Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD

What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.

So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...

The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting. 

Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. 

If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.

I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.

I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.

If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.

Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!

8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com

Kraze Burger - Bethesda, MD

Quick update on my last post: I did the Whole30 diet for 4 days and quit because I wanted to die. So here I am back to eating whatever I want, yet practicing moderation...as I write about a delicious burger joint.

Last week before the "Caveman Diet", the bf and I grabbed dinner at Kraze Burger, which is a Korean-owned burger chain. (As I'm typing this post, I just found out it's pronounced 'crazy' not 'craze'.....hmmmm, interesting.)

They recently expanded the place and added a frozen yogurt portion because the last time I was there, this whole section that you're seeing wasn't there. Overall, very bright, clean, green, modern interior.

The place is small (10ish tables and a bar stools along a wall), so we found it interesting that they give you a buzzer to alert you when your food is ready. Slightly unnecessary, but either way, it's cool!

Onto the menu! They use all-natural, pesticide-free, 100% vegetarian fed beef.  You can expect some Korean inspired sauces, however the menu is pretty normal with sides of fries, chili, salads, and sandwiches, except for the side of grilled asparagus, which I found unique.

I ordered the the Matiz (beef patty, grilled, onions marinated in Kraze BBQ sauce, American cheese, bacon, pickles, tomato, mayo and lettuce). Yummy! The patty was juicy, and everything together worked well. On the flipside, I didn't like how messy it was because of the sauce (look at the bottom bun), so just get lots of napkins.

The bf ordered the Maximum (beef patty, spicy Maximum sauce, bacon, tomato, onions, lettuce, mayo and American cheese), which he added jalapeños. He also found the patty to be juicy. They told us that our burgers would be cooked 'medium', but even though they weren't, they were still fine. He enjoyed the burger though it wasn't as spicy as he wanted it.

As if burgers weren't enough food, we split Chili Cheese Fries (crescent fries topped with chili and cheese). I've had their regular fries before which are skinny. They use thick-cut fries for this dish because they can withstand the toppings. I felt it was the best chili cheese fries I've had, however the bf still thinks Ben's Chili Bowl is a bit better. 

Solid burgers that we think are at the top of our MoCo list. Size-wise, the burgers are slightly smaller than I was expecting. The fries I've had are very good. The burgers are around $8-9, which is typical, but pricey since the patty isn't huge. We'd definitely go back.

4733 Elm St.
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 215-9068
www.kraze.us

Elevation Burger - Arlington, VA

Apparently I'm celebrating my birthday all January! My cousin bought a Living Social deal for Elevation Burger in Arlington, VA and we met up for lunch on a lazy Sunday. One of the recent fads in the area has been new burger places and this place brings something different to the table with healthier ingredients and sustainable practices. Located in a shopping center, there is parking but it gets crowded as its shared with a super market. The closest metro station is East Falls Church on the orange line.

Small interior made with sustainable items like bamboo floors, compressed sorghum tables, LED lights, recycled materials, etc. There aren't many tables, so thankfully we were able to grab one as a family was leaving.

What sets this burger place apart is the 100% USDA-certified organic, grass-fed, free-range, ground-on-premises beef. We both ordered the cheeseburger ($3.99 each). Reminded me of an In-N-Out burger because of the paper wrapping. It tastes good, the patty is thin, and isn't overly heavy or large. I ordered mine with Elevation sauce, which reminded me of McDonald's special sauce.

We ordered their freshly-cut fries ($2.59) that are fried in 100% olive oil. They're thin like McDonald's fries and have a slightly different flavor because of the olive oil but I liked them a lot. My cousin prefers them cut thicker, so I ate most of them.

We both ordered milkshakes ($3.89 each), Oreo cookie in chocolate (top) and strawberry in vanilla (bottom). I ordered black cherry in vanilla but ended up with strawberry. It was good, but tasted exactly like a McDonald's one, so I don't think it was worth the price.

Lastly to use up the rest of the deal, we got a chocolate chip oatmeal pecan cookie ($1.49). It was very dense and thick. The flavor was nice, but I wasn't a huge fan of the texture.

I enjoy supporting places that practice sustainability and offer healthier options. Besides organic beef and fries cooked in olive oil, there are veggie burgers ($3.59) and salad ($3.99). The cashier was very knowledgeable and food came out pretty fast. Prices are fair, so I'd recommend trying it if you want a lighter burger option.

2447 North Harrison St
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 300-9467
www.elevationburger.com

Z Burger - Tenleytown, DC

Nothing like eating junk food after exercising, even if I am putting back the calories I just lost! The bf, doggie and I were hungry after our walk at the National Arboretum. On our drive home, we stopped by Z Burger for some fattie grub. There is only street parking available. The closest metro stop is Tenleytown-AU on the red line.

The colors remind me McD's actually, except they incorporate a lot of stainless steel too. It gives me a 80's movie feel.

They have a big outdoor seating area, which is surrounded on 3 sides, so it makes you feel like you're eating inside but not.

We obviously ate outside because of this big baby.

They have a fairly simple menu consisting of burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, fries/onion rings, and milkshakes.

Their milkshake menu is what drew me to this place - 75 flavors! I got a 'regular-sized Marshmellow' for $3.39. It's very thick and has a nice consistency. I would've preferred a toasted marshmallow flavor, because it almost tasted tropical? I don't know why, but it was good either way.

We shared some 'Onion rings' for $2.89. This thing was HUGE! The rings are the size of my hand, and were just too much to finish. We weren't big fans of the batter, which reminded me of funnel cake. I prefer flakier batter.

We also shared a 'Double Hamberger' for $4.49. It was good, however I didn't find it special. The meat was more dense and less seasoned. We topped out burger with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo and sautéed onions. If I were to compare it to another burger place, it reminds me of a Five Guys, which I prefer more.

If you love milkshakes, this place has every flavor you could imagine. They have a good number of free toppings, and the food is affordable. Our order was ready in a timely fashion, but if I were to go back, it would be only for a milkshake.

4321 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 966-1999
http://www.zburger.com/

BGR: The Burger Joint- Bethesda, MD

Went with the bf to try the highly acclaimed BGR The Burger Joint. I've heard such great things about their burgers, and they've been on TV numerous times, so we have finally checked it off our list. We stopped by the Bethesda location, which has metered street parking and garage parking a couple blocks away. The closest metro stop is Bethesda on the red line.
They have a couple tables outside for dining on a nice day. We opted to sit inside because it has been too hot recently.

This is about the entire size of the place minus the window stools that are cut out of the photo.

Music-themed place with super loud blaring music, paintings of famous albums on the walls, colorful table tops, and a flat-screen TV on the wall.

After you order your food, you receive a pager that will go off once your order is ready for pick-up.

Now about the food! They offer 11 kinds of burgers (blend of Prime, aged, all natural, hormone free, grain fed beef, seafood, veggie and turkey options), 3 kinds of fries, onion rings, milkshakes, drinks (alcoholic, non-alcoholic) and desserts.

Their milkshake menu consists of 4 flavors, one of which changes monthly. Unfortunately, the staff didn't know what the Milkshake of the Month was until the 3rd or 4th person chimed in. It happened to be Peach, but we opted for 'Strawberry' for $4.99. The approx. 16oz drink tasted like a McD's strawberry milkshake, which tastes good, however not at that price. It was also melting on the counter since no one told us it was done and we were 1 of the 2 parties in there.

I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries, so the bf and I shared an order of 'The Orange Standard (Thin cut, Idaho Sweet Potatoes soaked overnight in our secret process. Double fried to order.)' for $3.99. They had a softer consistency rather than crispy because they were cut thicker. I didn't think they were seasoned enough.

For my burger, I ordered 'The Wellington (Deep roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic, and black truffles, with a touch of mustard seed and blue cheese all atop our burger. Served on a fresh toasted buttery brioche bun with our mojo sauce.)' for $8.99. I ordered my patty medium. It was a very tender burger. The toppings were very strong in flavor but I liked that. I did take a bite of the patty without the toppings and the meat tasted of charcoal because they open flame their meat.

The bf ordered 'The Southwestern (A 10oz burger, infused with southwestern influences, like chipotles, poblanos, onion and chilis. Topped with Pepper Jack and served atop a black bean relish including: cilantro, onions and roasted corn. Served on a fresh toasted buttery brioche bun with our mojo sauce.)' for $8.99. He ordered his patty medium-well and thought it was a good burger, smoky-tasting, spicy enough, but nothing special.

My overall experience did not live up to the hype. Service was awful because it was clear the staff did not care about that place. Dirty tables, lack of ANY customer service, over-filled trash cans, staff chilling at the tables watching Food Network... I'll stop ranting now, but I could go on. The food was good, but not memorable. The prices are a bit expensive, but comparable to my favorite places Ray's Hellburger or Fresh Grill. On a positive note, I like how they have non-beef burger options and unique food items like asparagus fries, and The 9 Pounder burger challenge.

4827 Fairmont Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 358-6137
http://www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com/


Monday - Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 11am - 9pm

Fresh Grill - Bethesda, MD

Happy belated birthday to my love! I took him to Bethesda's new burger place Fresh Grill for his birthday dinner since vacation kind of drained our funds. He's not a foodie anyway, so a juicy burger is his kind of meal. There is metered street parking and metered garage parking. The closest metro station is Bethesda on the red line.

Clean, modern, casual interior. I like the dark wooden tables, bricks, and the lack of clutter. They have 4 flat screen TVs, a projector screen and outdoor seating!

Open kitchens are fun for me because I like watching people cook, and seeing the behind-the-scenes action.

They offer a few bottled beers and on tap ($3-5). I want to try that Shock Top next time.

They also offer glasses ($7-8) and bottles ($25-35) of wine!

Go USA! This is the drink special they are offering now during the World Cup.

All of their burgers are a 1/2 lb of Grade-A, certified Angus beef. Crazy specifications, but that ensures the meat is awesome.

The bf and I both got a bottle of 'Hank's (Black Cherry) Soda' for $2.50. This is my new favorite soda. It is insanely good! It tastes like drinking black cherry Italian ice. Does this come in 2-liter bottles? I'm definitely getting this anytime I see it sold anywhere.

They offer around 10 burgers with fun names and appealing flavor combinations. As well as non-beef options like chicken, fish, and salads. You can also build your own burger with toppings ranging from free to $2 each.

I ordered the 'Hangover (burger topped with eggs, Applewood Smoked Bacon and cheddar) for $9.95. All house burgers come with lettuce, tomato and mayo and house chips. WOW. I didn't have any prior expectations, but it was one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life. The meat was cooked medium-well, but it was SO juicy and tender that it could have been well-done and it wouldn't have mattered. I also liked how the patty was flatter making an even amount of meat in every bite. Some burger places make their patties too thick and almost sphere-like. The Applewood Bacon was thick and sweet. The egg was sunny-side up, which is exactly how I liked my eggs. There was just enough mayo on a French bistro bun and all of the veggies were fresh. The cheese wasn't too overpowering either but was nice and melted. The ingredients worked so well together that I'd definitely recommend this to anyone. Oh yea, isn't the presentation with the knife so cool?

The bf ordered the 'Dragon's Breath (pepper jack, red onions, charred jalapeno peppers, fire sauce and house slaw) for $9.95. I didn't take a bite because I would have DIED, haha. Usually the house slaw comes on the burger with the fire sauce, but he got them on the side. He loved the burger, and thought there was a good amount of heat where he could still feel his taste buds but satisfy his desire for spiciness. He has been talking about this place all week, and says it's the best burger place he's been to so far.

It's a great place for kids (and big kids) to come play arcade games too!

We stopped by last week during their soft-opening as they were still finalizing their menu, website, etc. They offer a very popular fish sandwich called 'WGF (World's Greatest Fish Sandwich), which the bf said he'd get next time. They season daily and sear-grill their burgers to order. The burgers range between $7.95-13.95, which is can seem $, but normal for local burger places like Ray's Hellburger and The Burger Joint. The freshly-made house chips were a nice change from french fries. They were thick and crunchy, and just enough food since the burger was filling. I'm actually going back sometime next week with some friends, so hope to run into you guys!

4905 Fairmont Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-3882
http://www.thefreshgrill.com/


Mon-Thu 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sat 11am - 11pm
Sun 11am - 9pm