50/50

The ambient at Cypress Street Pint & Plate is pretty cool. The bar has a young crowd maybe because Georgia Tech is close by. I have to admit I was very hungry when I went to Cypress to try the donut burger; believe me or not, I ordered the burger with regular chips, but I added a side of sweet potatoes fries. When the food arrived, the presentation of the burger was great, and it made it look very provocative. 

Photo by Mateo Restrepo. $$

When I bite the burger, its taste was great, and the combination of flavors melted in my mouth. I do not know if it is the combination between sweet and salty. At first, I thought it could be the grilled onions, but I realized it was the dough from the donut. The best thing about this burger is the unique taste of the combination between the bacon, cheese, onions, and of course the donut dough. My problem came when I had the first fry. Believe me, it was awful, they were soft, and cold, but I decided to give the second chance by trying my extra order of sweet potatoes fries. Those were fan•tas•tic, but now the taste between the donut burger and the sweet fries was a little too sugary for me. 

To be honest the burger is completely worth it, but the fries are discouraging, which creates mixed feelings. It's like being 5 years old and spending the weekend with your amazing dad and having to deal with you evil step mother! So I have decided to give three and half gold burgers to Cypress Street Pint & Plate.

It's what? Heaven!

This week, I want to try a place I have heard is great and the burgers are different. When I think of things that make burgers different, I wonder about what that could be? Maybe a square bun? A different sauce?  I have to admit that this burger is even more surprising than what I was expecting. This burger has a bun that is made out of donut dough. After hearing that I immediately wonder what else can I eat that day besides some low calorie popsicles? Just think for a second, a donut, filled with bacon, cheese, a meat paddy, plus a portion of fries, and of course a beer, because this week I’m going to eat at a bar called Cypress Street Pint & Plate.  Cypress Street Pint & Plate is a family-owned bar that opened in 2007 in midtown Atlanta.  The owners of Cypress Street use local vendors and give back to the Atlanta community by supporting local charitable organizations. http://cypressbar.com

Web. Cypress Street Pint & Plate.

I am excited about trying this place; however, I am curious about how sweet this burger is going to be?  If I’m eating a donut will the sweetness ruin the flavor of the bacon and cheese?  But, lets judge it after trying it.

To be continued…

Review H&F

As promised, I went to Holeman and Finch at Ponce city market. I have to say that it is a pretty cool concept market. Although there are common tables for all the restaurant, sitting inside Holeman and Finch is limited. Holeman and Finch make their burgers from scratch, even their bun! The meat is 50/50 blended with grass-fed chuck and brisket. Then, they add Kraft American cheese, red onions and pickles. It melts in you mouth. The fries are hand cut and they have the skin on; they were crispy and soft inside. The hamburger with the fries create a perfect combination for your palate.

Photo taken by Mateo Restrepo.

If there is anything I would change it’s the size of the burger. I think it can be a little bigger, but it’s still very good. Servers were good, like everywhere else some were very helpful and the others were ok. However, these negatives are to little to take away the deliciousness of the burger and fries. All in all, It is to early to agree with the Atlanta magazine that it is only the fifth best burger in town, but it is defiantly in my top five. I give Holeman and Finch four and a half gold burgers.

Next destination H&F

When it comes to food, people have different standards to grade its quality, but when it comes to hamburgers it’s pretty obvious if people like them. Even though some people like their burger with lettuce, tomato, mushroom, and even an egg, I enjoy the traditional cheese burger with great fries. Historians can argue about whether fries came from France or Belgium, but what no American will question about fries is that they are the life partner to the American hamburger. Atlanta has great restaurants, some are young and offer new concepts to our city, but some restaurants have been around for decades. Therefore, it is hard to name the best burger and fries in our city; however, I intend to explore the most famous as well as the best undercover restaurants, to find the best burgers and fries in town.

 Photo taken by Mateo Restrepo.

As a Hamburger lover, I will rank the burgers in the city by giving them “Gold Burgers” from 0 to 5. This week, I choose Holeman and Finch.

Holeman and Finch opened for business in 2008, and over the last couple of years their hamburgers have become famous as they only serve 20 burgers per night. Just think about it for a second, the idea of being part of a select group of 20 people makes me feel unique and that I am a winner. On Sundays you can also enjoy their burgers for brunch between 11 am to 3pm.

Whether it is their strategy or not, Holeman and Finch’s burger has become an icon in Atlanta. People talk about them, and I always heard they were fantastic. Last October Ponce City Market opened its doors; since then, every restaurant that opens its doors there has been successful. Holeman and Finch opened a burger/only location here, and on the weekends you have to wait in the line for almost 30 minutes to be served.

Atlanta magazine in 2015 named Holeman and Finch as the fifth best destination for a Hamburger in the city. Stay tuned this week to read about my experience, and if I agree with Atlanta magazine.