Tulsa Food Talk » Hamburger

The Brady Burger

Brian Schwartz — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:56:01 +0000

“A hamburger is the architecture of taste par excellence.” That’s not me talking. That’s the chef of a fancy restaurant in Paris. Lately some of the world’s top chefs have been joining the quest for the perfect burger. Until recently I never thought they stood a chance. I never thought a luxury burger could compare with the burgers that come off the griddle at a place like Claud’s or (when Ron Baber was behind the grill) Ron’s. But there are two places in Tulsa that made me change my mind. First off, of course, is Smoke. I’ve sung the praises of their burger before.And then there’s the Brady Burger.

I never got around to trying it until last night. Each time I went to Brady Tavern I was seduced by something else. Sous vide tenderloin. A massive pork chop. Oh I’d seen the burger of course and even photographed someone else’s for my review of Brady Tavern.

But by now I’ve tried every entree on the menu except the burger. No excuse. I ordered it. With two changes. I asked for the burger on a separate place so it wouldn’t be drowned in fries. And, on second thought, I asked for something other than fries. For $3 extra, they let me have a huge order of mac and cheese instead. Oh it was a creamy delicious mac and cheese… imagine the Brook’s famous version but made with really good quality cheese… and still as creamy. But this isn’t about that. It’s about the burger.

It’s a blend of five rich meats, including short rib and brisket, topped with Stilton and accented by a mushroom cognac cream sauce on a homemade bun. I asked for it very rare, and that’s exactly what I got. The meat had a wonderful rich flavor. It was denser, weightier, it seemed, than most burgers… I think that’s what premium meat does. One bad thing that premium meat can do, if it doesn’t have enough fat, is make the burger dry. That didn’t happen here. The burger was as moist as you could wish for. The meat flavor, though, was all but drowned out by the strong blue-cheese funk of the Stilton and the rich sauce, which would have made a fine mushroom gravy by itself. But drowned out in a good way. The flavors complemented each other. The bun, surprisingly soft and sweet, was fine too.

So which do I prefer, Brady or Smoke? Oh I’d never tell that. I’ll just say that all other fancy restaurants in Tulsa (except possibly Lucky’s) might as well just give up making hamburgers because they just can’t compete.

New Belly Busters Restaurant Offering Burgers, Dogs & Deep Fired Goodies! – Menu

Brian McCullough — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:32:18 +0000

We fell in love with Belly Busters after ordering the “Deimos Burger!” This burger consists of buttered Texas toast, 1 juicy beef patty with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles and grilled onions. All Belly Busters burgers are served with thick slices of Texas Toast and come straight of the grill to your table. We can’t wait to try several other crazy named burgers and dogs, “puppies”, from their menu. Look for a full review coming soon on the Front Page of TulsaFood.com.

We got a hold of their menu so you can download the Belly Busters menu here.
True to its name, Belly Busters is a new burger and dog joint in Tulsa that will to fill up your belly with huge, mouth-watering grub piled high. You can also find menu items like deep fried Twinkies and Oreo cookies. Not your ordinary burger joint, Belly Busters sports a decor of movie memorabilia with a pop culture feel from the purple and green paint job. It’s one of those places that has a cozy, cool and open feel from the window-filled dinning room.

We can see Belly Busters easily becoming a top burger destination in Tulsa. We feel lucky to have stumbled upon this place just as they opened. We are now recommending it to Tulsa’s burger, Dog and deep fried food lovers to give it a shot.

Download the Belly Busters Menu Here

Belly Busters
(918) 445-3520

West Tulsa
4361 S 32nd West Ave
Tulsa, OK 74107

Like Them on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Belly-Busters/141413989273988

Why No Real Dairy Queens in Tulsa?

Brian McCullough — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:00:06 +0000

Every once and a while and mainly while on road trips, I get to stop at a full service Dairy Queen store. To me, that means ice cream and burgers… the full menu. Its surprising that we only have one Dairy Queen location here in Tulsa and its a corporate looking Dairy Queen/Orange Julius shop in the Woodland Hills Mall. Not the same!

Here is what Tulsa is missing out on. If you hit the right location you will find delicious burgers and other menu items that I classify as addictive comfort food! Take for instance this chicken and gravy basket. Peppered gravy that is thick, but not too thick, Texas toast and deep fried chicken strips. You are looking at one of Oklahoma’s favorite meals.

Even better, the burger that is built for a road warrier. This burger is a top contender among fast food burgers. Hot, fresh cooked beef that’s filled with flavor. The bacon, thick and also flavorful with cheese that you can actually taste the dairy in. Bottom line is that It was a good burger, it hit the spot, and it helped me for the long drive ahead.

So where are all the Dairy Queens in Tulsa? Is Tulsa too big for a location? Do we have to many burger joints? Or maybe Tulsa’s Dairy Queen is named Queen Braum. Whatever it is as long as I know where to get one of those burgers I’ll be ok.

Dairy Queen
1219 Main St
Woodward, OK 73801
(580) 256-2397
http://www.dairyqueen.com

The Claud’s Double Cheeseburger Cured My Bad Day [Picture]

Brian McCullough — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:26:05 +0000

Sometimes the only thing that will cure a bad day is a good old fashion hamburger from a classic burger joint.

Pictured below a Claud’s Double Cheeseburger (two patties) onions grilled in with everything on it.

This burger pic was taken this afternoon…. yum!

Claud’s Hamburgers
3834 S Peoria Ave
Tulsa, OK 74105-3129
(918) 742-8332

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000398042789

A very rare burger at Smoke

Brian Schwartz — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:59:47 +0000

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had some of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten at Smoke. They’ve been offering burgers as a $5 special on Monday nights, but that deal ends with the month of May. I think they have burgers on the lunch menu. I’m not sure whether they’re normally available at dinner. They might be available only in the bar area. Get them whenever and wherever you can.

Nothing but the finest for these burgers. USDA Prime. Ten years ago you couldn’t find USDA Prime anywhere in Tulsa. Beef raised in a little ranch in western Oklahoma. I think they use the best cuts too, New York strip, just like their steaks. Buns fresh from Farrell Family Bread, and if you haven’t heard of them you should. They’re one of the finest artisan bakers around. Lettuce and tomato from the Farmer’s Market. Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and pickles made in the restaurant.

The Monday burgers are normally about 6 ounces but last night I got them to make me a larger one. I ordered it very rare. You can see it in the photo above. I don’t know how they got the cheese to melt so well. On a very rare burger, even Ron Baber had problems with that. I think this deserves another shot. Look how thick and juicy this baby is.

Usually burgers made with high grade meat aren’t worth the hype. They don’t have enough fat and they are just too dry. That’s not true of this one. (And before a lot of my friends complain, I’ve heard this is true of the Brady Burger too. I’ve never ordered a Brady Burger, for each time I go there I’ve been seduced by Grant Vespasian’s other offerings.) Though I’ve heard from friends that Smoke has overcooked their burgers, they did a perfect job on mine each time I was there. I ordered very rare and that’s exactly what I got.

Just the way I like it. The outside fully cooked, even charred, the inside more or less raw but cooked enough so the fat starts to melt, yielding that rich and primal flavor. This could be the poster boy for rareburger.com. But if this is too primal for you, gentle reader, be aware that Smoke makes great desserts (and the dessert menu is huge photos on an iPad 2), so let me leave you with something sweet.

Smoke.

1542 E. 15 St, Tulsa

http://www.smoketulsa.com

Peanut Butter and Burgers, oh yes!

Brian Schwartz — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:19:14 +0000

You’d think New York has seen everything by now, but there was a big brouhaha in the local blogosphere when one of the city’s best-loved burger joints, Shake Shack, introduced, for one day only, a Peanut Butter Bacon Burger. “Now,” wrote one blogger, “when someone asks me, ‘what’s the weirdest thing you ever ate?’ that’ll definitely be in the top five.” His verdict, definitely not a rave review, was that it “wasn’t vomit-inducing like I imagined it.”

Here in Tulsa you can get that burger any day of the year at one of OUR best-loved burger joints, Fat Guy’s Burger Bar, and it’s so good it’s worth the trip. In fact you can go Shake Shack one better and order it Thai-style, which comes with grilled pineapple, cilantro, and also that world-famous invention of a penniless Vietnamese immigrant in California, Sriracha. And, if you also ask for triple meat, which I did, you get this.

It was delicious and the peanut butter was the star. Who would have thought that ordinary Peter Pan would mix with the meat and taste just like a Malayan satay sauce?

My only disappointment was the burger. On my last visit, I got the chef to cook it very rare, which required talking to the chef and manager and pleading and begging before they agreed. It was soooo good! One of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted. Read my review to see a photo of it in all its glory. This time I didn’t specify how I wanted it cooked, and so they did it in their regular fashion and it wasn’t nearly as good. Oh it was good, definitely not vomit-inducing, but it wasn’t fabulous… though the peanut butter did bring it close to the fabulous level.

I also got to taste one other thing you normally wouldn’t order at Fat Guy’s. The hot dog.

And that was really really good. So if you’re craving a hot dog it’s a good place to go. I’m sure they’ll put peanut butter on if you ask.

Feeding my Hamburger Emptiness with a BrewBurger

Brian McCullough — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:40:46 +0000

Shame on me, It was over two weeks since my last hamburger! But I took care that with 2 medium rare patties, melted cheddar and some grilled onions on a ciabatta bun. Not only does it sound like a good combination, it was perfected at BrewBurger and every bite melted in my mouth. I have been set free of this grief from a 2 week long separation, I can live again.

6577 E 71st Street
Tulsa, OK 74133
(918) 591-2818

http://brewburgertulsa.com/Home.html

Bring In-N-Out Burger to Tulsa!

Brian McCullough — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:21:25 +0000

Tulsa Food Guy got me thinking. One of my favorite burger joints from California, In-N-Out Burger, is making its way to Dallas, Texas. Why no Tulsa, Oklahoma? Here is the article from the Dallas Morning News. There are plans for a distribution center and 8 of the burger restaurants. Tulsa is on about 4 hours away. Come to Tulsa In-n-out Burger!

Comment below if you agree!

IN-N-OUT Burger – Me Missing Home!

Beer Guys Tackle the Fat Guy’s Burger Challenge … Join Them!

Brian McCullough — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:24:13 +0000

Join us Fat Guy’s Burger Bar -Thursday, Jan. 20th – 7:00 PM – As the Marshall Brewing Competition Eating Team tackles the Fat Guy’s Burger Challenge. Atlas IPA 20 oz draws are only $5 all month. Don’t miss this epic show down between the beer guys and the Tulsa’s largest hamburger. Cheers!

Check out this video of the burger

THE CHALLENGE
2 pound patty with 1 pound of bacon, 1/2 pound of sliced hot dogs and 8 pieces of American cheese atop a 1 pound bun with 1/4 head of lettuce, half an onion and a whole tomato. Also 1 pound of french fries. Must be all gone in one hour!

Join them Via there Facebook Event Page!

Thursday, January 20 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location Fat Guy’s Burger Bar
140 N. Greenwood
Tulsa, OK

The Brady Tavern Hamburger – Up Close & Personal

Brian McCullough — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:51:21 +0000

The Brady Tavern Hamburger has been a much anticipated and talked about burger among some of Tulsa’s foodie community. Now that it is here and has been enjoyed by so many lets talk about its. My comment will be in the comment section. Also, keep in mind that Brady Tavern has been open for a few weeks… they are still perfecting things. We are simply burger lovers discussing what we LOVE!

This is how the burger is described on the Menu

The Inside: Ground Short Rib, Chuck, and Brisket topped with Stilton & Mushroom Cognac Cream.
The outSide: House baked Challah Bun
Next to It: House-Cut Shoestring Fries with Fried Garlic & Rosemary

If you have not had a chance to visit The Brady Tavern read Brian Schwartz review titled “New Brady Tavern Downtown Tulsa is Fit for an East Coast Transplant”

Below is a quote from a comment by David James about the Burger.

Now, lets analyze the signature hamburger. The picture of the hamburger presented by Mr. Schwartz in his review does induce an elevated degree of anticipation. Reading the description of this jewel in the center of the menu almost makes it a mandatory order to gauge the restaurant. I suggest that they move this entry to a less prominent place on the menu. The bun was round, smooth and beautifully proportioned. It is a flavorful bread, baked in house and is a great background for the patty. There, something got lost. Touted as a combination of three meats, the flavor became muted somewhere in its creation. Cooked to the doneness ordered, medium rare, the meat was not dry but not juicy, due I am sure to a shortage of fat. Generous quantities of blue cheese was in the cognac laced spread on the hamburger. The cognac, being intended to mollify the intensity of the cheese, failed in its assignment. Don’t get me wrong, it was not distasteful it was simply unexceptional. It did not measure up to the tout.

An Inside look (As Ordered Medium Rare)