Bacon Double Deluxe - Wendy's Brooklyn

(Wendys.com)

Here in Australia, Wendy's is a milkshake and ice-cream store. They also sell fairly good hot dogs. In North America, Wendy's is somewhat different. They sell burgers, and lot's of them. They have quite an extensive menu. I came across one in Brooklyn, New York. I had previously had Wendy's in Las Vegas on another trip (got the "Triple Baconator - just the bun, meat, cheese and bacon), but decided to go for something different this time.

I went for the Double Bacon Deluxe. This is from the site:

Bacon Deluxe Double

Two hot 'n juicy all beef patties piled with four strips of Applewood smoked bacon. Freshly made your way with American cheese, the works, ketchup and mayo. Now that beats your ordinary burger.

The advertisement was correct to a point. It had the ingredients listed. I wouldn't say the patties were juicy, or that it seemed fresh. Having said that, it was a tasty burger. As with most fast food burgers, it was soggy and fell apart quite easily.

Wendy's Bacon Deluxe Double (wendys.com)

Meat:
The patties were a good size; not too thick, and not too thin. They tasted great. They were not over-seasoned, and although they were somewhat dry, I enjoyed them. But, they were fast food patties.

Score: 3.5/5


Cheese:
The cheese was ok. It was the standard yellow American cheese, and melted ok. It was slightly more bland than others I had tried though. It didn't quite perform it's job - another slice may have been necessary.

Score: 3/5

Bun:
The bun was a corn-dusted, soft burger bun. It was decent. It got soggy quickly however, and didn't have much taste. It barely kept the contents inside the burger. It could have been a lot better.

Score: 3/5


Extras:
"The works" comprised of white onion, tomato, lettuce and pickles. They were all reasonably fresh, decent for a fast food joint. The sauce and mayo combination worked really well. The bacon was quite good. There was a lot of it, and it was nice and crispy, albeit very salty (even by bacon standards).

Score: 3.5/5

Wendy's "Natural Cut" fries (wendys.com

Fries:
Wendy's had been advertising "Natural cut" fries while I was in North America. The advertisements didn't influence my decision to have Wendy's - it was simply the closest burger joint to our hotel. These fries had the skin on them, and were seasoned with sea salt. I didn't notice much of a difference between these and normal fries. They were actually a bit dry. They tasted ok, but there are much better fries out there.

Score: 3/5


The burger was good. Good meat, decent cheese and passable extras. The bacon definitely added to the burger - a good option in my opinion. If you need a burger fix, you won't be too upset if you have a Wendy's Bacon Double Deluxe. To make up for the average fries, get a cup of chili!

Total score: 16/25

(Very good, go for it)

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Philly cheese steak sliders? Yes!

Again, this may not be your standard burger, and it definitely doesn't fit into the rules, but it definitely needs to be mentioned. As with the other burgers (etc) in Canada and America that I had, it will not be included on the scoreboard.

Firstly, let me preface this by saying this is not a burger. It has meat, cheese and bread however, so it ticks many of the boxes a good burger does. The Philly cheese steak is somewhat of an institution. Despite being developed in Philadelphia, the cheese steak has expanded across North America, and has taken on many regional forms. Most cheese steaks comprise of a soft kaiser roll, very thinly sliced and seared beef, cheese (provolone or cheez-whiz type cheese) and sometimes onions.

As mentioned in an earlier post, sliders are mini-burgers, although not by the strictest definition. How ever you classify either, the "Philly Cheese Steak Sliders" I had at Max Brenners in the Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas were awesome.

Max Brenner's in the Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas Nevada

Meat:
The beef was thinly sliced, and cooked quickly. It was soft, tender and extremely tasty. It was seasoned with salt and pepper from what I could tell. Tasty tasty tasty.

Score: 4.5/5

Cheese:
There were two cheeses in the cheese steaks. There was provolone (a sharp, mild sheep's milk cheese, originating in Italy), and Cheez-Whiz. Cheez-Whiz is essentially a processed cheese spread. It's not quite like the cream cheese we have in Australia though. They worked well together. Sharpness, combined with melty, gooey greasiness. Perfect.

Score: 4/5

Cheez-Whiz

Bun:
The buns were soft and doughy, exactly what I like. They were obviously different to a burger bun. The buns really added to the experience, something that is quite rare!

Score: 4.5/5

Extras:
The only extra was a "Marinara" sauce. In the USA, a Napolitana, or tomato based sauce (similar to tomato pasta sauce) is called Marina. In Australia, Marinara is a seafood sauce (which makes sense, as "Mare" means "Sea" in Italian). It was subtle, but added to the experience. I'm not sure it would have been a whole lot different without it though.

Score: 3.5/5

Three mini Philly Cheese Steaks and Waffle Fries at Max Brenners, Las Vegas

Fries:

The fries were a little different. They were "criss-cross" fries, or "waffle" fries. They were amazing. Crispy, but soft in the middle. And very tasty. I'd like some now, to be honest. 

Score: 5/5

I would really like these right now. The meat was tender, the cheese melted and very tasty, and it was all encased in an awesome bun. The fries just made the experience even better. I won't compare these to burgers, but if you ever have the chance to try them - do it. Absolutely amazing. 

Total score: 21.5/25

(Brilliant, go now!)

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The infamous "McRib" - Las Vegas, Nevada

"Think smaller... more legs."

I had to do it. I couldn't help it. I realise that this is not a beef burger, but it warrants a mention. I had heard so much about the McRib, both good and bad. The McRib is only sold periodically in North America, the latest offering ending on the 5th of December (I got in just in time!) According to the American McDonalds site, the McRib consists of: a McRib Pork pattie, McRib bun, McRib sauce, pickle slices and slivered onions. Apart from the last two items, the description is rather vague. The pork pattie is ground pork, essentially the same as a normal beef pattie. The bun is a 6 inch, corn-dusted bun, and the sauce is a tangy BBQ type sauce.

The McRib, as advertised on mcdonalds.com

It was good. Very good. There was a perfect balance of ingredients, and the pork pattie was amazing. The sauce was great, and the onions and pickles complimented the entire 'burger' perfectly. Despite not looking like the promotional image (when do they?), it was amazing. If anyone would like to buy me an airfare to the USA the next time they are being sold, please let me know!

Meat:
Pork. Tasty pork. It was extremely tender, and tasted amazing. Regardless of what people say, I don't care what type of meat it is.

Score: 4.5/5

An opened McRib, full of BBQ goodness (not my picture)

Cheese:
What cheese? It really didn't need it. In lieu of the cheese score, I'll rate the sauce. It was tangy, sweet and very very tasty. A little too much of it though. This reduced the porky goodness in parts, and required 5 minutes of hand washing after consumption. It was great though.

Score: 4/5

Bun:
The 6 inch corn dusted bun was quite good. It was very fresh, and quite flavourful. It performed well above it's required task of keeping your hands clean (although it didn't manage to do this - that was the fault of the sauce though!). Soft, tasty and doughy. Very good.

Score: 4/5

Extras:
The pickles and onion really complimented the 'burger'. They weren't overpowering, but offered a good tang and slight bitterness to cut back the sweet BBQ sauce. They were nice and fresh (yes, this IS McDonalds), and added a welcomed crunch to the otherwise very soft burger. The points come mainly from the well thought out combination, rather than qualities of each extra.

Score: 4/5

McRib, tasty (not my picture)

Fries:

I actually didn't have fries with the McRib. I had fries at McDonalds in Las Vegas beforehand though, and they were good. Fairly similar to what we get here in Australia (consistency is part of their success though).  Most places I had fries at in the USA (McDonalds), the fries were well cooked, well-salted and tasty. 

Score: 4/5

Would I have another one? Hell yes! The McRib was surprisingly amazing. Extremely tasty, and very satisfying. The only thing I'm disappointed about - I only got one. This one almost IS worth the airfare to America! It falls within the "Very good, go for it" category, but it's brilliant. If you have the chance, do it.

Total score: 20.5/25

(Very good, go for it.)

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Lindy's (I think!), New York City

I'm not too sure how we ended up here, but I think it was after walking down from the American Natural History Museum (which was awesome by the way!). I wasn't too hungry, but obviously can never refuse a burger. Unfortunately, there is no menu available online, but the image is fairly clear. The burger was served open. I like this, it allows you to easily configure the burger the way you want. I opted for bacon (I usually do), and this was placed on the melted, yellow American cheese, which was on top of the pattie and one half of the bun. On the other half of the bun was fresh lettuce, average tomato, and white onion. There was also a pickle spear separate, but I ate that first. I can't remember what the sauce was, but I remember it being decent.

Although I can't recall the exact price, I do remember that it wasn't cheap ($18-20US). We were in Times Square though, so one can't complain too much.

Burger full of bacony goodness at Lindy's NYC

Meat:

The meat had a really good outer layer, crisp but not too burnt. It was a little over-done and dry for my liking inside, but still tasted fairly good. It was a little too lean also, but I'm guessing they cooked it on the same griddle/surface as the bacon etc., giving it a good flavour. Good, not great. 

Score: 3/5

Cheese:

The cheese was very yellow, and melty. I love this. The flavour was somewhat dull however - disappointing. It was still ok though. The bacon on top caused it to melt more once it arrived at the table. Good, but I'd prefer more of a cheesey experience.

Score: 3/5

Bun:

The bun was ok. It was rather soft, and tasted good. Soft buns allow the grease to soak into it, but if they are too soft, this causes them to fall apart. I got most of the way through the burger before this started to be an issue. As usual, the bun did it's job, but was nothing spectacular. 

Score: 3/5

Extras:

The extras (lettuce, tomato, white onion) were fairly fresh. The tomato was almost perfect, but slightly soft for me. The lettuce was nice and crisp (adding crunch to the burger) and the onion was not overwhelming. There was too much for me however. The extras were the standard burger fair, but done well.

Score: 3.5/5

Fries:

The fries were cooked for too long. They were too greasy also (yes, there is such a thing!). They did taste good though, but were over-salted. The decent flavour helped to redeem the otherwise average fries. Still, they were nothing brilliant.

Score: 3/5

Considering the dining options available in Times Square, I probably wouldn't rush back here (if I could find it). It was a solid burger, but didn't had that "wow" factor. It's not terrible though, so it's worth checking out!

Total score: 14.5/25

(Decent, worth a shot.)

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"Sliders" at the Sheraton Brooklyn (New York)

After 2 flights (about 6 hours flight time) from Vancouver, and a cab ride to downtown Brooklyn, we were rather tired, so decided to have a drink and something to eat at the hotel bar. The hotel was built mid-year 2010, so was rather new. The bar was amazing, and the bar tender very friendly (thanks Aaron!).

"Grubstake Bar" at the Sheraton Brooklyn, New York

After a few drinks at the bar, I spotted 'mini sliders' on the menu. Most burger puritans will tell you that sliders are not just mini burgers, but are burgers cooked in a certain way (often the pattie is cooked on top of a bed of onions). Regardless, I couldn't say no.

The sliders came with one meat pattie each, a slice of cheese, bacon and a slice of pickle. Basic, but great. They were quite tasty, and somewhat of a novelty for me, as I am yet to find sliders in Australia. There were 3 sliders in the pack, which came with fries. I can't recall the price, and there doesn't seem to be a menu online.

Slider - Sheraton Brooklyn, New York (screenshot from video)

Meat:
The patties were obviously small, but they were cooked well and were basic (a good thing). Due to the small size, they were cooked evenly throughout (with the crust being the exception). It's hard to praise something that takes 2-3 bites to eat, but they were good.

Score: 3/5


Cheese:
The cheese was ok. It was the standard yellow american cheese, but it seemed a bit more 'plasticy' than most. It melted ok, but seemed to stick to everything unusually. It tasted ok, but didn't differ too much from the Kraft Singles we get here.

Score: 2.5/5


Bun:
The tiny buns were ok. They seemed to be "Brioche" buns, due to the shiny top and rich flavour. They were a bit dry, and tasted average. Nothing to write home about, but they did their job.

Score: 2.5/5


Extras:
There weren't too many extras to comment on, as is normal with sliders, or mini-burgers. There was bacon, and a pickle slice. The pickles were good, tangy and crisp. The bacon was a bit soft, but had a good flavour. It would be hard to fit much more in these things, and I think they picked the right things to cram in.

Score: 3/5


Fries:
By the time I got to the fries, they were soggy. I like this though, so I didn't complain. They were well seasoned, and were quite tasty. In addition, the serving size was huge (but hey, it's America!). I've had better, but there isn't much to complain about regarding these fries - solid.

Score: 3.5/5

Two sliders (I think)...

To be honest, the best thing about these sliders was the novelty. Having said that, they were decent, and I did enjoy them. The cheese could be improved, and the overall freshness, but all in all they weren't too bad. I would likely try something else on the menu next time, but wouldn't be disappointed if I had them again. Maybe someone should introduce sliders to the Australian market!

Total score: 14.5/25

(Decent, worth a shot.)

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St. Regis Hotel Bar and Grill - Vancouver, Canada

I spotted a nice little bar on the way to Fatburger, and went back the next night to check it out. I was happy to find out they served burgers! The Bar and Grill was part of the St. Regis Hotel on Dunsmuir St. The menu had a lot of interesting items on it, but I couldn't go past another burger.

Burger on the menu at the St. Regis Bar and Grill

St. Regis Burger with fries

I added a slice of aged cheddar and peppered bacon. Not bad for $CAD13 (about the same in $AUD at the time). The burger was great. The balance of ingredients was spot on, something that many places just can't seem to do.

Meat:
The pattie was a good thickness - thicker than most fast food type burgers, but not as thick as your standard bar burgers. I don't like overly thick patties, it often means that a lot of additions (breadcrumbs, egg etc.) are needed just to keep it together, affecting the flavour. This pattie did not have this problem. It was lightly seasoned, so I could taste the beefy goodness. It was cooked medium to well-done. Good pattie, but not the best I've had.

Score: 4/5


Cheese:
I added one slice of aged cheddar. It was the yellow "American" type cheese, and it melted very well. Gooey, melty cheese is one of my favourite parts of a burger. The cheese had a great flavour, and one slice was perfect.

Score: 3.5/5


Bun:
The bun was slightly too thick on top, and thin on the bottom - but this was obviously just the way it was cut. It was a little dry, but did the job of keeping the goodness inside. Surprisingly, the bottom part did not fall apart. The bun did it's job, but it was nothing to rave about.

Score: 3/5


Extras:
As per the menu, the burger came with one beef pattie, lettuce, tomato, red onion and a pickle spear (not inside the burger). I added the peppered bacon for $1 extra. I'm glad I did. The bacon was great, smokey, crispy and full of flavour. Great addition to the already solid burger. The lettuce and tomato were reasonably fresh, but not as much as those in the burger I had the previous night at Fatburger. The onions were fresh, and were not too strong. I decided against sauce or caramelised onions. Overall, the extras were good, but nothing amazing. Having said that, they worked well with the meat and cheese. Without the bacon however, the score would not be as high!

Score: 3.5/5


Fries:
The house fries looked as if they were hand cut, always a bonus. There was a little skin left on, which I think can be good. They were a little soggy, but I love my fries like that. They were tasty, and not over-salted. They weren't chili cheese fries, but they were a good addition to the burger.

Score: 3.5/5

St. Regis Burger with fries

Overall, this was a solid burger. The ingredients were all of a high quality, although the tomato and lettuce could have been a little fresher. I enjoyed it, and would definitely have it again (if I happen to be in Vancouver!). You can't really go wrong with this one. 

Total score: 17.5/25

(Very good, go for it.)

ABB.

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Fatburger - Vancouver, Canada

I had heard about Fatburger a while back, and read that they were similar to In n' Out burger. I found one in downtown Vancouver, and had to eat there.

I ordered the King XXL with bacon and cheese. The burger contained 2 meat patties, 3 pieces of american cheese (melty!), applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and "special sauce".

King XXL with bacon and cheese

The burger was amazing - one of the best I've had. The beef was cooked medium, the cheese melted perfectly, and the lettuce/tomato were fresh. The bun was great also.

Meat:
The patties were perfectly cooked - still pink on the inside. They were moist and tasted great. There was very little added to the patties, most likely just salt and pepper.

Score: 4.5/5


Cheese:
Cheese is an optional extra on burgers at Fatburger. A burger isn't a burger without cheese though! I had 3 slices of yellow, salty, melty American cheese. The closest I've found here in Australia is processed cheese (ie: Kraft Singles), but it's not quite the same. The cheese melted perfectly, and had a mild but great taste.

Score: 4/5


Bun:
The bun was soft (fresh) and a good size. It wasn't too big that you couldn't taste anything else, and also wasn't so small that after a few bites, your hands are covered in meat and cheese grease. There's not much that can usually be said about a bun - but this one was pretty good.

Score: 4.5/5


Extras:
As mentioned at the start of this post, the burger came with tomato and lettuce, and I added smoked bacon. The bacon was perfectly cooked, and was very crispy. The smoked flavour wasn't over-powering, it was great. The tomato and lettuce were surprisingly fresh (I hate soft, mealy tomato), and added a good crunch to the burger.

Score: 4/5

Chili Cheese Fries

Fries: 
I decided to try something a little different at Fatburger. Throughout North America, chili cheese fries are common. They generally consist of fries, american cheese, and chili (minced meat, tomato, chili, beans, spices). I had tried chili cheese fries before, part of the reason I decided to have some more! The fries here were great. Cooked well, and tasty. The chili and cheese went perfectly with the fries. All it really needed was bacon! Really can't fault these, a nice change from the standard fries.

Score: 5/5




There is no question that I would go to Fatburger again. The prices are very reasonable (especially compared to burgers in Australia), however the cost of the airfare changes that. It's hard to say how the burgers here compare to In n' Out burger. Regardless, they are fantastic.

Total score: 22/25

(Brilliant, go now!)

ABB.

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Burgers from the USA and Canada

Hi again all. The next few reviews will be about burgers I recently tried in the USA and Canada. They will all get a score, but won't be included in the scoreboard!

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