Connecticut: Burger Capital Of The World?

[ultimatebob]

I know that you West coast people like to brag about your In-N-Out and Jack in the Box burgers, but I think that Connecticut actually has the best gourmet burgers in the country. Here's my case:

* We have Louis' Lunch. These guys claim that they invented the hamburger around 1900. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but they do make a damn good burger.

* We have Ted's Steamed Cheeseburgers, which is one of the few places in the country that has consistently made steamed cheeseburgers since the 50's. The burgers themselves aren't nothing special, but those plates of steam melted cheese that they put on them are awesome. You haven't really had good cheese on a cheeseburger until you tried one of those.

Both of these places always have lines going out the door practically all day long, and have been featured on about half a dozen different food specials about cheeseburgers. Therefore, I must know what I'm talking about.

We also have a Bobby's Burger Palace at the Mohegan Sun casino. Bobby Flay makes an awesome burger, and Mohegan Sun location is his only location that sells spiked milkshakes. So, you can get an awesome burger, get buzzed on a Vodka Mocha milkshake, and then hit on women at the club or go gambling. Awesome.

We also have a bunch of Five Guys, if you're looking for something more mainstream.

OK, west coasters, I've thrown down the burger gauntlet. Show me what you got.

 

[zerocool84]

So two places which no one outside of the state has heard of. Not much to it.

 

[ultimatebob]

So two places which no one outside of the state has heard of. Not much to it.

Huh? Don't you get the Food Network? Or the Travel Channel? I think that I've seen all three of those places featured at one point or another.

 

[zinfamous]

I'll buy that. In-N-Out is PREPOSTEROUSLY overrated. yes, it is shit-tons better than McDonald's, Wendy's whatever--but it's the same fucking class.

And isn't Connecticut the birthplace of the hamburger? AH yes, Loui's Lunch. mentioned in OP, lol. They use those vertical burner contraptions and sliced white bread.

looks so fucking awesome.

god damn, I'd love to try me a Bobby Flay burger.

 

[zinfamous]

So two places which no one outside of the state has heard of. Not much to it.

sorry, In N Out sucks, bro.
:\

 

[schneiderguy]

I'll buy that. In-N-Out is PREPOSTEROUSLY overrated. yes, it is shit-tons better than McDonald's, Wendy's whatever--but it's the same fucking class.

 

[zerocool84]

sorry, In N Out sucks, bro.
:\

I didn't even mention In-N-Out.

 

[ultimatebob]

To be honest, I never had an In-N-Out burger. I had a Jack In The Box burger and a Carl's Jr. burger while I was in California, though, and I don't think that either of those are as good as Five Guys.

These other places that I'm talking about are on a whole other level, though.

 

[zerocool84]

To be honest, I never had an In-N-Out burger. I had a Jack In The Box burger and a Carl's Jr. burger while I was in California, though, and I don't think that either of those are as good as Five Guys.

These other places that I'm talking about are on a whole other level, though.

Well those two are national or semi-national fast food places so really not comparable.

 

[zinfamous]

Well those two are national or semi-national fast food places so really not comparable.

it's completely comparable. they are all fast food. it is the exact same class of food.


and OP: Carl's Jr burger = Hardee's burger. If you grew up on the east coast, you've probably had their food. When Carl's Jr bought Hardee's, they pretty much replaced whatever shit menu they previously had with Hardee's semi-decent menu.

 

[zerocool84]

it's completely comparable. they are all fast food. it is the exact same class of food.


and OP: Carl's Jr burger = Hardee's burger. If you grew up on the east coast, you've probably had their food. When Carl's Jr bought Hardee's, they pretty much replaced whatever shit menu they previously had with Hardee's semi-decent menu.

They're not comparable. Do you compare a local burger joint to McDonald's??? No because they're practically entirely different.

 

[zinfamous]

They're not comparable. Do you compare a local burger joint to McDonald's??? No because they're practically entirely different.

since when is In-N-Out a "local burger joint?"

you realize that it is a semi-national chain, don't you?

Oh, are you talking about him comparing In-N-Out, Five Guys, and JitB to Loui's Lunch and other small Connecticut places?

 

[LegendKiller]

Never heard of the 1st two (live in Stamford). Fuck Mohegan Sun and their ridiculous prices for rooms.

 

[zerocool84]

since when is In-N-Out a "local burger joint?"

you realize that it is a semi-national chain, don't you?

Oh, are you talking about him comparing In-N-Out, Five Guys, and JitB to Loui's Lunch and other small Connecticut places?

You said fast food is fast food so that could mean any place local joint that makes burgers is comparable. Plus In-N-Out is VERY different than Jack in the Box and Hardee's/Carl's.

 

[ultimatebob]

Never heard of the 1st two (live in Stamford). Fuck Mohegan Sun and their ridiculous prices for rooms.

Bah... Stamford is practically a suburb of NYC. What do you guys know about good burgers

Actually, Ted's is in Meriden and Louis's Lunch is in New Haven. Neither of those is a long drive for you.

 

[LegendKiller]

Bah... Stamford is practically a suburb of NYC. What do you guys know about good burgers

Actually, Ted's is in Meriden and Louis's Lunch is in New Haven. Neither of those is a long drive for you.

NH is the ghetto (like Stamford but we're in the nice part).

Best burger? Shake Shack, Madison Square Park. I go there all of the time in the summer (and it shows...).

They are so fucking awesome they sell Opus One, eat it bitches!

 

[Brigandier]

You said fast food is fast food so that could mean any place local joint that makes burgers is comparable.

True that, my favorite fast food burger is still Kroll's West in Green Bay.

All there food makes Wisconsin look like Wisconsin, but it's good, like Wisconsin.

 

[zinfamous]

You said fast food is fast food so that could mean any place local joint that makes burgers is comparable.

I'm not sure what comparison you were making, though. McDonald's/In N Out is absolutely fast food.

Local, Independent burger joint is not fast food. They may prepare their food quickly, but it is an entirely different business model from what allows major national chains to franchise all over the place. Fast Food is qualified based on that McDonald's style business model.

"Fast food is fast food" does not mean that any place that makes burgers is fast food

 

[zerocool84]

I'm not sure what comparison you were making, though. McDonald's/In N Out is absolutely fast food.

Local, Independent burger joint is not fast food. They may prepare their food quickly, but it is an entirely different business model from what allows major national chains to franchise all over the place. Fast Food is qualified based on that McDonald's style business model.

"Fast food is fast food" does not mean that any place that makes burgers is fast food

If fast food is qualified on McDonald's business model then In-N-Out isn't fast food. They have a very small menu and serve only fresh ingredients which is why they don't expand everywhere.

 

[zinfamous]

If fast food is qualified on McDonald's business model then In-N-Out isn't fast food. They have a very small menu and serve only fresh ingredients which is why they don't expand everywhere.

OK, well you may have a point. I'm not sure of what the particular differences are, but they sure do present themselves as fast food, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I wouldn't put them as that much better than that class of burgers. They are better, but the difference seems so slight to me.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I used to have louis lunch after the bar 2-3 times a week when I was younger and wilder. They were in my speed dial too when I lived around the corner for a while. Always key to call ahead and its ready when you get there so you don't have to wait on the tourist n00bs. The potato salad is amazing as well.


CT also has quite the pizza reputation as well specifically new haven/ wooster st.


and yes now I want a louis burger

 

[zerocool84]

OK, well you may have a point. I'm not sure of what the particular differences are, but they sure do present themselves as fast food, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I wouldn't put them as that much better than that class of burgers. They are better, but the difference seems so slight to me.

You're a Cali person and you don't like In-N-Out??? That's like being mad at The Governator for cheating on his wife.

 

[nanette1985]

There's a Bobby Flay's down the road from me in Paramus, good burgers but expensive.

I've had many boring burgers in Connecticut. Too bad I don't know about the few good places .

 

[Brigandier]

If fast food is qualified on McDonald's business model then In-N-Out isn't fast food. They have a very small menu and serve only fresh ingredients which is why they don't expand everywhere.

Their model can be fast food and still use fresh ingredients, that's probably why they haven't expanded as much. Their supply channels for "fresh ingredients" can't go every where a McD's can, the model can still be the same. That model would be consistent ingredients, service and menu, no matter what restaurant you step into.

I guess the term would be franchise restaurant, as opposed to local businesses.

 

[ultimatebob]

NH is the ghetto (like Stamford but we're in the nice part).

Best burger? Shake Shack, Madison Square Park. I go there all of the time in the summer (and it shows...).

They are so fucking awesome they sell Opus One, eat it bitches!

Louis' Lunch is next to the Yale campus, so it's not in a ghetto part of town. They also have damn good pizza there as well. Pepe's, Sally's, Modern... it's all good.