Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: roo_ster on July 20, 2011, 03:06:26 PM
-
In N Out Burger (INOB) opened a few stores 'round here the last couple of months. They have been sort of a well-managed mob scene, what with the off-duty cops, orange cones, crazy long lines.
One day, I managed to time it right so that instead of "sheer utter madness" wait lines, it was merely "dearlordwhatareyouthinking?" wait lines.
So there I was....
I kinda liked their menu's simplicity. I ordered some double burger, heaped up nice & sloppy, along with fries & a drink.
I take a bite out of the burger, remembering all the raves I heard when I visited LA for work. I chew it a bit and then figure that all the other burgers in California (besides INOB) must be made of sawdust, as the actual, in-my-hands INOB is a whole lotta "meh." No "greasy burger" grease-dripping indulgent goodness. No flame or charcoal grilled accents. Not even anything detectable in the way of funky spices. It rated right up there with McDonalds.
The fries claim to be cut & made fresh. OK. I did get some decent potato-y flavor out of them, but they were all so danged limp.
All in all, a great big disappointment. I was reminded of McDonalds-quality food without the McDonalds menu selection.
It seems I wasn't the only one underwhelmed by INOB. The local alternative news rag ran a comparo with Whataburger and INOB did not do well by comparison.
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2011-07-14/restaurants/patty-smackdown/
http://www.dallasobserver.com/slideshow/whataburger-vs-in-n-out-a-smackdown-with-dallas-burger-mavens-33761169/
-
Yeah, I had the same issue with the much hyped 5 guys. Tons of food for cheap I grant you, but taste wise just not impressive.
-
Funny you mention Whataburger, I wasn't at all impressed with them when I ate at one of their Mobile, AL locations a few years ago.
I've never tried INOB.
Chris
-
That always seems to be a problem when a regional chain decides to try and expand to far. They usually don't live up to the hype or more than likely they lose control of the quality control in place by being regional.
-
Funny you mention Whataburger, I wasn't at all impressed with them when I ate at one of their Mobile, AL locations a few years ago.
I've never tried INOB.
Chris
I hear ya.
What Whataburger has going for it is it is a middling burger with lots of options. And you can get a real malt, not just a shake.
-
Yeah, I had the same issue with the much hyped 5 guys. Tons of food for cheap I grant you, but taste wise just not impressive.
May be an issue with your local franchise. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by 5 guys when I drop in every couple months.
-
Now, neither my wife or I are very big eaters. You can eat a burger and fries at INOB and not feel like you have eaten enough. Besides, doesn't "In N Out" burger sound like it has a laxative effect. =D
-
5 Guys is great.
Now, White Castle had been all hyped to me somewhere in my life, so I stopped for a slider a couple of months ago. That was a forgettable burger-ish like object. Tasted like sawdust, not even like hamburger. Heck, I don't even remember it tasting like it had been salted.
-
As long as there's a Five Guys, Mighty Fine, or a Fudruckers in business, INOB won't stand a chance....
-
Thanks for the reminder to visit Whataburger when I'm in the Houston area next week.
-
Find a Foster's Grille.
-
IMO, the best hamburgers are always at local mom&pop places don't always look pretty and have less crap on the walls. At least the meat usually tastes better. Locally at least, that is where the cops go.
-
May be an issue with your local franchise. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by 5 guys when I drop in every couple months.
5 Guys is great.
Now, White Castle had been all hyped to me somewhere in my life, so I stopped for a slider a couple of months ago. That was a forgettable burger-ish like object. Tasted like sawdust, not even like hamburger. Heck, I don't even remember it tasting like it had been salted.
What is it you like about 5 guys? Honestly curious if we just got a bad example, or if I'm just not a fan.
-
Shack Shack, NYC. Best Burgers I've ever had in my life, includes those expensive restaurant burgers. There expensive like $7.00 for a burger, but they can't be beat.
-
INOB- Tried it a couple of years ago in Vegas, it was okay, better then meh, but not OMFGTIG!!!
5guys - Tried it in Knoxville (Lenoir City actually) Lots of food (fries) for the money, again okay but not OMFGTIG!!!
White Castle - The Aluminum Room's claim to fame is being open 24/7. It is/was the place to go at 3-4am after an all night bender/card game/pub crawl. Because it's those little buns that soak up 20x their weight in alcohol when in your stomach. And the grease counteracts any negative effects of said alcohol or whatever else you may have consumed.
Aldi's 85% lean patties - Once cooked on my Weber charcoal grill, they become Ron Swanson burgers.
We just got Chick-Fil-A here in Wheaton. OMFGTIG!!!!
-
Aldi's 85% lean patties - Once cooked on my Weber charcoal grill, they become Ron Swanson burgers.
I buy those and grill them too. They are really good (and the price is right) but I wish they also sold 'em in 1/3 pound patties, not just 1/4 pound.
I have some maple firewood (I think it's silver maple) and no longer heat with wood (long story) so I've been splitting/sawing it into small chunks and using it in a Weber Tailgater. I pack one of those "chimney" charcoal starters with wood chunks, stuff the bottom with newspaper, and light it and let it burn for a while. When it kind of looks like lump charcoal I start grilling with it. I never expected soft maple to have such a smoky flavor; almost as strong as hickory but different.
-
The places ya'll are eating 5 Guys and In N Out must just be crappy examples...because the 5 Guys and IO joints I have eaten at have been very good...and I'm a big fan of cheeseburgers (as in, for three weeks on a trip across the country, I generally ate a a burger for most of either my lunch or dinner meals). Yes, the mom n pop joints are usually very, very good, but they can also be much harder to find on a trip (and especially when you want a burger RFN and don't want to stray from the route or interstate because you need to get on down the road). I stick with the momnpop joints mainly when I'm say, visiting family for a couple of days or have time to chill out and seek out a great meal.
White Castle (and it's southern equivalent, Krystal) are the places you go for drunk food...they can be fairly decent if you need some quick food, but they generally aren't spectacular kinds of places.
-
The local (Clackamas, OR) 5 guys definitely gave me a "meh" both times I was there. Yeah, it's a lot of food, but neither the Mrs. or I were impressed by the flavor. Even the fries were "meh" considering they were fresh cut. Oil wasn't hot enough is my opinion. Limp, greasy fries are not my idea of good. The second time, they were just as bad, but I decided to do the "cajun" variety. No flavor, just heat and added salt.
Unless I hear of vast improvements, we won't be back there.
-
Yeah, the fries were a major disappointment. Limp, soggy, and in the case of the ones from the middle of the tater under done.
-
IMO, the best hamburgers are always at local mom&pop places don't always look pretty and have less crap on the walls. At least the meat usually tastes better. Locally at least, that is where the cops go.
The two best burgers I ever had were at a small restaurant in Grand Marais, MI and at the little burger stand right on the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The place in Grand Marais served venison burgers. Yum!
-
In Chicagoland, even though their claim to fame is beef sandwiches, Portillos has real good hamburgers.
-
The 5 Guys I've been too had the best, freshest, and most lettuce, tomato, and onion I've ever gotten on a burger. I like a lot of toppings, and 5 Guys hit the spot.
-
Now, White Castle had been all hyped to me somewhere in my life, so I stopped for a slider a couple of months ago. That was a forgettable burger-ish like object. Tasted like sawdust, not even like hamburger. Heck, I don't even remember it tasting like it had been salted.
All the salt is on the fries. =) I think you've been reading the hype all wrong (but don't worry, it's fistful's fault). White Castle isn't competing in the arena of Quality Ingredients and Best Burger in the World. It's all about having a sack full of greasy, onion-smothered burgers. Personally, when I want a hockey-puck burger (and I frequently do), I prefer McDonald's, but White Castle is good from time to time.
They just built a new Christy's in my area. It is the burger heaven most of you will never know, unless you live near Saint Louis or the state of Mississippi.
-
White Castle's is an acquired taste. SWMBO and I like them. She worked there for awhile in college and didn't want to eat them after she had quit, but then one day she got the crave and has eaten White Castle's ever since. We even went to White Castle's for this past Valentine's Day.
-
I was thinking of trying InO when I'm in Dallas this weekend.
I may just skip it and find a Five Guys :D
-
The local (Clackamas, OR) 5 guys definitely gave me a "meh" both times I was there. Yeah, it's a lot of food, but neither the Mrs. or I were impressed by the flavor. Even the fries were "meh" considering they were fresh cut. Oil wasn't hot enough is my opinion. Limp, greasy fries are not my idea of good. The second time, they were just as bad, but I decided to do the "cajun" variety. No flavor, just heat and added salt.
Unless I hear of vast improvements, we won't be back there.
We used to eat lunch at a place in Houston that had those "fresh" cut fries. You could see them use a tool to slice up the potato. However, they really didn't turn out that well and were not near as good as other places. The were usually a bit bland and too greasy. Miller's Cafe in Clear Lake does have good burgers though.
-
Locally, there are no IO or 5 guys restaurants. We only have a Fudruckers. Their burgers are pretty good, but it is the wedge fries and onion rings that draw me in. Other than that, the local mom and pop places are all their is.
-
I missed the perfect pun for the title :facepalm: :
In N Out Burger: Slathered with Meh-onnaise
Also, the best burgers are almost always some local joint. Here in Dallas, that would be Angry Dog.
-
My most consistent favorite has been, and will probably always be, Backyard Burgers. They might have gone under during the recession, though.
-
My most consistent favorite has been, and will probably always be, Backyard Burgers. They might have gone under during the recession, though.
I know they are still in Tulsa.
One of the best places in Tulsa is a place called Fat Guys, it is right next door to the Tulsa Oilers stadium downtown. Good burgers, good fries and a decent beer selection.
There is also a mom and pop place called Hank's that is pretty damn good also.
-
All the salt is on the fries. =) I think you've been reading the hype all wrong (but don't worry, it's fistful's fault). White Castle isn't competing in the arena of Quality Ingredients and Best Burger in the World. It's all about having a sack full of greasy, onion-smothered burgers. Personally, when I want a hockey-puck burger (and I frequently do), I prefer McDonald's, but White Castle is good from time to time.
They just built a new Christy's in my area. It is the burger heaven most of you will never know, unless you live near Saint Louis or the state of Mississippi.
That's what I was expecting, but my burgers didn't drip grease, and each had a grand total of 3-4 little onion slivers on it. ??? Would have lived up to the hype if I had gotten greasy, salty, oniony burgers.
-
Levy the rabble.
Build engines of siege.
Raze that Off-white Castle to the ground.
-
Locally, there are no IO or 5 guys restaurants. We only have a Fudruckers. Their burgers are pretty good, but it is the wedge fries and onion rings that draw me in. Other than that, the local mom and pop places are all their is.
Fuddruckers is still in business? Here is SW OH they all folded up shop and left.
-
Five Guys is good around here. It's not "OMG, that was the best burger ever!" good, but it is worth the effort.
-
Our 5-Guys is pretty good here too. I'm partial to burgers and chips/fries made at home though. Well, I'm partial to eating them, not so much to cooking them...
-
I should add that my coworker will never go to Christy's again. He was in the hospital for chest pains the next day. :lol: Now that's some seriously good burger!
-
Our 5-Guys is pretty good here too. I'm partial to burgers and chips/fries made at home though. Well, I'm partial to eating them, not so much to cooking them...
Use your beer lure. :lol:
-
After reading through various DEA documents for the past 30 minutes or so, I checked APS for interesting news tidbits. I read the title of this thread as "In N Out Burger: A Patty Full of Meth" and wondered why I hadn't seen an article from the DEA! :laugh:
-
What? Has no one heard of Foster's Grille?
-
Thanks for the reminder to visit Whataburger when I'm in the Houston area next week.
Whataburger has a problem.
Their burgers require somebody who knows what they're doing.
When you get a good one, it's sublime. Unfortunately the vast majority of the time it's done by someone how has little idea of how to cook anything, and doesn't care to know either, who then turns out product that's merely edible. Same with the fries. IMO they have the best in the business when done right, but again they mostly turn out limp undercooked crap that you would swear was just allowed to thaw out rather than being fried.
When I lived in Corpus it was my experience that there would usually only be one store in the entire city at any one time that could turn out good product. Even then, once you found which store it was it wouldn't last but a few months at best until people got fired, quit, or otherwise moved on and you would have to start the process of finding which one had an experienced enough crew to turn out good product. I also found in my South Texas travels that small town stores tended to be better and for some reason the Falfurrias store was consistently fantastic on Friday nights around 2 am. Go figure.
One last observation, Whataburgers, and particularly the fries, are time sensitive so you have to eat them there
-
What? Has no one heard of Foster's Grille?
Where would one find a Foster's Grille?
-
Use your beer lure. :lol:
Tried that, but he wasn't a very good cook. Might need to upgrade my lure.
-
Where would one find a Foster's Grille?
+1 Never heard of Foster's Grille.
-
Tried that, but he wasn't a very good cook. Might need to upgrade my lure.
MrsSmith, what brand of beer lure did you try? There is a difference. You also might want to try the wiskey lure that was suggested in your electrical post.
-
If you are in St. Louis, and looking for the Most Excellent Burger...
(not listed in order of preference, just in order that I'm typing 'em)
Seamus McDaniels, in the Dogtown district, just south of Forest Park. Huge burger, nicely crafted, and they have Guinness on tap.
O'Connell's Pub - South of Barnes on Kingshighway - consistently voted "best burger" in the local alternative rag.
Blueberry Hill - Delmar Loop area - in a fight with O'Connell's as to who gets the listing that year.
There's also a Fuddrucker's in town. Meh.
Going west, toward Columbia, there's an outfit called 54 Grill or somesuch that isn't bad.
To cook a burger... Start with the cheap stuff. NOT the "nice lean" stuff.
BIG patties, suitably thick.
Get your charcoal going, nice and hot, and sear the outsides, just long enough to somewhat sear 'em... Move the burgers to a different, cooler (somewhat...) part of the grill, and put the lid on. Oh, and there is ONLY one kind of grill - the Weber. Let 'em cook/smoke until they are your desired state of doneness. Put 'em on nice kaiser rolls (not the buns from the bread aisle), and enjoy.
-
Mmm... I remember Blueberry Hill in U-City. Had some fun times there many years ago.
And yes, adively, might need to switch to Jameson.