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Best burger ever?
February 21, 2008

   Baker's Square, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, has officially announced its "Crush Burgers" promotion. The hook, according to a press release, is that if customers do not agree it's the best burger they've ever tasted, the restaurant will replace it with a comparably priced meal.  

   Writing the post made me hungry, and I headed to the Baker's Square nearby my house at lunchtime. Neither the menu nor my waiter mentioned the burger deal, though the waiter did say the menu was new. Later, after I'd eaten half of the burger, I spotted the manager and called him to the table and asked him about the half-pounder. He said company had promoted it with a coupon in the newspaper a few weeks ago, and that the burger was selling well: 40 to 60 a week and more on weekends. 

Crushed: Baker's Square's new  burger doesn't have the depth of flavor one expects from such a big hunk of meat.

   Had anyone tried to scam the restaurant, which is in a solidly middle-class neighborhood? Not really, he added, likely because the coupon noted you had to mention it wasn't the best burger after two bites. Only one customer so far had eaten the whole thing and then griped. 

   How was it? As big as it was, the Angus burger looked too neatly formed to be hand-patted ("crushed"). It tasted beefy enough, though the meat could have used more salt and pepper. I've posted a picture, with a bite taken. 

   Burgers are a big deal these days, as fellow Chain Leader blogger Lane Cardwell has explained. This week, in south Beach, the Food Network is sponsoring a Burger Bash, with several notable burger joints, including Danny Myer's Shake Shack, the reigning champion, competing. Baker's Square, however, is not among them. Yet.

Posted by David Farkas on February 21, 2008 | Comments (0)