The Straight Beef Blog

Review #8: Tribeca Tavern (Cary)

Review #8: Tribeca Tavern (Cary)

Joint: Tribeca Tavern Burger: Land and Sea (Scott), Southern Lovin’ (John), The Masterpiece (Michael) Burger Category: Look At Me! (Scott and John), Snooty Beauty (Michael) Michael’s Review There was a lot to like about...

Renegade Review: JG Melon (New York, NY)

Renegade Review: JG Melon (New York, NY)

Since 1972, the Upper East Side’s JG Melon (3rd Avenue at 74th Street) has been delighting out-of-town pilgrims and neighborhood faithful alike with what many call the best burger on the isle of Manhattan....

Review #7: Johnson’s (Siler City)

Review #7: Johnson’s (Siler City)

Joint: Johnson’s Burger: Cheeseburger Burger Category: Classic Rocks Scott’s Review This review is a tale of two photographs. The first is of Michael’s daughter Chloe (right), who famously eats nothing but waffles and bacon....

Review #6: Carolina Brewery (Chapel Hill)

Review #6: Carolina Brewery (Chapel Hill)

Joint: Carolina Brewery Burger: SW Scorcher (Michael), Brewery Burger (Scott), Build Your Own (John) Burger Category: Look At Me! (Michael), Classic Rocks (John and Scott) John’s Review One nice thing about writing a TSB Burger...

Renegade Review: Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien (New York, NY)

Renegade Review: Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien (New York, NY)

My expectations were high as I entered the spectacular Le Parker Meridien hotel, one of Manhattan’s largest and most exclusive hotels, two blocks from Central Park, one from Carnegie Hall. But I wasn’t there for...

Ask the Burgiatrist

Ask the Burgiatrist

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fixins It DEAR DR. BLUMENTHAL: Please help resolve a longstanding debate between me and my editor (who is a tool). He (aforementioned tool) believes that the word fixins should...

Renegade Review: Shake Shack (New York, NY)

Renegade Review: Shake Shack (New York, NY)

It was a wind-swept rainy day in New York City. I was hungry, and I had time to kill. My brother-in-law and I decided to check out the world-famous Shake Shack—the original one, near...

Review #5: Salem Street Pub (Apex)

Review #5: Salem Street Pub (Apex)

Joint: Salem Street Pub Burger: My Wife…(Michael), All American (John), and Island (Scott) Burger Category: Classic Rocks (John), Look At Me! (Michael and Scott) Michael’s Review To this point in my career as a...

The Pen and the Prod: USDA Prime Poetry and Prose

The Pen and the Prod: USDA Prime Poetry and Prose

Love at the Gunder Street Pub & Grill By John McManus, licensed burgiatrist He leaned back and pulled open the metal-framed plate-glass door of the Gunder Street Pub & Grill with what felt like...