Skip this place, try Five Guys or even Jakes in Delaware for better burgers at more reasonable prices:
My family and I have now dined twice at Restaurant 55 since its opening late last year (2010), and both times I have been sorely disappointed.
The first time I ordered the so-called "Black and Bleu" burger, which you would think would be exactly what it sounds like, a cajun-spiced blackened burger. Well, it isn't. I could barely detect the flavor of the minimal spices used in its preparation, and the burger itself was NOT blackened, it was grilled just like all of the other burgers our family ordered. The chef either has no idea what blackening is, or has been instructed not to prepare this dish in the correct way, presumably to avoid challenging the largely elderly clientele ported over from the owner's other restaurant, Cool Springs, by exposing them to too much heat. The ground beef used in the burgers is obviously and undeniably fresh, as advertised, but that's simply not going far enough. What's worse, the burger came with a nominal amount of bleu cheese (to say it was a "sprinkling" wouldn't be exaggeration), and NOTHING ELSE. No lettuce, no tomato, no nothin'. The bun was okay. A plain, bland burger with a chincy helping of mediocre cheese with a moderate helping of decent but not exceptional fries--I make better fries at home, and those at FIve Guys blow these away.
Second visit a couple months later (last night), I ordered the same dish, the "Black and Bleu" burger; I'm nothing if not a glutton for punishment, and since could really go for a decent blackened burger I figured I'd give them a second chance at my business... This time I noticed on the menu that you can "build you own" burger, but since there is NO LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN BUILD IT FROM, I was forced to scan the rest of the named burger options to determine what ingredients were available to me... So this time I ordered the blackened bleu cheese burger with grilled onion, lettuce and tomato. I would have liked jalapenos, also, but since these aren't on another menu item I don't bother to ask.
So what happens? Of course the burger is not blackened...again. In addition, I received mushrooms on the burger instead of onion. When I brought this to the attention of the waitress, she apologized but then asks me if I mind eating it anyway! I ALMOST NEVER send things back when I dine out, but if I bother to complain, it means I want it fixed, darn it. Don't ask me a question like that! I also bring to her attention at this point that the burger isn't blackened.
So, she brings me another burger, this time with the correct toppings/extras. Is it blackened? No, of course not. At least this time (both on the 1st and 2nd burgers) there was an adequate amount of cheese.
The drinks... First time I didn't order anything, but second time I decided to try their vaunted beer menu (they do have an impressive array of local brews on tap), and go for the Dogfish Head "Poppaskull", a Belgian. It came ICE COLD, certainly less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone who knows anything about ale will tell you that you don't serve it anywhere close to that cold. So, another area where Restaurant 55's reach exceeds its grasp. I waited for it to warm up, at which point it was fine.
The Kids - There's a children's menu, but it's not printed. We had to ask what was available. One child ordered the three sliders, and said they were basically tasteless (no seasoning whatsoever). Other child ordered chicken fingers and just ate the fries because there was no hot dog option (he's a confirmed hot dog man, despite my reservations on that score :). REALLY? No hot dog on the kid's menu we're not allowed to peruse visually, at a burger place? Please.
The Wife - Fish taco the first time, said it was okay. She's not too critical, but if she thought it was great or even above average she would have raved. Second time ordered the avocado burger, and received basically the same burger I did with a paper-thin slice of avocado.
Service - 3/5 - Attentive if somewhat inept service, from waitstaff clearly inexperienced in the type of dining experience Restaurant 55 purports to offer. Never asked if we wanted more drinks, an order bungled, inappropriate request (eat it anyway!), and a bit too talkative for my taste.
Price/Menu - 1/5 - If I can build my own burger, for goodness sake tell me what ingredients are available! No printed children's menu. Could get better food for much less elsewhere.
Atmosphere - 4/5 - Nice place with a cozy atmosphere, but nothing to write home about.
Food - 2/5 - At a "gourmet" burger joint, I expect the food to be what it claims to be. Don't call something blackened if it isn't, and don't be so frugal with the toppings. A burger featuring avocado or bleu cheese should have a big honking slab of it. Fries just okay. Ingredients all very fresh, I'll say, but if you don't do the right things with them... read more
