Burger Jones

Serves Cornucopia of unique Burgers and More

When I went with two friends to Burger Jones, the newest venture of Parasole Restaurant Holdings, General Manager John Emerson dropped by our table to welcome us, telling us about the variety of enjoyable food he was planning to have delivered to our table. He started in the restaurant business years ago at my old Parasole favorite, Figlio. As he handed me a Burger Jones menu, he noted that it constantly is evolving, and some drinks are seasonal.

Emerson said of his establishment, “It’s exciting and new, and has great growth potential.”

Our incredibly pleasant servers started an onslaught of deliveries that Emerson and staff wanted us to try. First were large malts and shakes made with frozen custard. We tried Twixie Tweat ($5.99), made with Twix bars, chocolate, and caramel. Next, we sampled a couple of “hard” shakes: Southern Belle ($10), with Jim Beam, peach schnapps, Nilla Wafers, and peaches; and Revenge of the Nerds ($10), with Cruzan Raspberry Rum, strawberry, vanilla, and lots of Nerds. Both were mighty tasty.

Then, the beef arrived. The fresh, never-frozen, custom blend of beef is hand-pattied, and pressed once on a black-iron flattop grill.

Green Chile Cheeseburger ($8.99), with spicy green chile salsa, cheddar, onion ring, and cilantro, was the hit for one of my dining companions. Chicago Dog Burger ($7.99), made with Hebrew National Kosher All Beef, was my favorite. All three of us enjoyed Black & Bleu ($9.99)—cracked black pepper, caramelized onions, and Amablu Bleu Cheese. What blew the entire table away was White Trash Burger ($9.99)—piled high with chicken-fried bacon, fried cheese curds, and plenty of Velveeta (which I enjoy). For Cheeseburger Jones ($6.99 + cheese cost), you get your choice of a variety of cheese: standard cheese (free); Velveeta or Swiss ($1); good cheddar, pepper jack, fresh milk mozzarella, or goat cheese ($2); Prairie Rose Aged Gruyere, Amablu Bleu, or Fini Aged Cheddar ($3).

Our server brought us a stunning and enormous Steakhouse Wedge Salad ($4.99), with crumbled bleu cheese, sliced tomato, and applewood-smoked bacon, plus choice of housemade ranch, bleu cheese, French, or citrus vinaigrette dressing.

Now that we were in the midst of the eating marathon, we passed platters around, sampling each burger, salad, malt/shake, and drink.

Several specialty drinks were delightful. Mojito Slurpee ($10) is a vibrant green drink made of Cruzan Citrus rum, lime juice, and fresh mint leaves. Hillbilly Hooch ($12) consists of Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka, lemonade, and fresh mint, served in a mason jar. The restaurant also offers draft beers, bottle beers, wines—plus, in Emerson’s words, “our own infused liquors.”

When I asked Executive Chef Andrew Suthers, who came from another Parasole property, Manny’s Steakhouse, what it’s like to create such magnificent-tasting burgers, he replied, “A burger has no forgiveness. It’s harder to cook a burger than a steak.”

We got to experience the Tri-Fry Tasting Tower ($9.99)—hand-cut russet fries, maple-bacon sweet potato fries, and Parmesan waffle fries, with impressive dipping sauces ($1): ranch, chipotle aioli, smoked tomato ketchup, bleu cheese, beef gravy, sweet chili sauce, seasoned sour cream, and bourbon barbecue sauce.

We had an extraordinary time. Our lunch became a several-hour celebration of food and life. I returned home with a grin on my face, dreaming about my next visit to Burger Jones.

Burger Jones
3200 W. Lake St., Mpls.
(61) 746.3990
www.burgerjones.com