Place: Fuddruckers
Item: "World's Greatest Hamburgers"
Prices: Up to $7.09
Put up a sign saying "world's greatest," and we Lunch Guys will
come running with mouths wide open. Pizza, pork rinds, whatever -- we'll scarf
it down.
Which is what got us on a full sprint to Fuddruckers. The quasi-sit-down burger
chain recently opened a new restaurant near us as part of the franchise's
current nationwide expansion strategy.
It proved to be the perfect time to test its "world's greatest hamburgers"
claim by ordering an Original Fudd Burger. Is it a boast that melts away like
hot fat on a grill or is there real meat to it?
Tom: As we so often discuss, the whole sandwich should be
greater than the sum of its parts. I’m not so sure the Fuddruckers burger
achieves that overall “oneness.” Granted, when you look at the
Fuddrucker parts, there is no weak link. The bun, with its pillow-soft top
and crunchy grilled-in-butter center has a touch of sweetness that makes it
as easy to eat as a warm Krispy Kreme doughnut. And the pick-your-own condiment
bar has perfect whole pieces of iceberg lettuce, beautiful tomatoes, pickles
and all the variety of mustards and sauces you’d ever want. The meat
is beef lover’s paradise -- lean without so much as a hint of artificial
saltiness.
of proportion. The lettuce leaves and tomato slices
from the famously free fixin's bar looked like Ford Festiva hubcaps on a monster
truck tire. I didn't even get to the tomato till I was a quarter of a pound
into the burger, drilling my way to the core. But was all that "great"
as in "best"? Well, almost. Every ounce oozed with meaty goodness,
as if the butcher ground up his best beef and put it right on the grill, then
served it up. But best in the world? C'mon, you gotta blend in some exceptional
spices or real hickory smoke for that distinction.
Tom: I must be half the man you are since I sheepishly ordered
the 1/2-pounder, but that was more than enough. However, I’m man enough
to stand up to you on your last point. I don’t think more flair is going
to make this a better burger. I think lower expectations would.
Chris: I’ll come clean, too – I could only get
down half of the Texas burger. The 1/3-pounder is the best bet for a lunch
appetite, but any size is worthy of the more humble claim of "Among the
World's Greatest Hamburgers."
Rating: 4 sporks (out of 5)
Food facts: Not available, which is probably for the best.
E-mail The Lunch Guys:
tomandchris@thelunchguys.com
Yes, there’s no doubt this is a great burger on a different level than
the drive-thru fare we normally eat. But does it blend into a harmonious symphony
of say, even a Big Mac? I’m not sure. And if you are the type of burger
lover who wants the grease dripping down your chin, this isn’t the place
for you.
Chris: Gotta differ with you on that last point, Tom. I was
taking a bath in grease (in a good way) when I skipped over the 1/3- , 1/2-
and 2/3-pound burgers to attack the Texas 1-pounder. My reactions upon first
seeing the behemoth on the bun and then upon finally walking away from the
lunch table were the same -- "In the name of all that's good and holy,
what have I done?!"
There is nothing, NOTHING like this in the mainstream lunch world. If by "greatest"
you mean "largest," the Fudd is the champ. I felt like a kid again,
because my tiny hands could barely wrap around the dinner-plate-diameter,
thumb-thick patty and the fresh baked bun (which was sublime on its own).
Everything seemed out
