Best Burger in Aiken Part 13 - Sliders

Location - Sliders Sports Bar & Grill, 3566 Richland Ave. W, Aiken, SC 29801
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If you know me and are familiar with Aiken, you probably know one of my gripes: why all the growth to the south side along Whiskey and almost none to the north/north-west (no, not Kanye's kid)? It's getting awful crowded down that way (traffic can be an absolute nightmare on an average Friday or Saturday evening, alone) and there are some great spots that could use some fresh paint and people on the north side of Aiken. And businesses already in place would benefit from some regional and national chains bringing people to this side of town. Win-win-win.

But that's three wins. Where did that third one come from? I'll tell you.

The main reason I think some of the incoming businesses (as well as those looking to expand) need to reconsider their location is a group of 3,600 - 3,800 people located in prime position on the north side, looking for great places to eat at (and shop as well): USC Aiken. Particularly, the students of USC Aiken.

As an alumn (alumnus, alumna) of the school and now someone who lives really close to the school, I know the pain of wanting something from a particular place but having to fight 15-20 minutes worth of traffic to get there whether via the bypass to Whiskey or through downtown to Whiskey. And that's just one way! When I was a student, I never lived on campus (living with the parents saved money) but even then I knew the pain of wanting Chick-fil-a and having to plan, practically, my entire lunch around that. Or wanting to grab some Moe's or Zaxby's and having to plan at least an extra 30 minutes for heading there before class. It's a real pain in the you-know-what.

Yes, I know there is downtown with plenty of good food, drinking and shopping options, but that is still downtown which means a short drive. USC Aiken students (and faculty and staff as well as all those associated with Aiken Regional) deserve and need something that they can walk to (yes, people. You can walk to the area around Walmart that I am talking about. I do it at once every other week or so. 10 minutes one way is a low price to pay).

So, I cannot begin to tell you how happy it has made me in the last few years as new places have popped up close to campus. It started with the "new" Walmart several years ago (I guess over 10 now...) and the shopping center next to it that allowed places like Firehouse (you're welcome, Glenn), Wing Place then Tokyo Grill, Ferrando's, and Ni Hao to move in. Before that, I'm pretty sure Mi Rancho was already there, but that's great too! After Walmart was built (one of the rare good things associated with that Goliath has been that shopping mall next to it), your typical fast food places have come in (all hail McDonald's and Burger King).

And let's not forget Barbecue Barn's short, but successful life (come back, please) as well as Groucho's, Dunkin Donuts and Quizno's (R.I.P... somebody, bring me back my Quizno's!) and, now Zaxby's. I have to say that DD and Zaxby's are, by far, my favorites simply because they are chains that already had successful businesses in Aiken on the south side and decided to open up closer to the college.

But, seriously, where are the unique places? Where is the variety in the food and the "only in Aiken" type stuff. Again, I realize Downtown Aiken is just a short drive away, but the students and others around there crave variety and places they can go and hang out. Mi Rancho has been, quite honestly, the only place for that right next to the school outside of downtown.

But now, the owner of Econo Lodge has stepped in/up and I hope it pays off for him. He brought to us the latest in my burger quest: Sliders Sports Bar & Grill (as well as a liquor store and a frozen yogurt shop). Absolute brilliance, in my opinion. You can stay at the motel, grab a bottle of liquor for later, then hit up the sports bar and grill before getting dessert at the fro-yo place. All, without having to crank up the car.

But I also feel that Sliders could be the answer for the students who live on campus and around it. And my experience with the place, so far, will show you why.

First, let me show you the burger, then I'll tell you a bit more about the place. Say hello to the Cheddar Bacon Burger:

I have to say, for a new place that is still working to find its identity, this is a solid place and the burger and pub chips show that. The burger was super juicy (nice, light pink in the middle) and tasted pretty good. The cheddar and bacon did a nice job of adding to it, as well; although, I felt it was a tad too juicy. What do I mean? Well, every bite had juice pouring out of it so it could have been slightly over marinated or under cooked a touch too much. But I'm not really going to complain about a burger that wasn't dry.

Now, I know what you're thinking. It looks a little small. Well, if you think about cheeseburger/hamburger sliders, they are small. And that is the name of this place, after all. But this is still bigger than typical sliders and the location may not be named for those types of burgers. I don't know.

Something interesting is that, aside from the bacon and cheese, everything is under the cheddar-wrapped patty (yup, they did a great job of melting the cheese just right to where it wrapped almost all he way around the burger). And that is arugula, not iceberg lettuce on there. And did I mention bacon? It's crispy and there is plenty of it.

Now, I cheated a bit. The night before I ate this burger, I went with some buddies and tried another item off the menu and I wasn't disappointed, either. I had the fries with my sriracha blue chicken sandwich (may have butchered the name, but they didn't butcher the taste... oooo, what a pun!). So, I naturally had to try the chips for my second trip and I have to say, they were pretty good. Nice and thin, crispy with a little salt. May could have used some pepper or something else to spice it up, but overall, they weren't burnt or flimsy and nasty.

Now, let me talk about what it's like on the inside. This is the closest place to a chain that I have been to, yet, as far as what it looks like on the inside. Seriously, you walk in and you'd almost swear you were at a small Buffalo Wild Wings. The colors say B-dubs, the multiple TVs on sports channels say B-dubs, the sports memorabilia on the walls says B-dubs... the only thing that doesn't are the servers and bartenders. They say, "Welcome to Sliders." But it's quieter, than B-dubs, at least for now. And I honestly hope that changes as the students figure out about this place because I think they finally have a hangout for watching sports events closer to their dorms and apartments.

And, small things in life moment, I loved how they used old 6-pack beer containers to hold your condiments, utensils and napkins. I have a bunch of these laying around my pantry from the "grab-a-6-pack" section in Kroger, and now I know what they can be used for!

Now, where would I rank this burger? In the middle. Right below Malia's and above Grumpy's.

Your current rankings:
1) Magnolia Cafe & Market
2) Betsy's on the Corner
3) Brew Pub
4) Ray's
5) Playoffs
6) Malia's
7) Sliders
8) Grumpy's
9) Midway Grill
10) Red Shed
11) City Bs
12) Blue Top

Now, why did I do it that way? Because I can, that's why. No, seriously it's because I didn't think it was quite as good as the Malia's burger (which, I am told is ranked entirely too low by some friends) and above Grumpy's because I feel like they are better than Grumpy's as far as quickness of service goes as well as in the taste of the burger. And they have room to grow being new kids on the block, but with a solid base under them. I would say the size is equal to what you find at City Bs, for those that have visited there.

Price: The price was pretty good at around $8 for the burger and chips and a water to drink. From what I saw on their menu (which, by the way also features some Indian treats since the owner is of Indian descent) they are really working hard at keeping the prices reasonable. And slightly varied, too.
Ambience: Buffalo Wild Wings, Jr. "BWW II" or "BWW, Jr." would be on the back of this guy's jersey if he was in the NFL. But WAY quieter (again, just for now, I hope). And they have a back deck! Come on, as the temps get cooler, you college kids need to get down there to enjoy it with a pail of beers. My one gripe about the interior is that we need to get some USCA jerseys and pictures on the walls. That close to the school, there needs to be more Cardinal and Navy than Orange and Purple or Garnet and Black.

So, there you have it. Another one in the books, and this time I may have avoided controversy. Yay me! Originality, 5 stars (heh heh). As usual, go try and make your own opinion.

The South Carolina Barbecue Map

So, as promised, here is the OTHER treat of the week: my first barbecue critique post.

Let me start off by asking a rhetorical question: Who reading this is familiar with the South Carolina Barbecue Trail Map?

If you're like me and you absolutely love barbecue (there is no like or puppy love about it, you know this feeling is true love) then you are probably always up for trying a new barbecue place. If that's the case, the SC BBQ Trail Map is for you.

The map in question features all the best places in South Carolina to get barbecue. I get the feeling that they are ranked by region (our state can be divided into three regions, if you didn't already know). Now, you may be thinking, "There can't possibly be that many places worth trying in South Carolina."

You would be wrong. So very, very wrong.

According to the map, our state has 220 establishments that offer the best barbecue the southeast has to offer. 220. That's 48 in the upstate, 108 in the midlands (of course), and 64 on the coast. And it makes sense! SC is the birthplace of barbecue. We are where you can find pork and beef, mustard, vinegar and ketchup based all within one state... of course, we as South Carolinians know the best way to go is mustard base with pulled pork and you better not forget the hash over your rice, but we can't all be perfect.

So, how many of these establishments have I tried? 9 (I know, I know, kind of low. But I like what I like). There's one that I think is missing off of the map because Sweatman's near Holly Hill is some good eatin', but I don't see it on the map. That's a shame. Trust me, you will want to give them a try if you're driving through Orangeburg County around lunch time.

Anyways, if you're around the Aiken area and you love barbecue, then you know some of the ones I've tried: Shealy's, Duke's, Bobby's and Carolina. You may also know Shane's Rib Shack, Barbecue Barn, and Maurice's.

Now, I HOPE the map isn't ranked in each region because Barbecue Barn is No. 7 in the Midlands and is ahead of Carolina (No. 22)... and that just ain't right. Carolina is far and away better. It's also ahead of Shealy's (No. 92), Dukes (No. 37), and Bobby's (No. 15) which I also think are better, but not better than Carolina... And I don't think Shealy's should be ranked near the bottom of the region, but that may just be personal preference.

Anyways! There are two that folks from Aiken probably won't have heard of unless they ate there and I am here to tell you, they are worth a trek to try.

The first I don't have much to say about because I ate there last football season while my dad and I were on assignment covering a game in Swansea for the Aiken Standard and I wasn't writing this blog at the time. That one, is Country Side BBQ on St. Matthews Rd in Swansea, SC (not to be confused with the one in Marion, NC). Anyways, I loved that place and was in a food coma for much of the Aiken vs. Swansea game I was supposed to be covering. Don't eat and drive. You'll want to take a walk afterwards.

The second one is the one that I intended on writing this blog post about and that one is actually in the Mountains/Upstate region:

Welcome to No. 3 in the Upstate, but now No. 1 in my heart/belly, Black's Smokehouse (website HERE) in Seneca, S.C. What you're looking at is a little bit of everything for them. You have pulled pork, brisket and ribs all on top of some toast (it's under there, I swear). For a side, I went with their loaded potato salad and fried okra. I promise, I'll get into both of those in a second.

Let me just say, they do it right. I tackled a couple of the ribs first and they had lots of meat on them and were fall-off-the-bone. And I didn't have to add any sauce. They were already that good that I kind of wish I had just gotten a couple racks of ribs.

Then I moved on to some of the brisket and you have to admire that smoke ring. Bee-ee-ae-Uteeful. And it was so tender, didn't need a knife to cut into/pull it apart. Now, I do like sauce with my brisket, so I went with their red mild. Oh-so good. I tried a dab of each (they have four sauces, so everybody should be good to go there) but I went mild red for the brisket. And suddenly, I'm wishing I had ordered just a slab of brisket.

I finally tried the pulled pork and for that, I went with their mustard sauce, of course (let's be real for a minute North Carolina and Georgia, pulled pork is meant to have a yellow mustard sauce on it. End of debate). Again, why did I not go with just that?

All three of the main courses were so good that I literally saved enough for a second helping. That and they give you enough that you have almost no choice if you wish to actually enjoy yourself and not have an upset stomach later.

Now for the sides. The loaded potato salad, you cannot go wrong. I don't see how people mess this up, but I have been places that do. Black's did not. It was delicious. Creamy. Chunky. Crunchy. Yes. I was hooked. And the fried okra. This is where people are getting tripped up. "Those look like fries," I had a couple people tell me. But no, those are okra. They are just cut horizontally, instead of into cubes, and then breaded and fried. WHY DON'T MORE PLACES DO THIS?! Seriously, that was the main thought going through my head as I wolfed those down. FYI, the sides did NOT make the return trip home. They were too good to not eat fresh.

The one thing that I like better about our local places is that they are buffets. I just like being able to sample everything I can see and there wasn't any banana pudding. But, in my opinion, those were minor things considering how good the barbecue was. I told the one manager, "Hands down, best barbecue I've ever had" and I honestly believe that. Oh, and they are only open Thursday through Saturday. It kind of sucks... But, it is the south. And they seem to be doing pretty well.

So, now you all know what's next on my plate (pun very much intended). As I try new barbecue places (and other ones, let's be honest), I will be sure to write about them and let you know if you need to go and try them out... there are over 200, so this could take some time. If you have a place you think I should try (or avoid), let me know in the comments section and I will see what I can do!

The Wild, Wild West Culinary Experience

So, last week I promised you a bit of a treat. Funny thing is, I now have 2 treats to share with you.

I'll go ahead and reveal the originally intended treat, but the full reveal will have to wait until Friday: I plan on talking about barbecue (BBQ) next. I'll go ahead and tease it and say I had the best barbecue I've ever had a few weeks ago and I was reminded that SC is the mecca of barbecue. Sure, other states try their hand at their own versions, but SC will always and forever be where it is at for barbecue.

But, you'll have to wait a few more days before I get into that. For now, this post is going to tie in to what I am already writing about: burgers.

And you'll have to excuse me, this is going to be the longest post to date.

As you know, I've been on a quest to find the best burger in Aiken County. Burgers from places that aren't chains and that people swear by. I've had very good burgers during the past few months. But I am here to tell you, that there are others out there.

Better burgers do exist.

They are out there.

*insert gasps and dundunduuuuun music*

So, for those of you who don't know, I lived in Billings, Montana for a year (more like 11 months, but let's not get caught up on the specifics of THAT). I only lasted that short amount of time because I don't do cold. I was born and reared in Aiken, SC where we get snow once every 3-5 years and our idea of cold is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. That's a warm tropical breeze out in the northwest.

In Billings, I experienced snow (true, powder snow, not that heavy sleet we get here) from mid-October all the way until May. And it has snowed on July 4 before, I was told (that's not natural unless you live in the arctic). I also experienced bone-chilling cold all the way down to (brace yourself for this) -15 degrees. I just got a chill thinking about that and remembering my nose hairs freezing and nostrils sticking together.

So, it is not surprising that this guy decided to hightail it back to the warm southeast at his first opportunity (although I do regret making such a quick exit, but that's another story for another time). But, during my time in Montana I did discover something that contributed to me wanting to return at least for a visit: more great food.

The other was a group of people (yes, Alex, you're at the top of that list) who I really am happy I met and have continued to stay in contact with. But people move and scatter, so I have a feeling I will be working on visiting some new areas as they continue down their various paths. Boomer, you and Dan better find me some good eats out there in Cali!

Anyways, back to the food as part of the reason why I wanted to return. You see, I found several places that I loved to "haunt" or frequent while I was in Billings and more started popping up as I was leaving or after I left. So, when I had the chance to go back with the girlfriend this past weekend, I made sure that we had time to eat out in Billings (and of course in Jackson/Jackson Hole, Wyoming). And you better believe we ate local.

Yes, we indulged in the finer places and I just wanted to share with you some places that you HAVE to try should you ever make it out west. The places I will be describing are:

Uber Brew - Billings, MT
Pearl Street Bagels - Jackson/Jackson Hole, WY
Snake River Brewing - Jackson/Jackson Hole, WY (WEBSITE, must be 21 to access)
Hooligans / Montana Brewing Company - Billings, MT

They are in this order because that is about the order Laura and I ate at them while out there, but we frequented Pearl Street twice for breakfast because they were that good. But, I'll get to that in just a moment.

UBER BREW

So, Laura and I flew into Billings, MT on Friday, August 7 and met some of my former coworkers for lunch at Uber Brew. It's a micro brew that, I believe, just opened up before I left Billings back in 2012. I loved their beer (I love beer, period) and their German fare was excellent, from what I remember. But, because I'm on this burger quest, I decided to go with a burger to see how things compare out there.

And it did not disappoint for being the first burger for me in Montana in nearly 3 years.

You are welcome. This is the Whiskey Burger with bacon and a side of New England clam chowdah. You all know the drill, if you've been reading my blog, I like to change up my sides to set things apart and Laura was a little mad at me because she didn't get to try the clam chowder. That's how quickly I downed it (believe it or not, I only started eating clam chowder when I was out there because the Rock Pile - another local favorite at the time - offered it with lunch).

Anyways, the Whiskey Burger has an awesome whiskey barbecue sauce (it's in that little shot tin) that you pour onto the burger after it is presented to you.

Mm mm slap yo' momma.

Seriously, best burger I have had in a while. And I wore some of it out to proudly show. It's a messy experience because of that sauce, but it is SO worth it. The patty was thick (cooked to order, juicy and nice spices) and filled the bun, the bun was lightly toasted, the cheddar cheese was plentiful and nicely melted all over, the veggies were local and fresh... and the bacon was thick. They don't play out west with their meats. When you ask for a burger, you get a man's burger. When you ask for bacon, you don't get turkey bacon or thin-sliced. You get man's bacon.

And the sauce was sweet, tangy and had that kick of whiskey that puts hair on your chest. If you don't use the entire little tin, it better be because you're dipping your fries in it.

Flat out, this burger isn't for the faint of heart and it sets the tone pretty well or what you can find out there.

Also, it is worth noting that they have a very, VERY good selection of their own brews. I enjoyed their Alpha Force IPA (7.71% ABV) while Laura and Alex enjoyed the White Noise Hefeweizen (5.7% ABV). I had a taste of the second and I really liked it as well, but it was national IPA appreciation day, so I went IPA. For a complete list (and pictures) of their brews, go HERE.


Now then, for the "odd man out" of this post:

PEARL STREET BAGELS

We stayed in Jackson/Jackson Hole, WY two nights. Now, I do that to the name because Jackson and Jackson Hole are one-in-the-same but Laura explained that Jackson Hole is the more touristy part, I think. Anyways, Laura loves coffee, loves bagels, and, like me, loves trying new places. So, we tried Pearl Street Bagels on Saturday morning... and had to go back on Sunday. It was that good.

Saturday's breakfast didn't really warrant a picture because we both just had a bagel each with a different type of cream cheese on it (but let me tell you, their bagels are excellent, large, soft on the inside with a crispy exterior and loaded with whatever cream cheese you choose... and they have a lot of good flavors to choose from). But Sunday's breakfast for me...

Yes, you are welcome again (and yes, I was parked when I took this picture). That is one of their breakfast sandwiches. The sausage, egg and cheese on their everything bagel.

Go ahead, wipe the drool off. I'll wait.

It is a full on taste explosion in your mouth. The sausage isn't store bought (it did't seem to be, at least), there was so much yummy cheddar I was on cloud 9, and the egg was perfectly cooked. I do not recommend you eat this on the go like Laura and I did... because you may just wreck from closing your eyes due to the amount of goodness playing on your tongue. That and you'll need one hand to eat and the second hand to pinch yourself and/or bat away your companion's attempts at grabbing it for more.

You know how they say, "Good to the last drop"? Well, this was good to the last bite. And that is a bite you don't want to come. I just cannot describe adequately how this sandwich tasted, but it was good. It had slightly spicy sausage, egg, and all that cheese.

I'm drooling just remembering it, now.


SNAKE RIVER BREWING

Laura made a comment that her vacations lately have turned into brewery tours. But that isn't a bad thing. Micro breweries have some of the best beers around and, usually, some great food to match.

So, Saturday we had to continue that trend by eating dinner at a local brewery: Snake River Brewing (and FYI, they have won a LOT of awards).

Now, what is one of the better things to do while at a brewery? Why, tasting different beers, of course! And how do you keep yourself from getting absolutely shnockered while doing so? Why, by eating their food!

The first picture shows you their Old Greg IPA (6.8% ABV) on the left and their Hoback Hefeweizen (5% ABV) on the right. Now, I had to get the Old Greg because I have always laughed my butt off at that YouTube video (go ahead, give it a watch) and apparently Laura loves Hefeweizens. Nothing wrong with that at all.

In the second picture, before we get to that beautiful pile of food, is the award-winning Snake River Pale Ale (5.2% ABV) (again, I know I mentioned this before, but if you haven't downloaded it, yet, get the Untappd App and track/rate the beers you try. It's a lot of fun and you can even add friends and track what they are drinking as well).

But this is more about the food... and that, ladies and gents, carnivores and omnivores, is a bison burger. The BBQ Bison Burger, to be exact. And it is topped with Gouda cheese, thick-cut bacon, chipotle barbecue sauce and what ever veggies you want to put on it including jalapeños.

Om. Nom. Nom.

I am convinced that bison burgers are a step above regular burgers. I don't know why. I can't put a value on it, but they are just better tasting and more lean, it seems. And this one, it was no different. The meat was excellent and juicy, the gouda cheese was a nice change of pace, and the bacon was thick. The sauce was sweet and tangy and the only critique I would have about this burger was that there weren't enough jalapeños. Yes, I said it, not enough and they were the pickled kind. I think if you were to do what Whiskey Bar in Augusta does and use fresh, sliced jalapeños, and more of them, it would take this burger to a-whole-'nother level.

And that level would be Cloud 10.

Also, I loved these sweet potato fries. It seems like people out there away from SC have really embraced that and have perfected the sweet potato fry. Don't get me wrong, there are good ones around here, as well. They have just perfected it west of the Mississippi.


HOOLIGAN'S / MONTANA BREWING COMPANY

Have I mentioned I love Brew Pubs? I know I have.

Anyways, when I lived in Billings, I was introduced to Hooligan's (a part of the Montana Brewing Company which is also located next door) early on and I made it a part of every week to go there.

Big game on TV, I was at Hooligan's.

Daytona 500, I was at Hooligan's.

Celebrating a successful athletic year with the department, we went to Hooligan's.

And here is part of the reason why:

Slap yo' momma AND yo' grandmomma (sorry Gram, you know I'd never slap you).

That is the Cowboy Burger with waffle fries (and yes, I ate several fries and assembled the burger before the picture so that is why there is a gaping space there). I promise, there is a big ol' burger patty under that block of melted cheddar cheese. It's there, I promise.

This is one of the burgers by which I measure all burgers. I love melted cheese, and they heap it on there. It flows out and gets on the fries and you just have to pick at it and eat it separately before you attack that burger. And you won't be mad about it, either.

Also on that toasted bun are onion fries, thick bacon (notice the trend, here, people?), fresh veggies, and sweet barbecue sauce. It's another messy, man's burger. The burger patty is really big, juicy and well-cooked, too.

And behind that slice of heaven is a cup of ranch. I had forgotten how much they love their ranch on fries out there. So, I had to indulge in their practices. "When in Rome," after all.

With my dinner, I first tried an Angy Hank's (other micro brew) Fighting Red. Then I tried a Montana Brewing ale. Funny thing about Angry Hank's, they A) have amazing beers that are very high in alcohol content. Some, so high, that when you go to Angry Hank's to drink, they give you a wrist band and allow you just 3 beers (unless you get a growler or two and plan on going home). And B) they do something that I wish more places do and they send out their brews to other places so you can enjoy them at other local restaurants.

Montana Brewing also does that, but they own both the Brew Pub next door and Hooligan's.



So, there you have it. My food/culinary experiences while out in Montana and Wyoming. If they were to be rated, I'm sorry Magnolia's, but all three burgers would be atop my list. They really are just that good and diverse. The wild, wild west knows how to make burgers. And bacon. And beer.

If you ever get the chance to go out to Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks, do it. And stop in either Billings, Red Lodge (another great location of amazing beers), and/or Jackson for some awesome food and brews. And let me know what you think.

Best Burger in Aiken Part 12 - Midway Grill

So, I'm getting close to the end of the quest for the best burger in Aiken. Therefore, I exercise my right to take it slow and savor each and every bite. What? Did you think I was going to say I exercise? I probably should considering the number of burgers I've had. But that can wait.

Now, before I get into this most recent entry for the burger quest, let me just say I have something in the works for next week. It's not something big and earth shattering (where are you Food Network? Heck, I'd even take a local network at this point!). It's just the next phase of this project, if you will. I've already said I wish to keep blogging about food following the burger quest; therefore, I am going to start next week with another facet/phase/idea what ever you want to call it. But, you have to wait until I get back from Wyoming and Montana to find out what it is (and no, this trip doesn't have anything to do with it... yet).



So, I have been overlooking one of the first mentioned places for this challenge. When Dyer posted about this originally, I believe one oft he very first comments was something to the effect that "Midway Grill is awesome." So, they obviously have to be on the list. And they are actually No. 2 on the list when I drafted it (apparently I suck at following my own orders/lists).

Location - Midway Grill, 2060 Augusta Rd., Warrenville, SC 29851
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So, today for lunch I went to Midway Grill in Warrenville, SC. For those of you not familiar with the Aiken area, we have what is known as the valley and it is comprised of Graniteville, Warrenville, Gloverville, Langley, Clearwater, Mixville (OK, even I have no idea where Google Maps got THAT one), Stiefefltown, and probably another couple burgs that I am not familiar with.

The area gets a bad rap because it hasn't developed like the rest of the areas around (and no, I don't mean Aiken is a booming metropolis, but it just seems like the valley is stuck in time). However, if you're from Aiken (or lived here at any point during your youth), you've been down to the valley a time or two for more than just passing through and you have friends from the valley. Yet, if you're not from the valley, you still refer to it with a sense of disdain and call people there "Valley Rats."

I'm guilty of this, yet I still love it because, like I said before, it's a bit of a blast from the past. It's made up of old mills (many no longer operating) and family-run business. The homes feature a lot of "cookie cutter" features because a lot of them were mill-houses. It's really an interesting place, and just today I was reminded of a huge event for those of us in Aiken, the train derailment of January 2006. It's hard to believe that we're coming up on 10 years since that in about 5 months.

ANYWAYS, I tend to ramble, as you can tell, but this is supposed to be about Midway Grill. Like most of the businesses around the valley area, it's a staple. I actually ate there a few times back in high school when I had a couple summer jobs doing lawn care with Eddington Sprinklers and Cold Creek Nursery (and probably Kimball's knowing that crew). But, I had forgotten all about it until I walked in.

For those of you who love holes in the wall, you have GOT to make it to Midway. It's an interesting place that features a grill-style restaurant with a drive-through, ice cream parlor and some arcade games (not originals, but heck, it's still fun to see places with arcade games). It should probably only hold 20-30 people, but they pack it in. If you're like my friend Cliff, it passes the car test (that means there are more than just a couple cars out front). I went around noon and I was actually worried I wouldn't have a seat inside (this is not a bad thing at all. This is a VERY good problem to have, particularly for a non-chain restaurant).

The first thing you'll notice about the place and people is that there are definitely regulars. The guys and gals behind the bar know a lot of their customers by name - probably even nicknames - and they cut up with them and give each other some grief. I'm not one to poke fun at the people handling my food (I've worked in a kitchen, I've seen the movies) but some of the regulars were dishing it out a bit towards the one guy. Brave souls. Then again, they wouldn't still be around (either Midway or the customers) if anything ever happened more than a chuckle and a slap on the back.

So, because of that, you know it's friendly. It doesn't take long for you to figure out that the patrons and the workers are good people. Even if there was some Carolina Gamecock stuff on the walls. At least they corrected it a bit with some Clemson orange and paws. (funny story, I actually sat right in the area of the Clemson orange and didn't even realize it. You know you're from SC when...)

So, I've given you quite a bit to munch on about just the place itself. How about I show you what I munched on during my lunch break. This was the bacon cheeseburger basket:

So, let's get down to business. The first thing I noticed was it very much resembles the Blue Top burger. Nothing fancy, but good meat, fresh veggies, and probably cooked on a similar grill (one that has never been cleaned and was installed when the building was first erected in the 40's or 50's if not earlier.

However, you can see that the patty is rather... small. It was a fat patty (I feel like that will have some of you chuckling for some reason), but it didn't fill up the bun (again, keep your minds out of the gutter, people). I was a little disappointed in this because the taste was very good. The bacon was a little over-done and the tomato was a bit on the over-ripe side, but the taste all around was good. Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and the patty. Nothing fancy about it.

I hate that it seems like I say this so often, but it was a solid burger, just not a great burger. I left full because there really is a fair amount of food there (plenty of warm, crispy crinkle fries along with a thick patty) but I would have liked it more had the patty filled up the bun AND been thick.

And I hear a few of you saying, "And if they had just toasted the bun!" Maybe that's what I'll name my food show when I get one. "Toasted buns" or "I like my buns toasted."

If I had to rank it, I'd say it's right there with Red Shed (R.I.P.), City B's and Blue Top... but if I had to go off of how full I am right now and add in the atmosphere, I'd say it's probably ahead of those (but not by much... and honestly, I guess Red Shed should be a bit lower, now).

I hope you don't let this "low ranking" talk you out of going here. It's not like I'm giving this place a "C' a "D" or even an "F". Everywhere I have been has been very good, clean, and definitely worth visiting to make your own assumptions. This is purely on what I think is the best burger in Aiken County (sorry Dyer, but your hangover-curing burger at Waffle House will have to wait).

Price: As far as prices go, this was definitely one of the better ones. I paid $7.77 for the bacon cheeseburger basket and all the sweet tea you can guzzle. (Side note, I think this is my favorite thing about the local joints... everywhere has pretty much been under $10 and for what you get, you cannot ask for better. Sure, you could hit up Wendy's, Burger King or McDonald's - I may just hurl thinking of that last one - but it won't be the same, won't be as good, and you won't get the same service).
Ambience: I've already described it at length above. Great, hole-in-the-wall-type place. Clean, lots of customers for the small space, fun environment.


Your current rankings:
1) Magnolia Cafe & Market
2) Betsy's on the Corner
3) Brew Pub
4) Ray's
5) Playoffs
6) Malia's
7) Grumpy's
8) Midway Grill
9) Red Shed
10) City Bs
11) Blue Top


So. Make sure you visit all of these 11... OK, 10. As Stoplight and Red Shed have just proven, these little holes in the wall can't last forever in this day and age. Well, they can, we the customers just have to make sure we eat local. It's not difficult, people. Enjoy what is around you! And be on the look out next week for that new series I'm starting. I think you'll like it (it's about food, how could you NOT like it?!).

Best Burger in Aiken Part 11 - Grumpy's Sports Pub

Location - Grumpy's Sports Pub, 216 E Gate Dr., Aiken, SC 29803
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Geeze. Do I even know what I'm doing anymore? It's been pretty much a full month since my last post. And, truth be told, I've had maybe 3 burgers in that time. Having 3 burgers in that span isn't bad for a guy doing a food blog with a current run of burger critiques... except one was home made, (yes, Kristen, your burger is worth noting here. It was good. Loved the venison meat) and the other 2 were burgers I've had before (if I'm remembering the last month correctly, but I'm getting old so there's that).

I kind of feel like y'all want to know more about that home-made venison burger, but it was kind of too good to share. That, and the creator of said burger is moving to Florida soon.

Sigh... goodbye venison burger. Oh, and you too, Kristen. I guess we'll miss you, but definitely the burger. :-)

Anyways, I'm sorry, guys. Honestly, I needed a bit of a break from the burger quest. I went out of town a little (did some camping, kayaking, beach going) and I MAY have wanted to drag this out a little longer. Can you blame me for that last one?

But, the important thing is I made up my mind and decided I needed to continue. Going into yesterday, I had 7 more places to visit and knock off the list, so I had better get crackin'.

That led me to a place I have been countless times before, but never for the burger. That place is Grumpy's Sports Pub on the south side of Aiken behind Golden Corral and next to... a rotating door of stores. Seriously, nothing ever seems to stay the same in the shops next to Grumpy's on the far end.

I have been for wing night (if you do decide to go on a Tuesday, either go early or go late. Do not, I repeat do NOT go right at dinner time, between the hours of 6 and probably 8. You will regret it because it is packed and people don't just eat and leave. They stay) and I've been for various sporting events. I say all of this because, while I generally like Grumpy's for the food, beverages, and a couple people I know who work there, I have never had an amazing, makes-me-giddy-to-go-back experience mostly because ... the service is average at best and sometimes just down right bad.

I know I'm going to take some heat for that one, mostly because this is a burger quest blog and not a restaurant critique, but I had to say it to set up last night's visit.

Before I get into that experience, here is the burger, the "Grumpy Burger." (Is it just me or does this name set up for like a WWE or MMA or boxing match intro. "Ladies and gentlemen, in THIS corner, weighing in at a half pound of angus beef gently laid down on a fresh roll. Hailing all the way from the south siiiiiiiiide. It's Grrrrrrrrrrrrrumpyyyyyyy Burrrrgerrrrrrrrrr!" Sorry. Couldn't help myself)

OK, so I have to remind myself how this works. I show you the burger. I tell you about the burger and the dining experience, I sum it up at the end, and then you go and try it, right? Got it.

The first thing to note is that Grumpy's is just a tad different than Magnolia's was. Magnolia's is a cafe that grows some of their own stuff and buys the rest locally. They're quiet and small.

Grumpy's Sports Pub: the name says it all. All they're missing is a grumpy old man who resembles Jeff Dunham's puppet Walter (or Vice President Joe Biden) greeting you at the door saying, "Welcome to Grumpy's. Eat your food and get the **** out!" Scowl and all. Maybe spitting a stream of tobacco juice into a cup. (FYI, this is NOT the case. No health code violations going on. Just something I thought would make it funny). I imagine he'd be a hit with people wanting to take selfies with. #Grumpy #youmadbro #hemad

So, as I noted before, I have never had amazing service at Grumpy's. I have had a couple trips there where the server was decent, but on every trip I find myself thinking at some point, "Did they forget about my table?" I realize they are usually very busy (which I am VERY glad to see for a local place), but let's take last night, for instance. I saw maybe 6 or 7 different servers - maybe five and 2 were getting off, two were working the bar. And yet, after I received my beer, I had to wait quite a while and flag down a random server to order food. After that, the check-ins by our two servers was a bit more frequent and that may be because they felt slighted by us flagging down another server. Oops.

Again, I realize it was busy (I walked in and only two tables weren't full and at some point during the dining experience the place was near capacity inside, I think), but having worked in a restaurant and watched the successful servers on some of our busiest nights, I think I have a good idea of when something can be fixed.

But that's not what this is about. This is about the burger. The food didn't take all that long to get to me after I ordered. I would say it was certainly average time. When I got it, the above it what I received: burger in a basket, bun slightly off the melted cheese and a big helping of fried okra.

I do have to say that this burger, like most of the ones I have eaten, was pleasant to look at. It had just looked to have the right caramelization (is that even a word?) on it, the veggies looked pretty fresh, the bun was nice and warm. But the thing that really caught my attention was the cheese. I went with swiss this time and boy was I impressed. It must have been a pretty thick slice because just about each and every bite had a lot of cheese on it. I've been a few other places that the cheese either melted off, was never there, or was just kind of there. Grumpy's knows how to put cheese on a burger.

They don't put any condiments on it, so you have to add your own ketchup and mustard. This may be because they want you to enjoy the burger as is, but I like to add some more flavors.

And that is kind of where I got hung up on here. The flavor was alright, but it was lacking something. There was beef, I'll give them that. And you could taste that it came off a grill that has some flavor on it. But there just wasn't a "Wow" factor. No unique spices jumped out at me and it made me glad I put the condiments on. It was still a solid burger, but as soon as I had taken 2 or 3 bites I knew it was just a middle of the pack, considering where I've been.

Aside from that, the burger was good. It was well-cooked, juicy, and held together throughout. As Joey said about one place he visited, "The bun just fell apart and by the end, you were just taking handfuls of beef and shoving it in your face." That luckily wasn't the case here (sorry carnivorous cave men). The burger and bun held together and was good to the last bite. I mean it, good, just not amazing.

Now the okra? Since Church's Chicken closed down several years ago, I have been dying to find a place with good fried okra. Grumpy's has that in spades and I almost always have to get the okra when I'm there. So that made a good side and slightly different from the usual chips or fries. BUT I will say they have good pub chips and fries as well. Don't hesitate to get these as the side, instead, if that is your thing.

And the beer, a Buckshot Amber Ale by Natty Greene's Brewing Company, was good. Side note, if you want a fun way to track the beers you taste (if you're into that) download the Untappd App to your phone. I was introduced to this when I was in Hilton Head and have been trying to catch up on the beers I have had over the years. To date, I have logged only 24 distinct beers, but I haven't caught up to everything I have had. The guy who introduced me to the app, Jay, had a ridiculous amount of beers and I know my buddy Chris Bradshaw could probably compete. It also lets you rate the beers (FYI, if you put Miller Lite, Bud Lite, or something like that above a 2.5 star, we are no longer friends and I will recommend you take my buddy Chris' beer class that he will now have to make since I mentioned it).

Price: The burger with a side is listed at $9.49 (seriously, just make it $9.50, guys.). That makes it right on par with most of the others. I will say the price of drinks is also good and they have a wide assortment of different beers on tap or in the bottle.
Ambience: Like I said above, the name says it all. It's a bar and grill, but you'll generally see a good mix of people: people dressed like they just worked in the yard next to those guys who just got off the 18th green or out of a management meeting with the occasional suit and tie. It is pretty tight quarters. I feel like they could remove a table to two to make some room, but then it would be an even bigger problem because they can't fit all the customers they have now. They have a lot of TVs spread out so you can watch just about any sporting event you want.

Your current rankings:
1) Magnolia Cafe & Market
2) Betsy's on the Corner
3) Brew Pub
4) Ray's
5) Playoffs
6) Malia's
7) Grumpy's
8) Red Shed
9) City Bs
10) Blue Top

Hopefully I'll be able to knock the last six: Midway Grill, Manuel's Bread Cafe, The Wilcox, Iron Horse, Cork & Bull and Gary's, out before the middle or end of August. Then, I'll just starting writing about anything and everything food. Thanks again for reading!

Best Burger in Aiken Part 10 - Magnolia Cafe & Natural Market

Location - Magnolia Cafe & Natural Market, 210 York St SE, Aiken, SC 29801
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I know, I went over a week without a post. I know, I'm not the most regular writer on the face of the earth. But, what I have for you today should more than make up for it. And besides, part of the fun is not knowing when or where I'll pop up next.

Now then, I bring you three words: New. Number. One.

That's right. As I sit here writing this up about my lunch experience today, I am certainly satisfied and happy I went and ate local today as well as listened to a buddy's recommendation, as well.

Now, I have to admit something, before this quest/challenge I was pretty narrow minded on where to find good burgers. I figured the best burgers would come from a diner or hole in the wall grease trap-like place that either hadn't cleaned their grills since the day they were purchased used from another place or from places that had "grill(e)" in the name. Don't get me wrong, I knew full-well that the other places had good food, I just did not associate them with burgers.

I stand corrected.

I was wrong, and I am sorry.

My friend Jamey Cook is a chef at the place I went today and he is the one who made sure that I didn't overlook Magnolia Cafe & Natural Market (just across York Street from the original St. Mary's sanctuary). And boy am I glad I listened to ol' Squirrel. Like I said above, there is a new number one burger atop my list.

Before I get into it any more, let me show you this beauty, it's called the Magnolia Burger:

If you're not drooling right now, you need to adjust your screen or fix your taste buds or have your momma slap you good. Seriously.

This thing is hand-made and grilled to your liking (I went medium rare this time). I'm not 100% sure what all was on it but I can tell you the beef is seasoned well and the veggies are home-grown. But I'll get into that in a minute.

The patty was juicy, tender, large (and in charge) and full of flavor. It never fell apart and had great flavor the entire time. From that first bite all the way to the last, every ingredient was included. And that bun. Mmmm that bun was toasted just right and not smushed at all.

As for the veggies ON the burger (I need to differentiate because of the side that I will get to in a second), I caught some really awesome tastes from them. The lettuce, first and foremost, is not your normal lettuce. It is what you would get if you were to go get the salad mix seeds from a garden store and grow your own lettuce. We're talking real green leaves that weren't ripped off a head of lettuce, but grown amongst a spring or fall assortment. YES! Loved that. The tomatoes on it, I'm guessing were also from their gardens out back and must have been picked at just the right time. They had a very good, juicy taste to them as well (a piece fell out onto the plate by itself in the middle of the experience so I can tell you that, yes, it was good and ripe).

My one critique was there was a little too much sauce. I read the menu, but I didn't pay close enough attention to be able to write the ingredients but I believe there was blue cheese involved (if you don't like blue cheese you should try this anyways and just pretend you didn't read this part because it was so good). There was a lot of white sauce on this thing, but I'm not really complaining. It was really awesome how there were a couple bites where I could taste something very sweet in there...  Jamey, what was that because it was pretty dang good!

As if the burger itself wasn't enough to set itself apart, the side did it as well. I have said already, this is about the burgers but I do like when a restaurant sets itself apart and having grilled mixed veggies as a side for a burger? Nobody does that. Correction, Magnolia does that, and they do it well. We're talking mushrooms, red peppers, yellow squash, zucchini squash, and broccoli. Yum, yum, yum, and did I mention yum? Again, I'm not sure what they cooked or marinated this all in, but it was so, SO good.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I went ahead and splurged a bit. I had dessert. I enjoyed (and that word is not strong enough for this) their chocolate zucchini cake. Slap. Your. Momma. Good. Slap. Your. Own. Face. Good. They're not paying or bribing me in any way shape or form to tell you this, go for that cake alone. I am serious as a heart attack or stroke on that one.

Price: This one was a little more pricey than just about any other burger so far, but man was it worth it. $16.25 before tax (burger is $13.50, substitute veggies were $2.75, and I went with water) - side note, the piece of cake was $6 and I do believe you could share it... but why would you want to?
Ambience: It's a cafe. It really reminds me a lot of Aiken's New Moon Cafe with a little of Stoplight Deli. It's in what appears to be an old house, and I remember it being a couple other things before (I have never stopped in until now so don't ask me what the other places have been, but there was a fake Brittish royal guard standing out front at one point). None of the tables and chairs match, which I love, and there is local art on the walls. You can see into the kitchen from the dining area, and the dining area inside is small and intimate.

Your new rankings:
1) Magnolia Cafe & Market
2) Betsy's on the Corner
3) Brew Pub
4) Ray's
5) Playoffs
6) Malia's
7) Red Shed
8) City Bs
9) Blue Top

I went for lunch and it was not crowded at all (we need to change this people!) but it was a steady flow. In the 35 or so minutes I was in there, I think I saw 10-15 people come in. I don't want to overwhelm them, but I would love it if my reader(s) would flood this place over the next month or so and show the love. It's local and it is great food.

I'm over halfway done with this quest, but I may add another place to the list. I passed somewhere the other day and just about slapped myself for forgetting to have them on the list just because they are in North Augusta (this is about Aiken County, after all).

By the way, I cannot say THANK YOU enough to you all who read my ramblings. I have had over 1,050 views on this particular blog and 177 unique views alone on my Stoplight Deli post. The fact that some of you go back to re-read some of this either tells me I have some people critiquing my writing or you're just enjoying torturing your taste buds. Either way, I really appreciate it. Now then, excuse me while I slip into a food coma.

Goodbye Stoplight Deli

I'm going to take a break from my burger quest for just a post because I want to share my thoughts on something. I had intended for this blog to morph into a place for me to share thoughts on recipes and restaurants after the burger quest was over, anyways, so now is a good time to try something a little different out on you, my reader(s).

It seems to be a growing trend in Aiken, and perhaps in most towns around the country and maybe even the world, that growth is happening in a rather unhealthy way and it is causing some problems. For those of you who have been in Aiken for at least the last 5-10 years, you know what I am talking about.

But, before I get into that, let me first say that another Aiken staple is closing its doors next week. You have until Wednesday, June 10, 2015 to get down to Stoplight Deli (119 Laurens Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801) and enjoy at least one last Dagwood or slice of cake or a bowl of soup from those wonderful ladies. If you have a particular food allergy, take a shot, a pill or just man up. If you don't like what they have to offer, might I suggest North Korea or Russia as alternative living places?

If you've been before, you know what you will be missing, even if it was just once or twice to convince your grandma that you don't eat lunchables every day for lunch. If you've never been, especially those of you from out of town, get down there immediately. But be prepared to wait as all the locals from over the years line up to pay their respects (and I'm not joking about this part. I waited in line for nearly 20 or 30 minutes yesterday, and I will do it again sometime before they close. And I won't complain one bit because it's great to see that place filled to capacity and with a line).

Now, I'm sure there are plenty of people who are thinking, "Calm down, man! It's not the end of the world." And no, it's not. But it is the end for a very nice, local place in Aiken and it's part of a trend. This is a place that has become a staple in downtown Aiken over the years and I had hoped would be there for many more years to come. But that is not to be.

For those of you who aren't familiar, let me share this image of the lunch I had from there yesterday - a Daddy Dagwood, side of potato salad and a big ol' slice of red velvet cake (one of my favorites, FYI):

Looks pretty dang good, right? And that's just a small number of the items on their menu. They make just about everything in store, have numerous sandwiches (both hot and cold) and soups of the day, great sweet tea, and the ladies are just genuinely nice and hard working. Most of them have been working there for as long as I can remember, but I'm also not the best customer in that I haven't gone as often as I should. It sure is going to be a sad day when I decide, "Hey, I want a Dagwood and some potato or pasta salad from Stoplight. Oo oo, and some hummingbird cake! ... Oh, wait. They're closed."

That hurt just to type it.

And this brings me to the reason for this post: the changing food landscape of Aiken.

The other day, I was noticing as I was driving from the south side up Whiskey Road towards the bypass that things are continuing to grow in the direction of New Ellenton. Crackle Barrel, Shane's Rib Shack and Longhorns all opened up fairly recently. Outback went through a face lift to avoid losing customers. And now, we are adding a drive-through Starbucks, a Chipotle (I believe) and a Panera Bread. All onto an already busy stretch that also includes (in no particular order): Arby's, O'Charlie's, Chick-fil-a, Golden Corral, Chiles, Red Lobster, Atlanta Bread, Burger King, Sonic, Checkers, Krystal, Five Guys, McDonald's, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, and on... Actually, that might be everything in that immediate area.

Do you see what I mean? And that's just on that one stretch of Whiskey. Because of places like these (which also include Subway, Jimmy John's, Moe's, Applebee's, Mellow Mushroom) locally-owned, non-chain restaurants are closing here in Aiken at an alarming rate, recently.

We watched as Cafe Rio Blanco shut their doors just a few years ago. I stumbled across a picture of Orlando - the owner for those of you who never got to enjoy his company or food - the other day and I could almost taste his cuban sandwiches or smell the large cafe con leche I almost always had to have on a cold day. Or the plantains, rice, pork and onions, and all the other family recipes he and his family cooked up for a few years on Laurens Street.

Just last year, many of us celebrated as Mellow Mushroom announced they would be opening in downtown Aiken, only to realize it meant the West Side Bowery was closing. Many of my friends didn't necessarily see this as a bad thing, but boy was that a bitter pill for many long-time patrons of Sam Herb's restaurant.

And now, the most recent two closings have been announced: Davor's and Stoplight Deli, the latter of which has been around for quite some time and the former being a place that several of my friends loved to go to for brunch or for a quick drink.

And that's just four examples of small-town America feeling the effects of the big dogs' bite. I also remember thinking no way would Ferrando's move out of the alley. But that is what it took, sadly, for them to compete and stay relevant.

The same could be said for the Buffet (never went), Aires Grille (some of the best burgers and hand-cut fries you could ever hope for), Barbeque Barn (man I miss that being nice and close but at least they are still in North Augusta). How about Papa Russ's? Man, oh man, were those some great chili cheese fries and some pretty good pulled pork sandwiches.

So, why am I writing this post? Well, it's not an attack on the big stores. Trust me, I can't compete with the multi-billion dollar organizations that own many of these. And I am guilty of enjoying what many of the big box chains offer (yes, I am at Moe's Monday almost every Monday and the Jimmy John's people know me quite well, too). I am writing it probably because I feel a little guilty.

Guilty that I didn't eat at any of those places more. Guilty that I didn't already write my food blog back then to introduce more people to what these places have to offer. Guilty that I, like many, prefer the ease and quickness of some of the chains over waiting a few more minutes for something local.

But, most importantly, I am writing this, and the burger posts, because I want to share what I think makes Aiken great.

Yes, we are a horse town with polo and races and eventing galore. Sure, we have a pretty good college in USC Aiken. And of course, I love that we are 2.5 hours from the beach, mountains, Atlanta and Charlotte (those two might be a slight stretch depending on your speed) all in one location.

While all of those things are good selling points for Aiken, the best thing I can think of is that Aiken has been a town that features some of the best locally-owned and operated stores that are not chains. But, sadly, they are becoming fewer and fewer with each year. It might not be that long before the Acropolis, Brew Pub, Ray's, Blue Top, Playoffs, City B's and others are bought out and replaced or have to shut down due to not being able to compete. I know, seems extreme, but, it seems to be happening faster and faster every year.

Especially when I can count 12 chain pizza places, alone. But that's another conversation for another day... and maybe another blog series.

So, make sure you get out to Stoplight Deli before Wednesday the 10th. I'm sorry I wasn't able to write this about Davor's or Cafe Rio Blanco or some of the others, but I'm doing it now. Buy and eat local when you can. The locations will appreciate you more than those fast food joints. And, it's just the American thing to do. Right, Nick Offerman?