Finally ate at Bob's

 

My time in Burbank was coming to an end and I knew I had to get back to Bob's to try their burger.  Finally I made it happen.  The building itself is very cool and retro.  It's the original Bob's and they sell T-shirts and banks with Bob displayed.  It is in a part of Burbank call Toluca Lake.  Fairly upscale and a lot of walk-by traffic.  I sat outside on the patio and ordered the cheese burger.  The service was fine, nothing special.  The burger arrived and right away I noticed the dressing.  I always forget that Burger joints in CA seem to think that Thousand Island dressing needs to be on every burger.  They call it their Special sauce.  I've said it a few times but I'm saying it again, I hate 1000 Island dressing!  It's the same no matter what you call it.     So, I scrapped it off and put the burger back together.  The burger was just okay.  It wasn't anything special.  Honestly it tasted like a typical diner burger.  It was  a little overdone and the cheese was American.  The bun was non descript and the toppings were lettuce and tomato.  The fries were the meaty kind which I like but definitely from a bag and dumped in a fryer.   
Overall I'd say that the experience of eating in the location, watching the people walk by, looking at the memorabilia posted in the lobby made it worthwhile.  It brought back all those memories of childhood.  The food was just okay.  I took my photo's and checked the location off my list. On to the next Burger. 

It's National Burger month.

I've been so busy that I didn't even notice it was national Burger Month.  Of course for some of us, it is always Burger month.
Enjoy!

http://sacburgermonth.com/

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/05/happy-national-burger-month.html

Hook Burger

A couple of weeks ago when I was down in Burbank, I saw that a Hook Burger was getting ready to open in the shopping center by my hotel.  Hook Burger is owned by the same team that owns The Habit.  This is a bit more upscale then The Habit along with a full bar.   When I went back last week, they were open and I decided to give them a shot.  I am a big fan of the Habit so I was expecting big things.

First, the new spot is inviting with plenty of outdoor seating and a friendly staff.  You can tell they just opened because everything is spotless and the staff was all smiles.   I ordered the Hickory Burger which comes with Bacon and onion strings and an order of sweet potato fries.  
The burger was giant.  I'm not sure my mouth is big enough for this burger (no comments needed here!) 
This was a tasty burger.  The BBQ sauce was slightly sweet, the onion strings were crunchy and the meat was perfectly cooked. Due to the size, it was a bit messy but I managed to scrape up my leftovers with a fork.   My only complaint was the bun.  It just didn't have much flavor to it.  I thought the bun lacked something but I'm not sure what.  The sweet potato fries were also good but maybe not the best I've ever had.  I still dream about the ones at Umami Burger!  These were good but nothing special.  It was also nice to have a beer with the burger, not something that's available at all burger spots.
Overall it was a thumbs up experience.  The location is great, the people are nice and the food is delicious.  I look forward to going back.

Pie N Burger

Last week I was in Pasadena CA and decided to check out the best Burger in town.  I looked on a few websites and kept seeing Pie N Burger mentioned.  Burgers AND Pie??  what more could a girl ask for?

I went in search of it through old town Pasadena.  I got lost a few times, even with the GPS, but finally found the joint...  hole in the wall.  At first glance I was a bit scared.  I had read that it opened in 1963 and I'm willing to bet they haven't done a lot to the interior since 1963.  It looked like a 60's diner with brown counters and a few tables in the back.  I sat at the counter  next to a couple in their 80's and ordered the cheeseburger, fries and a diet soda.  The service was fine and I could see the cook at the grill flipping the patties so I knew they would be freshly made.  The burger arrived and it was your typical diner burger.  Pretty darn tasty but a little greasy and I forgot to ask if they put a weird sauce on it and they did. Why oh  why does everyone think that putting a Thousand Island sauce on a burger is a good thing?  I wish the waitress had mentioned it but she didn't.  I scrapped it off and chowed down.  Overall a good burger , tasty meat, bun held together nicely and was lightly toasted.  The fries were  okay but basic.  The mistake I made was not saving room for the pie.  Later everyone told me the pie is the real highlight of the experience.  The waitress read off a selection of about 10 pies to choose from but I was just too full.   Now I wish I had ordered the Butterscotch creme pie to go.  
I might go back if I'm in Pasadena again .   Not sure I'd drive out of my way.  But next time it will be half a burger and a slice of pie!

Bob's BIg Boy

I was in Burbank this past week for work and there in the distances I saw.....  the Original Bob's Big Boy!!  We use to eat at a Bob's all the time when we were kids.  Unfortunately I was headed off to meet friends for dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant so I couldn't stop in to eat.  But next time!!  What kind of hamburger blogger could pass up eating in the place that invented the original Double Deck Hamburger!  Can't wait.

New facebook page

I've added a facebook page for my burger blogs.  It will be a shorter review of each location. 
I will post some of the old reviews to catch folks up on what's been happening.  I'm planning on referring them to the blog for longer reviews and pushing my friends here to sign up there. 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Between-The-Buns-Restaurant-Review/143921539009234

Fish burger

Tuna sliders

Just got back from Florida and I'm excited to share a couple of reviews from the beach.  I guess I can't call them burgers because honestly they were fish sandwiches.   First- I stayed the first 4 nights at the Orlando Marriott convention center.  The first day I got there early and was able to spend the day by the pool.   I ate at the little lunch cafe overlooking the fun.  The food wasn't earth shattering but there is something delicious about sitting in the sun and drinking a fancy cocktail and eating a fish sandwich.  Ordered the tuna sliders.  3 little burgers with fresh tuna, lightly seared and topped with a ginger coleslaw.  Pretty tasty though I have to say the coleslaw over powered the tuna.  I ended up scrapping off the last burger and eating it plane. 

Two Georges

A few days later I was in Delray Beach Florida visiting with 2 of my dearest friends and went had lunch at 2 Georges.  We've been going there for lunch ever since I've been going to Florida.  At least for the past 20 years.  It has changed over the years.  It use to just be a lunch shack where the boats would pull up and dock.  Now it has condo surrounding it and valet parking.  Crazy!  But the fish sandwich, grilled with cheese is still killer.  Perfectly cooked and simple.  It is dolphin fish (Similar to Mahi mahi)   Served with nice fat fries and coleslaw.  Mix that with a cold cocktail and you have a fabulous lunch.  The bread wasn't anything special but that's okay.  The fish made up for it. 
Eating with best friends, sitting in the sun looking at the water and having fresh fish equals perfection!