Local Burger & Fries (Northampton, MA)

Since Local Burger & Fries opened about a month and a half ago, I have heard good things and have been trying to get in to test their veggie offerings. Between work, illness and travel it proved more problematic getting downtown then one might imagine. However, last night the wait was finally over and I, along with three friends, fought my way into the Friday night crowd waiting to order.

By the time we were up to the counter to order I had decided to go for the standard Veggie Burger with fried onions and cheddar cheese with a side of the hand cut potato fries. After a short wait the food was brought out to the table we had managed to grab. First impressions were not overwhelmingly positive. The Veggie Burger was served on a soft, heavily sesame seeded, white bread roll. The patty was very thin with a single slice of cheddar melted over it. On top of that was a small dollop of fried onions, a single small piece of wilted iceberg lettuce and two half slices of an anemic looking tomato. I turned the burger over to add a little ketchup to the base and discovered that the bottom of the burger was charred to a blackened cinder. Unfortunately, I did not really get a sense of the flavor of the Veggie Burger itself, all I could taste was the char. The burger could have benefited from either being a little thicker or being cooked with a little more care. Additionally, it would have been nice if the burger had been served on a nice local baked hard kaiser/water roll with more generous portions of the requested toppings.

The standout performer of the evening was by far the hand cut potato fries. They were well cooked and perfectly seasoned. I was also able to sample some of the beer battered onion rings that were ordered by the table. The general consensus was that they were a disappointment. After a bite or two they reminded me of a savory funnel cake. The beer batter was very thick and doughy and the single ring of onion in each one was lost in all the breading.

I will definitely give Local Burger & Fries another shot. I don't want to write off a place like this based on one burnt burger. I just hope they find their sea legs soon and learn to deal with the Friday night crowds that they are going to need to keep coming back if Local Burger & Fries is going survive.

Local Burger & Fries
16 Main Street
Northampton, MA
11AM - 10PM Sunday-Wednesday
11AM - 3AM Thursday-Saturday

Local Burger & Fries (Northampton, MA)

Northampton had been lacking a good mid-priced, non-sit-down restaurant, non-corporate fast-food burger since the demise of the Five Ninety One Food Stop. But this week, Local Burger & Fries stepped to fill the void. And it's off to a strong start.

LB&F offers a thin 6 oz. patty with nice char-grilled flavor. I haven't had the opportunity to sample all variations yet, but so far, the standout is the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burger (not pictured here, though that is some fine bacon peeking out), as the sauces interact perfectly. That assessment may change once I try the 12 oz. cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucy.

Two kinds of beef are available: one is from a rotating "local farm of the week," and the other is Meyer Black Angus, which is not local but is "all natural" with no antibiotics or hormones. For a straight burger, going local is $6 and going cheap is $5.

Local Burger & Fries
16 Main Street
Northampton, MA
11AM - 10PM Sunday-Wednesday
11AM - 3AM Thursday-Saturday

Paradise City Tavern (Northampton, MA)

One of the competitors for most audacious Western Massachusetts burger is the "BBQ Burger" at Paradise City Tavern. Topped with BBQ pork, smoked gouda and a fried onion ring, it will impress and/or disgust all of your dining companions.

Paradise City Tavern pulls it off. Rib meat may be a more subtle pork addition than bacon, but the meats mingle well. I'll take a fried onion over raw any day. The smoked gouda melted nicely, and, true to its name, added a smoky flavor.

The burger itself is solid. Folks who like burgers on the rare side might be disappointed, PCT only offers "Pink" or "No Pink," and the "Pink" is more of a medium than medium rare. But the burger is flavorful nonetheless, with a decent, not dramatic, amount of juiciness.

If you're in the mood for an over-the-top burger, PCT's BBQ Burger will do the trick.

Paradise City Tavern

1 Bridge St.

Northampton, MA 01060

413-586-2664

Welcome

Welcome to Western Mass. Burgers (& More), where we'll be reviewing the burgers of the Pioneer Valley, including veggie burgers and whatever other foods strike our fancy. This is a great, and underrated, food area, but a little guidance can go a long way. If you have any recommendations of places we should visit, or wildly different opinions, that's what comments are for. Thanks for visiting!