(above:  kraftwork)

This ‘Free For All’ finds a very tasty menu.  Mainly from the selection of the Short Rib Sandwich.  Half of the table took on this mid-July special, while others kicked the can with the Beer Can Chicken Sandwich, and some kept it traditional with the Burger.  I found the red cabbage apple slaw to be a perfect side for any of these sandwiches.  And now you wanna know about the beer?  Forget about it!  This place is spot on.  It might be the new reason to move to Fishtown.

(above:  sketch burger)

AHH.. Spring Fever!  Who doesn’t love curbside seating?  What artist doesn’t like an artist friendly burger?  And another question, who is going to flex their muscle with the best burger combo? Probably everyone, cause this place is all about building your best burger.  Although there is no beer here, it is a BYO.. and lucky for Chap, he is the only one who is prepared.  That’s okay, because Anthony’s  Lounge is right down the street.  ‘Hey Tooth-pick, this ain’t your home!’  Gotta love the neighborhood bar..

(above:  the irish pub)

The Irish Pub has several locations that serve up a line of inexpsensive beers and consistently average pub food.  The burger arrives with a hearty back-yard burger presentation, fills your stomach cavity to the roof, and leaves you thinking that this is the ultimate lunchroom burger.  The kind of feeling you get in high school on cheeseburger day.  Afterwards tip-toe through the bar of high-heeled shark fins and angry popped collars, and find yourself another pint.

(above:  eulogy)

This burger will end your life.  The final word for ground beef in your pathetic flame-grilled existence.  In another life you will wake up as a stale sesame seed bun in a lethargic kitchen line at McDonald’s.  Do not be afraid of bleu cheese and leeks, however, do be afraid of leaking bleu cheese.  Sign your will, and kiss your ass good-bye.  You’re now 6-feet under in the burger shaped casket.

(above:  the backyard on Labor Day)

Labor Day comes along during the final stretch of summer, and it begs for meat like a dog in heat.  This is why we clean the grill for one more backyard throw-down, giving birth to the one-of-a-kind ‘Hotdog Jalepeno Cheeseburger.’  Mmmmm… take it down Shawn.

(above:  swift half)

On the west wing of the quad at the new Piazza Dormatory, you will find the finely tuned student cafeteria, Swift Half, which is better known as the baby brother of Good Dog.  Since we are here on Monday, duh, we are a part of the Monday night beer special, which is $2 half pints.  So we are able to slug away at the dainty lil sippy glasses.  And speaking of slugging, the home run derby is playing on the 50-foot jumbo screen located in the quad.  This kept us entertained while we waited for our burgers.  We all ordered a traditional burger, which is a 1/2 pound of grilled sirloin topped with lettuce and tomato, and served on a brioche bun.  Traditional right?  Now we are allowed, and encouraged, to personalize our burgers with a signature of cheese.  Most went with the waitress’ recommendation of bucheron goat cheese, but I decide on the aged cheddar.  I feel it is a safer route to take in the realm of burgers.  However, I hear no complaints from the other side of the table.  In fact, there is hardly anything to hear with all the gnarwly scarffing that is taking place.  Sometimes it’s okay to say ‘yes’ to the Piazza.

(above:  johnny brenda’s)

Holy Cow!  This is a burger that we need in our lives.  Remember the last burger we had in our lives?  The infamous Standard Tap burger.  I certainly remember the reigning power.  Had me cryin’ my eyes out.  Maybe the reason this burger strikes such a chord of familiarity is because the now owners of Johnny Brenda’s also own the wonderful Standard Tap.  They both take pride in dressing your dish with the best ingredients the local farmers have to offer.  I’ve seen and I’ve tasted my friend.  Since we found a table near the open kitchen, we are able to kick back and slug an array of local beers, while we observe our burgers being cooked to perfection.  And after we chow to cow, we move to the front of the bar for some sharkin’.  There is always a good crowd around the pool table.  Just sit back, grab another beer, and wait 20 minutes before you jump in the pool.  We wouldn’t want you to get a cramp, now would we?

(above:  standard tap)

This is a burger that sh*ts full-pounders on the courtyard after school.  This is a burger that tells other burgers what to do.  This is a burger that reveals it’s muscle without even flexing.  This is a burger that grills the cook.  This is a burger that drives a Trans Amwhich.  This is a burger that shows the ladies what a real Big Mac is all about.  This is the burger that had a full page spread in ‘Meat Bus.’  This is a burger so raw that it had Howard Stern screaming, ‘Well Done!’  This is a burger that made me cry.

(above:  pub and kitchen)

Alright.  We have found a burger that is one way and one way only.  No full three columns of made-to-order ingredients on this menu.  The only say so a customer has is as to how the burger is cooked.  And you gotta appreciate the fact that the chef tells the customer how a good burger should be.  This sense of confidence gives birth to the burger known at Pub and Kitchen as ‘The Windsor.’  And every ingredient is fresh and accounted for.  Our waitress cared so much about our enjoyment that she personal cut the burger for one of our machos.  Now that is service! (view pic above)  Such good service, that Big Steve only comes here to drink and look at the staff.  This burger gives the reigning Deuce burger (R.I.P) a run for it’s kobe, and it has the Good Dog burger oozing it’s buns off.  Although we find ourselves in a ‘Windsor Knot’ over today’s champion, you can best believe we’ll be back for more.

(above:  monks)

If you’re out in Center City Philadelphia, and you’re looking for one tastey burger that can be washed down with a delicious beer, then look no further than Monks on 16th and Spruce.  Here you are guaranteed to find a selection of ‘spine tingling’ burgers and ‘bone chilling’ beers.   No joke, this is quite possibly the best burger in Philly.  In fact, it is so good that a couple of us had to order another.  And it is just as good the second time around.  Now ordering the burgers is the easy part.  Finding the right beer for your burger can be a little tricky, especially when you are flipping through the pages of the beer bible.  So don’t lose your cool just because you are not keen to the whole ‘beers from around the world’ thing.   Just go to the back bar and hire the beer and spirits director.  He is a swell guy that loves exercising his drunken authority.

(above:  north star bar)

The title says it all.  Honestly, I wasted enough time eating this pile of dung, and I refuse to spend more time writing about it.  Great, now I just spent 5 minutes posting this.

(above:  silk city)

so you think you know what it tastes like to be as silky smooth as a baby seal, dripping wet from a well-satisfying swim in the arctic ocean? ha. guess again. the right response would be the ‘silk city burger’ at silk city..duh…and if you did your homework you would know that you can get this sexy beast well dressed with guacamole, bacon, and cheddar..ok, i know that some of you conservative machos want your lil lady burger dressed modestly, with a simple cheese added to a ‘plain jane’ tomato, onion burger..but hey, maybe, just maybe, you give into the temptation when a nice, long pair of guacamole legs go walking by you..because lets face it, your mouth is going to water and beg your tongue to taste it…that may sound to be, and probably is a down right naughty and low-brow attempt to form the perfect analogy…but as lousy as i may seem,  i got nothing but love for my burger…maybe you should too..

(above: silk city)

(above:  goodburger)

“welcome to goodburger, home of the goodburger, can i take your order?”  this classic kel williams quote is not going to welcome you inside this joint no matter what the title might deceive…and no, there is no liter of orange soda…there is however, a delicious special, #3 combo meal, which includes a 1/3 lb hamburger, french fries, and choice of domestic beer…its kinda like the happy meal for adults that mcdonalds never thought about…now the burgers are great but i am on the fence about how to categorize the atmosphere of this place…i mean, at one end you have the bright, fast food lighting of your everyday great american hamburger stand and at the other end you have a dimly lit, sports bar/ lounge feel…its as if they cant decide if they are going for burger king or t.g.i fridays…once again, dont get me wrong..this place has exactly what the name states, a ‘goodburger’ ..oh, also, an eclectic mix of staff and music…”between the techno music and an all asian staff, i felt as if i was in thailand, shopping for a lady boy,” -big steve

(above:  seth breaks it down to the ragin’ sounds of euro-techno)

(above:  Deuce)

well there you have it…pictured above the $16 Deuce Burger made with 100% kobe beef, bacon, fontina, fried egg, black truffle, mayo, lettuce, onions, and tomato on a soft roll…most might be a little skeptical about having a fried egg on there burger, but trust me, it works…i just prefer my egg over hard, rather than the recommended over easy…hey, thats just me…we did ask if it was possible to have the option of a scrambled egg on top, but we just got a weird look..whatever..had to try…this burger definitely raised the bar..i mean the beef is from a cow that has been treated to a daily massage…my taste-buds were overwhelmed with all the flavors this burger had to offer…very filling too..i had a little trouble finishing the whole thing..well thats not saying too much since i weigh a mere buck forty wet…just saying it was worth the $16…for another tasty burger, visit Good Dog on 15th (and walnut)…got to try the ‘Good Dog Burger’….a 1/2 lb. house ground sirloin that is stuffed with roquefort (a mild stinky cheese) topped with caramelized onions, and served on toasted brioche..i think that we all agree that when we all tasted that burger for the first time we were both excited and confused by the roquefort surprise…everyone remembers the gummy candies ‘Gushers’ right? you know with the gooey artificial fruit flavor on the inside…well now imagine that concept for burgers! ..gooey cheese stuffed inside the burger…well balanced with the sweet flavor of the caramelized onions..also served with a side of hand-cut sweet potato fries…two thumbs up for both Deuce and Good Dog!  ..however, if you are looking for the great ol’ “american joe” burger…then run down to Nodding Head Brewery on sansom (and 15th) and grab the burger that you love to have at Applebee’s…nothing special..just something to fill the stomach…

(above:  good dog    below:  nodding head)