Eh. There are two reasons to come to Big Beaver Tavern. Reason #1: If you want to enter the Big Beaver Burger Challenge and get your picture on the wall, along with this t-shirt: “I ate the Big Beaver Burger.” (Which, if read at just a glance, can sound kinda dirty, so maybe would make a fun t-shirt). Reason #2: If you’re one of the old men who play poker downstairs. Oh, a third reason is if you’re in a group around Big Beaver and can’t find anywhere else so you end up here because Kona Grill is too busy. Other than that, I won’t be back. I came here for reason #1 and 3. My friend wanted to check out this burger contest out of a lifelong dream to enter and win a food contest, any food contest (turns out she wasn’t ready for the commitment that day). And again when my friends and I went to three busy places and ended up here instead. As a testament, I don’t even remember what I ordered, just the feeling of dissatisfaction and the lack of flavor. I have a faint memory of dry meat. And my friend wasn’t much happier with her meal. Moral of the story: I bet their burger is fine. And if you want to eat a couple pounds of ground beef for a free t-shirt and fleeting fame, then go!
Big Beaver Tavern's Website
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It’s a burger chain. But it’s kinda like the “Chipotle” of the Mexican chain world. It’s near my house, fresh and delicious, with a variety of burger or chicken sandwich options- and this burger snob has never been disappointed (consistently yum!). Their concept is truly a smashed burger- flattened burger, veggie burger and chicken meat with a great array of toppings and flavors. Here’s some highlights: My friend likes to go standard with the regular cheeseburger. It’s just a pretty good burger with the regular toppings. I’m a bit more adventurous with the burg, and I like to get their veggie burgers spicy jalapeño Baja style, or with Truffled mushrooms and Swiss. Their chicken is pretty good too- try their spinach, cucumber goat cheese or maybe the avocado club.
The sides are another reason to stop there for take-out. Their smash fries with rosemary and garlic are quite addictive, and I enjoy their flash fried veggie mix as well. But if you just paid attention, you’ll remember I said to get take-out. The atmosphere screams fast food, even though they’re pretty clean inside. This isn’t a ‘change your life’ kinda burger, this is a ‘burger craving that’s on the way home’ kinda place. The fancy toppings and fresh ingredients keep me coming back. Smash Burger's Website So I read the Yelp reviews on this place and everyone raved about the prime rib. Literally all of the reviews talk about how amazing the prime rib is. Ok, so when your friends jump off the bridge what do you do? You jump too I guess. I went to Parrot Cove to try out the prime rib. I didn't actually think it was that good. For the amount of people who reviewed it I imagined it to be better. It may just be because I had expectations for it's greatness.
I tried the burgers here too and they are solid. But the real winner is the ribs. They are some of the best ribs I have ever had. They are fall off the bone good. I normally get a plate and share with someone. It's a lot of food. You get a garlic bread basket and fries with it. Also, since you're there you might as well get the potato soup pictured below. It's just really good soup. Look at that crisp crusted top! Since I split a full rack of ribs you normally have leftovers. So, what do you do with leftovers? Eat them later? Yes, that was a trick question. Of course you eat them. I repurpose them a make rib tacos! Take the leftover rib meat off the bone and put it in a skillet and reheat it up. It gets crispy and then you can make some tacos. It's prrreeetttttyyyyy good. Parrot Cove does all the work, I just heat them up fancy. Stop on in. If you like Jimmy Buffet, you'll love this place. Parrot Cove's Website Alright Kona Grill, I wasn't sure about you the first time I went. You were packed with business type people in suits and girls that were trying to hard. However, when I came earlier to beat that after 5pm rush I found that it was a pleasant environment. The happy hour is really one of the best. It's the only time I ever go and it's worth it every time. Let's start with the sweet and spicy shrimp (pictured above). It's really tasty, but no longer on the happy hour menu. I don't think it will help, but I need to make my declaration for Kona to put it back on the happy hour menu. It's too expensive on the regular menu. If I just showed up without knowing how wonderful it was, I wouldn't just randomly order it off of the regular menu. So, really Kona, you are hiding one of your show stoppers.
Ok, moving forward, their mini cheese burgers are perfectly cooked. I get them without the bun. Their Big Kahuna burger is just a bigger version of their sliders (not on the happy hour menu), but more expensive. Come pay 6 dollars for food instead of 15 dollars. Everything seems to double when off the happy hour menu. A lot of people like the egg rolls, shrimp tacos, and one of my personal favorites, the BBQ chicken pizza (6 bucks). These are all shareable items and are all equally delicious. There isn't one thing on the happy hour menu that I said, "geez, this just isn't good." Stop on in for their happy hour! If you're coming for dinner try the macadamia nut chicken. It's about 20 bucks for the entree, but excellently flavored and definitely a memorable dish. Kona Grill's Website I'm just not a fan of Baileys. Maybe I spent too much of my young twenties at Baileys... or I just don't like the atmosphere... or the food really. The only thing on the menu I actually like is the turkey sandwich on the pretzel bun. The funny thing is, I don't even eat the pretzel bun. Every time I have to come here I order this sandwich. I don't know why.
I'm sure this place is fine to watch 'the game'. Bailey's Website |
Giving you a taste of what I taste. From gourmet to everyday. No pretentious bull - just good food.
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