Tag: brioche bun

Posted on by

Revisiting The Fix For Their Phenomenal Burger

The Phenomenal Burger from The Fix on Grove Street in Worcester, MA

Hello everyone! It’s good to be back. The end and beginning of the year can be crazy and this year was no different. By the time I blinked we were already into February; the groundhog saw his shadow and we were well on our way to 6 more weeks of terrible, snowy winter. So here we are and I thought of no better way to kick off a new year of this burger adventure than return to the scene of the crime; the restaurant that kicked this whole journey off: The Fix.

Now on Grove Street in Worcester, The Fix occupies the space originally home to Northworks Bar and Grille, but has been newly renovated to leave you captivated with exposed wood beams, industrial piping for modern HVAC and a much brighter interior than the previous location on Shrewsbury Street (I always felt as though it was a tad too dark in there before – I mean, I shouldn’t need a flashlight to read the menu, am I right?). The square footage is easily 5 times larger than the previous location, and that’s no exaggeration. This would make you think that more seats would mean less wait time, more burgers in my mouth time… but don’t get ahead of yourself. My visit took place on a Sunday before President’s Day at 6 pm, and while there was a private function occupying one of the rooms, we still had to wait an hour and a half. I’m not sure if this is normal for them, or if was an off night for the servers, front of the house and kitchen, but we saw numerous people come in and leave because of the excessive wait times. I guess it’s good that you are busy, but it’s tough on your patrons and I can see how that could leave a sour taste in your mouth if you were thinking about coming back.

The Phenomenal Burger from The Fix on Grove Street in Worcester, MA
The Phenomenal Burger from The Fix on Grove Street in Worcester, MA

Anyways, back to the task at hand… burgers! After we were seated, I could not wait to place my order. I had decided on getting the Phenomenal Burger ($15). This particular choice featured bacon, smoked gouda cheese, a fried egg, frizzled onions, sweet chili ranch sauce on a brioche bun. I have to admit, that given the name, this burger was pretty phenomenal. The burger was slightly overcooked than the medium I tend to prefer (I’ll chalk it up to the disconnect I touched on earlier), but not to the point where the meat is ruined. It was still juicy and rich. The bacon was cooked until crispy, but not burned. Some pieces even had some chew to it, just how I like it! The smoked gouda was definitely a special choice. It was cut slightly thicker than normal and definitely added smoky undertones to each bite. While a fried egg is always appreciated on top of a burger, with the runny yolk oozing with each taste, the combination of flavors acting together made this burger seem like a breakfast burger of sorts. Now that’s a burger I can get behind! The onions added some great texture, but I wish there was more sauce. The bites I got more sauce in made the flavors explode in your mouth, with rich, creamy, smoky, sweet, spicy all playing their part in a well conducted burger concert. The perfectly buttered brioche bun was a great choice for the burger. Light enough to not be overpowering, but strong enough to withstand the hefty burger and its toppings.

The perfect end to the evening were a pair of chocolate spring rolls with caramel, strawberry sauce and whipped cream to finish everything off. The burger bar has been set once again for 2017 and although I’m not sure where the road will take me, I know that it will be a delicious ride. Where should I go next? Have a suggestion for a favorite burger joint that I should hit up? Tweet me @EDioufUC5 and your burger could be featured. Until next time everybody…

Posted on by

British Beer Company’s Turkey Burger

The Turkey Burger from British Beer Company on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

For those of you familiar with Shrewsbury Street, you will know that there’s a relatively new kid on the block taking over where the old Coral Seafood and the Urban Kitchen used to reside. That restaurant would be the British Beer Company (or BBC for short). Those of you who might remember both spots would recall that both were kind of bland in the decor category and somewhere in between average seafood eatery and wannabe-sophisticated overpriced dining. The new BBC is neither of these things. As soon as you walk in, you can’t even believe it is the same space! The stained glass windows, the uniquely British colors and decor around the restaurant and bar, and a second floor that wouldn’t have even been imaginable in the previous restaurant spaces are all captivating from the time you enter until the time you leave.

Wanting some privacy, we were escorted to a booth which was very comfortable and adorned with soft leather seats. The area did a great job of keeping outside noise out so you could enjoy a nice conversation at a decent decibel level. Thoroughly famished from a long day at work that saw me ingest two cups of coffee and a small bowl of soup, I was ready for my burger!!! Trying to steer clear of the usual suspects on the burger menu (a lot of flavor combinations I have had before), I decided to branch out ever so slightly…I ordered my first turkey burger. *collective gasps, women fainting, the whole nine yards* But hysterics aside, this burger was a house made turkey patty which was grilled, and topped with caramelized onion, smoky bacon, bourbon sauce and fresh avocado on a grilled brioche bun ($11.99).

Now turkey can tend to be very dry and can easily be overcooked if not kept an eye on. In this case, the turkey burger held up surprisingly well. The meat was sufficiently cooked, and the grill was a nice touch; lending some smokey, charred notes to the meat. There was evident sweetness coming from a combination of the caramelized onion and bourbon sauce. The sauce was more like a glaze, and I wish I had more of it. The bacon did what bacon does and rocked out. Nicely crispy and rich, the bacon helped add flavor to the turkey, because if there’s one thing The Hangover Pub has taught Worcester, it’s that everything is better with bacon.

The avocado was the surprise of the dish though. It’s creaminess helped cut through a lot of the rich flavors that this burger packed. Plus it made me feel better about myself, eating something that is relatively “healthy.” You were really looking for the smooth texture against the sauce and the crunch of the bacon and the burger meat. Then again, saying that is kind of like getting fast food and ordering a Diet Coke to help ease the pain. The fries were delicious and crispy, as all fries should be. They were hearty and cut larger than most fries that you would get at other restaurants. Fried golden brown, they were a nice break from the delicious burger.

Finishing my Sierra Nevada Summerfest and watching the All Star Game on one of the many TVs around the establishment, gave me time to reflect on where I’ve been and the many delicious burgers I’ve eaten. Taking in all the British beer signs and looking at the enlarged photo of Buckingham Palace hanging from one side of the room to the other, made me happy that I lived so close to a city that is beginning to take pride in itself. Taking pride in the products that they offer, from farm to table establishments, small breweries and pastry shops, local favorites, and countless watering holes, Worcester certainly has come a long way in the last few years.

Knowing that my next burger is not too far off, I leave BBC full and satisfied. With many different offerings from across the pond, it gives diners on Shrewsbury Street a different dynamic that transports them to Great Britain. Where will my burger quest take me next? Have suggestions for my next burger, tweet me @EDioufUC5 and your suggestion just might make the list. Until next time…