Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, August 2015

Last night I had a hot date. She has curly blonde hair, big blue eyes and uses a high-chair. :)

For this this Daddy / Daughter date night, I chose Bad Daddy's for four major reasons.
1) The food/service is usually fast
2) The food is delicious.
3) They serve hot dogs -- my daughter LOVES hot dogs.
4) My wife is out of town and I was too lazy to cook.

Fortunately, it was a Monday night in Birkdale, so there was no line (if you go on a Friday night, you'll probably have to wait). After we were seated, and my daughter was given some crayons, the waitress asked if I'd like something to drink. Being unfamiliar with the beers on tap, I chose my old standby: a bottle of Sam Adams Boston Lager...

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

After reviewing all the new choices in Birkdale, I was left wondering, "What do I feel like eating?" There are just SOOOO many tasty options to try in Birkdale. So, I did what any destiny-defying, independent, alpha-male would do.

I asked my wife.

Surprisingly, she was in the mood for burgers. And off we went to Bad Daddy's.

We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, just a few minutes after 12 p.m. The place was already packed and I figured that we'd have to wait. Fortunately, there was one table left and we grabbed a seat about half way back, along the window.

Continue reading for the summary, score and restaurant info:

THIS is How You Celebrate a Holiday!

When I eat, I do it right!

I hope you all had a good Labor Day!  Now that we're all back at the tedious and mundane tasks that define our lives, I wanted to share this photo with you. 

It is a Point Of View Photo of my Labor Day meal!  That's one of my (not so) famous hamburgers.  And it includes 1/3 lb of beef, with thick-cut bacon, three slices of cheddar cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions and ketchup.  In addition, you'll also see on the plate an extra slice of bacon, macaroni salad and some garlic fries.

Yes, I ate like an oinker.  And if you combine that with my vacation next week, you're going to be seeing a VERY pudgy Foodie!  Thank goodness I'm (sorta) anonymous!

But to counter the pudge, I'm going to be taking drastic measures.  So, be ready for it -- in about two weeks I'm going to start chronicling a diet.  Why?  Because I keep losing pants to my ever-expanding tummy, and I can't afford to buy more pants!

But don't worry, I'll still be checking out and eating great meals.  However, I'm hoping the pressure of doing this publicly will make me get my butt out of the chair and start working out.

Foodie Travels: In-N-Out Burger

Heaven. Pure Heaven.

This was the thought that went through my mind when I ended my In-N-Out Burger drought, and bit into my food in Petaluma, Calif. The meal consisted of a burger, fries and a chocolate shake. However, the burger and fries weren't your standard menu items. In fact, you won't even find the following terms on the menu -- but trust me, the "Animal Style" burger and "Well-Done" fries are just two items that can be found in the In-N-Out Hidden Menu. (This is a topic that is worthy of its own post.

The "Animal Style" burger has a beef patty that was cooked in a mustard sauce (trust me, it's delicious), grilled onions, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, pickles, cheese and a thousand island sauce. The "Well Done" fries are fries that have been cooked extra-long so they are very crispy.

The "Animal Style" burger was slightly messy -- the Thousand Island sauce dripped onto my fingers. And the high-quality produce - crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes -- was a nice contrast to the texture of the burger. In addition, the grilled onions added a hint of smokey sweetness to the burger. Simply delicious.

The "Well Done" fries were very good. They were very crispy -- not a soggy fry to be had. In addition, the potatoes were cut and fried in front of my eyes -- you just can't get a fresher french fry.

The chocolate shake was good. They claim it's a 100% ice cream milk shake. But it's more like the standard fast food soft-serve milkshake -- like a Wendy's frosty, but just a little more liquid. Don't get me wrong, it was still delicious, but a far cry from a real milkshake.

After all was said and done, I finished the burger and shake but ate only about half of the fries -- there were a LOT. I love In-N-Out, and my allegiance has only grown since I moved to the east coast over a decade ago. Cookout and Five Guys are good -- but IMHO, this is better.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12/15

Price: $
Kid Friendly: Yes

Conclusion: A great burger made only better with fresh produce and REALLY fresh fries, make this a delicious meal. If you're ever within a 30 minute drive of one, be sure to drive and try it. It's worth it.

Restaurant Info:
In-N-Out Burger
http://www.in-n-out.com/

Recipe Friday: Bacon Cheese Turtleburger

Earlier this week I made some meatballs for spaghetti for the first time. They were delicious, and I was planning on sharing that recipe with you. But then something caught my attention on the web -- and I had to share.

First let me say that the Bacon Cheese Turtlebuger has no turtle. (WHEW!) But it does have a truck load of cholesterol and fat. Perfect for cold weather --- and the makers of Lipitor!

This thing is made of a hamburger, cheese, hotdogs, and a weave of bacon that surrounds the hamburger. Who needs a bun when you've got bacon???

If any of you actually make this, please let me know. I'd like to document the occasion, and be there to call 911 when your arteries explode.

Here's the directions:
http://klg2a.blogspot.com/2010/02/super-bowl-bacon-cheese-turtleburger.html

Cashion's Gas (Cornelius, exit 28)

Yeah. You read the title right. I went to the Cashion's just east of exit 28, at the corner of Catawba and Statesville Rd. Inside the Cashion's there is a little grill that serves very basic short-order food, (i.e. burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and some breakfast).

Generally speaking, I try to avoid gas station food -- because it GIVES ME GAS!! (HA! I kill me!!)

Ok, ok, juvenile humor aside, I really do try to avoid gas station food. In fact, I've never had any prepared food from those fast-food / gas station combos that you see along I-77 or I-85. But longtime Foodie reader Bill insisted that I try this place.

I'm freakin' glad I did!!

Bill was right -- the burgers here rock! They're hand made patties, topped with a serious amount of cheese, with some of the best produce around! Seriously.

The burger was prepared to order (after I ordered, I heard the burger hit the grill), and I asked for tomato, onion, lettuce, ketchup and cheese. A few minutes later I was handed the burger on a plate, wrapped in aluminum foil. The burger was drenched in American Cheese. (Typically I don't like American Cheese, but with this much melted gooeyness, I can't complain).

The produce was amazing. Really. I need to shop where they do. The two tomato slices were thick, ripe, and bright red. The iceberg lettuce and white onion were fresh and crisp.

The patty, cheese, and produce combined to create one of my favorite burgers in the area. To me, it even beats the 5 Guys burgers -- and THAT's high praise. In addition, it was relatively cheap. The burger and a bottle of Coke came to $4 and change.

The only downside to the burger is that it is at a Cashion's. So there is no seating, and if you eat in your car (like I did), there will be a smell of gasoline. But, it was worth it for this cheap bite of deliciousness.

Score:
Atmosphere: 0/0
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 7/10

Price: $
Kid Friendly: No. There is no place for your little-ones to hang out while placing the order.

Conclusion: Cheap prices, low visibility, and a REALLY good burger make this one of best kept secrets for burger lovers.

Restaurant Info:
Cashion's Quik Stop‎
19733 Statesville Rd.
Cornelius, NC
p) 704-892-7762‎

Six Pence Pub (Blowing Rock, NC)

This past weekend, my wife and I went on an excursion and made our way to Blowing Rock. It's a small mountain town with a a good vibe. Lots of tourists packed the sidewalks of the main drag. Unfortunately, this also meant that every restaurant was packed for lunch time.

And since this trip was unplanned, we took our time in the morning. We slept-in, had a relaxing coffee, and read the paper by the fire place. This meant that when we arrived we were starving, it was lunch time, and we had to wait for ANY meal we could find.

So, when we walked by the first restaurant we saw (Six Pence Pub) we put our names on the waiting list. We hit a couple of other restaurants, but they all had a waiting time. So, we walked down to the end of the shopping district, bought some warm hats (we were unprepared for a high of 40 degrees), and then made our way back to Six Pence. After a few more minutes huddled together in the sun (did I mention we were TOTALLY unprepared for the cold?), we were finally given a table.

Total waiting time 30-ish minutes.

We were seated by the bar of this packed small restaurant. As you could probably tell by the name, Six Pence is a British style pub. They offer a full array of pub food, along with some UK favorites; Welsh rabbit, Shepard's Pie, Bangers & Mash, and, of course, some decent beers!

We were just so happy to be warm inside the bar, almost everything sounded good -- even the Shepard's Pie! (For the record, after a couple of months in England, I swore I'd never have another Shepard's Pie...) Eventually we picked our meals. I wanted a bacon cheeseburger on an onion roll with fries, while my wife chose the half corned beef sandwich with a cup of broccoli cheddar soup.

The drinks arrived first. I had a Guinness. They actually took their time pouring it, which surprised me. The bar was packed, and I expected a rushed pour with an overly frothy head. But they did it right, so they get a bonus. :)

After about 15 minutes, our meals arrived. My wife's sandwich looked good,but small. However, she was pleased with it. The broccoli cheddar soup was good, but it was slightly runny, and overly salted. Normally this would be a huge no-no. But since we were still warming up, it was rapidly gobbled up.

My bacon cheese burger was quite good. The tomato, onion, and lettuce seemed fresh, and not heated by extra time under the warming lamps. The burger was at least 1/3 lb. if not bigger. And the burger wasn't over cooked either. It had good flavor, and the bacon, cheese, and onion roll, just added to the flavor.

At the end of the meal, we decided to split a slice of homemade apple pie. It seemed home-made. It was a little messy, and the filling sorta fell outside of the crust, making it somewhat flat. However the pie was good, and the creamy cinnamon topping made it even better.

Re-energized and warmed by our meal, we went back out into the cold, and window-shopped and explored the downtown area, and a small portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a shame we were only there for the day. But additional exploration will bring us back to the area soon.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/3
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 10/15

Price: $$$ (drinks, dessert, entree and tip brings it to just over $20/person)
Kid Friendly: Yes. High chairs, kids menu, etc. are available.

Conclusion: Six Pence was small and packed, yet it had a great vibe and wasn't too loud. The food and service were slightly above average for this type of establishment. And thought the prices were slightly higher than expected, I didn't feel fleeced. I'll recommend this place to friends going up to the Blowing Rock area.

Restaurant Info:
Six Pence Pub
1121 Main Street
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
p)828-295-3155

Everest Grill (Denver)

While running around finishing my last chores before vacation, I stopped by Everest Grill, just west of the intersection of 16 and 73, next to the Food Lion. I didn't know much about the restaurant except for the "Homemade Onion Rings" sign posted in the front window. So, I walked in, hoping I'd like what I found.

Everest grill has a register and menu up-front and a seating are to the right that was much larger that I expected. The restaurant is painted mostly yellow, and accented with photos of some Greek islands (guessing) and a LARGE photo of Mt. Everest in the back.

The menu consists of a standard greasy spoon diner / grill fare. Eggs and hash browns for breakfast, and burgers and sandwiches for lunch. I took a look at the specials and decided upon the Bacon Cheeseburger Special, and an order of their Homemade Onion Rings. I paid at the register, and the food was brought to me.

The burger was OK. The lettuce was wilted but the tomatoes were large and ripe. In addition, the bacon was crispy, but the burger was thin and lacked flavor. Just an FYI, if you like Mayo, you're in luck. The burger had a ton. If you don't like it, let them know when you order.

The onion rings fared much better -- they were great! When they came out I thought they looked soggy. But they weren't. They were crispy and delicious. Many other restaurants in the area could learn a thing or two from these onion rings -- they're soooo much better than those pre-prepared frozen things that many places use.

Score:
Atmosphere: 2.5/5 (Clean, but uninspired. Felt like a cafeteria.)
Food: 3.5 (Burger was below average -- fries were great.)
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/15

Price: $ (Food and drink under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes, kids menu and high chairs.

Conclusion: The burger and atmosphere left something to be desired. But their homemade onion rings saved the day. Next time I go back I'll try the gyro.

Restaurant Info:
Everest Grill
122 Highway 16 S
Denver, NC 28037
p) 704-822-0404
http://www.everestgrill.com/

Cookout (Huntersville)

Since I arrived in NC, I've driven by the Cook Out restaurants without venturing in. What is a Cook-Out? What do they serve? I was a little hesitant about this unknown quantity. But yesterday I finally took the plunge, and I'm glad I did.

I don't know what the other Cook Out restaurants look like inside, but this kinda had a feel of a rustic Southern lake house. The walls had wood paneling, there were fans hanging from the ceiling, and small NASCAR car hoods adorned the walls, as did maps of Lake Norman.

I approached the cashier, and locked onto the first thing I saw on the menu. A hamburger. I chose the Regular size (1/4 lb), with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, and ketchup. I also got an order of fries and a Coke.

As you can tell, the menu there has a LOT of items. From burgers and BBQ, to chicken tenders and milkshakes, this place has a LOT to offer.

In just over the about the time that it took me to walk over to the fountain, and fill my cup, my food was ready! It came in a bag, so I could take it "To-Go" if I wanted to. However, I really wanted to eat immediately, so I grabbed a seat, and took at look at what was in the bag.

Inside I found a small bag or fries, and a burger wrapped in aluminum foil. As you can see, the burger looked pretty good! It was topped with a thick slice of tomato, fresh lettuce, and a thin slice of white onion. The burger was a very good size, and not pressed too thin. In addition, the burger bun was not squished. I was a little surprised it looked so good!

I took a bite of the burger and was pleased. It wasn't over-cooked or greasy. In addition, the fresh produce really added a nice bit of added flavor. In particular, that tomato was amazing. Really red, really fresh, and really good! The produce was such a high quality that it made me reminisce about In-N-Out Burger. (Which almost always has GREAT quality produce.)

I polished off the burger pretty quickly. So I went over to the fries. At first I was hopeful -- the fries were cooked with their skins still on. That is almost always a sign of a high quality fry. But I was disappointed when I took a bite. The fries weren't crispy -- they were just there. Not soggy, not crispy. They sorta looked they were apologizing for their sad state when picked up; with it drooping from my fingers.

That said, I really want to try their hush puppies. They've gotta be better than the fries. Any fast-food joint that serves hush puppies is a favorite of mine!

Score:
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
TOTAL: 11/15

Price: $ (Well under $10)
Kid friendly: Yes. High chairs and booster seats available.

Conclusion: Cheap prices, fast service, and good burgers are in abundance here. I'm not a fan of the fries. But since the burger was sooo good. I'll be back to try some other things -- including the hush-puppies.

Restaurant Info:
Cook Out
425 Huntersville Gateway Blvd
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-875-0077
http://www.cookoutnc.com/

Firebirds (Charlotte)

Earlier this week, I was in the mood for a manly and hearty meal. Something that said (in a manly voice) "fire, meat, good," and was then followed with a grunt. I was able to get this and a taste of the west at Firebirds located at the North Lake Mall.

When I first entered Firebirds, I was hit the the smoky aroma of burning wood; which I assume was coming from the clearly visible kitchen. My friend and I were seated, and took a look over the menu. I was craving something meaty and smokey, so I picked the Smokehouse Burger. Which is described as, "BBQ sauce, applewood-smoked bacon, shredded cheddar and diced red onion."

While waiting for our orders, we were brought our beer and freshly baked bread. The bread was easily broken into two, and had a nice crunchy crust. It was served with butter, and was quite delicious. In all honesty, I could have just eaten that alone. However, there was still food to be delivered, and I waited anxiously.

Finally our meals came, and mine was delicious. I'm usually not one for BBQ sauce on my burgers, but this was a wonderful exception. The sauce was a thick molasses based sauce, and was sweet, tangy, and smoky and was poured over a 1/3 lb burger with thick strips of bacon. The burger was also topped with loads of cheddar. My only complaint about the burger was that the cheddar wasn't melted. However, that didn't matter too much to me, because I immediately dove in and started eating.

The burger was cooked perfectly to my liking (medium well), and the thick BBQ sauce with bacon and cheese and onions was great. Just what I was looking for. In addition, the steak fries were very good, I used them to mop-up some of the BBQ sauce that dripped onto my plate.

In addition, I really like the interior of Firebirds. When I walk in the door, I feel like I'm in a very nice mountain lodge in Tahoe or Colorado. The rock facade, exposed wood, and large fireplaces all add to a relaxed feel, that makes this a good place for a salad, burger, or a steak. Next time I go back, I'm going to try the Bleu Cheese Filet. It sounds delicious.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Total: 12/15
Price: $$ (burger and beer had me just under $20)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They offer a kids menu (meals under $10) that is part of an activity book.

Conclusion: Slightly pricey, but the atmosphere and food make the couple of extra bucks worthwhile. I will definitely be back.

Restaurant Info:
Firebirds
6801 Northlake Mall Dr
# R201
Charlotte, NC 28216
p) 704-295-1919
http://www.firebirdsrestaurants.com

Five Guys (Huntersville)

As you know, I try to stay away from chain restaurants. They don't capture the local flavor as well as independent establishments. However, this doesn't mean that I won't hit a chain occasionally (i.e. yesterday), and when I do break the rule, I like it to be for great food. And Five Guys fits this description.

For several years I used to work near one of the original six Five Guys locations, in Alexandria VA. And I grew to love Five Guys. The bag that becomes translucent with grease, the HUGE amount of fries, and the newly cooked burger with fresh veggies just makes this a delicious meal.

So, when I recently found myself craving a good burger, I headed over to the Five Guys on Gilead. Ya know, next to the restaurant I reviewed yesterday!

I placed my order for a Little Bacon Cheeseburger with Cajun Fries, and waited for my meal. Five Guys may look like fast food, but it's really not overly fast. My burger was done in about 5 minutes. Think of it more as good food, relatively quickly.

When I got the bag home, it has the expected french fry grease that has been absorbed by the bag, making it translucent... in fact, if you click on the image to the right, you can ACTUALLY SEE some french fries INSIDE the bag! (Man! I love this place!)

I opened up the paper bag, threw half of the fries away. I did this for two reasons: 1) after they fill up the styrofoam cup with fries, they throw in a few dozen more. And 2) If I see them, I will eat them.

I then pulled out my meal, and dug in.

My Little Bacon Cheeseburger is quite large and has one beef patty. FYI, the regular sized burger contains TWO patties, not one. The burger has crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, ripe tomato, melted cheese (American cheese, I think), pickles, and fresh white onion. The fries went from the fryer to my bag in less than 15 seconds. The fries are always fresh, hence the huge amount of grease on the bag.

The Five Guys burger is great. I know it's just a burger, but they really take the burger to another level. There is only one restaurant burger that I like more, and that's an In-N-Out burger.

The never-frozen beef that is cooked as I wait, tastes great. In addition the fresh produce just adds to the flavor. Though the fries are greasy, the burger isn't.

The fries while greasy enough to make a paper bag transparent, are not soggy, and actually are crispy. Also the cajun spice/salt they put on the fries is quite good, and gives them just a hit of spicy heat.

Score:

Atmosphere: 3/5

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 3/5

Total: 10.5/15

Price: $ (food and drink under $10)

Kid Friendly: Not really. No kids menu.

Conclusion: The service and atmosphere are that of a standard fast-food restaurant. However, the burgers are extraordinary. I was very tempted to give the burger a 5 out of a 5.

Restaurant Info:

Five Guys Burger and Fries

9826 Gilead Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-992-2033

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Steak and Shake (Mooresville)

As you know, I like local / non-chain restaurants. They give a better flavor of the region that they serve. And not just their food, the restaurant's decor and service usually reflect the area as well. That's just my preference. Though I'm sure there are others who prefer chains because of their stability and consistency.

However, I will on occasion, go to a chain to enjoy a good meal. Hey, don't judge me -- tasty is tasty. And when my wife and I were driving on 150 through Mooresville and she wanted Steak 'n Shake I just rolled my eyes. Steak 'n Shake?? They can't even spell "and" properly!

But, my wife batted her eyelashes, and I caved in -- AGAIN!

So, we got to Stake 'n Shake, and entered. I was shocked that it sorta had a 1950's diner theme. The interior was surprisingly clean, including the men's restroom. Those are never clean!

I chose a "Single Steakburger" with cheese and bacon. I just didn't have room for an "Original Steakburger" with two patties. I also ordered fries and a Chocolate and Banana "Side by Side" Milk Shake.

There are two burger places on this planet that I revere: In-N-Out Burger and Mel's Drive-In. In-N-Out has the freshest burgers with the freshest ingredients. And Mel's is a landmark which has the best chocolate and banana milk shakes. Both have great bacon and cheeseburgers. So, I wanted to see how Steak 'n Shake compared.

While I wasn't overwhelmed by my Steakburger, I wasn't disappointed either.

The burger patty was VERY thin. In addition, it was a bit on the greasy side.... but in this case, that's a good thing. The burger was rather tasty, and I didn't need much ketchup and all. The fries were thin too. But since they were shoestring fries, that was also a good thing. I liked the fries, they weren't soggy, and they didn't need any ketchup at all. They were plenty good plain.

Then came the milk shake. It was less milkshake, and more soft-serve ice cream. The banana flavor was on the right half of the cup, and the chocolate was on the left side of the cup. I mixed them together, and took a sip.

The milkshake was refreshing, but the artificial banana flavor wasn't what I was hoping for. However, the chocolate seemed fine by itself, and I propably should have just forgone the banana all together.

But, all-in-all, it's a good meal. I was pleased with the service, the food was good, and for the price, I thought it was a decent deal. I'm not in a rush to go back, BUT I won't veto the idea of eating at Steak 'n Shake again.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/5
Price: $

Conclusion: It's a good meal for a good price. Not the best burger and shake in the world, but very good nonetheless.

Restaurant Information:
Steak 'n Shake
635 River Highway
Mooresville, NC 28117
704-746-9231
http://www.steaknshake.com/states/ncar.asp

Recipe Friday: Hamburgers

Today is the first day of Spring, and I can think of no better way to welcome spring than to light some charcoal in the barbecue and start grilling. Over the years, I've played with hamburger recipes, and this is my favorite. Sure, you could buy some pre-made patties at the store and slap them on the grill, but you're not taking full advantage of what you could be eating between those buns. After all, how many times do you get to put butter INTO the meat you cook??

So, as a public service, I offer the following recipe. :) Happy Grilling!

Ingredients:
1 lb of hamburger meat
1/4 Teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 Teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 Teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 Teaspoon onion salt
4 dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
3 slices of butter

Directions:
1) Place meat into large bowl
2) Add pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder and onion salt
3) Thoroughly mix with hands
4) And Worcestershire Sauce, and mix again
5) Roll into three equal size balls
6) Make a hole 3/4 of way into burger with a finger
7) Place butter into hole, and press meat into burger patty, closing hole.
8) Place onto grill and cook to desired temperature, turning infrequently
9) Place cooked patties onto toasted and buttered buns, serve with favorite condiments.
10) Enjoy!

Red Rocks Cafe (Huntersville)

One of my favorite restaurants in the Birkdale area is Red Rocks Cafe. (Yes, I know I'm addicted to Birkdale -- I'm looking for a 12 Step program to address this issue.) Every time I've been there everything has been great; the food, the service, the atmosphere are always top notch. I've never been disappointed by Red Rocks -- until now.

I met some friends for lunch this week, and it was a perfect day to eat on the patio. The sun was out and a perfect gentle breeze made me think that this was going to be a great meal. The server came by and took our drink orders. He returned promptly with our beverages, and my sweet tea was quickly refilled every time I emptied it... which was often.

He came back to take our orders, and I was craving a big juicy burger. So, I ordered the usually succulent Kobe Beef burger. My mouth was salivating with anticipation.

The food arrived quickly considering there were five of us, and after applying ketchup and arranging the fresh lettuce and tomatoes, I took a huge bite. And I was completely disappointed. The burger was completely overcooked. It was dry, tough, and lacking any flavor. This was a well, well, well done burger. I asked for medium well -- which usually gets me a slightly pink middle. This was not the case. At least the fries were good.

Unfortunately, this Kobe Burger was a mere shadow of the burger I've had here previously. In all honesty, I would have been MUCH happier with a Five Guys burger, and the price would've been half as much. After this experience, I won't be paying over $10 for a burger for a while.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 2/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $$ (most lunch-style entrees are over $10)

Conclusion: I still like Red Rocks, and this experience is not typical. Though they are a little more expensive than I believe they should be, but I've always had a great dining experience. In short, I'm not scared away and will be returning, especially for a late night dessert on the patio during the summer.

Restaurant Info:
Red Rocks Cafe
8712 Lindholm Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-892-9999
http://www.redrockscafe.com/