Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Cafe Cruz, Santa Cruz California

(http://www.cafecruz.com/) Cafe Cruz a popular destination with a strong reputation in the Santa Cruz area. A lovely setting, even though from the outside you would not think so. A relaxed atmosphere, with a back patio area. The service is outstanding, friendly and special attention to detail. They host dinners and have a regular happy hour. Lunch time when we went was packed with local business folks, and then a sprinkle of regulars.
Cafe Cruz is not a burger place per say, there menu has a rich selection of fish, salads, meats and sandwiches at lunch. The burger options available are few, simple and well thought out. The beef is hand ground from a Humbolt farm which only grass feeds its beef.
They have 4 options and one is a vegetarian. The quality of the beef is simply outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and moist. I went with the 1/3 lbs Cruz burger with Vermont Sharp Cheddar. It was served on a Kaiser bun, with fresh lettuce, tomato and on the side a dill pickle. What I liked was the simplicity and each ingredient tasted extremely fresh. What made this burger stick out was the high quality of the meat. Many places try to throw in their own little special sauce "lube" or try to break out from the norm with off the wall condiments, and in my opinion the additions often overshadow the meat or burger in general. Cafe Cruz burger is simple, and well thought out and not pretentious at all. With this you got the option of cole slaw or fries. The fries I got were good, but nothing special. What I aslo like was the size and portion did not go into overdrive and make you feel how was I going to eat all this.... something I find quite a few burger places do in the United States.
The atmosphere, service, and overall presentation added to making the lunch a relaxed and pleasant experience.
The price was reasonable considering the size and portion. In addition to the food the Cafe Cruz has an impressive wine list, and the wait staff do a great job of providing suggestions based on your food choice and your own taste.
Restless Hamburger rating 9 Definitely a place to return to and venture with the other options. If you are in these parts worth the stop, and most likely any food from here would be a treat.


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Brown Bag Burger Prague 6, Czech Republic

a new addition to the Prague Burger scene Brown Bag Burger @ Československé armády 30 in Dejvicka Prague 6 (no website yet) , presents a simple and burger focused menu with some Hot dog specialities and a nice mix style of fries. Recently opened up the atmosphere is clean, convenient and even though it feels like fast food decor, the atmosphere and wonderful service wants you to stay longer.
The burger menu goes from the simple classic cheese burger to then the bbq burger, blue cheese and more, each with a unique name and in my opinion a well thought mix of ingredients to supplement the name and taste. I went with the BBQ Burger and curly fries. The fresh beef was perfectly cooked enough moisture and a tinge of red to bring out that beef flavor. Served with a generous portion of caramelized onions, bacon, with lettuce and tomato. All the condiments and ingredients were fresh and just added at the right time not to make the lettuce and tomato soggy. I think the nice surprise was the bun did not fall apart, as is the case unfortunately in many Czech Burger places, and the size was generous but not obnoxious, as some places do to compensate for the lack of taste.

 I think the one complaint I have is the caramelized onions and special BBQ sauce almost overwhelmed the total beef flavor, dominating the to much, a little toned down would I think have made it near to perfect.

The curly fries were outstanding, and the place also sports a wonderful selection of  less renowned Czech local beers, especially the Utenec Brewery stands out. The service was friendly, efficient and warm, the owner makes a point of connect with all patrons, and it has a very laid back atmosphere. Take out is an option, and if you like hot dogs a nice Chili dog is on the offering which seems to get nice reviews from the folks I was with.
Definitely one of the better burger places for Prague, the combination of atmosphere, beer selection, location and service Restless Burger gives it an 8. Nice on Brown Bag Burger.