This burger thing – am I missing something?
Flickr photo by Intrepidation
Every now and then, maybe once every three months, I think about having a burger. But I don’t. After one disappointing encounter too many, I pretty well gave up.
Too dry or too greasy. Too much glop on it. Too big, too charred, too much bread. Some have the the heft of a brick and taste of absolutely nothing. With so many other things to eat, it didn’t seem worthwhile to keep searching for a passable version of one food. So, I probably haven’t had a hamburger in about five years.
I thought Atlanta’s two-year-old gourmet burger epidemic would have burned itself out by now, but I would have lost money on that bet. Maybe now, when the choices are about as good as they’re likely to get, is the time to give it another try. I live close enough to Grindhouse to walk (not today, lest I freeze my face or who-knows-what else off in the process). I can get to Wonderful World pretty easily (Hmm, their site is down. Anyone know what’s going on with them?) and it wouldn’t be too much trouble to MARTA my way over to Flip or Yeah! Burger. But, once there, would it be worth the time and, more importantly, the money?
Is anyone a new burger convert? Is there really something to all this or is everyone just going because everyone else is going?
I really don’t know, Tamra. I want a burger about as often as you do. I probably get one about twice a year, and when I do it’s usually at the Earl or Vortex. These specialty burger places aren’t flourishing because of us, for sure!
What do you think about the rumors of Richard Blais (the top chef guy that opened Flip) opening a hot dog place in the old San Francisco coffee on Highland? Are hot dogs the next big thing??? It’s just about as absurd as the burgers-only trend…
Yeah, I don’t get it either. If I want a burger, I just get one at Skip’s in Avondale. Yes, I know they’ve been frozen. I don’t care. They’re great. I don’t need a large piece of meat or some sort of “specialty” bun.
Well, since he’s not limiting himself to beef for his burgers, I can imagine that the “hot dogs” could be all kinds of fancy sausages on fancy buns. That sounds good! But I don’t know if I’d be willing to stand in a long line and put down $12 for it.
Have you tried the burger at Bocado yet? I’ve tried Flip and Yeah!, and strongly prefer Bocado. It’s two griddled, lacy patties in an H & F bun, great pickles, great cheese. Not trying to blow you away with a giant patty or any kind of anything other than a good, well executed, straight-up burger. It sets the standard in this city IMHO.
I keep forgetting that Bocado is even over there, even thought it’s on the *long* list of restaurants I want to try. It’s right at that Marietta/Howell Mill split, across from Octane, right? I’d missed it altogether, but the Bocado Burger seems to have a quite a following.