Burger On-Deck Circle: Wynnewood, PA – Elevation Burger

50 E. Wynnewood Ave

Wynnewood, PA 19096

NOT OPEN YET!

.

A new burger joint is opening soon in the Philly Burbs and this one has an interesting hook sure to pique the interest of the local Whole Foods/Trade Joe’s set.

Elevation Burger is described on their website as:

… a quick and casual restaurant offering 100% organic, grass-fed, free-range beef burgers.

Ok, count me as excited because of one important adjective in that description: grass-fed.  Organic is great and sure I’d love to know that the cows lived a nice life on the range, but the fact that they were grass-fed is key.  When it comes down to it, cows that eat grass just taste better.   Time Magazine wrote about it in’06.

From a recent Elevation Burger press release:

Elevation Burger is a rapidly growing, fast casual concept serving 100% USDA-certified organic beef burgers and fresh-cut fries cooked in heart-healthy 100% olive oil. Founded by husband and wife entrepreneurs Hans and April Hess in 2002, the chain prides itself on an “elevated” experience and an organic, fresh approach that puts people and product ahead of profit. The first location opened in 2005, offering Northern Virginia a health-conscious menu bursting with flavor. Hans and April’s belief that “Ingredients Matter” has brought the restaurant rapid success and popularity. Driven by their passion for delicious food that’s organic, sustainable and fresh, Elevation Burger began franchising in 2008. Restaurants are 1,500-2,000 square feet and seat 50 to 150 guests with outdoor seating.

Outdoor seating is probably unlikely at the Wynnewood location, which fills the spot once occupied by Alex Long Chinese Cuisine in the front retail row of the Wynnewood Shopping Center (your typical suburban strip plaza with an Old Navy, BB&B, Genuardi’s and Borders).

Having never been to one, Elevation Burger sounds to me like a mix between Five Guys and Chipotle, which should play well in my flexitarian household.  The fact that they even have two varieties of veggie burgers on their menu has me pretty excited (though the two pattied + cheese “Elevation Burger” would still probably win out most times).  Editors Note: One of these days I’m going to have to write about the wealth of great veggie burgers in this area…the ones at the Penn Valley Pub in Narberth are actually better than the beef burgers (which is pretty darn good, too).

If you are interested/motivated maybe you can apply to be the General Manager?  According to the monster.com posting, this is one of five locations coming to the area.

No idea on the opening date or further details but I will update if/when I learn more.  Until then, here are a few reviews of the Falls Church, Va location.

via Menupages (D.C.)

via Yelp!

via GeekSqueek

Bittman rains slightly on the grass-fed parade in his NYT Blog here.

One more thing – the folks that created this place seem to truly understand the nuances of a good burger…check out this graphic from their website on the crucial topic of burger-to-bun ratio!

Newark, NJ: Hamburgao's Cheese Egg

Hamburgao

288 Lafayette St

Newark, NJ 07105

Get Directions

329 Ferry St
Newark, NJ 07105

282 Kearny Ave
Kearny, NJ 07032

Was lucky enough to sneak up to the Eagles playoff game on Sunday at the Meadowlands and with minor arm twisting was able to convince our crew to pit-stop at the Hamburgao on Lafayette Street in Newark’s Ironbound District on the way home from North Jersey (you know, to let the traffic die down a bit).

Way back in 2007, food and tech blogger Jason Perlow wrote the only post ever needed about this place and so I’ll spare you most of the details and encourage you to check it out on his site – the photography is to die for and you will probably have the same reaction my wife and I did upon reading the post – we hopped in the car that afternoon and drove to Newark!

I ate the “Cheese Egg” which is a cosmically disorienting combination of Mozzarella, ham, corn kernels, potato sticks (yes, like mom used to pack in your lunch), lettuce, tomato and mayo all placed on top of an 1/8lb or so grilled burger.  This sandwich (and most of the other similarly topped offerings) is much more than the sum of its parts.  What on paper looks like a laundry-list of things that should not go together (at least not in the American palate) comes together in a delicious gooiness that takes an admittedly ho-hum burger patty and elevates it to mythic status.  I enjoy introducing these Brazilian burgers to others because they are so different that it makes you rethink everything you know about one of the simplest foods in the world.  One of my buddies picked at a piece of corn from his burger and looked at it mystified wondering how anyone could even dream of such a concoction – thankfully somebody did.

Again, go read Jason Perlow’s post and admire the great pictures at the tail end.  If you don’t already read Jason’s Off The Broiler blog you should (and you really should have back before his diet!  Jason knows good food and is a great writer to boot.  He has never steered me wrong and he is responsible for introducing me by way of his blog to my all-time favorite pizza joint Trattoria Sorrentina).

Hamburgao is a mini-chain with 3 locations (none close to you – but all worthy of dropping what you are doing right now and hopping in the car while gas prices are still low).  And as a special bonus for all of you Eagles fans, now is a great time to visit North Jersey because the burgers are great and the Giants fans are humble!

Wilmington, DE: The Charcoal Pit's Charbroiled 8 oz. Burger

The Charcoal Pit

2600 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803

Get Directions(302) 478-2165

Though at times it seems like New York City is the burger world’s epicenter, living down here in Philadelphia really has its advantages.  Along with easy access to top level spots like Good Dog and Charlies Hamburgers, a quick drive in any direction (even north to Gotham) offers up some great burger opportunities.  This night a few buddies and I headed 30 minutes south of the border to purchase our holiday stock of wine and beer in the fine state of Delaware and decided to top off the night with a stop at the quintessential burger joint- The Charcoal Pit.

I’ve been going to this place since I was a kid and have tons of fond memories of trips with my dad to grab a burger and a shake.  My buddies had never been before but within seconds I think were convinced of its authenticity.  Ripped straight from your most idyllic memories of Al’s on the TV show Happy Days, this 1950’s quick service spot features tight booths with individual juke boxes, great roadside architecture and one of the best neon signs around.

As the restaurant name implies the burgers are broiled over charcoal, providing a truly rare treat for the taste buds.  What you end up getting is a flavorful burger that due to the high heat is more or less seared on the outside thus ensuring the insides remain juicy (and deliciously greasy).  The burger is densely packed and no doubt retains a lot of its original 8 oz. size.  The authentic grill marks appear to remind you that yes you have a grill in your backyard which hypothetically should allow you to cook a burger this good…but sadly you won’t be able to match it.

The Charcoal Pit is a mini-chain with four locations.  The original North Wilmington location where we went is on the highly trafficked Concord Pike and was pretty close to the town where I went to high school making it a great hang-out spot (if only for the thrill of driving across state lines).

The Charcoal Pit is Delaware’s only entry in George Motz’s book Hamburger America and you’d be hard pressed to name another spot worthy of inclusion.  This one epitomizes the term  “real-retro,” with a half-century already under its belt and no reason to believe it won’t be around for our grandkids to enjoy.  If you find yourself in Philadelphia, it is well worth the short drive to discover what the menu touts as the “…secret that has kept Delawareans craving…for over 50 years.”

Chadds Ford, PA: Jake's Hamburgers

Jake’s Hamburgers

www.jakeshamburgers.com

16 Wilmington W Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 358-5810

Was doing some data purging and found this one in the archives…can’t believe I didn’t blog about it because it was a great burger.

This eastern seaboard mini-chain delivers “Hand-pattied, never frozen burgers” in true fast food stlye (grilled and served on squishy buns with basic toppings).   I went truly basic, just lettuce, tomato, fried onions, ketchup and mustard and am happy to report the quality beef flavor shone right through.  Add decent fries and a location half-way between our house and the beer mecca that is Wilmongton, DE’s Total Wine And More and this has the chance to become a frequent habit.

Jake’s has locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida and the location we hit in Chadds Ford, PA on the state line between Delaware (tax free and beer by the six-pack) and Pennsylvania (taxes and beer by the case).

Monroeville, PA: Primanti Brothers The Pitts-Burger Cheese Steak

Primanti Brothers

www.primantibros.com

3847 Northern Pike
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 856-8380

The “Second Best Selling” item on the Primanti Brothers menu is Pittsburgh’s signature sandwich, the Pitts-Burger Cheese Steak. This colossus is an ode to excess, concoted in a manner only a steel town could justify.

The original Almost Famous sirloin beef patty sandwich that feeds the spirited fans of Pittsburgh

…features said beef patty, “sweet and sour” cole slaw (unlike any you have ever had before…think grandma’s recipe but without mayo, really), tomato slices, provolone cheese and yes, french fries, all nestled together under two big hunks off a loaf of bread and served in a wax paper draped plastic basket

The only thing that could make this sandwich better would be to remove the burger. Seriously.

Primanti Brothers was the first stop on our summer burger/BBQ vacation and it was supposed to be the burger that set the course for the remainder of the week, but it fell flat. This sandwich was better than the sum of its parts, the slaw was so unique a tasty that I won’t think of cole slaw the same again, the bread was perfect, the fries stellar…the whole combination was mesmerizing…except for the patty which tasted manufactured. Look left…it just looks sad, pinned down below all of that topping goodness.

The good news is my wife ordered the Black Angus Sirloin Steak Sandwich, which featured all of the same toppings but with delicious hunks of steak. Needless to say, she wasn’t going to share after she saw the look on my face after the bite of my burger, but I did get one good bite and man, that sandwich was terrific.

I am not going to pan Primanti’s because they are legendary. And, despite the notation that the burger is the #2 seller, it is widely reported that it is in fact the #1 seller (Serious Eats called their bluff earlier in the summer after noticing that there is no #1 seller listed on the menu). Somebody must be eating these. Here’s hoping they test out a Black Angus sandwich just once…I guarantee they’d switch allegiances.

Additional notes:

1. We did not eat in the original Primanti Brothers location in the “Strip District.” Things might have been different, we were out in the burbs. There are currently 13 locations throughout the metro.
2. Pittsburgh has to be one of the nicest cities to visit in the US. Seriously.  Leave your preconceptions at the city limits, the ‘Burgh features clean streets, a vibrant downtown, the best baseball stadium in the majors, Kennywood Amusement Park, the Warhol Museum, The Strip District and on and on and on.

Burgers In The Burbs: Zac's Hamburgers

Had a going away lunch for a co-worker at the suburban Philly mini-chain Zac’s Hamburgers the other day, and per usual, Zac’s delivered.

Nothing too fancy here, just a perfectly delivered fast-food burger with tons of toppings (see pic).

We stopped at the Secane, PA location (other locations include Crum Lynne, Aston and their newest spot in Media). Limited ambiance (a TV with ESPN is perched high on one wall of the wide-open dining room opposite some old arcade games), but you’re coming for the food, so don’t sweat that stuff.

$1.75 for the burger with as many toppings as you like, a bit more for cheese but I have never found it necessary (and rarely do). Grab a coupon for a free burger when you buy two by clicking here.

Zac’s is a top ten burger for me because of their consistency. Do one thing and do it well, a good strategy for any burger joint.

Zac’s Secane
925 Providence Road (Providence Shopping Center)
Secane, PA 19018
610-622-6766
Mon. – Thurs. 11-9, Fri. & Sat. 11-10, Sun. 12-7