May 22, 2008Where's the beef (in SWVa)?
There's no telling how many patties on a bun he must've consumed to come up with the "state-by-state guide to 100 great burger joints." As with any food tour book, I've always got to find out right away whether any eateries in our neck of the woods made the list. In this case, only one place made the list. And it's the same place that makes just about every American road food book that hits the shelves. Did you guess which restaurant it is? Don't cheat! Hazard a guess before you click to the jump. If you guessed the Texas Tavern, you would be correct. Now, this is where I subject myself to being squirted with ketchup -- oh wait, you can't get that stuff at the TT, so I guess I'll be splashed with their "chile" instead. I don't know why a burger at the Texas Tavern would taste better than a burger at, say, the Community Inn or any other little bar food joint. Unless you happen to be drunk at 2:15 a.m., in which case I suspect you'd eat just about anything you can find downtown that's hot and greasy. I know the TT is famous for its Cheesy Westerns, which are topped with a fried egg. But if you removed the egg, would the burger be worth writing home about? Not in my opinion. My guess is that Motz's criteria included much more than the actual taste and construction of the burger. I'm sure he was also looking for ambiance and charm and, in the case of the TT, a little attitude. That's my take on it. If you disagree, feel free to drop a comment. And what I really want to know is this: If you had to vote for the best burger in Southwest Virginia, what would YOU say? |
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Comments
[May 22, 2008 9:24 AM]
GregIt has to be Texas Tavern!
[May 22, 2008 9:31 AM]
gregOK so my first comment was before I read the rest of your article but I knew it had to be Texas Tavern. The Tavern is the only place around here with any kind of national following as far as hamburgers go. It's would be the same if the Roanoke Wiener stand showed up in a book about hot dog places.
Having said that, I do like Texas Tavern but it all depends on my mood (and budget). If we are talking about unique to the valley only type places and not chain establishments, I would include Burger in the Square also.
As for the chain places, Sonic makes a good burger and you can never go wrong with Red Robin.
[May 22, 2008 11:36 AM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/Thanks for making the first comment, Greg. I think the challenge is thinking of places that are not chain restaurants. Burger in the Square is a good nomination. I like Five Guys burgers but of course they are a chain. My husband really digs the cheeseburgers at the Community Inn.
[May 22, 2008 12:02 PM]
MichelleSpeaking of cow meat - have you heard anything about the butcher in Daleville that has been advertising grass-fed beef packages in the Roanoke Times?
[May 22, 2008 12:05 PM]
DebbieIt's Burger in the Square for me.
[May 22, 2008 12:19 PM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comI have heard Cheeburger, Cheeburger has good burgers. They just opened one at the Tanglewood Mall. My husband told me they hail from Sanibel Island. I don't know if that's true, but they were very popular in SW Florida.
If I am going to get a burger, it will usually be at home. I hate to pay too much for this easy-to-make treat.
Funny you should post this as I just returned from the grocery store with Bubba burgers and fixin's for a Memorial Day cookout.
[May 22, 2008 12:36 PM]
GregMike's Burgers in Blacksburg.
[May 22, 2008 12:52 PM]
KathyI would vote for Burger in the Square. Ernie's has a good burger, too. If I want to stay in my neighborhood, I would go to Abbott's on Garden City Boulevard.
[May 22, 2008 4:37 PM]
MasonI'll second that post on Abbott's. The Fat Boy Special is a great burger.
[May 22, 2008 7:34 PM]
Greg PBurger in the Square. Fuddruckers buns are too much, not big fan of the TT, as far as chains go, Hamburger Hamlet.
[May 23, 2008 12:42 AM]
scottrcok, so this may be a bit bold...
But I have to say the best burger in the Roanoke Valley is my own.
I make a mean Gorgonzola Sirloin Half Pounder.
We have a Chili Cookoff, I say we have a Burger Building contest!! I'm so there.
[May 23, 2008 8:21 AM]
vallenIt's a known fact that all beer joints have the best of burgers.
[May 23, 2008 8:29 AM]
RayHow about the Longbranch
in Salem they have a good burger
[May 23, 2008 10:40 AM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/Vallen, I'd be interested to know if you have any specific places in mind.
Scott, your burger sounds delicious. I always like to make my own burgers, too, because I load them up with everything. One of the best burgers I ever had was at Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado, where my mom was a cook. She could fix up a mean mushroom-Swiss burger.
[May 23, 2008 1:00 PM]
DennisTo me, Mac and Bob's in Salem has the best burger! I love the cheeseburger there! I agree w/ Valen that beer joints always have good burgers. And I also agree w/ Ray that the Longbranch in Salem has an excellent burger as well. I don't much care for the TT, though I understand the late night thing. My late night burger place is the Omelet Shop in Salem for the "OS Burger Plate." I know a LOT of people who love Burger in the Square but I've never had one there. You can just watch the line there to know how popular they are, so it must be good! When I go to the Market Square Bldg. I tend to get food that I can't get as easily elsewhere. Like at the Cuban place.
[May 28, 2008 5:07 PM]
Jordan : →http://www.roanoke.comIf we're doing only local:
- Burger in the Square
If we include chains:
- Cheeburger Cheeburger
- Five Guys
[May 30, 2008 10:03 AM]
RichI'll bet TT's got in because of the overall experience of eating there...like Dick's Last Resort...you don't go there to eat Sysco food fresh off the truck, you go there to get in arguments with waiters and pelt them with butter.
Ernies is great, especially when I want to smell like an ashtray for the rest of the day.
Montano's is a veritable gem for burger lovers. They'll put anything and everything on it for you, and the fact that they have horseradish for burgers makes them that much better.
Chains should never count...anytime you can build a Frankenburger in a lab, you've got a leg up.
Red Robin was good 5 years ago...I don't know where they get their 'meat' from these days, and I'm not sure I want to know either.
Best quick, no smoke, burger in town though is Burger in the Square. They don't make hamburgers...they make passion sandwhiches, hot and fresh with waffle fries.
Mmmm....gorganzola on a burger....now I'm VERY VERY hungry.
[June 2, 2008 9:17 PM]
SnakeTo get nostalgic, I agree with the comment about good burgers at beer joints, and the best I ever had in Roanoke was back in the 1960s at a place on Brandon Ave. called the Silver Gables. I think it was where Jimmy V's is now, or maybe right next to it. There were three motel/restaurant places along that stretch of road. Lee Hy Auto Court had good burgers too, but not as good as Silver Gables. Alas, I was too young to get beer then.
For a non-chain place in Roanoke, nothing really stands out above the others, but I'd go with Burger in the Square.
This probably doesn't count as SWVa, but I always like to stop at Granny Smith's on Rt. 29 between Gretna and Chatham, just a little takeout place. Also the Dairy-Rite in Staunton has a respectable burger, but sorry to say I now stop often at the Five Guys in Staunton. Somehow, their burgers are a cut above any other Five Guys I have visited.
Also, Moore's Country Store on 460 east of Lynchburg has good burgers, but their hot dogs are so fine that I rarely get a burger there.
[June 9, 2008 12:44 PM]
Mike DI read the article in the paper the other day and have to ask. Was there no other burger joint in Roanoke that meet his requirements? I've never ate a burger in the square but hear is good and far as I know it's been there for a long time. Abbott's in garden city has a much better burger. But they were out because of the 20 year thing. Texas Tavern is good for a late night snack but never for a real meal. Their paddies are thin as a 50 cent piece and about as big around.