Tag: Hangover

Posted on by

Don’t Overlook the Burger at Oxford’s Native Grill and Wings

The Hangover Burger from Native Grill and Wings in Oxford, MA

After a month long philosophical journey, I was finally ready to get back to the important things in life, like figuring out where my next burger would come from. I began by perusing some Facebook recommendations before deciding on a relatively new spot in Oxford called Native Grill and Wings.

Located in a small strip mall behind a gas station on Sutton Avenue, tucked alongside a pet store and a Dollar Tree, lies an unassuming store front. I entered Native Grill and Wings with optimistic skepticism, not knowing what to expect. The eatery featured a large dining room off to the left and an extensive bar area that offered stellar views of any number of flat screen televisions hanging on the walls. I thought, ‘This would be a great place to catch a game, share some wings, drink a beer and just relax.’ But, this trip, I was here for one thing and one thing only: a burger.

I took my time with the menu, salivating over some of the most unique wing flavors I have ever seen, before I regained my focus and decided on the Hangover Burger ($10.99). This burger consisted of hardwood smoked bacon, hash browns, a fried egg, avocado, lettuce and pepper jack cheese. As I anxiously awaited my burger, I enjoyed a loaded tater tot appetizer while watching the Golden State Warriors championship parade. I continued to get whiffs of tangy wings as they were delivered to tables around us. I managed to resist.

It was a good thing, because when my burger arrived, the smell was intoxicating. The aroma of the freshly charred meat and the salinity of the fries lingered in the air. At first bite, the burger put forward extreme flavors, albeit the patty itself had been slightly overcooked. Luckily, the meat was still juicy, and the interior had not dried out. My substantial helping of bacon was assertive and its maple character reminded me of a hearty breakfast sandwich. The creamy avocado and the runny yolk of a fried egg added rich texture to the burger. The kicker was the hash brown patty. Crispy potato was not something I had experienced in my burger travels and it was certainly a welcome addition. The fries were properly seasoned with both salt and pepper. For such a new and relatively small establishment, I was surprised to find that they were probably the best fries I have enjoyed in recent memory…kudos!

I feel confidently that this unique wing restaurant is going to be a Godsend come football season. I can’t wait to belly up to the bar and enjoy a dozen of my favorite wings while watching the Patriots beat whatever hapless team they might be playing that week. I have been lucky enough to consume some of the best burgers that Worcester County has to offer, and for that I am grateful. Still, I know there are countless other burgers waiting for me to try, so if you have a favorite, please tweet me at @EDioufUC5 and I’ll take your suggestion under consideration.

Posted on by

The Cure To A Hangover: Wagyu Burger

The Wagyu Burger from Hangover Pub in Worcester, MA

Let’s take a second and talk about bacon…crispy, wonderful, fatty, rich…bacon. Something hasn’t been loved this much by the masses since The Beatles came over from Liverpool. This one piece of pork has been so widely revered over the last few years that it has inspired countless pieces of merchandise, advertising, cult-like followings and not to mention a booming business for purveyors of Miss Piggy (my apologies to the Muppets). And like so many of the gullible yuppies that fell into any one of those categories I mentioned, I was right there with everyone else. I am a bacon junky. So you had to understand my enthusiasm when I learned that the first bacon themed gastropub in New England was opening up on Green Street was downright childlike. I had visions of me swimming in pools of bacon like Scrooge McDuck did with his money, except my fantasy was much more delicious and satisfying. So I had to check it out!

Located almost directly across the street from the newly renovated Cove Music Hall and taking the place of The Center Bar & Grill (thank goodness), stands the current location of The Hangover Pub. The interior is still cozy on the inside but there’s evidence of extensive renovations to make the atmosphere more inviting, modern and less sticky. Neat wooden accents around the bar bring focal points to array of local brews on tap, and the red walls slowly morph into a black slate chalkboard which reads the menu all around the restaurant. But enough about the inside…let’s get to the food!

Considering this is a burger blog, I got the only burger on the menu…the Wagyu Burger ($12). Advertised with Grey Hill bleu cheese, baby kale, bacon-onion jam, layered on a brioche bun with house fries and smoke sea salt. I mean, the description alone makes your mouth water. For those of you unfamiliar with the Wagyu, it refers to a Japanese cow. While there are several different breeds, these cows are the most desired in the world because they are genetically predisposed to better marbling, meaning better flavor. Many cows enjoy a life of daily massages, and a steady diet of beer and sake are meant to make the animals happier, therefore producing a higher quality of meat.

The meal came presented on a wooden plank, with a brown paper bag of French fries on one side and the burger on the other. The buttery top of the brioche bun glistened in the lights cast above the table. As I began to enjoy the burger, the first thing that came to mind was how tender it was. Cooked to a beautiful medium, the warm pink center was the way every burger should be cooked. The baby kale took the place of lettuce on a normal burger, but added a nice fresh crispness to the bite, while not taking anything away from the meat. The kale also added a nice temperature contrast by being cooler than everything else. The bacon-onion jam reminded me more of caramelized onions, making me wish there was more bacon on the dish. With that being said though, the onions added another level of sweetness to a normally rich burger. Unfortunately, the bleu cheese got overshadowed in this dish. I’m not sure whether it was because there wasn’t enough or the other flavors were too pronounced, but I wanted something more melty. Bleu cheese is usually very assertive, and I just missed that aspect of it in the bite.

As the night winded to an end, and I polished off the last maple glazed zeppoli for dessert (must try – out of control!), I was happy with my experience at The Hangover. The food was delicious and extremely unique. Everything on the menu is priced right and almost seems priced to encourage a group to order several items; as if the owners want you to try everything on the item in one sitting (which I could probably do but shhhh! – don’t judge me) There was so much more on the menu that I didn’t get to try, but there’s always another day. I am glad that this bacon pub is in my neighborhood, now I just need to make sure I visit my doctor more regularly. But where will my burger adventure lead me to next? If you have suggestions, tweet me @edioufuc5. Until next time…