Category: Casual Eats

Whether you’re looking to enjoy a quick bite to eat at the bar or sitting down to relax without the fanfare associated with white linen and fancy wine menus, Casual Eats takes a look at all of the food that can be enjoyed when you’re able to sit back and unwind.

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Vintage Grille’s Bumper-to-Bumper Burger

Nestled between two grilled cheese sandwiches, the Bumper-to-Bumper burger from Vintage Grille on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA is hearty.

My quest for burger bliss brings me back to Shrewsbury Street to the Vintage Grille. Formerly Junior’s, this unique restaurant setup occupies and old garage and mechanic shop. The garage bay doors still function and offer open air seating during the summer months. Being the tail end of summer, the doors were still open with the Red Sox game on the flat screen TVs surrounding the bar. I had been to the previous restaurant (Junior’s) several years and remembered a similar theme for the restaurant, but it had an renewed sense of purpose and attitude about it; from the unique automotive signs hung on the wall, to the menu and the wait staff. I had a Landshark Lager to whet my whistle and then took to the menu to figure out what I wanted to devour for dinner.

Throughout my burger ventures, I have not really had a burger that was crazy or out of the ordinary. While I have come across some delicious burgers, they were all of the generic meat-between-two-buns variety. The burger I ordered was called the Bumper-to-Bumper burger ($11.99). This burger was topped with minced red onions, lettuce, pickles, Thousand Island dressing and served between two grilled cheese sandwiches! I was in the mood to be adventurous and this burger seemed to fit the bill. When the waitress served me my dinner, the burger was massive; I was going to have to pull my best anaconda impression and unhinge my jaw just to bite into it.

The burger was cooked to a nice medium consistency, however could’ve benefitted from some additional seasoning in the meat. The red onion gave a nice crunch and spicy bite to the dish. The best part about the burger was in fact the grilled cheeses. The bread was more buttery than a normal burger roll usually is. The edged were crispy and the interior was light and fluffy. The slices of bread for the grilled cheese weren’t overly thick, so it didn’t make the burger completely inedible. The cheese was fully melted within the grilled cheese and was more plentiful than a regular burger would have. There was always more, ooey-gooey cheese in each bite when you wanted it. The fries were thick cut steak fries that were seasoned nicely and fried to a golden brown consistency. A nice, hearty potato side to accompany a hearty burger.

As if all of this food wasn’t enough, we decided to taste their unique take on a Fried Fluffernutter sandwich for dessert, topped with whipped cream, chocolate and strawberry drizzle, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The PB and Fluff was warm and creamy. The bread was fried perfectly to create a decadent crust on the exterior. If you want a dessert that is out of this world, I suggest you stop by for this classic!

Where will my burger adventure take me next? If you have suggestions of any great burger places, tweet me @EDioufUC5 and your suggestion just might make my short list. Until next time…

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The Whistle Stop’s Triple Smoke Burger in Oxford

The Whistle Stop's Triple Smoke Burger on Main Street in Oxford, MA

Crediting a mutual friend for the burger recommendation, my quest for great burgers brought me to Oxford, MA… to another hole-in-the-wall local favorite called The Whistle Stop. Located on Main Street, this is an establishment that you could easily drive right by, if it weren’t for the large railroad crossing signs decorating the road side. Upon entering, you are met with the décor similar to your grandmother’s country house, who can’t seem to throw anything out. There are many antique signs and knick-knacks that bring back a sense of nostalgia to when times were simpler, and when our country was thriving. In a sense, it is comforting and vaguely familiar as a first timer, you do feel right at home.

As I sat down and ordered my favorite Leinenkugel, I took some time to peruse the menu and immediately felt slightly overwhelmed. The menu for such a small place was quite large. They had so many items on the menu, from pub favorite appetizers, to pasta and seafood, to prime rib, fish tacos and a slew of sandwiches. For a menu with so many items on it, I was surprised to see that they only offered 5 burgers, but had a build-your-own section filled with different toppings, and sauces to customize your own meal in the event that you’re not feeling their house specialty burgers. I decided on the Triple Smoke Burger ($12). This was advertised as seasoned with chipotle pepper & smoked paprika with habanero pepper cheese, chipotle aioli, sliced avocado, sliced red onion & fresh cilantro. Anyone who is familiar with my blog will know I love a spicy burger. The thought of chipotle peppers and habanero cheese excited my taste buds and made me flush with anticipation.

When my burger was served, I was presented with a decent sized burger, with neat avocado slices on top, adorned with small red onions on top, and a big dollop of the chipotle aioli on the top of the bun. From initial inspection, I was missing the fresh cilantro. That freshness, brightness and frangrance that cilantro brings would have been a wonderful condiment. As I started consuming my meal, I was happy that they chose a hearty, buttery bun that can hold up to a good sized burger and all its toppings. It was soft on the inside, while being slightly crispy from being toasted. The burger meat itself was cooked to a nice medium, and was quite juicy. However, I found myself once again searching for the seasoning within the burger patty. The chipotle pepper and paprika were nowhere to be found within the patty, and it was really needed as I wanted a smoky flavor and some heat with each bite. The avocado is always a great addition by lending a creamy texture. The red onion also added a crunch and an assertive spice to each bite. Unfortunately, I was once again let down by the lack of spice from the cheese. Being habanero, I wanted more of a kick… something that warms your pallet as you continue to eat, and accentuates the flavors around it. I just found myself wanting more out of the burger. The fries might have been one of the best parts of the meal. They were large, thick cut steak fries that were fried perfectly golden brown and seasoned nicely. A healthy dose of ketchup was just what the doctor ordered to clean the plate of this side kick.

Enjoying some company with a close friend and my significant other, it was clear that this restaurant certainly was unique. With many menu options, including some lighter faire, trivia on Thursday nights, and something for everyone, I could see how this restaurant was busy, even on a normally slow Tuesday night. Overall, I was pleased with my burger, but it did not wow me. The end product was a delightfully satisfying  meal, but just lacked some finesse and attention to small details that really would’ve been able to take the burger up a notch. If you’re even passing through Oxford on Main Street, I would recommend stopping in for a comforting meal. Where will my burger quest take me next? Natick? Leominster? Tweet me your suggestions @EDioufUC5 and your pick just might make the short list. Until next time…