December 8, 2011 - 2:35am
Food Wars: Hamburger
BY DAILY ARTS STAFF
Blimpy Burger, 551 South Division St.
Know that unsophisticated, awesome satisfaction that comes when a delectable beef patty slides down the throat? The guys eating at Blimpy sure as hell do. What makes Blimpy Blimpy is the meat. Tender, earthy, juicy and weirdly cleansing, the beef ties together the entire burger and adds the classic home-cooked touch that makes the food addictively good.
Sava's, 211 South State St.
A Sava’s burger is like a friend who has just come back from a semester abroad: fashion-forward, but bogged down in flaunting it. The actual beef, vegetables and burger sauce are good but not great. But that doesn’t matter, as they aren’t the focal point. The brioche bun dominates the vision and the tastebuds, leaving you thinking, “Man, that bread was good!”
Quickie Burger, 800 South State St.
All in all, Quickie’s hamburger can be summed up in one word: solid. There are no bells and whistles, no tricks up sleeves, no flashy accoutrements. But when you’re stumbling home at 2 a.m. on a Friday night and the scent of grilling burger meat wafts your way, what more could you really ask for? Nothing more and nothing less.
Five Guys, 311 South State St.
Five Guys is a DC staple, an apology for the backroom politics that infect the country. Despite its franchised nature, the burgers are obviously freshly made — hot, juicy and piled with a ton of diverse (and 100-percent free!) toppings. They’re super messy to eat, but surprisingly cheap. Also, their staff doesn’t treat you like shit.
And the winner is: Five Guys
Each week, one Ann Arbor staple menu item becomes a battlefield as Daily Arts editors butt heads over which restaurant makes it best. Where should you go for your burger, fro-yo or garden omelette? Daily Arts will fight for the truth.
