Tag Archives: burgers

Restaurant, Travel

Stony Ridge Cafe, Ely MN

Stony Ridge Cafe, 60 W Lakeview Pl, Ely, MN 55731

It was totally worth it.

I think we went the wrong way.  We headed down a road that seemed residential.  I half expected the Stony Ridge Cafe to just be someone’s personal kitchen.  The sight of a real restaurant at the end of journey allowed us to breath a sigh of relief and filled us with a tinge of excitement.

The view is pretty nice as well.  You will have to see it for yourself.

The menu is simple.  You have your choice of burgers and fries.  One of the burgers is a ridiculous size.   The regular ones are kind of ridiculous as well.  It tastes amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Restaurant, Travel

Four Points Bar and Grill, Bemidji, MN

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Four Points Bar and Grill, 1813 Paul Bunyan Dr NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

four point bar and grill bemidji 020

Right next to the Super 8 Hotel is a restaurant called Four Points Bar and Grill.  You get a 10% discount with your key card from the hotel.  They serve American food.

Overall their prices are pretty average for a nice restaurant.  The feel inside is very rustic.

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We tried their signature burger and fries.  Let’s just say it was very messy.  The onion marmalade basically slid off the burger.  The coleslaw was not the greatest.  The fries were pretty great.  Overall it was decent.  The patty was preformed.  They cooked it alright.  The flavor combination was very good.  It was a bit difficult to eat.  The patty was some ridiculous amount of beef.  It was super thick and just made it difficult to take a full bite of the burger and I believe lead to the loss of the toppings.  I wish these places would give me a smaller burger of better quality so that I can actually enjoy eating it.

four point bar and grill bemidji 060

That being said I think most people I know would have liked the burger.  It was mostly just difficult, not bad.  The fries were really good.

If you are in the area and want a nicer meal this is the place you want to go.  It isn’t cheap, but it is at the price point of a better meal.

They also have pasta and fish and steak to choose from if you do not want a burger.  Their Scott selection was also respectable.

UPDATE:  Based on everything I can find online this restaurant has closed.  Unfortunate!

Museum, Restaurant, Travel

Dairy Twist, Hill City, SD

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Dairy Twist, 12647 US-16, Hill City, SD 57745

Yes, go here and eat.  The food is good old fashioned drive inn food and you will love every bite.

I had the burger and cheese curds which were amazing.  You can get other items as well like shakes and cones and fries and chicken strips and chili dogs.  It may have been the best place that we ate during this particular trip.  Be careful showing up late, sometimes they just close a bit early.

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You can eat both inside and outside.  There is a picnic area just outside of the indoor eating area.

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Dairy Twist, Hill City, SD May 2016 194

It is the interesting part about the Dairy Twist.  There are agates, arrowheads, and skulls in a display case in the eating area.  I think they were real dinosaur bones.

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Dairy Twist, Hill City, SD May 2016 189

If you are in Hill City, SD you must eat at the Dairy Twist.  They time that they are open is limited so if it is open grab your food while you can.

Restaurant

Monks Bar & Grill, Wisconsin Dells, WI

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Monks Bar & Grill, 220 Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Monks Bar & Grill is basically a large sports bar with really amazing food.  I was so glad we ate at this restaurant and I got a new shirt.

The cheese curds were amazing.  Three people could barely finish them.  The sandwiches were excellent.  I had a pretty basic burger and fries.  OK, it had jalapenos on it.  What can I say I love jalapenos.  The burger was done perfectly and the fries had a really good seasoning on them.  They even toasted the bun.

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My dinner companions also enjoyed their food.  They each ordered something odd in the menu and both ate every bite.  One had beans on it and and other one had something that looked very messy to eat.  I cannot find the items on the regular menu.

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If you are looking for some typical burgers or something a little more than that try Monks.  They know how to cook good food and how to put together great combinations.  When you read the descriptions the toppings sound really good, not odd and experimental.  You get the felling someone has made this before even if you have never heard about it.

Go to Monks, eat, and enjoy!

Restaurant, Travel

Snuffy’s Malt Shop, Minnetonka, MN

Snuffy’s Malt Shop, 17519 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345

“I just can’t find a great, old fashioned, malt and burger shop.  You know the kind that existed back in the 50’s with great burgers, fries, and shakes.”

“Have you tried Snuffy’s?”

Snuffy’s is the place that you dream about.  The burgers are good and greasy and not too big.  One order of fries is all you need for both of you.  The malts are amazing.  The half is perfectly adequate.  I cannot even imagine what a full shake is like.  You can choose from tons of flavors.  I stick with strawberry.  It is my favorite.

Snuffy's 6

Did I mention the fries.  The single is plenty for two.  The family will feed your whole family.  The fries are so good, perfection really.

Snuffy's fries

Pick your burger.  Choose a single or a double.  The Snuffy burger is really goo with its lettuce, tomato, bacon, and choice of cheese (cheddar, why would you get anything else).  You can build your own or add toppings as you like.

Snuffy's burger

There are others items to order as well, sandwiches and such.  Soups and salads.  Sodas, Sundaes, and Floats to boot.  You could order any of these items, but why when you can order a burger, fries, and a malt?

Snuffy’s can be a little difficult to get into right away, but it is worth a little wait, not too long.  Minutes really.  Just sit down and wait, really.

Restaurant, Travel

Smashburger

Smashburger – chain restaurant

Eagan location – 1270 Promenade Pl, Eagan, MN 55121

Smashburger!  I am told that you are not supposed to smash a burger while making it which makes me think someone was told that and said, whatever I will do what I want.  Personally I love Smashburgers.  They are nice and thin.  I do not know why people like thick burgers.  No one needs half a pound of ground beef.  No, no, no.  All you need is one thin patty and the right bread and toppings.

Pick your sandwich:  beef or chicken if you like.  Add a side.  I like they Smashfries.  The flavoring added to it is very nice.  Also I love the thin fries.  I wonder if McDonald’s would be as good as Smashburger if they had not gone down the path of low quality versus the obviously high quality food that you will receive at Smashburger.

You have other choices of course.  I like their malts.

If you find yourself near a Smashburger I highly recommend eating there.  The sauces and grease might drip down your arm over onto your basket, but that is part of what makes this food amazing.

Smashburger malt

Apple Valley location – 7394 153rd St W #100, Apple Valley, MN 55124

If you are in Apple Valley on a Sunday and realize that you can’t get Chick-Fil-A look across the street and get yourself a burger.

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This particular location is very nice.

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Restaurant

Silver Bell Diner

Silver Bell Diner – 1981 Silver Bell Rd, Eagan, MN 55122

When I think of a diner Silver Bell Diner is the exact style of restaurant that comes to mind.  Checkered floor, jukebox in the middle, and those chairs and booths.  Don’t forget the stools up front for those single diners or the kid that just wants a malt or shake.

Jukebox, records on the wall, checkered floor, and a blue chair.

I love the old advertisements on the wall and the records.

Strawberry Malt with a wafer and cherry on top.

I general go to this place shortly before close which is early to me, but normal for Minnesotans.  It is never packed at this time.  I hope this means that they do more business at breakfast and lunch time.  Their breakfast menu looks super tasty and is served all day.

They offer an assortment of burgers.  The meat is pretty good and the toppings make sense.  They offer a burger of the month.

Hamburger and fries on a plate

I have eaten my way through a good portion of their dinner menu and everything tasted just right.  I think they may have traded cooks since their open because they changed their menu and the food is a little bit better than when they started.  They offer daily specials.

I am kind of stuck on their tuna melt and cheese curds as my preferred menu item.  I had never tried a tuna melt before, but they are pretty darn good.

Tuna melt, cheese curds, and 2 pickle chips on a plate.

If you have room when you finish your meal they have homemade pies.  I have taken a slice home on occasion and their desserts are amazing.

You can find their menu on their Facebook page.  I would put their prices exactly right for what you are getting and overall not expensive.   They are priced at a level that you could probably eat at pretty often.

If you are looking for normal, American, feel good food or if you just want a shake or slice of pie I highly suggest this little gem of a diner on Silver Bell.  Go to the new mall and then stop in here for lunch.

Restaurant

The Blue Door Longfellow

The Blue Door Longfellow – American food restaurant at 3448 42nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Burgers and stuff.

I had lunch today with co-workers at The Blue Door in Minneapolis.  The restaurant is tucked away in the middle of what seems like a residential area.

The inside is arranged nicely with large seating areas, some booths and some tables.  All are wood, but not uncomfortable.  The tables are an appropriate height for the seats.  The walls are lined with great art work and pictures.  It has a really nice atmosphere, not too loud, but not too isolated.  You can tell there are others around you without hearing every word, or worse hearing nothing but noise.

I tried the Jiffy Burger with Pepper Jack cheese, bacon, pickle, crunchy peanut butter, and mayo.  The first bite made me feel like I have finally found a burger joint that knows how to make a burger.  It wasn’t the combination on this particular burger as much as the patty and the bun itself.  The basic building blocks of a great burger a patty that isn’t too big and a bun that tastes fresh.

The Jiffy itself is interesting and pretty good.  I could only eat half because it is a really heavy sandwich.  The bacon was thick, but not that gross thick that some places have.  They actually took the time to cook it completely.  You do not really notice the mayo.  The peanut butter is chunky which helps the overall taste with the occasional crunch.  They use dill chips, thank you.

Jiffy burger, tater tots, and ranch

I tried one hand-cut fry which was pretty good.  It had a Cajun seasoning on it.  It had a little heat.  We came for the tater tots.  I do not know if you have to order it with lime chili sauce or if it just comes that way, but those tots where pretty good.  They are sticky and sweet.  They come with a dipping sauce, ranch I believe.  I enjoyed them.

Overall my experience at The Blue Door was very positive.  I look forward to returning and trying one of the other burgers.  I may even have to try one of their famous Blucys.

You could easily eat your way through this entire menu and I doubt you would be disappointed.  They seem to make things right at The Blue Door.

Check out their website and their menu at:  http://bluedoorlongfellow.com/

Cooking, Main courses

Whiskey BBQ Sliders

BBQ Sliders

BBQ Sliders – this is worth the effortGather the following ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef
Seasoning
4 Tbls. butter
1 whole large yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup Whiskey

1 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup jalapeno diced

12 buns

Large frying pan

Dice the onion and jalapenos very small.

Divide the ground beef into 12 small patties.  Season both sides with your favorite seasoning mix.

Melt the butter in the skillet over a medium-high heat.  Cook the patties until they are almost done in the middle.  3-4 minutes per side.  Remove the patties from the pan and set aside.

Leave 2 Tbsp. of grease in the skillet.  Cook the diced onions in the skillet for about 3 minutes.

Turn off the stove for a minute if cooking over a gas flame before you pour in the whiskey.  Poor in the whiskey.

Stir and cook until the whiskey is reduced by half, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the jalapenos and BBQ sauce.

Reduce the heat to low and put the patties back into the pan.  Turn them over to coat both sides.  Allow the patties to simmer in the sauce until it is hot and bubbly.

Serve each slider on a bun with a spoon full of sauce over the patty.

*  You can toast the inside of the bun by coating it in butter and cooking it in a pan until toasted.

Video for BBQ Sliders