The Dandelion – Philadelphia, PA

The Dandelion is the first place I had in mind when I restarted this blog, as it’s long been my favorite burger in Philly (and one I thought was underappreciated – in part because most people I’ve spoken to tend to lean toward Village Whiskey – until I realized it actually won “Best of Philly” in 2013). So why did it take me more than two months to get there? Well, the downtown location essentially means giving up child care for the night, and I am a loving, doting, unselfish parent who doesn’t like missing bedtime. So when Wife gifted me a burger-night-on-the-town out for being an A+ #1 gold-medal-champion DAD*, I surely knew where to spend it.

*Speaking of being a dad, if you’re wondering why it’s taken almost two months to get this post out the door I’ll just say that having two kids unfortunately pushes burger blogging down the list of priorities to somewhere between “ironing clothes for work” and “emptying the lawnmower bag” and way behind “changing 50 diapers” and “going to sleep at 8pm.”

Happy Belated National Cheeseburger Day from Here’s the Beef

So Dad sent me a hot tip that it was National Cheeseburger Day, but because Wife and I are currently in the process of acclimating Daughter #2 (aka Daughter: Second of Her Name, aka Girl: Revisited; aka Little Sister) to the world, by the time I read it I realized that National Cheeseburger Day was yesterday. So, I blew it. Hopefully you didn’t blow it and had yourself a cheeseburger. If not, I’ll remind you in about 363 days.

 

 

Beefy Links

There IS a new post on the way, just not this week . But feel free to check out some burger-centric links courtesy of The Sporkful while you wait!

Burger Formation and Consumption, Cheese Placement and More – “Rev” Dave Ciancio runs Burger Conquest and joins the podcast for “a fast-paced and passionate conversation that covers fat-to-lean ratios, burger-to-bun ratios, perfect patty formation” and much much more. Plus Dave used to manage seminal New Jersey metal band God Forbid. Nice!

A Flavor Chemist Explains Burger Toppings – “A great burger is a thing of beauty. But it’s also the product of a complex array of variables: meat, bun, toppings, cooking method, and more — like an equation for handheld deliciousness.” Tom Ryan created the Stuffed-Crust Pizza, the McGriddle, and is now Chief Concept Officer at Smashburger. He might know a thing or two.

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Brittingham’s – Lafayette Hill, PA

A little more than two years ago, I teased the re-emergence of Here’s the Beef with the expectation I would have new content in the months to follow. I set out to Brittingham’s for the initial review with Dad and (then very new) Wife, ordered a burger, took a picture of it, and ate it. I even began drafting the blog post before eventually letting it fall by the wayside. Now, exactly two years to the day after I began that post, I’m here beginning my second first Brittingham’s review. Things have changed an awful lot in those two years – some for the better, some for the not so better. And nothing has seen more iterations than the burger, which now exists in its purest form. But is it the best form? Join me as we explore.

Roots – East Norriton, PA

When the Mayor of Norristown comments on your blog and tells you to try a place, you try that place – even if you find out after the fact that the “Mayor of Norristown” is actually just your brother-in-law and he’s telling you to try a place you’ve already been and planned to revisit anyway. But politics aside, any reason to grab a burger is a good reason to grab a burger. And even though The Mayor said eating a burger here with me would be like a teacher grading a test while the student looks on (I think he’s the student in this scenario? It made sense at the time), it brought us to this very moment. Let’s see what Roots is all about, eh?

White Star Bar – Jersey City, NJ

During my first spin through the burger blogging world, I traveled far and wide in search of perfection, leaving few stones unturned as I broadened my cultural horizons and immersed myself in local culinary scenes. Last weekend I further expanded my gastronomical scope by heading to… uh… northern New Jersey. Gabagool!

MaGerk’s Pub & Grill – Fort Washington

Despite the fact that it’s not named after the best TV coach of all time, MaGerk’s in Fort Washington is one of my main jams. Its size and varied menu fit it easily into the family-friendly category, and offers a solid beer list and excellent service to round it all out. Unfortunately, the burgers kind of stink. I just wanna love them, baby, but I don’t.

1st Annual Swamp Fox Jerky-Off

Looking for a way to deliciously extend celebration of the good ol’ USA? You’re in luck! I’m taking a break from normally-scheduled programming to bring you some extra-special (belated) holiday-edition Beef content: The 1st Annual Swamp Fox Jerky-Off.

Lucky Dog Saloon & Grille – Conshohocken [Updated]

[Update 8/9/17: I had a chance to return a few weeks after my initial review and things turned out much, much better. Individual updates below in the Burger section and the overall rating.]

The Lucky Dog Saloon represents the first in what will likely be many reviews of family-friendly places in the suburbs that aren’t Iron Hill. It’s a fact of life that the majority of my going out to eat happens strictly at 5pm and requires seating to accommodate parents, siblings, nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. It was an early goal of Here’s the Beef 2.0 to find the best suburban burger that can also serve as a family night out – and the Lucky Dog is a solid contender in that category, though consistency may prove to be an issue.

Iron Hill Brewery – Chestnut Hill

I have a like/dislike relationship with Iron Hill. I once swore off it forever which was, admittedly, overdramatic. But it’s been moving more towards “like” over the last year or so as they’ve really improved service, expanded the beer list and added a few standout menu items. It’s also one of very few places we can go as a family of anywhere from 8 to 14 people (including 2 to 4 high chairs) and virtually be guaranteed a table any night of the week, so – like it or not – it’s a staple. And because I go so frequently, and the fact that there are a dozen or so locations throughout the PA-NJ-DE tri-state area, I thought a review might be in order so you can make a decision to swing by your neighborhood Hill if you’re looking for a snack or something more (true love?). So… here we are.