After more than a month-long layoff, the GPaK Crew returned with a vengeance on Friday, visiting Rich's Mighty Fine Burgers & Grub.
Rich, the proprietor, used to run a burger and sandwich cart on Main Street but now has opened up this cozy little place on Broadway. What the joint lacks in ambience, it makes up in a big way with flavor.
Rich, the proprietor, used to run a burger and sandwich cart on Main Street but now has opened up this cozy little place on Broadway. What the joint lacks in ambience, it makes up in a big way with flavor.
Me: So, a 10 then.
Greg: No, a nine.
Me: A nine? I thought you said it was perfect.
Greg: No, I said it was "just right."
Me: Isn't "just right" perfect?
Greg: No.
Jon: But if you rated it perfect, then you'd have the standard by which you could judge all other Cokes.
Food quality: 9
Service: 7 (they were a touch slow)
Overall: 9
Quotes of the day:
He has a one-liner and now he's funny?
COMMENT: Greg and I just touched thighs. RESPONSE: Don't tell everybody!
Welcome to the conversation.
Gary's probably standing outside of Squatters.
Could I have a side of bun, please?
COMMENT: I had a root beer today. RESPONSE: You really did girl up. REJOINDER: It's not like he got a drink box.
I love it when Brady writes. He's funny and good at it and it means I don't have to... which I'm certain is going on months now. Sorry about that. Actually I'm not.
ReplyDeleteStepping into Rich's today made me felt like we'd been there before. Come to find out we had. Rich's now occupies the space previously held by Esther's, another fine sandwich shop if I recall correctly.
Needless to say, the sandwiches may have been good but these burgers at Rich's just jumped into the top spot for my all-time favorite burger. It was Smash burger — and that's still a mighty fine sandwich — but Rich's takes the burger to a whole new level.
I can't recall the last time I had a burger that was so crispy yet had so much flavor and juiciness inside. I went with the Maui BBQ Burger (topped with pineapple, and you guessed it, BBQ sauce) which is packed smack dab (burgers usually are) into the middle of a soft bun that reminded me of challah bread. It was perfect. Not "just right", but perfect. And while BBQ sauce got all over my hands, I could have cared less. I almost forgot this thing had bacon. Could lunch get any better? I think not.
The fries were also ranking top 5 ever. Super crispy but with just the right amount of salt and the perfect amount of fry sauce served on the side.
Bottom line, Rich's rocked it big time. I'm a convert and can't wait to go back.
Man-up possibilities: 10
Food quality: 10
Service: 9 (they cook it once you order, this isn't McDonald's and waiting makes it worth it)
Overall: 9.75
Root Beer: quality
Right off the bat, let's make something perfectly clear: "just right" is not the same as perfect. Never has been and never will be. I have yet to partake of the perfect paper cup 'o fountain Coke. I hope to find it someday, and I'll know it when I do. But until then, nobody — and that means you, Brady — can tell me what to rate a Coke on the Fizz-o-meter. I created it. I own it. So BACK OFF!!
ReplyDeleteWhew. Sorry for the outburst. Now, on with the show.
Uh, well, there's really not much more I can say. I had basically the same meal that Brady had, although I allowed the folks at Rich's to add their sauce to my burger. It's OK that Brady didn't have the sauce, though, because that's HIS THING. And if it's his thing, I'm not going to comment on it. Do you see what I'm saying? Do you catch my drift?
Oops. There I go again. Back to the food.
This burger was outstanding. The bacon was crisp and perfect (not "just right," but perfect — a 10). The meat of the burger was seasoned just right (in other words, a 9). And don't get me started on the fries. I only wish I would have had more, which made it all the stranger when one member of our crew left a few fries on his plate. I call that a crime.
I fully intend to tell my professional restaurant critic wife about Rich's as soon as possible in the hopes of getting a quick repeat visit. And hopefully we'll go back soon as a GPaK, too.
After all, as a whole, this visit was somewhere between just right and perfect.
Man-up possibilities: just right
Food quality: just right.5
Service: 8
Fizz-o-meter of Coke: just right
Overall: just right.5
a great burger, equally amazing fries and a drink. can't get much more americana than that.
ReplyDeleteto quote the inimitable timothy olyphant (one of my favorite tv actors who also appears in film), today lunch was simply "outstanding."
there are plenty of other superlatives one can dole out on this salt lake diamond-in-the-rough burger joint, but i think that one says it the best.
a chef and restaurateur in previous chapters of his life, rich started his grand gourmet burger plan with a cart out on the corner of main street and 200 south and gave it a heckuva ride for a couple of years. catering to the professional as well as urbanite crowds for lunch, and succeeding with signature burgers that were all but ordinary, rich ultimately hung up his grill spatulas sometime at the end of 2009. they are even hanging up on the wall inside his new joint, true story.
quick with witty repartee and a story to tell as he grilled that premium ground beef at the street cart, rich was always genial and gave you a sense of familiarity and comfort that his cooking equally provided your palate. remember, we're talking about a street cart vendor here.
how he ended up taking over at esther's is probably another great story. did it have something to do with junior's tavern being next door? no matter, but what a score for downtown.
he's still as nice and engaging as before in his trademark black skull biker bandana, with a wide smile and giving a hearty thanks for the business. all the while we were the ones going ga-ga over the food we consumed at the lunch hour.
i chose the blue cheese crumble bacon burger, which was grilled to a perfect medium-rare-medium. it had, as previously mentioned, amazing bacon, topped with premium blue cheese crumbles and dashes of blue cheese dressing.
i've had two of rich's other burgers in the past: the blue wing (o.m.g. buffalo hot sauce, bacon; still in my top 3 all time); and the bayou burger (bell peppers, monterey jack cheese, cajun seasoning). the blue cheese didn't disappoint. the true merit of seasoning is not overdoing the salt factor, with all those other flavors bursting about. it's nailed perfectly every time.
thanks, rich. we'll be back. (btw, he's open monday–saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.. he rests on sunday, apparently.)
p.s. did you get that the fries are beyond amazing? they are.
Man-up possibilities: 8
Food quality: 10
Service: 9.5
Overall: 9.75
Fizz-o-meter of Coke: had lemonade
-big.red
Sigh. I miss Esther's. But apparently I won't after I eat one of these burgers. Greg's evil plan will no doubt work, as I am already wanting to try it ASAP. Do they, by any chance, still have the vegetarian chili they had when it was Esther's? At the risk of offending the more caveman-like crew members, it was amazing. You didn't even care there was no meat in there. And on a burger? I can't even describe it or I'll risk soundin' naughty.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the little "safety word" for my last comment was "bardom." Hee hee.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I believe the veggie chili is a goner, but he does make a mean vegetarian sandwich, or at least Gary says so.
ReplyDeleteMark said I would only have to write a few words.
ReplyDeleteBut only one, Yummy! comes to mind.
Rich’s burgers are some of the best in the valley, bar none.
I could make this a regular haunt without any qualms what-so-ever.
Based on Mark’s recommendation, I chose the Blue Wing Burger which consisted of
blue cheese crumbles with buffalo hot sauce, bacon strips, and blue cheese dressing. This was a wing-bacon-cheese-lovers wet dream!
No Rich’s place is easily in my top four of Salt Lake City burger joints (#1 Acme, #2 Smash, #3 is a tie between Rich’s and Crown)
I absolutely loved the fries which were seasoned to perfection.
Rich’s has limited seating (this place could be in a small little corner of NYC, it’s that cool)... but we still found chairs and an open table. Next time I’d like to sit at the counter, smell the smoke of the grill and shoot the bull with Rich. He seems like a down-to-earth kind of guy.
Writing this Thursday night, six days late as usual, I’m ready to go back there tomorrow!
Food quality: 9.5
Service: 9.5
Man-up possibilities: 9.5
Overall: 9.5
-Wingnut