Adsum - South Philly

Burger Site:

Adsum Restaurant 

700 South 5th Street at Bainbridge

Philadelphia, PA 19147

www.adsumrestaurant.com

Visit:

Friday, March 11th, 7:00 -9:00 PM

Atmosphere & Crowd:

Attractive decor with a nice expansion from old fashioned to modern.  Between music and somewhat cultivated diners, the noise level was a bit loud, but our seat by the window gave us an interesting South Philly view.

Burger:

We ordered the Adsum Burger from the main menu with farmhouse cheddar and pancetta-onion fondue which was juicy and cooked to our preference, but in this burger, there was so much meat that those additional flavors (cheddar and onion pancetta) that can make a burger complete, were completely lost. 3.5 Buns  
Burger Side Note:  For fun, we tried the TastyKake Sliders, a brisket burger with cheese and chipolte jelly between 2 Peanut Butter KandyKakes, and were amused and impressed - lots of flavors in your mouth at once.  Probably not something one would order regularly, but definitely worth a try.

Fries:

Perfectly double-fried duck-fat fries.  5 Buns

Service:

The hostess and servers were very knowledgeable, professional and upbeat. Parking is difficult in this area, but worth the walk from the spot you find! Reservations a must. 
5 Buns

Beer List:  
No drafts available.  Nicely varied bottled and canned options, however, beer in cans at a gastro-pub is probably worth rethinking.

McCrossen's Tavern, Fairmount

Buger Site:

McCrossen's Tavern

529 N. 20th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19130

http://www.mccrossens.com/

Visit:

Friday, March 4, 2011 between 6:30-8:30 PM

Atmosphere & Crowd:  Warm, quiet, and cozy - an established, non-yuppy, Fairmount crowd.

Burger: We ordered the McCrossen's ½ lb. Burger made with local organic beef,on a warm ciabatta with lots of topping options.  One burger with cheddar & bacon, the other with Gorgonzola and Guinness caramelized onions - delicious a

Very reasonably priced as well. 4 BUNS

Fries: The hand-cut fries were quite crispy, and dipped in the garlic aioli made them hard to stop eating! 5 BUNS

Service: Our server was attentive but not intrusive, and our burgers were on the table in a very short time . 4 BUNS

Beer List: Short but diverse and eclectic.

Devil's Den, South Philly

Buger Site:

Devil's Den

1148 S 11th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19147

http://www.devilsdenphilly.com

Visit:

Friday, February 25, 2011 between 6-8 PM (Happy Hour)

Atmosphere & Crowd:  Energetic, friendly, not unreasonably loud. We wish it had been cold enough to see the fireplace going. Reservations are a smart idea if dining on a weekend.

Burger: We ordered the Grilled Burger Trio (Caramelized onions & roasted tomatoes; Blue cheese Béchamel; Tomato Salpicone, queso fresco) which were loaded with flavor, juicy without being fatty.  The burger buns were soft and simple, not taking away from the flavors of the burgers .  Reasonably priced as well. 5 BUNS

Fries: The hand-cut "Duck Fries"  were less crispy that we prefer, but good.  Be sure to skip the ketchup and try the smoky Chipotle Aioli served with the fries-very tasty! 4 BUNS

Service: Our on-line reservation had been lost, but the hostess honored it and sat us within 5 minutes of the reservation.  The server was pleasant and checked-in regularly.  Our meal was delivered in a very timely manner. 5 BUNS

Beer List: Esoteric and Extraordinarily Extensive with variety and depth  - the wine list was as well.

Magerks Pub & Grill, Fort Washington, PA

BURGER SITE:
Magerks Pub & Grill

582 South Bethlehem Pike

Fort Washington, PA 19034

www.magerks.com/fort-washington/

VISIT: February 11, 2011, 6-8PM

ATMOSPHERE & CROWD: Filled with families and friends, the atmosphere was typically suburban.  The setting is a little hum-drum and orthopedic, for our tastes.  The wonderful historic photos in one dining area were lost on the walls.  The music was just too darn loud making it a yelling match between diners.  Are they trying to make this pub into a club?

BURGER: We ordered the Black & Blue Burger, blackened Angus beef topped with crumbled blue cheese, from the main menu which was surprisingly tasty, but uninspired.  3 BUNS

FRIES:  Boring. 1 BUN

SERVICE: Efficient and pleasant. 3 BUNS

BEER LIST: Conventional

The Dandelion Gastro Pub, Rittenhouse Area

BURGER SITE:

The Dandelion

18th & Samson

Philadelphia, PA 19106

www.thedandelionpub.com

VISIT: Friday Evening, 6-8 PM

BURGER: This British-style pub offered a terrific burger!  The House Blend Burger, from the main menu, was perfectly cooked and topped with cheddar and sweet pepper relish, served on a whole wheat brioche bun.  A must try for burger lovers.  5 BUNS

SERVICE:   Friendly, professional staff.  Very attentive with excellent follow-through. 5 BUNS

MORE THOUGHTS: We loved the decor and feel of the restaurant.  The parking garage just down the block was also efficient and quick on a busy Friday Night!