New BCP rating system:

Let’s get right to business! First, I would like to introduce you to  the new official report card of the BCP. I must give major thanks to E for putting this together. She is so much smarter than I! If you would like to read up on how the new scoring system works please see here.

I already like this scoring system much better. It’s more focused. It’s all about the burger. With the previous system it seemed that some restaurants got a better score because people considered other dishes besides the burger in their scoring of their experience. This should no longer be a problem. BCPers can still include some of their overall impressions but they won’t be as lengthy as they used to be. I will continue sharing them with you.

My summary:

Man I was just patting myself on the back about how great my pictures had been turning out and then I took this. Sorry JB’s, you’re burger looked so much better than this. So we visited Johnny Brenda’s last month for Burger Club. I was a little nervous. Their burger has been one of my favorites in the city and I was a little afraid to share it with my burger eating buddies. Fortunately, the burger held up to it’s expectations. Most of the top scores for this burger came in the appearance and taste categories.

They switched up this burger since the last time I had it. As you can see in this post, they used a heartier sesame seeded bun. It remains one of my favorites. They are now using Martin’s potato bun, well at least sometimes. Later in the evening I saw some burgers served with the old bun. I’m pleased either way. The potato bun makes this less of a gastropub style burger and into a much simpler burger. I believe they also changed the onions they put on the burger. It wasn’t a whole red onion slice with grill marks instead they seemed to be sauteed and chopped into smaller pieces. I still enjoyed them very much. I don’t think anyone in BCP would have recognized any of this but I’ve spent a lot of time with this burger so these are my own observations. I enjoyed the changes. The patty was just as flavorful and juicy as I remembered it. It’s still a damn tasty burger. Oh and they served a malt vinegar aioli with the fries and it was AMAZING! I never want to eat fries with anything else ever again. EVER!

Hits and misses:

I don’t think I’m going to do the top hits and gripes for the report cards anymore. If you really liked them and will miss seeing them, let me know. This is all a work in progress. Instead I will try to summarize some of the hits and misses of this burger from the BCP report cards. As I stated above, most of BCP primarily enjoyed the taste and appearance of this burger. Folks commented on how juicy the burger was and found the patty to be well seasoned. They also enjoyed the potato bun. BCPers who got bacon on their burgers were very happy. I definitely need to do that next time I visit this burger. Some members who ordered their burger  medium-rare found it to be cooked closer to medium. I think the burger suffered in the creativity portion of the rating system because people were expecting a more gastropub style burger. This is a tough category for more simplistic burgers because simplicity can often be mistaken as boring. That’s just my own take on it, you all know I’m a simple burger kind of gal. I was surprised to see low ratings for value/affordability. I believe the burger is priced  at $9.50, which I find reasonable for a burger and fries but if folks found this burger to too simple and basic then they might also feel this is a couple of dollars too much.

Do you see what is on the plate in the picture above? WHOOOPPPPIIIIIEEEE PIES! Not just any whoopie pie but Baker E whoopie pies. She was kind enough to send over my favorite dessert to celebrate my birthday. Everyone in Burger Club enjoyed them. Before I forget, it must be noted that that staff at JB’s are the best!  Seriously, our servers were super great. Also a big thanks to the kitchen staff at JB’s. To get out 17 burgers as quickly as they did and in the tiny space they are dealing with, they are heroes to me.

It’s funny how as I write these that I am reminded of how awesome Burger Club is. I’m not patting myself on the back, it really isn’t me. It’s the members of Burger Club who make it so great. So give yourselves a round of applause, you rock! Remember anyone can join Burger Club, just follow along with this blog or join our Facebook group and come to a meating!  It’s that easy.  While you are Facebookin’ it up, please stop by the FWTS Facebook page and give a it a like. Yes I totally need social networking sites to validate me.

Results by burger:

“Solid burger. A bit on the small  side though.” A-

“Juicy! Couldn’t taste the cheese. Good pickles, fries & aioli!” A-

BURGER NOVICE: “Delicious! Ordered med-rare, done exactly perfectly. Very juicy and tasty. Enjoyed salty fries.” B+

“Well seasoned patty – a little past medium rare. A tad messy. Good bun.” B+

“A very nice burger. I expected a pub burger – not that at all.” B

“Tasted amazing. Kinda hard to handle. Fries were a treat.” A

“Decent burger, but nothing too exciting.” A-

“Sooo tasty! Love the red plastic basket. Fries so peppery, so good. Love the potato bun. Only complaint: patty was just a tad overcooked. Otherwise perfect!” B+

“Tasty, workmen-like, but not all that filling for a hungry manly man.” B

“Tasty and enjoyable. Improvements could be made in size, price and accoutrements.” B

The taste was great, esp. loved the aioli that was provided with the burger. Cooked to order (med. rare) which was a plus.” B+

“Simple, good pub food. I’d def order it again.” B

“It’s a standard neighborhood good burger that hits the spot. And they were generous with the bacon add on. The fries are really good too. But the medium-rare came out more toward medium-well and the servers were on top of clearing stuff away and nice.” B

“A solid burger. Medium-rare came out more medium and bun was dry but burger was very juicy, cheese worked well and the bacon made an excellent addition.” B

“Aoili – yum! Sauteed red onions and dressing were nice. Not too thick.” B+

“The bun is a definite improvement. Squishy and soft to allow the bacon’s chewy toothiness to shine through. I asked for it medium rare and it came charred but juicy. Not what I asked for but exactly what I wanted.” A-

“Enjoyed the bun they used to use on this burger but was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Martin’s potato bun as well. Burger came out cooked as ordered and super juicy. Also well seasoned. Loved the malt vinegar aioli, what a nice new addition to the always wonderful fries.” A

New BCP scoring system:

Fried fish sandwich

Breaded and fried catfish topped with guacamole, a spicy harissa mayo, cilantro and pickled carrots on a sesame seed roll. Nice substantial sandwich that doesn’t feel heavy. Perfect for the summer. There is an enjoyable level of spiciness to the sandwich which is then cooled down with the pickled carrots and avocado. Also the bun might look familiar because it can be found on JB’s burger and it is one of my favorite sandwich buns.

Bologna sandwich

Bologna and Lebanon bologna are grilled and served with melted Swiss cheese, red onion, lettuce and tomato. This was actually ordered by a friend but I ended up eating a very significant portion of it. I really enjoyed this sandwich. I never had Lebanon bologna before but I am a fan now. It’s the bologna that looks a bit like salami. It’s a little heartier for a summer sandwich but won’t weight you down . I also enjoyed the bun on this sandwich, more substantial than the seeded bun and less squishy but didn’t overwhelm it.

Both sandwiches come served with JB’s fries, which are wonderful. Not go out there and eat a sandwich!

1. Find a dimly lit bar with a big window to watch the snow. Bonus points for having a sweet jukebox.

The Royal Tavern has both of the above. Dimly lit but has a big window so you get a feel for the snow without actually feeling the snow. I still hate being out in the snow, but I definitely like it better when I’m sitting in a bar.

2. The bar must offer some kind of warm drink involving whiskey or rum.This is also a warming mechanism. I have found that having a small amount of whiskey flowing through my veins this winter has made me a warmer person. Oh and drunker. Funny how that works.

In this instance The Royal offers a hot cider with rum. Oh and a cinnamon stick which some of my friends may or may not have taken home with them to reuse. Weirdos.

3. Indulge in some kind of comfort food. Preferably a childhood classic and a large serving of french fries. Winter = carb overload. Don’t worry, you will walk it off when you realize that Septa has shut down and you must walk most of the way home.

Vegan Sloppy Joe at The Royal. Look I can eat vegan, I swear! It was good but not great. I think I like my Sloppy Joe a little more on the sweet side. This was more on the spicy side. I still ate the whole thing. CARBS! Their fries are excellent.

4. On the second day of daytime drinking, keep it close to home. You will be exhausted from your previous snow day. Drinking indoors can be exhausting work.

Many of my wonderful South Philly and West Philly compatriots met me at my favorite bar in the city, Johnny Brenda’s. Yes it’s my favorite. You can quote me on that.

They were offering an emergency brunch. I really appreciated this because I was craving something breakfasty.

5. Move to the more brunchy cocktails. You need to slowly sip on these so take it easy. You will be marathon brunching. So have a few cups of coffee and enjoy a mimosa or Bloody Mary. Also hydrate with some water. Basically you will have like 20 beverages in front of you. This is ok.

6. Eat only dishes containing pork and potatoes. Protein for energy and carbs to absorb the booze. Right? Ok, it’s just a good combo. Also alliteration.

Do you see how much pork they have on this menu? Love. You can also get 3 different kinds of potatoes. FRENCH FRIED POTATOES, SMASHED POTATOES, AND GRATIN POTATOES.

One friend followed my strict rules and ordered the Cubano. This is a must try at JB’s. Hot pressed sandwich with pork and cheese. Fries = potatoes, in case you forgot.

Unfortunately, not all of my friends could heed my advice. Vegetarian friend got the french toast. Very good and if you prefer a sweet breakfast this will do it for you.

This is the perfect kind of breakfast for me, ham and cheesy grits. I have mentioned my love for JB’s grits. And again I will beg them to BRING BACK YOUR SHRIMP AND GRITS. COME ON!

Crispy ham, creamy grits and yolky egg.

7. Make sure you do all of the above with awesome friends who will travel miles in the snow for you and brunch for 3 hours.

This is what you get when you play around with my camera while I have stepped away. Ok clearly this logic is false because none of them were holding the camera but still they were accomplices.  Seriously though, thanks dudes for making my snow days so epic.

Sketch – http://www.sketchburgers.com/

Just one of the many drawings decorating Sketch. MUMMY BURGER NOM!

RESULTS BY BURGER

Bison burger with wasabi dressing, mushrooms and blue cheese, cheese fries and milkshake: “con: not necessarily needing of sauce, possibly too juicy/messy. pro: excellent taste, well prepared. service was excellent, patient and friendly.” GRADE: A

Smashed onion burger, medium, vegan BBQ sauce, shrooms, cheddar cheese: “Almost as good as moms! Onions were delicious, BBQ sauce was yum. Fries and shake both great. Very friendly and helpful staff. Only complaint is that burger is physically un-eatable without knife and fork.” GRADE: A-

Vegan burger with harissa aioli, grilled onion and cheddar cheese / cookies and cream vegan shake / fries: “Pro: big, rreasonably priced, uber friendly staff and owner, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, great caramelized grilled onions. Cons: messy, veggie patty squishy so contributed to messiness. Bun was large and chewy, but needed that to contain (or try to) the burger. Fries were great potatoey homemade, perfectly seasoned. Vegan shake great!” GRADE: B

Vegan burger with harissa aioli, cheddar and grilled onions, cookies and cream vegan shake: “Mushy burger with slightly odd flavor (I’m just not a fan of the mushy veg. patty). Bun good but that’s all that was left at the end. Toppings: good as well esp. the grilled onions. Messy to eat which is a bit of a negative. Dug the fries and shake.” GRADE: B-

Smashed onion burger w/ avocado, vanilla vegan shake and chili cheese fries: “A little on the expensive side. Very good bun, fresh lettuce and tomato. Too many onions on the smashed onion burger (thought they would be mixed into the meat). Good fries! Great  shake! ” GRADE: B

Kobe burger with horseradish cheddar and avocado, medium rare: “Decent enough burger but too dense and tough. Bun was fine. Toppings were fresh, but I was peeved at paying a buck for raw onions on my $10 burger. Green chili cheese fries and milkshake were pretty bad value wise but I might come just for an order of those fries.” GRADE: B-

Kobe burger: “Basically awesome.” GRADE: A+

Kobe burger: “Awesome burger but was a little too messy.” GRADE: A-

Sirloin burger with aioli, American cheese, fries with wasabi: “Great bun, decent patty, a tad messy, good veggies. Great prices, decent quality. Great service, very friendly, byo a plus! Cheap prices; messy burger; patty could use a little more seasoning.” GRADE: B

Beef with bacon and onion: “One of the juiciest burgers in Philly. Very messy!!” GRADE: B+

Beef with cheddar, wasabi and fried onions: “Great atmosphere. Huge and juicy and delicious. Amazing but way way too messy. Fell apart!” GRADE: B

Special, bacon egg and cheddar burger, medium: “Too big! Cheese kinda tasteless but bun is good.” GRADE: B-

Burger, green chili french fries: “Green chili ff were so tasty! Def. cool for such awesome taste/size. Rolls were superb! So fluffy and equaled greatness when sinking teeth into! Service and staff so friendly and welcoming! Quality of meat = top notch. Chipotle sauce was perfectly hot but no too much. Tad too greasy for [my] tastes!” GRADE: A-

Sirloin burger w/ cheddar, med rare: “Burger juice down my arm – in a good way! Happiest/friendliest staff EVER! Even though I didn’t feel like the bun absorbed any juice, it was still yummy. Unlimited pickles! Yay! Kind of pricey, $92 5 for cheeseburger + soda – no fries, but still worth it on occasion.” GRADE: A-

Smashed onion burger with pepper jack, aioli something: “Nice drink selection. Messy and juicy good… @ first – too messy to finish without knife and fork.” GRADE: B-

Smashed onion burger, medium with avocado BBQ sauce, side fries, creme soda: “Kinda pricey but all sides are $1.00. Service was a bit overwhelmed, had to wait a while. Point for pretty hand cut fries. Unique space. Burger was well cooked but too large, weird shape, real lettuce yeah! Difficult to eat, fell apart greatly. Fresh toppings.” GRADE: B-

Vegan burger, cheese fries with BBQ: “The food was awes! and for how crowded it was the service was quick. But, I melted.” GRADE: A-

Smashed onion beef burger; cheese fries: ” One of the best in Philly. Taste, overall was amazing. Onions made the burger. Avocado and other toppings made it a little too sloppy. Enjoyed the classic presentation in the paper dish.”GRADE: B+

Burger, medium rare with American cheese, lettuce and tomato: “Pros: aioli sauce, fixins, burger well cooked. Cons: a little too juicy (didn’t think that was possible!) bun was tasty but a little weak. Overall: would’ve been A or A+ if it had been easier to eat.” GRADE: A-

BURGER NOVICE Vegan burger with horseradish cheddar, spicy mustard and grilled onions: “The vegan patty was great! Tasted good but very difficult to lift, had to eat with a fork. Grilled onions delicious. Bun a little stale. Spicy mustard Awesome. Also, the wait staff was wonderful. Loved the quirky atmosphere and the fries! GRADE: B+

Sirloin with cheddar and aioli: “Great light soft bun, good firm lettuce, the aioli was perfect. The meat patty the juiciest we’ve had, flavorful nice balance of loose and firm patty, cheddar REALLY melted. Great burger.” GRADE: A+

Special, bacon egg and cheese (American) burger, medium rare with tomato, fries with chipotle sauce: “Egg was cooked perfectly so it oozed with yolk all over the burger. Mmm. Perfectly cooked and super juicy. Bun held the burger together as well as it could because of how juicy and yolky it was. Hand cut potatoes had great potato flavor.” GRADE: B+

TRENDS:

Top Hits:

1. Fries
2. Service/staff
3. Tie: Shake/Grilled onions
4. Juicy burger
5. Bun

Top Gripes:

1. Messy
2. Price

Patties in order of popularity:

1. Sirloin
2. Tie: Vegan/Smashed onion
3. Kobe
4. Bison

IN SUMMARY:

This edition of BCP brought us to Fishtown for some burgers. Sketch, known to have plenty of options for both vegheads and meatheads, brought the two divisive groups together for the VERY FIRST TIME. Ok so I’m exaggerating but I was really happy to see that several BCP members took advantage of the vegan burger. Sketch has a lot of options so that you can make your dream burger a reality. They have 6 burger options, 11 toppings, and 5 sauces. That’s a lot of different combination’s available to you dear eater.

They also had some special burgers listed for the night. No one tried the truffle burger that night but at least two BCPers, including me, tried the bacon fried egg and cheese burger. The fried egg on a burger is a new thing for me and I must admit that if I am stuck in a city of big burgers, I’m gonna get that it topped with a fried egg. Wowwee. I really enjoyed my burger. Yes it was big and yes it was messy but that patty had some serious flavor and so juicy.

So how did the other members of Burger Club fair? It seemed that they enjoyed their burger but found it very large and messy. In some cases the messiness of the burger lowered the grade of the burger. I think that with all the different topping options people go a little bazonkers and thus they get a big slippery burger. It is also a really juicy burger. The bun is substantial to hold it together pretty well but towards the end you’re gonna have some problems. The folks that ordered the smashed onion burger were a bit surprised that the onions were not mixed into the patty. Instead the burger was topped with delicious grilled onions. Tasty but major bun slippage made this a knife and fork burger.

Again some BCPers thought it was a little overpriced. In this economy, I can understand their concern but I think you get your money’s worth. The burgers are huge.

You will also want to get fries with that shake. The fries are excellent and I will definitely be coming back for the green chili cheese fries. They offer vegan shakes. See everyone is happy.

I want to thank Phyllis and the staff at Sketch for being so friendly and accommodating. We took over the whole place and made a party of it. That’s Burger Club baby!

I thought I would send you into your weekend thinking about brunch at Johnny Brenda’s. I have already mentioned my love of their grits and I am glad to know that even with some changes in the kitchen they are even better than before. I have also found a new love at JB’s brunch, whiskey doughnut deliciousness.  $2 gets you this plateful of doughy goodness.

Another great deal is that for $8 you get a very generous sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. It comes with potatoes but I got grits instead. The sandwich was good but not my favorite. I think I’m spoiled by Honey’s sausage, egg and cheese on a biscuit. The eggs were fluffy and cooked just right. The sausage had a great maple flavor which makes for my favorite kind of breakfast sausage. I found the roll a little too big and maybe filled a bit too generously with eggs. All in all it was a very satisfying brunch dish. I could have probably eaten a whole other serving of grits though. They are so creamy!

I am really hoping that someone from JB’s reads this because they must bring back the shrimp and grits dish I blogged about previously. My friend, who is a regular of JB’s brunch, was very clever and ordered grits and their bbq shrimp app. What came out was shrimp and grits so they should just put it on the menu already! Did I mention I love their grits? Grits, grits, grits!