Higgins

Whataburger! (aka Lelo In Nopo) gets high-brow:

Touching the holy grail, Whataburger! and Radio Gretchen met up at the bar at Higgins to have what many refer to as the best burger in P-Town. Once Radio Gretchen had a bite, she muttered something I didn't completely understand, but was something along the lines of mmmmmmmmmmmm. Yes, it's good. And because we're talking the holy grail of Portland hamburgers, they don't call it a hamburger. At Higgins, it's the Sirloin Burger.

Cooked exactly to perfection—I prefer my burgers "medium"—the bar at Higgins turns out a mighty tasty burger. Part of it has to be the Painted Hills Beef, but other nice touches were the white cheddar, the supah-fresh greens with hazelnuts, and the most tastiest of relishes on the side. The relish included golden beets, pickles, onions and red bell peppers. Tangy, crunchy and zesty, the relish was a great zip to the meaty main course. How is it that a burger could taste so good? The bar at Higgins knows how. And now we do too.

From the Bistro menu:
Broiled, freshly ground and spiced sirloin on a toasted hearth-baked roll $10.00

Higgins Restaurant and Bar
1239 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
(503)222-9070

Mon-Fri 11:30am-12:00am
Sat 4:00pm- 2:30am
Sun 4:00pm-12:00am

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Roux

Whataburger! (aka Lelo In Nopo) takes us North:

The rumors of the brunch at Roux are true: super delightful, non-pretentious and decadent at the same time, but this post is about The Roux Burger.

Described as a ground cascade natural sirloin, with a fresh garlic and red pepper ailoi, topped with grilled housemade tasso (we asked: it's bacon) and cajun spiced fries. This is a wonderful burger. Not sure of the weight, it's a biggy, but the pretty and perfect bun holds the tasty package together while you delight in the goodness it contains. (Did I really just write that?) While others ordered benedicts or quiche, this burger is a great option on a brunch menu. The fries were zingy, the burger hefty. Ooh la la. Thumbs up Roux Burger, thumbs up.

The Roux Burger, $12, and cheddar $1, substitute greens $1.50

Roux
1700 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR 97217
(503)285-1200

Dinner 7 nights a week: 5-10
Sunday brunch: 10am-2pm

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Wildwood

Slipping or keeping up the pace? Whataburger! (aka Lelo In Nopo) returns from a busy week of inventing Post It Notes to find out:

Ooh la la. Whataburger! dined with the exquisite Cuisine Bonne Femme as part of a busy business lady lunch (please refer to Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion for explanation). As busy business ladies Whataburger! suggested Wildwood, and eh, it was nice. Cuisine Bonne Femme selected the burger, while I opted for fish and chips. We go to fancy restaurants and order burgers and fish'n'chips. That's just how we roll.

So back to the burger. It was pretty to look at. I didn't try it but I did sample the pickled onion on top and that kicked ass.

Here's what Cuisine Bonne Femme said about the burger:

Burger is on the pricer side: 12.00 plain or add $1.00 each for bacon or cheese. Cheese includes a blue cheese or a white cheddar the server described as "pretty sharp."

Burger itself is round and served on a substantial bun. Was cooked perfectly medium rare as requested. Comes dressed with a bit of a mayo and rustic mustard (big mustard seeds) sauce, shredded lettuce, and lots of picked onions.

The burger was itself was stacked high with the patty quite thick thick, and about 3" in diameter. It was more of a rough-chop than some burger meat. (Whataburger! loves dining with people who know and can use terms like rough-chop.)

The burger was also seasoned, perhaps a little too seasoned for some. I liked it just fine.

My only complaints were the price and the way the cheddar melted, or rather didn't melt very well instead kind of glopping up into a greasy mass and the the burger was expensive! Most other "fancy burger" places using similar meat like Clyde Common or Lovely Hula hands charge about $9.00, or $10.00 with cheese, even at dinner.

Other than that, service was good and the fries devine! Overall a B- for the burger, given the price.

Wildwood
1221 NW 21st Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
(503)248-9663

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Mississippi Station

WhataBurger! ( aka Lelo in Nopo ) finds a french fry contender:

Station burger at Mississippi Station. Mmmmm. Good. A well done burger that's still juicy. Not always the case. They can do it.

Cheese choices included swiss, cheddar, blue or dill havarti. Dill havarti you say? Why yes. But really the best part? French fry options include plain, sweet potato, or my new favorite: garlic parmesan. Super garlicky too. Those fries are keepers.

Station burger, $9, with the cheese $1, and special fries $ = $11

Mississippi Station
3943 North Mississippi
Portland, OR 97227
(503)517 5751

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Cascade Locks Charburger

Whataburger! ( aka Lelo in Nopo ) takes a trip up the river for some sizzling burger action. She is going to get a pass as she learns the fine art of burgering photo skills as well.

I hope that the delectable charred taste of my charburger today, from Charburger in Cascade Locks, was the real deal and not out of a bottle. You know the taste I'm talkin' bout. Char.

We popped into Charburger today because the other half has never been. And as a native Oregonian, she really should be ashamed of herself for that.

Charburger offers up all kinds of options for your burgers. I opted for the special, $7.95, topped with pepper jack cheese and turkey bacon. The other half went for the cheddar burger. I should have gotten the cheddar burger cuz I couldn't bite through the bacon and the cheese had been cooked to the point of oil/cheese separation. But, the view is to die for at Charburger, and the setting is outta this world. A cafeteria style of place...in the middle of the spacious dining room is a chuckwagon...

...Because mine was the special, it came served in the skillet pan. I loved that detail. The burger was pretty dry, but after a trip to the chuck wagon side table of help yourself hamburger accouterments, a little special sauce helped make everything much better. While the other half says she vows to never return, at least she can say she's gone.Char.

Unable to pass by the pie case without pulling a little somethin' somethin' out, here was the crem de la creme...I'm not sure which is better: the logo or the pie.

Stumptown Confidential has this to say as well as a couple more pics:

This is the way a damn burger joint should look! Kind of like the Doug Fir's older, less ironic brother that lives in the country.

Cascade Locks Charburger
745 Wanapa St.
Cascade Locks, OR
(541)374-8477

Menu photo from Ramparts54

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Burger Skills: Rims

Whataburger! has a taste for the Tigard Police's D.A.R.E. mini-truck. I think we will sling McDonalds this Friday.

Photo from Whateves via Supersized Meals

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Homemade: Gorgonzola Stuffed Hamburgers

Lelo in Nopo (and from here on known by her burger name: Whataburger! ) chimes in with this piece of homegrown Portland deliciousness. How'd she do it already:

It might disappoint you some to learn they come from a recipe in Cooking Light magazine for Grilled Blue Cheese Burgers. The secret is to shape the patties the night before and chill 'em. And since I prefer gorgonzola to blue cheese, well, it's gorgonzola.

2 1 oz slices country white bread
2 T fat free milk
1/2 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
2 lbs lean ground sirloin
1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
cooking spray
8 hamburger rolls ( I like the kaisers from New Seasons)

Prep grill. Place bread in food processor; process 30 seconds or until finely ground. Place breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Add milk, toss with a fork to moisten. Add salt, pepper, and beef to breadcrumb mixture, stirring just until combined. Divide meat mixture into 16 equal portions, shaping each into a 3 1/2 inch patty. Spoon 1 T cheese in the center of each of 8 patties; top each with 1 remaining patty, pinching edges to seal.

Place patties on grill rack coated with cooking spray, grill 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

Last year I made a similar burger to this, but added to it grilled apples on top. Sweet sweet jesus. That was good.

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