A Change of Eatery

The name says it all: 5 Guys Burgers & Fries. At this Virginia-based burger chain, you won’t find any gourmet toppings beyond a few standard offerings and staple condiment options. The award-winning eatery is intentionally straightforward in its limited selection of burgers, fries, and hot dogs- but the taste is enhanced by simplicity. Burgers are juicy and well-done, and the crispy Cajun fries are phenomenal. Prices are reasonable- it’s glorified fast food. I first tried 5 Guys on the boardwalk in Bethany Beach, DE last summer and was psyched to hear about several locations scattered around Connecticut. Delicious, beachy boardwalk food all year round!

In Hartford County- visit 5 guys in Farmington or Avon. 

Ted’s Montana Grill

Let’s switch gears and talk about the burgers at Ted’s Montana Grill. This restaurant’s bison burgers are leaner- and arguably more flavorful- than their beefy companions. I tried one for the first time a few weeks ago and was immediately smitten. I don’t think I spoke at all for the several minutes that followed (My dining companions can attest to that). The meat was savory- even a bit sweet, juicy— everything a satisfying burger experience should be. I opted for the Green & Hot bison burger, topped with melted Monterrey Jack cheese, a generous scoop of guacamole and jalapeno peppers (got these on the side). If you don’t care for the bison, beef & chicken burgers are offered as alternatives. 

$11-$14 for a Bison Burger– worth every bite  

With its environment-friendly goal to be 99% plastic-free, it’s no wonder that Ted’s motto is Eat Great. Do Good. Menus are printed on recycled paper, to-go cups are biodegradable, and even the straws are paper-based (apparently not produced in the US since the ’70s!). The restaurant’s website describes innovative ways in which they reduce energy consumption and promote water conservation. Take a look: http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com/about.html

This concludes my burger outings…for a little while at least. I already have my eye on several places for a round 2 of burger hopping sometime in the future (listed below). If you check these out before I do- let me know what you think!

The Counter (Custom Built Burgers)–  Blue Back Square, 50 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT 06107  

Max Burger– 124 Lasalle Road, West Hartford, CT 06107-2314

Wood n Tap Bar & Grill (5 locations)

The Spot Eatery — 949 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110

In the midst of my scrumptious week of burger reports, I can’t help but share something cool that’s happening tomorrow night. Every first Thursday of the month, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford holds its “Art After Hours” for a $5 admission cost.  From the website:

Phoenix Art After Hours provides a stimulating setting for mingling with friends after work. Sip a cocktail, enjoy music and other live performances, attend a gallery talk, and even see a classic movie or art film. The Wadsworth Atheneum is open until 8 pm the first Thursday of every month.

LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHT
MATRIX is back! Follow the light to the relaunch party of the famed MATRIX contemporary art program and be the first to see Kitty Kraus / MATRIX 158, featuring an installation of her mirrored lightboxes

MUSIC
The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano creates a funky vibe with new pop music from around the globe

SMALL TALKS
Meet artist Kitty Kraus and find out what inspires her

LIGHT IN MOTION
Hartford City Ballet presents “Don Quixote” Pas de Deux

GLOW
The first 300 attendees receive a free glow-in-the-dark bracelet

INSOMNIA 8 PM
This intense thriller, set in Norway where the sun barely sets, is certain to keep you up at night (1997)

http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/do/firstthursdays.php

Plan B is built on a tasty foundation of alliteration: burgers, beef, bourbon and beer. For me, it just took one bite for a lifetime of adjectives to come crashing down. I won’t bore you with those. Call me dramatic, but I will say that sometimes even burgers can reveal a little bit of poetry.

Celebrated as the 2009 Best of Hartford’s “Best Local Burgers”, the folks at Plan B pride themselves on serving dishes with the freshest ingredients and high quality beef (certified humane 100% natural without any hormones/added colors/chemicals to be more precise). Gourmet burgers are clearly the premier menu item, and Plan B caters to individual taste by offering options of portobello, chicken, veggie, pork, and salmon burgers, along with a medley of out-of-the-box flavor accompaniments.

Now onto the first course.

My table ordered the classic three cheese fondue for an appetizer, which came with pretzel bread, sliced apples, tator tots (TATOR TOTS!) and green beans for dipping. Amazing. The starter menu features everything from lobster sliders to stuffed portobellos so weighing options was difficult, but I’m glad we stuck with the fondue.

I chose a burger with caramelized onions, bleu cheese crumbles and bourbon BBQ sauce, an incredible choice but unadventurous compared to my dining companions. Kim ordered a 3 Shrooms burger (sauteed mushrooms, portobello spread, truffle mayo and Swiss cheese) but the last and most interesting order came from Nick. He opted for the New Englander burger, which was dressed up in lobster, smoked gouda, roasted onion and corn spread. Gold stars and blue ribbons all the way.

I’ll leave you with this. Plan B was a fantastic experience, service was efficient but not overbearing, and the eatery’s customers are loyal for good reason. Word of mouth is a powerful tool here-this restaurant has been recommended to me quite a few times, so I’m going to do the same and pass on the thumbs up.

Locations in Glastonbury, West Hartford and Simsbury.

http://www.planbburger.com/flash.html