Glory Days Grill - Cheeseburger Trifecta (4 stars)

1305 W. 7th St.
Frederick, MD 21702-4102
Phone:  (301) 696-1112
Website:  http://www.glorydaysgrill.com/

Several locations in the Virginias, Maryland, and Florida

Time of Visit:  September 28, 2015 at 11:45 am

My Order:  Cheeseburger Trifecta

                     Onion Rings
                     Iced Tea

 

 

Glory Days is near my workplace and it was Classic Burger Monday there, so I stopped in for another burger.

Burger Rating = 4.3 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The food came out on a regular, diner style plate with the burger open.  Alongside it on the plate were the onion rings and a pickle spear was laying across one half of the burger.  Everything seemed freshly prepared and neatly prepared.  However, there weren’t any of the extras that would earn it a full score, so it gets a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 4

The burger looked really good, with a nice brown crust and cooked all the way through.  It was seasoned very well and had a good flavor.  It was somewhat compacted in texture and a tad dry, so I’m going to give the meat a 4.

Bun, Overall Rating 5

The bun had a really nice appearance and fit the burger well.  It was nicely toasted and had a great flavor that contributed to the burger.  Plus, it held up all through the meal.  I’m not going to say anything bad about the bun, so it gets a 5.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4.3

Three Cheeses:  For once a burger has a good amount of cheese on it.  Of course, that’s to be expected for a burger that features the cheese.  The three cheese, Swiss, cheddar, and provolone, all looked good and were melted evenly over the patty, blending into a unified cheese layer.  I can say nothing wrong about the cheese, so it gets a 5.

Red Onions:  This was served as a single slice and I had to separate the rings to distribute them over the burger, so I can’t mark down the coverage as I did it myself.  However, there was plenty to cover and it was fresh and crunchy.  It did have a tendency to poke out of the sandwich as it was eaten, so I’ll give the onion a 4.
Lettuce:  Again, like for so many burgers, there just wasn’t enough lettuce.  There was one small piece that just didn’t add anything to the burger but a little color.  It was a good fresh piece and tasted fine.  Overall, this gets a 3.
Mustard:  This wasn’t included with the burger, so I asked for some to add on my own.  It was good yellow mustard.  Since I can’t mark down for what I added myself, the mustard gets a 5.
Note - There was also a tomato slice provided, but I chose to eat it separately and won’t judge it as a topping.  However, if I had used it, it wasn’t big enough for the burger.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 4

This burger was a consistent, balanced burger that held up all the way through.  The only thing I might have added would be the sharp bite of some dill pickles on the sandwich, but it was good anyway.  What it didn’t have was that little extra, like special sourcing of ingredients to take it over the top.  So, overall, a good solid burger, so I’m giving it a 4.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This place is right in the 7^th Street shopping center and easy to spot.    Although it is in a large parking lot, the area tends to be busy and it can be tricky finding a spot reasonably close at lunch time.

Facilities

This building is in good shape and is set up in the typical sports bar style.  There are a few tables set up outside and you can get your order to go, if you want.  The restroom was easy to find and reasonably clean.

Staff and Service

I was seated as soon as I came in the door and the waitress was at my table quickly.  She was attentive without being annoying and responded to all my needs very quickly, even bringing a tea refill without being asked.

Sides

Onion Rings:  These were cut a little thicker than I like, but I guess many people prefer them that way.  They had the typical commercial breading, but were cooked really well and were really crispy.  These weren’t one of the standard sides, but were available with a small surcharge.

Pickle:  This was your standard kosher dill pickle spear, nothing outstanding, but a nice addition to the plate.
Iced Tea:  Your run of the mill, unsweetened tea, just something to wash down the meal.

Value

Since this was Classic Burger Monday, I got this meal for only a little over $10 before the tip.  That’s not a bad price, but the normal price seems a little high.

Rex's Downtown Grill - Burger with Cheddar (3 stars)

57 E Patrick St
Frederick, MD 21701

Phone:  (240) 651-5278

Website:  http://www.rexsdowntowngrill.com/

 

Single location

Time of Visit: September 12, 2015 at 11:30 am

My Order:   Burger w/ Cheddar

                      French Fries
                      Barq's Root Beer

 

 

Since I was downtown for the In the Streets Festival in Frederick, I decided to take the opportunity to eat at one of the restaurants there.  Since Rex’s wasn’t in the middle of everything, it gave me an opportunity to get out of the “action” for a bit.  They advertise as "Straight up the BEST burger in town!", but I wasn't impressed.

Burger Rating = 3.4 (***)

 

Presentation, Overall Rating 3

This is a fast casual style restaurant and the meal came out in a paper lined metal tray.  The burger was served open-faced with the fries alongside.  The burger was obviously freshly cooked and the toppings looked good as well, but it didn’t seem any real care was used in the assembly.  Everything was neat enough, but it all just looked a bit greasy to me.  I understand it is fast casual, but a little more care in the presentation would have helped.  I’ll give it a 3.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The patty looked pretty good, browned and fresh off the grill.  I didn’t specify, so I can’t count off for this, but the burger wasn’t cooked all the way through.  Texture-wise, it was actually pretty good and the flavor wasn’t bad.  I’m conflicted as to whether it was juicy or just greasy from the grill.  Overall, I just wasn’t that impressed, so I’ll give this one a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 5

The brioche bun was on point for the burger.  It was appropriately sized and looked good.  It had a nice toast on it, had a good texture, and held together until the last bite.  No complaints on the bun, so it gets a 5.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

Cheddar Cheese:  I was a nice slice of Cheddar, but it wasn’t enough for the size of the burger.  It looked like it was placed on the patty as the sandwich was assembled, not melted onto the patty as it cooked.  It did cover the burger well, it just wasn’t thick enough.  I just can’t give this any more than a 3.

Lettuce:  This was fresh and crunchy and there was actually enough to provide some extra texture to the burger.  My main complaint is that it being chopped caused too much to escape the burger as it was eaten.  Still, good enough for a 4.
Red Onion:  This was good, crunchy red onion, but the few rings provided just weren’t enough.  Plus, it was just placed on the burger and I had to separate the rings and try to spread it across myself.  Altogether, I’ll give it a 3.
Pickle Slices:  These were really tasty, sweet pickle slices.  However, there needed to be just a couple more slices, as there just weren’t enough to completely cover the burger.  I was surprised that they did stay in the burger as I ate it.  If there had been enough, this might have scored up to a 5, but the way it was, I have to hold at a 3.
Gulden’s Mustard:  This wasn’t on the burger when it was served, and I put it on myself from the bottle provided on each table.  Thus, since it wasn’t spoiled or anything, I can’t do anything but give it a 5.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 2

Too much of the toppings, mainly the lettuce, fell out during the meal, but generally the flavor was good and there was a good variety, although some bites were missing pickle or onion.  The cheese was also lost in the burger and I like to taste the cheese.  Plus, there was nothing special about the sourcing of the ingredients, I can’t give it any more than a 2.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located on Patrick Street in downtown Frederick, so nearby parking is at a premium.  Plus, if you were driving by, it would be real easy to miss.

Facilities

The store itself is clean and comfortable inside.  I only saw a half-dozen tables in the front and none outside, but it seemed like there were more in the back (I didn’t check).

Staff and Service

The service was pretty good and they brought my food out to me in a reasonable amount of time.  Later on, they offered to refill my drink for me.

Sides

French Fries:  Soggy and not crispy at all, does anyone prefer this style?  They were cooked through, but that’s the best I can say about them.

Barq’s Root Beer:  This was typical, fountain style soda, nothing special but good when you feel like a root beer.

Value

The meal cost me $11.93, plus tax.  That’s a little high for a fast casual place, in my opinion, especially since it wasn't an outstanding burger.

Blue Moon Cafe - Chubby Burger (4 stars)

200 E High St
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Phone:  (304) 876-1920
Website: http://www.bluemoonshepherdstown.com/

Single location 

Time of Visit:  September 7, 2015 at 11:30 am

My Order:  Chubby Burger w/ Cheddar

                   French Fries
                   Iced Tea

 

I was in Shepherdstown to play a round of golf in the afternoon, so I went early to have lunch at the Blue Moon.  While it wasn’t a bad burger, it was lacking in some areas.

Burger Rating = 3.6 (****)

 

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

 

The meal came out on a white, oval plate.  The burger was placed on one end and the fries on the other, along with a plastic container of ketchup.  Everything was well arranged and the burger was well prepared and skewered with a long pick, but otherwise nothing special in the presentation.  The food was hot and fresh and looked good.  Overall it looked good, but needed that little extra, so I give it a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The patty was cooked all the way through, but needed some more browning to give it a better appearance.  It had a good texture and a good amount of juiciness, but lacked any discernable seasoning.  Because of the lackluster appearance and lack of seasoning, I have to give this one a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

The bun was nice looking Kaiser roll and was probably the perfect size for the burger.  It was given a nice toast on the cut surfaces, but the crust was too hard, which tended to cause the contents to squeeze out.  Still, it had a fine taste and held up really well all through my meal.  I’ll give it a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

Cheddar Cheese:  I would have liked just a little bit thicker slice, but it wasn’t a bad amount and the flavor came through in the final burger.  It was well melted over the patty and covered it nicely.  Altogether, it is good enough to get a 5.

Lettuce:  This was fresh and crunchy and there was actually enough to provide some extra texture to the burger.  My main complaint is that it being chopped caused too much to escape the burger as it was eaten.  Still, good enough for a 4.
Mayonnaise:  This was a good tasting mayonnaise, but nothing special.  It was spread evenly across the bun, but there was just a little too much, which made things too slippery and caused toppings to escape. I have to give this a 3.
Tomato Slice:  This was a good, fresh slice and it was a good size for the burger, wide enough to cover the patty and thick enough to provide flavor and texture.  Unfortunately, it tended to slip out of the sandwich and the last third just fell out.  Overall, a 4.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

The different flavors came through, but between the hard bun and the extra mayo, the toppings tended to squeeze out.  The last third of the sandwich was without tomato as it fell out of the burger as well as a lot of the lettuce.  I can’t help but feel that something was missing from this burger, maybe some crunchy onion or a sharp bite of pickle would have made it better or even just some seasoning on the meat.  I do give them credit for using local, grass fed beef, and that’s a plus.  Overall, there were some really good things about this burger, but a few minuses as well, so I will give it a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located on the corner of two streets in Shepherdstown, which is a pretty small town.  However, it’s not on the main drag through town, so would not see it if you weren’t aiming for it.  There are only a few parking spots in front of the store, but a good amount of street parking nearby.

Facilities

The store itself looks a bit cobbled together, but it is clean and comfortable inside.  There are quite a few tables and some outside seating.

Staff and Service

The service is pretty casual and can be a bit slow, but everyone was very friendly.  My order was taken accurately and the food was served just as I requested.

Sides

French Fries:  These were pretty standard fries and were even fairly crispy, at least when they were brought out to me.  They did seem to cool down pretty quickly, but they had a good flavor.

Iced Tea:  A good, refreshing iced tea that they brew themselves, it was nothing special but did quench my thirst when I needed it.

Value

The meal cost me $12.72, plus tip.  That’s probably about right for a sit down meal.

Longhorn Steakhouse - Longhorn Gourmet Burger (4 stars)

5744 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
Phone:  (301) 682-6751
Website: http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com/home

Many locations across the United States and a few international locations

Time of Visit:  August 31, 2015 at 12:20 pm

My Order:  Longhorn Gourmet Burger

                   French Fries
                   Blackberry Iced Tea
 

I decided to drop into Longhorn to try out their new Gourmet Burger.  Normally, the maxim is that you don’t go to a steakhouse to get a good burger, but this one was surprisingly tasty.  It certainly wasn’t a great burger, but was above average.

Burger Rating = 3.6 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The meal came out on a white, rectangular plate with rounded corners.  The burger was balanced on one end of the plate by the fries placed on the other side.  The burger was skewered with a logo pick and a knife was placed across the plate, separating the burger from the fries.  The food came out hot and looked good, but there was a bit of messiness with splatters of grease and fry seasoning.  Overall I’m going to give this one a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The patty was cooked all the way through, but needed some more browning to give it a better appearance.  It had a good texture and a good amount of juiciness, but lacked any discernable seasoning.  Because of the lackluster appearance and lack of seasoning, I have to give this one a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

The bun had a nice, shiny, golden color to it, but was slightly oversized for the burger.  Still, it had a really good texture and they had given it a nice toast.  Plus, it held up really well all through my meal.  My only criticism is the diameter of the bun being larger than the diameter of the burger, so I’ll give it a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

White Cheddar Cheese:  I was initially hoping this would add a nice element to the burger, but was quickly disappointed.  Although the cheese was well melted and adhered to the patty well, there was just not enough cheese for the burger and the flavor was lost in the burger.  I can’t give this any more than a 3.

Crispy Onions:  These had a nice crunch and tasted really good.  There was just the right amount for the burger and were spread across it well.  I was surprised that, even though they were small pieces, they stayed in the burger quite well.  I’m going to give these a 5.
Garlic Spinach:  This was cooked well, with just the right amount placed on the bottom bun.  I didn’t notice much spinach flavor, but the garlic provided a really good note in the overall flavor of the burger.  Plus, when I bit into the burger, the spinach bit through cleanly and didn’t pull out.  I’ll give this a 5 too.
Bacon Mayo:  This was probably the most flavorful part of the burger, with a rich and tart taste.  It was spread evenly on the bun.  If anything, there was probably a little too much, as it tended to drip out of the burger, making it a bit too messy.  Overall, I’ll give it a 4.
Tomato Slice:  Although the tomato seemed fresh and had a good taste, it was just too small.  It only covered about two-thirds of the burger and was just too thin.  One good thing about the small size was that it did stay in the burger as I ate it, but that doesn’t override the size.  I can’t give this one more than a 3.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

This burger had a great flavor, with a good balance of condiments that matched the meat very well.  It held together well from the first bite to the last.  My big gripe is that the undersized tomato and oversized bun provided an uneven experience and the cheese was just completely lost.  If it had been something special, like grass-fed beef or organic ingredients, I might have bumped it up a point, but I can’t go any higher than a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located in a small shopping center right off of Route 85.  It is easy to spot and easy to access, with plenty of parking.

Facilities

The store has a typical, chain steakhouse feel with plenty of tables, although there is no outside seating.  The bathrooms are easy to find.

Staff and Service

The staff was very professional.  I was seated and served very quickly.  The waitress was very responsive, but not overbearing with her attention.  My order was taken accurately and the food was served just as I requested.

Sides

French Fries:  These were pretty standard fries, although the seasoning was applied unevenly.  Overall, a bit more seasoning would have been good.  Like many times, they could have been crispier.  They also seemed to cool down pretty quickly.

Iced Tea:  A good iced tea with a pleasing, but not overwhelming, sweet blackberry syrup added.  It was quite nice.

Value

The meal cost me just under $15, including tax.  That’s not outrageous for a sit down meal, but it’s not the best value either, just pretty average.