JohnH wrote:Additionally, I cannot believe that the legendary Chef Jean Joho would put his name on it by saying "emburger" according to the press release.

When the boss says "Say emburger", you say "How high?"

The Press Release wrote:If Midwestern beef burgers are what you crave, try them atop an oven fresh bun and with crisp lettuce, onions, sharp American cheese and savory bacon

Sharp American Cheese? I'd say that sounds like a major breakthrough, except for the fact that processed, emulsified, detexturized post-milk mass wouldn't meet my definition (not even to get into the legal definition) of cheese even if it were sharp. I hope this means "a sharp cheese, produced in America," but fear otherwise.

I thought that was the secret password! Got a great promotion....you cannot enter unless you know the secret word shhhh..say "emburger"!

Their picture of the M burger looks cold, with the unmelted slice of cheese in the middle. Very unappetizing. Never seen an In-N-Out with unmelted cheese.
This looks much better;
http://tulsafoodblog.com/talk/wp-conten ... t_dd_a.jpg

Mikey wrote:Their picture of the M burger looks cold, with the unmelted slice of cheese in the middle. Very unappetizing. Never seen an In-N-Out with unmelted cheese.
This looks much better;
http://tulsafoodblog.com/talk/wp-conten ... t_dd_a.jpg

The real life version was just like that too. The "cheese" was completely unmelted. And the bun had been toasted, but quite some time ago. It had the look of a toasted bun, but was cold and completely limp.

So much hatred. I've had it a couple times and think it's good for what it is. I wasn't expecting WASC or Edzo's or DMK so maybe that's why. I musta set my expectations low. Or maybe it's the close proximity to my office and it being a new place to eat in an area that doesn't leave much to be desired food wise. That being said, I can usually find a little something I like about whatever I eat unless it is completely horrid. I don't think 'emburger' is completely horrid.

Is it a destination burger? Absolutely not. I would never go out of my way for it. Hell, when my office moves I'm sure we won't think of it again. But if I'm walking around there again I would stop in and grab a burger for a few bucks. To each there own.

I don't think hatred is a good word...as its not like we are picketing out there and spraying ketchup on their windows or anything like that, yet?
It was a discussion on how we liked or disliked a burger joint. Does it satisfy a need in the area sure but I think with the expectations of LEYE some of us expected a little more from them (or at least I did). If it was a choice between TGI fridays or Mcdonalds in the area, I would definately go back to the Mburger for a quick sandwich but a mediocre burger coming from LEYE is a suprise. At least throw a little Wildfire on it.

And I am sure if Chef Joho put the burger together....I would be first in line!

thepld wrote:So much hatred. I've had it a couple times and think it's good for what it is. I wasn't expecting WASC or Edzo's or DMK so maybe that's why. I musta set my expectations low. Or maybe it's the close proximity to my office and it being a new place to eat in an area that doesn't leave much to be desired food wise. That being said, I can usually find a little something I like about whatever I eat unless it is completely horrid. I don't think 'emburger' is completely horrid.

Is it a destination burger? Absolutely not. I would never go out of my way for it. Hell, when my office moves I'm sure we won't think of it again. But if I'm walking around there again I would stop in and grab a burger for a few bucks. To each there own.

Far from "hatred." But this is about the lukewarmest "positive" review I've ever read (not "completely horrid"!), and pretty much replicates the impression most others have been giving.

Sorry...Shoulda said, so much hatred

Personally, I think everyone was ripping it more than I did in my 'lukewarm' review. I said it was 'not completely horrid' cause that's the impression I got from the other reviewers, that they though it was horrid. It happens alot, things get lost in translation via this medium.

I liked it. They screwed my order up (was opening day) but I haven't yet gone to get the missing burger.

Double M was the way to go.
http://www.chicagofoodies.com/2010/03/m ... right.html

A friend of mine works down the street, mentioned it to me today and told me she loved it. I told her I'd check on here and see what people are saying. Not sure whether I'd rush downtown to try it, but if I worked there....

Surprisingly for LTH, 2 whole pages of posts and not a single photo. Here's what all the buzz is about:

Hamburger:


Just looking at this thing gives me a little chuckle. At least there's that.

thanks for the pic, kenny.

on a side note, what kind of vicious animal bit into that thing? is the burger tiny or does whoever bit that thing have the biggest mouth ever?

I have never understood what would posses someone to opt for shredded lettuce on a burger. bleh.

That pic is MacDonalds-esque.

elakin wrote:on a side note, what kind of vicious animal bit into that thing? is the burger tiny or does whoever bit that thing have the biggest mouth ever?

Well, I was hungry

The burgers are maybe a little smaller than a Mickey D's regular hamburger. Why people think this is a bargain at nearly 3X the McD price, I have no idea. I would like to note that that picture is of a burger that I did not doctor in any way. It's the single hamburger as served at M burger. No, I did not add that ridiculous quantity of ketchup. No, the shredded lettuce was not my idea. And no, I did not decide to create my own version of a factory-formed, tiny-little flavorless patty. The M Burger is nothing more than a ketchup delivery vehicle. It has no other purpose I can think of. I do like ketchup, but there are better ways.

I don't get the appeal of the place at all, but here are some more charitable pics. If they're going for In 'N Out-esque, they've got a ways to go. They're far from terrible, especially for the price, but the lines are inexplicable.

that pic looks slightly better.

I have to ask--why chopped onions on a burger rather than rings? why shredded lettuce rather than leaves?

I simply cannot understand informed culinary people making those choices. Is there an upside to those choices that I'm not grasping? Anyone?

elakin wrote:I simply cannot understand informed culinary people making those choices. Is there an upside to those choices that I'm not grasping? Anyone?

In all seriousness, it seems to me that M Burger is just trying to recreate McDonalds hamburgers using what they think are better ingredients. As for why - well, I guess because it sells.

After seeing those pics, I'm shocked by the ordinary quality of those burgers! That's what people are standing in line for?

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:

That cheese appears to be defying gravity. Perhaps they should revamp their marketing strategy.

The MBurger is what happen's when you create a burger by committee, and include the accountant's.
Their marketing has been the only bright spot, they certainly are getting people in the door.

elakin wrote:that pic looks slightly better. not by much, though.

I have to ask--why chopped onions on a burger rather than rings? why shredded lettuce rather than leaves?

I simply cannot understand informed culinary people making those choices. Is there an upside to those choices that I'm not grasping? Anyone?

My theory is that it's all about efficiency for Lettuce Entertain You places. Chopped lettuce and onions can easily go in salads and saves on the need to have more storage and extra prep. I've noticed this at Wow Bao -- the vegetables on the Chinese Vegetable Salad are the same size as vegetables in the Kung Pao Chicken and the bao fillings.

The talk of outrageous lines may be a bit overblown...I've been twice (as it's down the street from my office) and both visits took 5-10 minutes (from arriving to ordering to receiving food). Slower than getting something standard at McDonald's, surely, but also much faster than sitting down and ordering at Boston Blackie's. It's in between...and it's fine for what it is. The last time I went to Blackie's my bill (with a burger, soda, tax & tip) was over $18. I think a double-M and shake for less than $9 is a pretty good alternative.

kl1191 wrote:The last time I went to Blackie's my bill (with a burger, soda, tax & tip) was over $18.

Either you tipped close to 100%, you ordered something else, they made a mistake on the bill, or this just isn't true. A Blackie's burger is $7.99. $8.99 with a bunch of toppings.

Kennyz wrote:

kl1191 wrote:The last time I went to Blackie's my bill (with a burger, soda, tax & tip) was over $18.

Either you tipped close to 100%, you ordered something else, they made a mistake on the bill, or this just isn't true. A Blackie's burger is $7.99. $8.99 with a bunch of toppings.

I was a once-a-weeker at Blackie's before that last time and had generally been in the $12 check range. Not sure what changed the last time. I had a cheddar burger with bbq sauce and grilled onions and a goose island root beer. I tip generously, but usually not more than 30%. I recall the burger being over $10 on the receipt...I don't know if I was charged for the wrong item or if they recently increased their prices. Either way, it's out of my regular rotation.

kl1191 wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

kl1191 wrote:The last time I went to Blackie's my bill (with a burger, soda, tax & tip) was over $18.

Either you tipped close to 100%, you ordered something else, they made a mistake on the bill, or this just isn't true. A Blackie's burger is $7.99. $8.99 with a bunch of toppings.

I was a once-a-weeker at Blackie's before that last time and had generally been in the $12 check range. Not sure what changed the last time. I had a cheddar burger with bbq sauce and grilled onions and a goose island root beer. I tip generously, but usually not more than 30%. I recall the burger being over $10 on the receipt...I don't know if I was charged for the wrong item or if they recently increased their prices. Either way, it's out of my regular rotation.

I guess it pays to be a minimalist. When I go to Boston Blackie's, I get a plain old $7.99 burger (still the price as of a couple of weeks ago) with a glass of water, and I find it exponentially more satisfying than anything at M Burger.

Tonight, I tried the Nurse Betty: basically a tomato sandwich (I think it actually was just one tomato). For 2.99. Really?



Boring, no? Here are somewhat more interesting food pix I shot at Artropolis today. A mind-blowing still life:



Six miraculous toasts:



Still...I cannot get the memory of Nurse Betty from my mind.

David Hammond wrote:Tonight, I tried the Nurse Betty: basically a tomato sandwich (I think it actually was just one tomato). For 2.99. Really?

For a sandwich made from a perfect late-summer tomato, sure. For what looks like a McDonalds burger without the burger, that's outrageous.

Now... if they'd sandwich that tomato between two slices of miraculous toast, that I'd pay good money for!

-Dan

I'm convinced that M Burger was created to make fun of someone or something. I just haven't yet figured out who or what.

Kennyz wrote:I'm convinced that M Burger was created to make fun of someone or something. I just haven't yet figured out who or what.

Perhaps the customers?

-Dan