unfulfilled, not fully satisfied. Something was missing, so I ordered a shake. Not just any shake: the Sugar Daddy.
I may have had fever dreams that night with Wilford Brimley chasing me around the city, screaming at me about Type II Di-uh-bee-tus, but I think I know the culprit. And I don't care, this shake was money. First of all, bourbon. Second of all, shut up, bourbon. Third, butterscotch schnapps, yes, please. Fourth, pecans, oh quite yes. And lastly, bacon. See, this was the smoky treat I'd been looking for. The bacon had this wonderful aroma and it hits you right in the schozz while you're downing a shake. The contrasts (sweet-and-salty; earthy-and-smoky; creamy-and-crunchy) were enough to please both the palette and the senses.
That's what bumped it up to five stars. Everything else was great, the service was great, the decor was great, even the parking was great. What made this truly amazing, though, was finding such a delightful comfort food to finish off the meal. Maybe it was the long flight that morning, or maybe it was the even longer drive that afternoon, but I felt such satisfaction at that milkshake that night.
Some experiences are dependent on time, space, and background. I get that. But, I could have had just an amazing burger and fries and not have felt really good in my soul without that dessert. I guess sometimes all you need is a little ice cream.
And bourbon. Don't forget the bourbon. read more