Downtown Galloway Hooker

Saturday I was really craving a burger…a really good burger, so I wasn’t thrilled with the decision of Galloway Hooker downtown. BUT I almost always enjoy bar food, even when it isn’t good, so you can imagine my surprise when this bar had incredible burgers! We ordered the Irish Bacon Burger and the Turkey Burger, but the Irish Bacon Burger was the bomb! Galloway uses all local ingredients (Florence Meat Market, Murray’s Cheese and Tom Cat Bakery) for menu items and it is noticeable. The burger was so juicy and seasoned perfectly topped with an over-easy egg, cheddar cheese and Irish bacon. The bacon didn’t pack much flavor and could have been omitted completely. The fries, the FRIES! Like Parisian bistro fries, perfectly crispy. Pass on the turkey burger over the regular burger. While it is yummy and served with garlic aioli, braised leeks and English muffin, it is just a tad dry.

The Spotted Pig

True gnudi lovers will know exactly whose these are.  That's right April Bloomfield and no one does the ricotta gnudi like her (this is a close second).  I don't care if these pillowy, cheesy balls of heaven seem like they should be a seasonal item because of their basil pesto, they should never disappear from the menu. They are glorious!

Against my better judgment, I did not order the burger and opted for the pork belly.  $29 is entirely too much money for two tiny pieces of pork belly and only one of the two being tasty.  The bite I had of crispy skin, soft pork and fried squash blossom would have been the makings for a grand entree, but alas, I only get one. 

I very much enjoyed the summer dish of pan-seared sea bass with squash and anchovy.  I loved that I didn't get the stealthy fish taste, but instead, complimenting the bass with the saltiness.

I'll be the only one who says it, I hate shoestring fries.  These are served with fresh rosemary, but I feel unless you are actually tasting potato, don't waste the calories.

Just love the atmosphere here.  Can't wait for winter!

A Damn Good Burger!

Does the quest ever really stop when trying to find the perfect burger in New York? I think not. After driving around on a below-freezing day, the car parked itself right in front of Kenn's Broome Street Bar.

(Established 1972 in the 'cast-iron district' of Soho)
My winter "coat" instincts kicked in and I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with a side of steak fries. To be perfectly honest, there was hope of a decent burger, but without high expectations. Kenn's ended up scoring high points. I didn't even look at the menu long enough to realize the burger was inside a pita and served with a salad. The thick circle of ground beef was seasoned, not heavily, with salt, pepper and a dash of garlic powder. What really made this burger were the short, crispy pieces of bacon and cheddar cheese. The thought of bacon on a burger is it's a supplement for underseasoned meat as opposed to an enhancer; but in this case, it worked well. It tasted so damn good, the meat/bacon/cheese combo could have been taken out of the pita and eaten on its own with the salad.

The salad had romaine, real button mushrooms and a light dill vinaigrette. Nix the oily fries...there's a reason they don't come with the burger.

Kenn's Broome Street Bar 365 W. Broadway @ Broome (212) 925-2086

A Fork in the Road: Little BIGS (Houston, TX)

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Sitting on the corner of Montrose and Westheimer in Houston, is Bryan Caswell and Bill Floyd's (of Reef) Little Bigs. The idea is an even better twist on the burger joint....a slider joint. They have three types of sliders - beef with caramelized onions, chicken and black bean. You can order them in a trio or solo. I tried one of each with a large basket of fries.

The fries are true-handcut perfection covered with flakes of salt. There aren't too many places that can perfect the simplicity of frying a handcut fry.
The beef with caramelized onion was only mildly juicy after being a tad overcooked and the "special sauce" (nothing more than a mixture of mayo and ketchup) was the saving grace of the bland chicken. The star of this trio was the black bean slider. It was the first one I tried and upon taking a bite, I actually thought this was the beef! The black beans were well-seasoned, then mashed into a 'meaty' blend. The buns were inconsistent on all the sliders, but nothing significant to spoil it. Wash it all down with an Arnold Palmer...or Bigs offers a variety of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch, and White Russian milkshakes. I'm sure one would be enjoyable on the patio in the summer, though I didn't try one this time.
Little Bigs has awhile to go before it can even be in a race with all the incredible burger joints around Houston; but if you are looking for a snack of fries & a shake, hit this place up.

2703 Montrose Blvd. @ Westheimer (713) 521-2447

Bleh Bill's

Rule #1 - only try a spot after six months being open, however, I was so excited about all the positive press this place had been receiving (plus the fact that it's a block from my apartment). I was marginally impressed.

The actual dining area is no frills - 50's style tables with checkered table clothes and chalkboards. The staff was attentive enough, perhaps a little too attentive, but it was the first day. We ordered a Bill's classic with American, The Sunset and Vine with special sauce, topping of chili for the S&V, fries and onion rings. Lemme tell you, the fries and onion rings are incredible, but his note-worthy dish, the burger fell very short of one of New York's best. While the thin meat, not to be compared to that of Corner Bistro or Shake Shack, was tasty and spilled way outside the bun, completely drenched the bun! Anyone who knows me, knows I would want my last meal on earth to be a burger and fries. This burger wasn't fun to eat despite the meaty taste you think would be non-existent in such a thin patty. You have to love the variety of condiments on each table, 2 types of mustard - FRENCH'S!!!! and Guldan's, Heinz ketchup, hot sauce. Love the choices. The chili was definitely from a can and the special sauce on the S&V was nothing more than Thousand Island without the relish.

I'm willing to give it another go, especially for the money, but six months from now.

Bill's Bar & Burger 22 Ninth Avenue at 13th Street
http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/bills-bar-burger/BBB_Daily_10.20.09_310.pdf