Sunday, October 26, 2014

search for the best burger

Have I mentioned that I live right above/next to Five Guys?  Maybe this is blasphemous, but I have yet to get a meal there since moving here.  I always resolve to get lunch or dinner there in a pinch, but I'm very good at talking myself out of it because... think about it.  I've had Five Guys plenty of many of times before.  What I haven't had are all the burgers around the rest of downtown Madison and beyond.  Pretty much every restaurant that serves a patty between two buns claims to have the "Best Burger in Madison."  Such bold claims.  Naturally, I must investigate for myself.  I think I can manage a burger a month in my designated food budget.  Maybe more.

Caught up with Ziwen at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry.  By the way, there's no way this name doesn't confuse everyone.  I almost rejoiced at the thought of a dumpling house so close to home.  They are famous for the Melting Pot, but I was keen on trying the Boomerang sauce, so I went with the Gladiator with LT so I didn't feel too disgusting.  It wasn't bad.  Juicy.  Soft bun.  I wish the sauce had a more intense flavor just because it was a little muted compared to my idea of mustard and anchovies.  I came away satisfied but thinking there had to be better than the "best."

Our hunt for food one busy Saturday night ended at Great Dane because it had the shortest wait.  Somewhere between leaving home with a full stomach and finally getting seated (or finally getting our order in, I should say), my stomach started the first phases of eating itself.  It must have been the nearly hour-long search for a place.  I was going to stop at a beer, but the Black and Tan burger with fried sweet plantains called to me.  The cheesey mushroom sauce was what saved the somewhat dry burger.  I liked the sturdier bun, and the sweet carbiness of the plantains really rounded out the meal.
The burger quest goes on.  Like pizza, I'm realizing I cannot tire of these things.  Must be the poor grad student aspect (even though restaurant burgers are not at all cheap).

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