Bonefish Grill, Orlando, Florida, USA

Burger name: "American Style" Kobe Beef Burger
Price: $11.30

Menu description:
Soft brioche bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, special sauce and sharp cheddar. Served with fresh greens or house made chips.

Rating:

Review:
I don't normally do this but I've decided to review the same burger again as this one was such a different experience.  My original review was on Saturday 4th May 2013 and wasn't a great experience.  We decided to try another restaurant as the chain was so highly recommended by a friend.  We're glad we did, it was such a different experience.

This time I ordered the burger with fries and not chips, these were provided at no extra charge and for me completed the meal.  It's difficult to write this review without making comparisons to the original so I'll get this out of the way first.  The bun for this burger was so much fresher and nicer than the first one I had, no flaking like and not dry at all.  I like brioche bread and this bun was a great example of how nice it is when it's fresh.

The burger itself was cooked medium/well and was juicy without being greasy, a nice beef taste and not overpowered by the cheese as can often happen.  As usual, I removed the tomato and lettuce and some of the onion as it is served with a whole onion slice.  I don't mind this much onion but it can make  for too slippery a surface between the burger and the bug.

I'm so glad that this burger was much nicer than the previous experience and was on par with the expectations set by a friend.

About the venue:
Bonefish Grill is a chain of restaurants across America.  The one we visited is on Central Florida Parkway in Orlando, Florida, USA close to Sea World.  They have a varied menu catering for many tastes.

Outback, Orlando, Florida, USA

Burger name: Bloomin’ Burger
Price: $9.99

Menu description:

Topped with Bloomin’ Onion® petals, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and spicy bloom sauce.

Rating:

Review:

This is my first review of an Outback burger although I've had a few before I starting blogging my reviews.  What attracted me to this burger was the Bloomin' Onion petals.  These are like onion rings but aren't rings, I guess you could call them onion fingers.  As usual, I removed the lettuce and tomato and ate these separately before starting on the fries saving the burger until last.  Although the burger itself looked great I could tell that the bun was going to be dry.  A few flaky bits on the lid and I noticed it was crispy and dry at the bottom when I removed the raw vegetable elements earlier.  Undeterred I delicately cut the burger in two.  At this point I should mention the knives at Outback, these have to be the biggest and meanest looking steak knives I've come across in a restaurant.  I was reminded of the Crocodile Dundee comment, "that's not a knife, this is a knife" or words to that effect.

The burger itself was very nice, cooked to order and I chose medium/well.  The Bloomin' Onion petals were a nice addition and added a tasty texture dimension - am I sounding like a food critic yet?  I would recommend this burger to anybody visiting an Outback, if you fancy the Bloomin' Onion petals but like the look of a different burger on the menu then you could always have the onion as a starter as that's on the menu separately.

About the venue:
Outback is an Australian themed restaurant chain with restaurants in a number of countries worldwide.  The Outback on Vineland Avenue in Orlando, Florida is typical of a restaurant in their chain, a number of Australian related items of decoration coupled with efficient and friendly staff.

The Cheesecake Factory, Orlando, Florida, USA

Burger name: Monterey Cheeseburger
Price: $11.95

Menu description:
Avocado, Melted Jack Cheese, Arugula, and Red Onion with Honey-Mustard Mayo.

Rating:

Review:

This was my first burger with avocado, which I would have said I didn't like.  I'm fussy about food textures and this always looked a bit like green paste to me.  Rather than risk detracting from the enjoyment of the burger I decided to eat it first, get the worst out of the way first is my eating mantra.  I was pleasantly surprised, it wasn't like paste at all.  Not sure it would have added anything to the enjoyment of eating the burger, in fact it would have added a slippery dimension that could have resulted in the burger itself being ejected from the bun and shooting across the table to my wife's plate.  I would have got it back but I'm quite a shy person and it would have been embarrassing.  I also removed the arugula (a rocket lettuce) and the tomato and ate these separately too.  Once the fries were demolished I was ready to tackle the burger.

The burger was cooked to order, I opted for medium/well and wasn't disappointed.  My first bite was very enjoyable, in fact each bite until the last was just as good.  A very tasty burger with a good steak taste that is rare to find, I've eaten too many burgers that don't taste of much.  I deliberated with myself all the way back to our apartment whether this was going to get a 4 or a 5.  In the end I opted for a 4 (maybe I need to introduce a half-rating scoring system as this is really a 4.5.  That requires me to create a new image - maybe one day.  In summary, I'd recommend this burger to anybody visiting a Cheesecake Factory restaurant and will be tempted to have it again if we visit before the end of this trip.

About the venue:
The Cheesecake Factory is a restaurant chain in the USA with venues in many cities across the country. They are usually very busy at peak times and the portion sizes are very large. If you plan to eat more than once course make sure you are very hungry or are happy to take some of it home with you. The Cheesecake Factory at The Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida is typical of a restaurant in the chain, nicely decorated and comfortable with a wide range of menu options - especially cheesecakes.

Bonefish Grill, Orlando, Florida, USA

Note: An updated review of this burger has been completed on 7th May 2013, please refer to that one too as it was a much better eating experience.

Burger name: "American Style" Kobe Beef Burger
Price: $11.30

Menu description:
Soft brioche bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, special sauce and sharp cheddar. Served with fresh greens or house made chips.

Rating:

Review:
The first burger on our current trip to the USA was at the Bonefish Grill on West Sand Lake Road in Orlando, Florida.  I opted for the standard burger without any additions and selected the house made chips.  The burger construction was good although I was surprised by the quantity of potato chips (crisps to us Brits).  I would have preferred to have received fries (chips to us Brits) but this didn't detract from the burger although they were too crispy for my liking so I left them mostly untouched.

The burger itself was great, nicely cooked and not greasy.  As usual, I removed the tomato and salad elements but kept the onion and pickle on there.  Given that I didn't each the chips I dived straight into the burger itself.  In the last few years I've refined my burger eating habits and now cut them in half, Bonefish kindly provide a steak knife which makes this job easier.  A friend had highly recommended this burger so I had high expectations however these weren't met on this occasion.  The burger bun was a little dry and flaky which for me detracts from the enjoyment, hence the 3 burger rating.  I'm sure that with a fresher bun this would have been a great burger but the one reviewed only gets a good from me.

About the venue:
Bonefish Grill is a chain of restaurants across America.  The one we visited is on West Sand Lake Road in Orlando, Florida, USA.  They have a varied menu catering for many tastes.

Passion Cafe - San Pedro, Spain

Burger name: Passion Royal Burger
Price: €12.50

Menu description:

Beef burger with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo & gherkin served on a sesame bun with slaw and fries.

Rating:

Review:

A very nice burger, a bit on the juicy side, but that's easily fixed with a napkin.  The burger was cooked to order, I opted for medium and it was on the rare side of that for me and little more pink than I like.  The 'slaw' was just shredded vegetables however a bit of mayo soon stuck it together.  As usual I removed the salad bits from the burger to avoid any slippery mishaps.  The bacon was very close to perfect for me, a minute longer on the grill and it would have been crispy enough.  Overall it was a good balance of fries and salad and a tasty burger that I highly recommend.

About the venue:
Passion Cafe in San Pedro, near Puerto Banus, in Spain is located in a small shopping area on the south side of the town.  Don't be put off by the location as the food is excellent.

Los Naranjos - Marbella, Spain

Burger name: Hamburguesa con Bacon y Queso
Price: €11.00

Menu description:

Hamburger with bacon and cheese.

Rating:

Review:

A very tasty burger in a fantastic setting.  The burger came with fries as well as tomato and onion.  The burger also had something that looked like thousand island dressing which added a nice flavour.  The burger was also cooked to order and I selected medium.  If you are in the Marbella area and fancy eating at a restaurant with great views over a golf course from the terrace then I can highly recommend this.  This would have been a 5 if the meat had been marinaded to enhance the flavour.

About the venue:
Los Naranjos is a golf club between Marbella and Puerto Banus in Spain.  The terrace restaurant has views over the golf course and the surrounding hills.

Charlies - Marriott, Marbella, Spain

Burger name: Classic Charlies Burger
Price: €12.90

Menu description:

100% beef patty served on a sesame bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, picked and french fries.  Ordered with cheese as an extra topping.

Rating:

Review:

My first burger of a long weekend break in Marbella, Spain.  Craving a bit of winter sun and a weekend of burgers I ordered this at the on site restaurant.  It was an enjoyable burger served with lots of fries.  My normal method of eating burgers is to remove the salad elements and eat these separately and this occasion was no different.  The burger was served in a basket lined with paper hence the photo from above.  If you happen to be staying at the Marriott resort in Marbella then I suggest you give this a try.

About the venue:
Charlies is an on site restaurant at Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort east of Marbella, Spain.

Garfunkel's - Gatwick North Terminal, UK

Burger name: Bacon and Egg Burger
Price: £8.99

Menu description:
A 4oz beefburger topped with grilled bacon and a fried free range egg, served in a soft flour bap with hash browns and a grilled tomato.

Rating:

Review:

I had low expectation from this burger when I ordered it and when it arrived it's appearance didn't raise my expectations any.  I only like bacon on my burger if it's crispy and this bacon wasn't so I removed it and ate it separately, I also did this with the egg as this can cause the burger (or the egg) to slip out when eating it.  The bacon was quite nice, a little on the fatty side for me so I ate this, the egg and the hash browns first before tucking into the burger.  I was pleasantly surprise at how tasty the burger was. If the bacon and presentation had been better this could have been rated a 4.

About the venue:
Garfunkel's at Gatwick North Terminal is one of many places to eat when flying from the airport.  As usual with airport restaurants it's quick with questionable service.

Bill's - Cambridge, UK

Burger name: Bill's hamburger
Price: £11.15

Menu description:
Served in a sesame seed bun with red onion, tomato, lettuce, horseradish mayonnaise and skinny fries.  Addition of monterey jack cheese.

Rating:

Review:

A great burger in a great venue.  The roll was fantastic, one of the best I've had in some time.  Very fresh, soft and lightly toasted.  The burger itself was nicely cooked and tasted good although it did lack the elusive flavour that gives a burger a top rating.  I would recommend eating at Bill's if you are in Cambridge.

About the venue:
Bill's is rustic style restaurant in a side street of Cambridge.  Not easy to find unless you are wandering away from the crowds.

Ruby Tuesday - Tempe, Arizona, USA

Burger name: Triple Prime Cheddar Burger
Price: $11.99

Menu description:

Prime Burgers are the best of the best, made from fresh, 100% USDA Prime beef. Less than 3% of beef is graded Prime.  Topped with aged New York cheddar.

Rating:

Review:

It's been a while since I've eaten in a Ruby Tuesday restaurant so I was curious about how good their burgers still are.  We ate from their Dinner Menu which is served after 3pm and each burger comes with a choice of 2 side dishes.  I chose chips (fries) and onion rings.  The burger was cooked to order, as usual I selected medium, and could have been a 4 burger rating if the bread had been fresher.  You may be able to see from the picture above that it looks a little dry, which it was.  This is always a disappointment when that happens.  The food took a while to arrive and I suspect it spent some time under the heat lamp which caused it to dry out - a shame was the restaurant only had a few guests.

About the venue:

Ruby Tuesday is a nationwide chain of restaurants across the USA.  The one we visited was in Tempe Marketplace just south of Phoenix and Scottsdale in Arizona.

Cheesecake Factory - Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

Burger name: Americana Cheeseburger
Price: $11.95

Menu description:

American and Cheddar Cheese, Crunchy Potato Crisps, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, Pickles and Secret Sauce.

Rating:

Review:

I don't recall seeing this on the Cheesecake Factory menu before so it could be a new addition in the last 12 months.  A very tasty and enjoyable burger with a sprinkle of wafer thin crisps (chips to our American cousins).  The secret sauce added another flavour dimension bringing this to a 4 burger rating review.  The chips (fries) were served in a silver cup but I just emptied them onto my plate for easier eating.  As with all Cheesecake Factory burgers this was cooked to order, I chose medium and it was cooked about right.  I may order this again if we return to the Cheesecake Factory before our holiday ends.

About the venue:

Cheesecake Factory is a restaurant chain in the USA with venues in many cities across the country. They are usually very busy at peak times and the portion sizes are very large. If you plan to eat more than once course make sure you are very hungry or are happy to take some of it home with you. The Cheesecake Factory in Scottsdale, Arizona is typical of a restaurant in the chain, nicely decorated and comfortable with a wide range of menu options - especially cheesecakes.

Giraffe - Heathrow Terminal 5

Burger name: Avec Cheese
Price: £10.25

Menu description:

British farm assured beef (170g) with choice of either mature cheddar, american or monteray jack cheese & lettuce, tomato, dill pickle, mayo & our house chipotle sauce.

Rating:

Review:

I ordered mine with cheddar cheese and a side order of onion rings.  I've reviewed a Giraffe burger before and felt that they are above average for airport food and this one was the same.  Nothing special but doesn't have that mass produced look and feel to it.  I enjoyed it as it marked the start of my holiday during which I planned to eat and review a number of burgers.

If you are travelling via Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 and looking for a quick meal then I can recommend this burger as an option.

About the venue:

Giraffe is a busy restaurant located on the upper floor of Heathrow Terminal 5 near the North security area. Giraffe also have high street outlets in many towns and cities around the UK.

Marriott Hotel, Budapest, Hungary

This is a guest review by my work colleague, Andrey.  He sent me a photo of his burger while I was travelling in the Netherlands, I can't tell you how jealous I was!!

Andrey's Dining Out Philosophy:
I am a great believer in importance of aesthetics and therefore invariably I am  more concerned with the ambiance and the mood of the place as well as the presentation of the food, and, probably, less about the taste itself. Why would you go out if you are not expecting to have an experience that ideally should begin with anticipation of something to happen, then, perhaps, it should continue with you either making an informed choice on where to go in case you have a pre-existing expectations or with you making a daring decision to try something new? Then you would go, try, and reflect with all these little elements that form your experience. Well, occasionally you just have to stop at a place and then make the best out of it. And sure enough, then you get very critical of what you are served.

About the Burger:

A standard burger, I would say. Well, at least the only one that was there on the menu with little other options. You probably could get a chicken one as well.

Rating:

Review:

Of course, it was reasonable to believe that Marriott will offer a good quality even in the lounge, but, I would say in this case, the quality from my perspective was very respectable. First, all these little burgers individually prepared. Secondly, a choice of variety of sauces as opposed to the cellophane packets with ketchup - these formed a very convincing view. The quantity was enough to settle your hunger for a good while and I opted to order it yet again the next day.

About the venue:
The Marriott Hotel in Budpest is located on the bank of the Danube River in Hungary.

"El Restaurante" at Los Naranjos - Puerto Banus, Spain

About the Burger:

A great burger at a great venue with fantastic views across the golf course and hillside above Puerto Banus in Spain.



Menu description:

The waiter took the menu before I'd noted the description and price so this is my second review in a row were I've missed this piece of information.  I'll try and recall the description:
Hamburger with cheese, pineapple, fried egg, salad and fries - €11.95

Rating:

Review:

A good burger and my first with a fried egg and pineapple although the egg was too overdone on the underside - I'm fussy about my fried eggs.  It was also my first to have Marie Rose sauce as a salad dressing.  I enjoyed this burger and the taste was above average but not enough to elevate it above a 3 burger rating.  I gave my egg to a friend who also took some fries so she could have egg and chips - I guess living in Spain you must miss some British classics.

About the venue:

I'd eaten at "El Restaurante" at Los Naranjos in the hills above Puerto Banus before when visiting a friend who now lives in Spain and I was looking forward to going back.  It's the restaurant for one of the many golf clubs in this area with a dining terrace that offers views of the golf course and the surrounding hills.

Est Caffe - Luton Airport, England

About the Burger:

An above average burger for an airport, better than expected and I would have it again.

Menu description:

I didn't get a menu description and price and I cannot find it on the internet - I'll update this posting the next time I visit again.  From memory it was something like:
100% beef burger with cheese, lettuce, bacon and skin-on fries - £11.50

Rating:

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised with this burger. I was expecting a mass produced burger with fatty bacon and a dry or over toasted bun.  The burger shape made it look more home made and the bacon was nice (although I prefer mine more crispy with my burger) and the bun was soft and fresh.  The fries were a bit tasteless and I'm not sure what leaving the skin on does for taste - probably nothing.  The burger itself was nice and although it lacked the taste of my recent 5 burger rated review specimen it wasn't bad.  If you're travelling from an airport with an Est Caffe venue I suggest you give it a try.

About the venue:

Est Caffe (yes, there are 2 F's) is a chain of venues that I've seen at various airports around the UK.  They provide a quick and convenient place to eat and kill some time while waiting for your flight.

The Windmill - Somersham, Cambridgeshire, England

About the Burger:

The first five burger rated review.  A perfect combination of a fresh bread roll with a very tasty burger and accompaniments.

Menu description:

The Windmill Beef Burger with Extra Mature Cheddar, Smoked Bacon, Topped with Onion Rings Mayonnaise & Hand Cut Chips £9.95

Rating:

 

 

 

Review:

Burger reviews are a very personal thing and mine take into account lots of factors outside of the actual burger, the feel of the venue, the other stuff on the plate, the service and the general feel of the meal.  With this burger all these things came together along the tastiest burger I've eaten since I started this blog.  The smoked bacon, the onion ring, the soft and fresh bread roll all added to the experience.

The flavour of the burger was exactly what I've been seeking for the last four months.  In addition to this The Windmill serves the best fries I've ever had, the chef triple cooks them resulting in a crispy outside and a light and fluffy inside.  One striking aspect, the observant amongst you will have spotted in the photo, is the steak knife spearing the burger - a great way of providing the correct cutlery.

I'm looking forward to finding an excuse to go back to The Windmill to see whether this was a fluke or whether they can deliver this quality consistently.

About the venue:
The Windmill is a nice pub on the outskirts of the pretty village of Somersham in the Cambridgeshire countryside.  The restaurant has a very good menu that should appeal to anybody.  The staff are friendly and service is good.

The Garden Street Grill - Cromer, Norfolk, England

About the Burger:

A surprisingly good burger at a family restaurant in Cromer and the first one to get a four burger rating.

Menu description:

8oz Homemade Cheeseburger £8.50
served in a warmed bun with steak chips or spicy wedges and side salad.

Rating:

Review:

We were looking for somewhere to have lunch close to the centre of Cromer, a seaside town in Norfolk.  We saw The Garden Street Grill which had free tables and a good range of meals on the menu to suit everybody, including a burger for me.  My expectations were low but I'm pleased to say they were exceeded.  The burger was handmade and was served with a lot of fries plus a small side salad, I also added a side order of onion rings.  As usual I ate the salad first, the fries next and left the burger to last.  This burger had many of the qualities I've been looking for since I started this blog in April.  The bread roll was soft and fresh and the burger had the flavour I was looking for.  It could have had a five burger rating if the rest of the dining experience had been up to the same standard, the fries lacked flavour and were a little disappointing.  Overall I can highly recommend this burger and restaurant, don't be put off by the appearance venue.

About the venue:

The Garden Street Grill is on a street that leads down to the sea front and pier at Cromer in Norfolk.  It's a traditional family seaside restaurant with broad range of items on the menu.

Stravinsky's - Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk, England

About the Burger:

A tasty burger served as a light bite sized meal on soft, fresh ciabatta.

Menu description:

Organic 100% Beef Burger £9.95
Served with Ciabatta Roll, with Tomato Red Onion Relish, Beef Tomato, Roquette Salad and hand chopped Coleslaw.

Rating:

Review:

When I first saw this burger as it was delivered to my table I was disappointed.  The lack of cheese and fries and the plain appearance made me think this was a meal designed to get the customers in and out quickly.  I'm pleased to say that I was wrong.  The onion relish and the soft, fresh ciabatta roll lifted the whole burger beyond its looks and my poor first impressions.  The burger itself was nicely cooked and had a good taste.

About the venue:

Stravinsky's is one of many restaurants at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk.  It is a modern venue situated on a raised walkway in the Premier Enclosure and is a good place to people watch while waiting for your food to arrive.

Prezzo - Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England

About the Burger:

A great burger served on a wooden platter with the salad components available for self assembly if required.

Menu description:

Classic Burger £9.95
100% prime beef burger with emmental cheese and garlic mayonnaise in a sesame seed sour dough bun served with house fries.

Rating:

Review:

It's been a while since I've reviewed a burger, it's not that I haven't been eating them more that they've mostly been take aways from McDonalds and Burger King when travelling.

I was surprised that Prezzo served burgers but the grill section of their menu includes one so I had to give it try.  I would normally order pizza at Prezzo, which are very good by the way (and my second choice if burgers aren't listed).

The burger is served on a wooden platter which is quite rustic, I also liked that they provide the lettuce, tomato and onion on the side so you can add these if you like.  I'm not that keen on tomato and I prefer not to have lettuce on my burger, it makes it slide around when trying to eat it, so I left these off - I did put the onion on there though.

I enjoyed the burger, the bread roll was soft and fresh and the burger itself was cooked nicely.  As usual it lacked the flavour I'm looking for, hence the 3 burger rating.

About the venue:

Prezzo in the market town of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk is part of a chain of Italian restaurants in the United Kingdom with venues in many towns and cities.  A good range of pasta, pizza, salad and grill items are available.

Guest Reviewers Wanted

Do you have a good or bad burger experience that you'd like to share with others then please send me an email with your review, rating and photo.  The sections are:

• About the Reviewer - a brief profile about you that you are happy to be shown on the blog.
• About the Burger - a short description of the burger.
• Menu Description - how the menu was described in the restaurant including the price and any extras.
• Rating - a score between 0 and 5, this is your personal assessment of the burger overall.
• Review - your anecdotal observations of the burger helping to describe how you gave your rating.
• About the Venue - a short summary about the restaurant including the name and some location details.

Every burger and venue will be considered from fast food burger vans through to fine dining and everything in between.