tmk-nj Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 WHITE CASTLE This weekend in WNY we went to the Bill Gray's restaurant which I believe just opened out on Main Street near Transit and had what thy claim is the best hamburger in the world. Though I wouldn't give them that title (the cheesburger's made by my Mom when I was a kid are still the best hamburgers in the world) the burger was pretty darn good. In fact, they were so good and the bite of the veggie burger my wife had was good enough that I went back out last night when a friend and I had previously planned to get together for dinner and I had the veggie burger as my main course accompanied by getting them to make me a half chocolate/half banana milkshake. It was a pretty good meal. This Bill Gray's is apparently the Buffalo area version of a burger place that started in Rochester, NY in the 30s. The burgers seem to be individually made (even the veggie burgers) from some wad o meat (or soy product in the veggie case) rather than be some uniform frozen thing. You order up the condiments of your choice (oinions, lettuce, ketchup etc) and best of all when you ask for pickles they ask whether you want sweet or dill pickles. The ice cream comes from a dairy called Abbbott's dairy and is prominently featured and seems to beyong the usual pre-fab production. It's a huge place with multiple TVs tuned to different things and had a sports bar feel as the couple we went with the first time was into the Kentucky Derby which we watched with close captioning reading the announcer's call (the couple is an older couple who then sang the praises of closed captioning which they use all the time as it is the only way for them to get all the dialog on their favorite show West Wing! They particularly like that CC also tells them what song is playing the background and also adds other details like describing sound effects. They accepted an assignment from me as our TV is too old to have CC to watch some pornography on HBO for scientific purposes and let me know how CC relates the sounds which are key to any televised sex act). At any rate, what's your favorite hamburger joint and why? 334429[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 WHITE CASTLE 334676[/snapback] Not a bad 'cheap burger', though the sack of burgers aren't as cheap as they used to be. There's a place in Erie Pa called New York Lunch where they sell Greek burgers that are pretty tasty. I think they're 3 for 2 bucks or something like that. They also sell them in groups of 10, which come in handy if you and your buddies are out late on the weekend and have the munchies before you go home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taterhill Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Zebb's 3/4 POUNDER...also I love a good In & Out Burger when I am on the west Coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyebrian Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 In Columbus, it's hard to beat the burgers at Thurman's cafe. About the size of a dinner plate, piled high with condiments of your choice, cheese, bacon, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 I remember seeing a show on the Food Network a long time ago about this place out west that serves a hamburger made to serve 7 people. It's huge! They bring it out on a tray the size of a pizza tray. Anybody know which restaurant serves this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyT Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Schaller's tops the list cuz it was a family favorite growing up. Bill Gray's takes second. I don't go to Tom Wahl's often enough to compare, but remember that they had tasty burgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reuben Gant Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 some Great Western New York burgers: Tom Wahl's- always go there after waterskiing The Burton - the Burton Burger in Olean, NY- When Canisius plays the Bonnies we go down early Earl's- Rt. 16 don't know the name of the town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKC Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Steak 'n' Shake. 334654[/snapback] Takhomasak? Fatburger. They make it exactly the way I ask for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Takhomasak? 334879[/snapback] Indeed. But why would I when half the pleasure is in the experience of being served great burgers and fries on REAL plates? In sight, it must be right. Famous for Steakburgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffalOhio Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Buffalo - My dad used to take me to the Old Beech Inn on Genesee near Harlem. They had an awesome hand-packed burger, but that was over 20 years ago. I always like the burgers at Louie's Texas Red Hots - they had a unique taste and were cheap, which was important when I was a teenager. DC I like the All American Burger at Glory Days Grill, a sports bar. Nice, thick, and meaty. 5 Guys sucks. There's a place near my sister-in-laws' in Raleigh, NC called Char-Grill. They make an awesome steak burger. Chainwise- I go for Fuddrucker's. Big, juicy and that toasted bun is great. I also love Steak 'n' Shake, but more for the really great chocolate milkshakes. Hamburgers....the cornerstone of every nutricious breakfast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 after moving to Rochester, Bill Gray's and Tom Wahl's opened my ideas on how a burger should be (outside of my homemade ones)...when I went to LA, everyone raved that I HAD to stop by In'n'Out burger...honestly, it wasn't that good...it was like McDonald's but fresherI think I'll try Schaller's this weekend 334658[/snapback] Tom Wahl's is great. Burger, fries, and root beer. In Anchorage: Long Branch Saloon and The Arctic Roadrunner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reuben Gant Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 I seem to remember that Neighbor's Pub near Kenmore Ave has a damn good burger too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasontixfromcleve Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Oh, so many choices. I like the Wahlburger that Bill Wahls. I also like Don's Original - very close to our house. Before Don & Bob's in Brighton closed it was awesome. Schaller's here in Rochester makes a damn good burger, as well. Of course, there's always Nick Tahou's, but I really don't like their burgers unless they are on a Garbage Plate. I never get a plain burger. 334486[/snapback] I think you meant Tom Wahl's but regardless its a great place.......essentially the same thing as Bill Gray's. I agree Schaller's is damn good as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasontixfromcleve Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 I remember seeing a show on the Food Network a long time ago about this place out west that serves a hamburger made to serve 7 people. It's huge! They bring it out on a tray the size of a pizza tray. Anybody know which restaurant serves this? 334728[/snapback] I think it is the place in State College PA, that is featured on Hardee's commercials now called Denny's beer Barrel or something close to that..They make a 15 pount burger I think it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 I think it is the place in State College PA, that is featured on Hardee's commercials now called Denny's beer Barrel or something close to that..They make a 15 pount burger I think it is. 335089[/snapback] It's not that one, because I saw this show well over a year ago and I believe the Hardee's promotion is newer than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarsawBillsFan Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Best burger on teh West Coast is Red Robin! - Buffalo area - Grovers on Transit - or the pepercorn burger at Kelsey's on Milestrip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Best burger on teh West Coast is Red Robin! - Buffalo area - Grovers on Transit - or the pepercorn burger at Kelsey's on Milestrip! 335135[/snapback] My wife and I go to the Red Robin in Owings Mills every once in a while. I do like their food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headcase Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 It's not that one, because I saw this show well over a year ago and I believe the Hardee's promotion is newer than that. 335118[/snapback] From what I've hear Denny's Beer Barrel Pub has been doing the seven pound burger for a long time. Much longer than Hardees has been featuring it. Just recently, because of the fact a neighboring place offers a 10 pound burger, and a 115 lbs college chick ate the 7 lber, they are now offering the 15 pound version. I'm not sure which version is in the Hardees commerical, but I think it is the smaller version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopsGuy Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Back at home it would have to be Red's and Trudy's in Portville. They have a "crumbled hamburger" sandwhich that's awesome. Here in NC I'd have to say Fuddrucker's. I know it's a chain but their burgers are big and very good. 334432[/snapback] Wow, Red's & Trudy's... that brings back memories. Good stuff. I like Fuddrucker's, but I have to say that the burgers I make on the grill are as good as or better than any place I've had them. I thnk the best burger I ever had was when we were anchored in Honeymoon Harbor near Bimini and we made them on one of those propane boat grills. The key is to avoid flattening the burger with the spatula. DON'T DO THAT! That squeezes out all the taste. Get a loaf of Italian bread (the old style round ones) and cut that into slices. It doesn't have to be on a perfectly round roll. Lettuce, cheese, red-onions, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, whatever. Practice makes perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyebrian Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I think it is the place in State College PA, that is featured on Hardee's commercials now called Denny's beer Barrel or something close to that..They make a 15 pount burger I think it is. 335089[/snapback] Can you supersize it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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