Sometimes you get hungry. Very hungry. Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger. This happens to me somewhat frequently. Good for me or bad for me, I still want a cheeseburger. As a result, I have eaten quite a few and from quite a few different places. It is hard to foul up a burger…but as you well know, it can be done and is a sad waste of quality ingredients and a horrible disappointment. There are many places who make a great burger. Some places I have been to and many that I have not yet been to. While I am not a food critic, I have my favorites….all are local to their respective areas….no chain restaurants….and they are all great. I would like to share four of them with you here.
If you are in Anchorage, and you like burgers…you would be hard pressed to find anything better than Tommy’s Burger Stop near the corner of Spenard and Benson. The place is tiny, you may have to wait…or take it to go…or eat outside in their outdoor area……but you will not be disappointed. They make a truly wonderful cheeseburger. In Anchorage, they are the best. Granted, Arctic Roadrunner has a long history there as “the” place….but in recent years I am convinced that Tommy’s is better.
While traveling about outside (what we Alaskans refer to as being out of state) I have found a few other noteworthy establishments…
Today, while visiting with Elizabeth’s mother in Midland, Michigan, we traveled to Clare, Michigan to go the Amish hardware store and do some other stuff. While there…we stopped in to a place simply called the Whitehouse Restaurant. It has, apparently, been there since 1935. I can see why it has survived. They make great food. The burger and onion rings were wonderful!
The next place I’d like to point out is in Montana. Great Falls. It is The Top Notch Diner. It most certainly is top notch. And the original owners knew it….they even commissioned a proper sign–just look at that Ruby Red neon glass, animated to appear as a spinning top. Excellent food, and lots of it.
Lastly, my favorite (so far) of them all…..my best burger find ever and the standard by which all others should be measured. The Brick. This is in Roslyn, Washington. The attentive fans or some Alaskans in general may recognize the place.
It was made famous in the TV series, “Northern Exposure” which was filmed there in the early 1990’s. But it could just as easily be famous for the burgers. I have never ordered a burger at any place that was as good as the one I had at The Brick. The Brick also holds the distinction of being the oldest operating pub in Washington state. A rather unique feature at the bar is an original continuous flow, fresh water spittoon trough. The miners of the day apparently liked their chew and this kept the place tidy. I also suspect that more than once, a miner of the day may have used it to relieve oneself without walking away from their beer. Just a guess, of course…..but likely. Today, once a year, they hold tiny boat races in it….and the winner actually collects real money. Sounds like fun!
Anyway, while a bit of a digression…..one must eat while exploring….and if one appreciates a good burger and is in the area, definitely drop in to one of the aforementioned spots. You will be glad you did.