Portland Maine’s Best Burger
January 24th, 2012Unfortunately, I did not have Portland Maine’s best burger yesterday. Yesterday was one of those awful January thaw days, where everything is gray, damp, and cold, and you end up pouting at your office window watching all the snow disappear. I needed to get out of the house and away from the grayness of the day.
I found myself at The Grill Room – one of the many great Portland restaurants. The Grill Room features local sustainable meats and a killer wedge salad. It is also the only place I know where I can get Anchor Steam on tap. I will always have a soft spot for Anchor as it was the 1st craft beer I ever tasted. Lured by the wafting scent of french fries from the gentleman sitting next to me at the bar, I opted for the $17.00 burger.
Damn, was I disappointed. The beef was nice but it did not wow me. In addition, the burger was served on focaccia, really guys? Can we finally acknowledge that most focaccia is way overrated? And in the hierarchy of breads it is way down on the list, “The Cleveland Browns of bread” would be an apt description. The sins kept coming. My focaccia was generously slathered on both pieces with mayo. Ok, since it was on a $17.00 burger I am sure it should be called aioli. Call it whatever you want, I hate the stuff. Had the restaurant listed mayoli or whatever you want to call it on their menu, I would have asked that it be held.
What is it about mayo that people feel they can add it to sandwiches without disclosure? You order a pizza and nobody puts a layer of mayo under the cheese without telling you. Most diners would be shocked to order a meal and find the chef added an ingredient without telling you. I am sorry sir, we always make our Coq au Vin with Cheetos and orange soda but do need feel the need to disclose it on our menu. The all mighty mayonnaise lobby always get a pass.
My vote for best high end burger in Portland goes to: The .5 Bar at 555, the beef is incredibly flavorful, they make a roll special for it, and it is to die for. Honorary mention has to go the mini burger on the bar menu at Grace and the burger at the The Salt Exchange.