Red Robin - Southern Charm Burger (4 stars)

5582 Spectrum Drive
Frederick, MD 21703
Phone:  (301) 620-1081
Website: http://www.redrobin.com/

Time of Visit:  July 28, 2015 at 11:50 am

My Order:  Southern Charm Burger

                     Steak Fries
                     Sweet Iced Tea

I realized I only had this week to use my 15% discount at Red Robin, so I went there for lunch and had the Southern Charm Burger, one of the Red Robin’s Finest Burgers.

Burger Rating = 4.2 (****)Oven-roasted tomatoes, savory roasted garlic aioli and fresh arugula tossed in citrus olive oil dressing on a toasted ciabatta bun. $12.99

Mind your manners around this Black Angus patty glazed with brown sugar and topped with candied bacon, honey BBQ sauce, sharp Cheddar and caramelized onions on a toasted ciabatta bun. $13.99

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The food comes out on a small platter, with the fries placed in a silver-colored cone/cylinder.  Very attractive, but not something that takes your breath away, a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 4

My burger was cooked just as I like it, cooked all the way through with no pink, yet there was still some juiciness to it.  Not dripping down your arms juicy, but not dry either.  It was char-grilled but didn’t have an overwhelming charred flavor.  This time the patty seemed to be even looser than usual, giving this burger a very pleasing texture.  In addition, this burger comes with a brown sugar glaze, which was cooked very nicely onto the patty.  Very good in my opinion, but I can’t quite give it a 5, so a real strong 4.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

As for all their Finest burgers, the use a toasted ciabatta roll for the bun.  This is a great choice for a burger, as the ciabatta is firm and holds together great.  Plus, it has a great flavor and soaked up some of the juices from the burger and toppings.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have a very good toast on this one, so the most I can give it is a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

Sharp Cheddar Cheese:  They actually put enough cheese on this burger that its flavor came through.  Also it was well melted, so I’m giving it a 5.
Candied Bacon:  This bacon was really tasty and cooked until crispy, just the way I like it, a 5.
Honey BBQ Sauce:  This sauce reminds me of the barbecue sauce we used to make at home with brown sugar.  It adds a layer of tart sweetness to the flavor profile, but could have been spread more evenly over the bun, a 4.
Caramelized Onions:  These were really nice on the burger, adding little bites of sweet onion crunch.  Their small size did make them tend to slip out of the burger, so a 4.
Shredded Lettuce:  Again with the wimpy shredded lettuce, this didn’t add much to the burger other than some green.  I’m only giving it a 3.
Mayonnaise:  You know, on this burger mayonnaise wasn’t really necessary as it didn’t add anything (except calories).  However, it didn’t take away from the experience, so a 3.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 5

This is another tasty Red Robin offering.  All the sweet elements gave the entire burger a really sweet taste, almost too sweet.  Fortunately, the sharp cheese added that necessary savory note to help balance the flavor profile.  Everything held together until the end and the ciabatta roll soaked up many of the excess juices.  Another excellent combination, a 5.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

The place is real easy to find, just off I-270, right at the entrance to the Francis Scott Key Mall.  It’s situated across the parking lot from Sears, so there is a LOT of parking available.

Facilities

This building is only a few years old and was recently remodeled when the chain did a reimaging.  There is quite a bit of seating, but none outside, so you can’t eat outside on a nice day.  Restrooms were adequately sized, clean, and easy to find.

Staff and Service

The hostess seated me promptly and the waiter was there soon after.  My drink order was taken while I looked at the menu and I was ready to order when he returned.  My order was taken correctly and I was offered some fries before the burger came out, although I declined and waited for the burger.  The waiter was around enough to get me refills, but not so much that he was a nuisance.  The service was excellent.

Sides

Steak Fries:  The steak fries were better than my last visit, but they still needed a crispier exterior.  They were all freshly fried for me and I didn’t have any soggy ones.  I did get refills.
Sweet iced tea:  This tea was good and wasn’t overwhelming with sweetness, a nice drink with the meal.

Value

This burger seems a little pricey to me, compared to their other offerings.  I just don’t feel that anything on this burger justifies the extra expense.  I did get a 15% discount this time, but I don’t think I would get this burger very often normally.  It was tasty though!!

Barley and Hops Grill & Microbrewery - Basic Gourmet Burger w/ Cheddar (4 stars)

5473 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
Phone:  (301) 668-5555
Website:  http://barleyandhops.net/

Single location

Time of Visit:  July 25, 2015 at 4:15 pm

My Order:  Basic Gourmet Burger with Cheddar Cheese

                     Fries
                     Tuscarora Red Ale

I saw this place on a list of best burgers in Frederick, so I went in to try it out.  It certainly wasn’t a bad burger, but far from the best I’ve had.

Burger Rating = 3.6 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The presentation was nice enough.  It was served open-faced on the plate with the fries and a pickle spear alongside.  It looked really nice, a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The patty was cooked all the way through, but it just seemed like something was missing, namely some seasoning.  Even just a little salt would have helped immensely.  It did have a good smoke flavor, but I like to taste something besides smoke.  The texture wasn’t bad, but it was obviously not a hand-formed loose patty.  Overall, kind of mediocre, a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

The bun was nicely sized and a good texture which held up through the whole meal.  I give them high marks because they put a good toast on the bun, which provided a nice texture and a good flavor to the burger, a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

Cheddar cheese:  The cheese was well melted over the burger and covered the burger well.  They actually used two thin slices, so there was a better cheese to meat balance, but still could have used just a little more, a 4.
Lettuce:  The used a good sized piece of green leaf lettuce that was pretty fresh and crunchy.  A good addition, a 4.
Tomato slice:  A nice slice of tomato that fit the burger pretty well.  It just needed to be a little riper and more flavorful, a 4.
Red onion slices:  It was good, crunchy red onion, but they only provided three rings.  By breaking the rings up into pieces, I was able to get good coverage on the burger, but then the smaller pieces threatened to fall out.  A whole slice would have been too much onion, but a few more rings would have been nice, a 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

Overall it was a good burger.  The toppings blended well, but it could have used a bit more onion.  Mostly, the meat just needed to be seasoned, but a hand-formed patty would have given it a better texture.  It did maintain its structural integrity throughout.  Because of the meat, I can’t give this any higher than a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

The place was easy to find, right on Route 355.  There is a good amount of parking next to the building, plus extra parking in front of the Target next door.

Facilities

This is a nice building, clean and well kept up.  When you first walk in, the vats for the beer are right next to you.  There is some patio seating and a lot of seats inside.

Staff and Service

The hostess was very friendly and took me right to my seat.  My waitress did come to greet me promptly.  I don’t like to bothered too much when I’m eating, but after I received my food I didn’t see her again until I was done eating.  Not normally a big deal, unless you would like something, which I did this time.  I would have asked for a little mustard, but wound up eating my burger without it.  Since I was in before the dinner rush, the tables were mostly empty, but people started coming in about the time I left.

Sides

Fries:  People, fry your fries just a little bit longer.  They should be crispy on the outside.  Theirs were the typical boardwalk style fries so many places serve, but just needed to be cooked a tad longer.  I’m not a fan of fast food, but at least McDonalds usually gets their fries right.  The spicy ketchup didn’t taste bad, but I don’t really like a spicy tingle in my ketchup, which this had.
Tuscarora Red Ale:  Since this is a brewpub, I decided to have a beer and selected the Tuscarora Red because the menu recommended it to go with the burger.  It was a good match and complimented it well.  It came in the standard pint glass, so I can’t say too much, but I usually don’t need more than maybe 12 ounces for a meal, leaving another four ounces to finish after the meal.  A smaller size option would have been great.

Value

For a table service restaurant, the prices aren’t bad, but of course the beer jacked up the total almost another five dollars.  Still, not a bad overall cost.

Smashburger - Windy City Burger (4 stars)

5597 Spectrum Dr
Frederick, MD21703
Phone:  (240) 215-3314
Website:  http://smashburger.com/

International chain, mostly in the United States and a few other countries

Time of Visit:  July 22, 2015 at 11:45 pm

My Order:  Windy City Burger

                     Smashfries
                     Sweet Iced Tea

In addition to their regular menu, Smashburger also offers in their restaurants a burger with some of the local flavors.  They will frequently select one of these burgers and offer it in all their stores for a limited time.  I received an email stating that they would be featuring the Windy City Burger, their Chicago burger, in all their restaurants, so I thought I would try it out.  I figured the only other way I could try it would be to take a trip to northern Illinois.  The burger was good, but not as good as others I have had here.

Burger Rating = 3.52 (Four Stars)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The food came out on a tray with the burger open so you could see everything.  The fries were in a wax paper lined metal container alongside the burger.  You receive a standard, labeled cup for your drink.  It was a really nice presentation that showcased the burger well, a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The burger was cooked all the way through with no pink, but needed a bit longer sear to develop a good crust.  It was neither very juicy but it wasn’t too dry either.  They use fresh meat for their burgers and mine had a great texture.  It was a good burger, but needed that flavorful crust and could have been better, so a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 3

For this burger, they used a pretzel bun, which seems to be the rage at several places right now.  This bun seemed a little bit for the burger, plus it seemed really dense.  The effect was that I often experienced an excess of doughy bites while eating.  Maybe it would have been okay for their larger sized burger, but on the regular size it was a bit much, so only a 3.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3.6

Sharp Cheddar Cheese:  This was more of a thick cheese sauce, but it was very good.  It had a good sharp flavor that came through while eating the burger.  It could have been spread a little better over the patty, so a 4.
Haystack Onions:  These were pretty crispy when the burger came out to the table, but unfortunately quickly lost their crunch in the moisture of the burger.  I’ll give them a 3.
Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard:  I really like this mustard and more places should offer it for their burgers, however, there was a bit too much of it and it made the parts of the burger slide around too much.  It was a really good addition to the burger though, 4.
Lettuce:  Good lettuce, but the leaf was too big.  They should have used two smaller diameter pieces instead to give more texture.  Pretty good though, so a 4.
Tomato Slices:  These were good, juicy slices, but they didn’t match the size of the patty well, so you didn’t get a good bite of tomato in each bite, a 3.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 4

Because there was a little too much mustard, I had to readjust the burger many times while eating it to keep it all together.  The flavor, however, was great.  The mustard and the haystack onions provided a great flavor and the fresh veggies added a nice contrast, although the bun was a bit too big.  Overall, I think I’ll give it a 4.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

You have to look for this place to find it.  It’s located in a small strip center across the main road into FSK Mall.  It’s not easy to spot.  The parking is limited but adequate, unless you’re there during busy times.  You could park in the main mall lot, but you would have to cross a pretty busy street to get to the shop.

Facilities

This building is pretty new, so there are no structural problems.  There are several places to sit inside and a few outside tables.  The restrooms were easy to find.  I have to give a small minus because several surfaces needed to be wiped down and they hadn’t even suffered the lunch rush yet.

Staff and Service

I had really good service.  My order was taken quickly and was brought out to my table promptly.  They were around a couple of times to check on me and later to pick up my tray when I was finished.

Sides

Smashfries:  I still really like these fries.  They are one of the reasons I come to this place.
Sweet Iced Tea:  This is pretty standard iced tea, nothing special, but good.

Value

My meal cost $11.07 plus tax.  That’s more than I like to pay all the time, but not bad for the occasional meal.

 

The Main Cup - Cheeseburger (5 stars)

14 W Main St
Middletown, MD 21769                    
Phone:  (301) 371-4433
Website: themaincuprestaurant.com

Single location

Time of Visit:  June 17, 2015 at 1:30 pm

My Order:  Cheeseburger

                     Fries
                     Iced Tea

I was in Middletown checking out the disc golf course in the park, so I thought I would eat at The Main Cup.  I have eaten here before, but I don't think I have ever ordered a burger.  It turned out to be a great burger, in fact it is my first 5 star burger.  This was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend this restaurant.

Burger Rating = 4.6 (*****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 5

The meal came out on a rectangular platter with the fries alongside the burger and some ketchup in a small ramekin for dipping the fries.  The burger was placed with the top bun slightly askew so you could see the meat patty and the cheese melted over it.  A very nice presentation, I'm not sure it could be much better, so I'm giving it a 5.

Meat, Overall Rating 5

This was a thick, char-grilled patty.  This is not my favorite style of burger, as I normally like the thinner patties.  However, they did this meat right!  It was cooked all the way through, yet was still pretty juicy.  It was also very well seasoned and had a good texture, not too densely packed.  Even though I used a little mustard, it wasn't needed to flavor the meat, as the meat had plenty of flavor on its own.  Outstanding job, a definite 5.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

The bun was a toasted brioche bun, with a good texture that held up well to the sandwich.  Maybe a little more toasting would have provided a bit more texture contrast, but otherwise well done, a good strong 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3.8

Cheddar cheese:  The cheese had good flavor and was well melted over the burger.  However, because of the thick patty, it could have used a little thicker slice of cheese, so only a 4.
Lettuce:  Good fresh lettuce leaves, that actually provided a bit of additional texture to the burger, but could have used maybe one more leaf.  Not perfect, so a strong 4.
Tomato slices:  Juicy slices, but not the ripest.  Plus, the slices seemed to fall apart as the burger was eaten, a 3.
Onion slices:  Red onion, sliced really thin, almost shaved.  They provided a great flavor to the burger.  I like the crisp bite of onion though, so the slice could have been a bit thicker, a 4.
Mustard:  A good yellow mustard, but not at all necessary.  The thin spread I added myself added a nice additional flavor though, a 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 5

From the first to the last bite, this was an outstanding burger.  The meat was seasoned enough that no toppings would have been required, but the toppings included complimented the meat well.  I don't any real complaints about this burger, a easy 5.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

The place was right on Main Street, so it was pretty easy to find.  Parking, however, can be difficult.  There are a few small lots one block back, but they are often full at lunch time.

Facilities

This is an old building, but it has been remodeled well.  The atmosphere is kind of a combination of pub and coffeehouse.  It can be a little dark at times.

Staff and Service

When I stepped inside, a chalkboard directed patrons to seat themselves.  The lunch rush was over, so it was easy to find a table.  A large group was just leaving, so it took a couple of minutes for a waitress to get to me, but not an excessive wait.  There are plenty of options, including sandwiches, salads, pizza, and other entrees.  The waitress was friendly and reasonably attentive throughout the meal, great.

Sides

Fries:  These fries weren't bad, but they could have been cooked just a little crisper.
Iced Tea:  Pretty standard iced tea.

Value

The burger was $9.99, and came with the fries.  Considering the quality of the burger and the good service, I feel it was priced right, especially since the same meal at many of the counter service establishments would have cost just as much.

Elevation Burger - Kid's Burger (4 stars)

7810 Wormans Mill Rd, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone:  (301) 644-3314
Website:  http://www.elevationburger.com

International chain, across the United States and Canada

Time of Visit:  July 13, 2015 at 11:45 pm

My Order:  Kid’s Burger

                     French Fries
                     Sweet Green Tea

This stop was another chain.  Elevation Burger’s main claim is that its burgers are made from organic beef.  It was an adequate meal, but nothing to write home about (but I will write about it here).

Burger Rating = 3.7 (Four Stars)

Presentation, Overall Rating 3

Like many places these days, you order at the counter and then they bring the food out to you.  At Elevation Burger it comes out on a paper-lined aluminum tray.  I know it’s because they only have one size of tray, but when it’s only one person that burger and fries seem really small.  Other than that, the burger is in a printed paper sleeve.  It’s a cute but unremarkable presentation, a 3.

Meat, Overall Rating 4

They cook their burgers on a hot griddle, but like most places could cook it just a tad more to give it that good crust.  It was cooked through and tasted good, but not exceptional, a 4.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

Their bun is a typical soft, bun.  It had a good texture and held up well during the meal.  It was a good size for the patty and had a good toast on it, adding great texture and flavor.  There was nothing wrong with this bun, but nothing stood out either, a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3.6

Cheddar cheese:  The cheese could have been melted a little better, but it had a real good flavor.  I’ll give it a 4.
Balsamic Dijon:  I saw this on the toppings menu and thought I would give it a try.  It provided an interesting vinegar flavor to the burger, but needed a stronger Dijon taste.  I’ll give it a 3.
Lettuce:  The lettuce was pretty average, providing not much more than a little more green for my meal, a 3.
Onion slices:  There seemed to be the right amount of onion on the burger, and their flavor was good and not too strong, a 4.
Dill Pickle slices:  These were the long sliced pickles that seem to stay on the burger better.  They tasted really good and were a nice addition to the burger, a 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 4

The burger held up well all the way to the end and the overall flavor balance was pretty good.  I do have to say that the balsamic flavor tended to be a little strong, especially along with the dill pickles.  I’ll give it a 4.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located in the Wegman’s Center, across the parking lot from that store.  Even knowing where it is, you will have to look to spot it.  There is plenty of parking, although the lot can get busy, especially on the weekend.

Facilities

This building is pretty new, so there are no structural problems.  There are several places to sit inside but only a few outside tables.  The restrooms were easy to find.

Staff and Service

You order at the counter, give them your name, and then one of the staff will bring your food out to you.  The menu is on the wall behind the counter and easy to read.  The young woman at the counter took my order quickly and accurately.  You get your own drinks at the drink station, which was easy to find and operate.  There was only a short wait as they cook the burgers to order.

Sides

French Fries:  I like the concept of their fries where they are cooked in olive oil.  However, they needed to cook these longer as they needed a better crisping and a few still had a tad of uncooked potato taste.
Sweet Green Tea:  This green tea was light and refreshing, without being too sweet.  There was also a citrus note that was quite nice.

Value

Look, I understand pricing a little higher for the organic beef, but these seem overpriced anyway.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - BJ's Brewhouse Burger (3 stars)

5616 Spectrum Dr, Frederick, MD 21703
Phone:  (301) 695-0470
Website:  http://www.bjsrestaurants.com

National chain, across many states of the United States

Time of Visit:  July 9, 2015 at 1200 pm

My Order:  BJ's Brewhouse Burger

                   Thin, Crispy Fries
                     Sweet Iced Tea

I had been to BJ’s before, but never rated the burger.  It turned out to be a very disappointing experience.

Burger Rating = 3.0 (Three Stars)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The meal came out looking very nice.  The burger was presented on a plate with the fries alongside, arranged around the burger.  The burger itself was placed with the top bun slightly off the burger, allowing you to see the patty.  An overall good presentation, a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 2

The best thing I can say about the burger is that it was edible.  It was thin patty, cooked on a flattop grill.  It looked pretty good at first, but that ended with the first bite.  First of all, the burger was not cooked to my requested doneness, although it was close enough I didn’t send it back.  Second, it was cooked very unevenly, with portions cooked pretty well and others cooked much less.  Throughout the burger were too many bites of gristle, much more than the occasion piece that can happen to any burger.  It didn’t have a bad flavor, but the texture just was not good.  I would go so far to say that it wasn’t any better than your typical fast food burger.  This patty only gets a 2 from me.

Bun, Overall Rating 3

The bun was a very good hamburger bun, with a pleasant denseness, yet still soft.  I was looking actually forward to the bun, as it is advertised on the menu as parmesan crusted.  I have had the buns here before and they have had a good crust on them.  That didn’t happen this time.  There was only a hint of parmesan and it certainly was not a crust.  Instead, there was only a light toasted circle around the edge of each bun.  If the bun had been crusted like my prior experiences, it would have been outstanding, but instead it was only average, a 3.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3

Lettuce:  Usually I complain that there is not enough lettuce put on a burger, but that was not the case this time.  There was plenty of iceberg lettuce, maybe a little too much, as some was lost from the sandwich as it was eaten.  It did provide an abundant crisp crunch to the burger.  I’m going to give it a 4.
Tomato Slices:  These were good juicy slices, but as happens too often, they didn’t quite cover the burger evenly.  But, they were good enough to get a 4.
Pickle slices:  These were good pickles that provided a nice briny bite to the burger.  A good solid 4.
Grilled Onions:  Uh, what grilled onions?  The menu stated that the burger had grilled onions, but there were none.  It never said optional or upon request, so this was a complete failure, a 0.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

Although the meat left a lot to be desired, the overall flavor of the burger was good.  But, the overstuffing of the lettuce made the burger hard to pick up and control, so I can’t give it any more than a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This restaurant is easy to spot if you are in the area as it’s located right in the FSK parking lot, near JC Penney.  Because it’s in the mall parking lot, there is plenty of parking.

Facilities

The building is not very old, so there are no structural problems.  There are several places to sit inside but no outside tables.  The restrooms were easy to find.

Staff and Service

Service on this visit was very sluggish.  Although I was seated very promptly, it took several minutes for the waiter to appear at my table, long enough that I had gone through the menu and decided on my order before he even appeared.  Once my order was taken, it didn’t take too long before he brought my drink back and my meal came out not long after.  He did check on me shortly after the food arrived, but he didn’t come back to the table after that until long after I had finished the meal.  He didn’t check if I wanted my drink refilled and I was waiting for him just to get the check.  I would have flagged him down if I had seen him, but he was nowhere in sight.

Sides

Thin Fries:  These were typical shoestring style fries and they were done very well.  They were warm and crispy and were good all through the meal.
Sweet Iced Tea:  The tea was fine, but I sure would have liked a refill.

Value

The price wouldn’t have been bad if the burger and service were up to par, but they weren’t.  I didn’t get charged for the tea, so that was a plus, but it still wasn’t worth the price for what I got.  I should have stopped a Smash Burger or Red Robin.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries - Little Cheeseburger (3 stars)

1700 Kingfisher Dr
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone:  (301) 668-1500
Website:  http://www.fiveguys.com

International chain, across the United States and Canada

Time of Visit:  July 6, 2015 at 11:45 pm

My Order:  Little Cheeseburger

                     Little Fries
                     Sweet Green Tea

I hadn’t been to a Five Guys for a while, so I thought I would make it my next blog entry.  I’ll be honest and say I was a little disappointed this trip.  The meal wasn’t bad, but I feel it was overpriced for what I got.

Burger Rating = 3.4 (***)

Presentation, Overall Rating 3

Five Guys only has counter service and all their food comes out in a brown paper bag.  The burgers are always wrapped in foil and the fries come in a paper cup filled to overflowing, and then some.  The grease from the fries always seems to soak into the bag, giving it an unpleasant appearance, a 3.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

They cook their burgers using the smashed technique which normally gives the burger a nice flavorful crust.  However, this burger could have used either a little more heat on the griddle or a little extra time, as the crust wasn’t really developed.  The burger still had a good flavor, just not that exceptional flavor from a good browning, caused by what’s known as the Maillard reaction.  They use fresh meat for their burgers, but this one seemed to have a lot of pieces of hard fat, not a pleasant texture, so only a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

Their bun is a typical soft, sesame seed coated bun.  It had a good texture and held up well during the meal.  My main complaint is that it was a little too thick for the single patty I had, but I know the use the same buns for both their single and double patty sandwiches, so it is probably sized for the double patty burger.  It also could have used a little bit more toasting, but it wasn’t bad, so I’ll give it a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3.8

American cheese:  The cheese was well melted over the patty and provided a nice creaminess.  There was plenty of cheese for the size of the patty, so this time it gets a 5.
Mustard:  Good yellow mustard, but a little too much in relation to the other toppings, a 3.
Lettuce:  This lettuce wasn’t shredded, but it wasn’t good sized leaves either.  It stayed in place in the sandwich, but needed a bit more to provide more texture, a 3.
Chopped White Onion:  Since the onion was chopped, it was distributed across the burger better, but the smaller pieces also tended to fall out.  It had a good flavor, with a touch of sweetness, and wasn’t so strong it overwhelmed, so I’ll give it a 4.
Pickle slices:  These were good pickles that blended well in the burger.  However, they weren’t distributed well across the burger.  I had to redistribute them myself to keep from having all the pickles in only a few bites.  I’ll give them a weak 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

The burger held up well all the way to the end.  While the overall flavor was good, it overwhelmed the meat.  As I said before, their burger construction and portions is set up for two patties, so the proportions are off for a single patty.  It was a good flavor, but the balance was off, so no more than a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

You have to look for this place to find it.  It’s located in the shopping center near the Giant off Route 26.  It’s not easy to spot.  The parking is limited but adequate, unless you’re there during busy times.  There is more parking over by the Giant, but you may have to walk a bit.

Facilities

This building is pretty new, so there are no structural problems.  There are several places to sit inside but no outside tables.  The restrooms were easy to find.  Even though they had only been open less than an hour, some of the tables needed to be wiped down.

Staff and Service

You order at the counter and then pick up your order when they call your number.  The menu is on the wall behind the counter and easy to read.  The young woman at the counter took my order quickly and accurately.  You get your own drinks at the drink station, which was easy to find and operate.  There was only a short wait as they cook the burgers to order.

Sides

Little Fries:  They always give you a lot more fries than you need.  Even with the Little Fries, there were more fries than necessary.  And these are not my preferred style of fries.  I appreciate the fresh cut fries, but they need to be cooked better.  I like my fries with a crispy exterior and the fries here are too often soggy.
Sweet Green Tea:  This green tea was light and refreshing, without being too sweet.  There was also a citrus note that was quite nice.

Value

I have always found Five Guys to be a little overpriced.  For the same price I could have gone to a fast casual restaurant and been waited on.

 

Red Robin - DGB Burger (4 stars)

5582 Spectrum Drive
Frederick, MD 21703
Phone:  (301) 620-1081
Website: http://www.redrobin.com/
Multiple locations across the United States and Western Canada

 

Time of Visit:  July 1, 2015 at 12:00 pm

My Order:  DGB Burger

                     Steak Fries
                     Sweet Iced Tea

 

I have 15% off at Red Robin all this month because I was in the Army and, since I couldn’t decide on anything else, I figured why not go there and have another burger.  I decided to have one of the Red Robin’s Finest Burgers, the DGB (Darn Good Burger).

Burger Rating = 4.2 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The food comes out on a small platter, with the fries placed in a silver-colored cone/cylinder.  Very attractive, but not something that takes your breath away, a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 4
My burger was cooked just as I like it, cooked all the way through with no pink, yet there was still some juiciness to it.  Not dripping down your arms juicy, but not dry either.  It was char-grilled but didn’t have an overwhelming charred flavor.  It also had a very good texture, loosely packed, but not falling apart.  Very good in my opinion, a 4.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

As for all their Finest burgers, the use a toasted ciabatta roll for the bun.  This is a great choice for a burger, as the ciabatta is firm and holds together great.  Plus, it has a great flavor and soaked up some of the juices from the burger and toppings.  The only mark against it, and it’s a minor one, is that the rectangular shape of the roll doesn’t match the round shape of the burger.  So, I can’t give it a five, but it does get a really strong 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

Arugula with citrus olive oil dressing:  This is very good, with plenty of greens to add to the burger.  The dressing has a nice citrus tang that goes really well with the other flavors.  The only down side is there was just a tad too much of the dressing and it made the sandwich a bit greasy, a 4.
Oven-roasted Tomatoes:  These also provided a nice pop of flavor to the burger.  Unfortunately, the pieces of tomato were sometimes hard to bite through and the pulled out, so that you would get some bites with a lot of tomato and some with none, so I can’t give these any higher than a 4.
Roasted Garlic aioli:  This didn’t stand out, but instead blended well with the other ingredients, so this also gets a strong 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 5

This is indeed a darned good burger.  All the ingredients blended well and provided a very flavorful experience.  Everything held together until the end and the ciabatta roll soaked up many of the excess juices.  All in all, an excellent combination, a 5.
 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

The place is real easy to find, just off I-270, right at the entrance to the Francis Scott Key Mall.  It’s situated across the parking lot from Sears, so there is a LOT of parking available.

Facilities

This building is only a few years old and was recently remodeled when the chain did a reimaging.  There is quite a bit of seating, but none outside, so you can’t eat outside on a nice day.  Restrooms were adequately sized, clean, and easy to find.

Staff and Service

I sat at the bar this trip, so I didn’t have much interaction with the hostess, just enough to tell her I was going to the bar.  The bartender was friendly and responded quickly to my needs.  The menu has lots of options, including several non-burger entrees.  Even though they had to cook my burger to order, it still didn’t take too long.  The service was excellent.

Sides

Steak Fries:  The steak fries were better than my last visit, but they needed a crispier exterior.  I did get refills.
Sweet iced tea:  This tea was good and wasn’t overwhelming with sweetness, a nice drink with the meal.

Value

Although this is a really good burger, I do think it’s a bit overpriced.  I don’t mind getting it sometimes, but certainly not on a regular basis.