Bobby's Burger Palace: A New Burger Joint in Burlington

Every week there seems to be a new burger joint opening, and I have lamented before that we are already deluged with burgers. I love a good burger but I would like to see different types of restaurants open as well. The infamous Shake Shake, which almost seems to have a cult following, recently opened in Chestnut Hill and there have been long lines waiting for burgers and shakes. How long are you willing to wait for a burger? Wouldn't you rather grab a good burger elsewhere, where there is no wait? Though I will likely try Shake Shack at some point, I really don't want to wait in line for their burgers.

I have twice visited another new burger joint, Bobby's Burger Palace at the Burlington Mall, and didn't wait in line either time I went. Chef Bobby Flay has created this chain of casual burger joints as a "tribute to America's regional flavors and traditions." How does it compete with other local burgers? Is it worth checking out?

When you enter the restaurant, you order your food at the counter and then choose a seat in the dining room. There is a counter where you can sit, which looks toward the kitchen. The dining area is a bit modern in its decor but with a bit of a retro feel.

There are a number of communal tables where you can sit, and pictures on the walls of various fruits and vegetables.

You can partially watch the kitchen area from the your seat at the counter.

The menu is relatively small, but has enough variety to satisfy nearly any taste. There are ten different Burgers listed ($6.75-$7.75), with an extra Special burger each month. For any of the burgers, you can choose Angus Beef, Ground Turkey or Chicken Breast. Any of their burgers can be Crunchified for free, meaning they add potato chips atop your burger. Your burger can also be ordered Topless, where you don't get a bun and the burger is placed atop a bed of greens. In addition to the burgers, they have two Griddled Cheese Sandwiches ($5.50-$7.50) and two Salads ($7.50-$8.50). To accompany your burger, they have three sides: French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, and Beer Battered Onion Rings, each for $3.00.

They have plenty of drink options, from Iced Tea to Boylan Soda, but the stand outs are the Milkshakes & Malteds ($5), which come with or without whipped cream. There are ten flavors and I tried the Vanilla Bean and Coconut. The whipped cream is homemade, and is a decadent topping for the rich, creamy and flavorful shakes. The shakes are thick, accompanied by a large straw and spoon. I enjoyed both flavors, and there were even tiny bits of coconut in that flavored shake. An excellent option.

On one trip, I enjoyed the Bobby Blue Burger, which comes with blue cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Flay has mentioned before that one of the key elements of his burger joint is that the cheese on the burgers always gets properly melted. This sandwich might be the exception, and I don't have a problem with that. There was a good layer of melted blue cheese, as well as numerous unmelted chunks atop it. The burger was  juicy and flavorful, enhanced by the bacon and tangy blue cheese. It comes on a standard sesame seed bun and that was the only misstep for me. The bottom slice of bun gets soggy quickly, making it more messy to eat.

On another visit, I tried the Dallas Burger, which normally comes spice crusted and topped by coleslaw, Monterey Jack, BBQ sauce, and pickles. I omitted the coleslaw and was impressed with the spicy goodness from his juicy burger. All of the cheese was melted well and the BBQ sauce was a nice balance of sweet and spicy. Though once again, the bottom bun got soggy too quickly.

The French Fries are just the way I like them, crisp on the outside, and soft and fluffy inside. The fries come with their skin on and weren't too salty. There are several different sauces at the table, though my favorite for the fries was the Chipotle Ketchup that had a spicy element to it. There are enough fries in one order for two people to share.

The Sweet Potato Fries are also very good, with a crispy exterior, though slightly less crispy than the fries due to the nature of the sweet potato. They have a slightly sweeter taste than the regular fries, and probably are healthier for you. There is once again enough sweet potato fries in one order for two people.

Overall, I enjoyed my burgers, fries and shakes. They are reasonably priced, portions are good, and they are certainly tasty. My only complaint is that the bottom buns tend to get soggy, which I dislike though others might not care as much about it. Service is very good and it makes for a nice choice for a fast casual restaurant. Bobby's Burger Palace is worth checking out, and note that you likely won't have to wait in line as you might elsewhere.