burgers

Tuesday’s Treats #72

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Tannery Row Ale House

Location: Buford, GA

This is a cool restaurant in a cool little town in North Georgia. The downtown of Buford has been restored, and this eatery is in the old Tannery Building just a block beyond the town. It began as a pretty small restaurant with seating for probably less than 50 people; however, they’ve converted much of the open warehouse into an “open patio” seating area with giant screens for movie nights and a stage for local bands. The atmosphere is great. Every once in a while, they will have a/c issues in the warehouse area; so, it can get pretty toasty. However, this happened the other day when we were there, and they had those giant floor fans which we directed our way; so, it wasn’t too terrible (and it was a hot 85+ day, toošŸ˜‰).  

The food is tasty, and the service is friendly. The fried pickles are a must, and the fried grouper fingers are a must most days. (Every once in a while, the grouper doesn’t taste so fresh.) They have a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, pizza and specialty items. The shrimp and grits are a favorite of mine, as they make it different than I’ve had anywhere else. They start with a grit cake, melt pimento cheese on top and layer the shrimp and sauce on top of that. Yum! There is a brisket pimento cheese on Texas toast that is definitely a fork and knife meal, and my son says the ribs are pretty tasty, too. 

This is also an event hall; so, if you need a really cool, large building for a big gathering, give them a call. I’m sure they’d love to book your event. Here’s the website for more info and contacts. 

Tuesday’s Treats #65

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Pig Tails

Location: Flowery Branch, Ga

This is a cool little dockside restaurant at Aqualand Marina in a little town called Flowery Branch on Lake Lanier. On cool spring and summer days, this is a great outdoor restaurant. If it’s a warmer day, it’s still nice, as there are plenty of ceiling fans and wall fans on the property. If it’s raining outside, it is a open, canopied patio; so, you’re still covered. (See what I did there. Lol.šŸ˜‚) It really does have a great atmosphere, and the scenery is beautiful, as you can see the lake from your table. 


The food is yummy. Start out with the Fish Tails (fried grouper fingers) made extra crispy. The pictures here are of the 3 Sisters burger, with smoked Gouda, pimento and fiery ghost pepper cheese and the Brisket Philly. The brisket is delicious and so is the burger. To be honest, the day we had these, I think maybe they were just “getting into the swing of things for the season,” because things weren’t exactly A+. The service was great, but they seemed to be struggling in the kitchen. However, the brisket was still incredible, and the next time we went a few days later, everything was awesome! 


Along with the brisket philly, they have a brisket plate with a 1/2 or full pound order and a great chicken club brioche, complete with pepper jack cheese and smoked peppercorn bacon. It was so good! Oh, they have about four homemade BBQ sauces from which to choose, too…yum!

So, if you’re out for the day on Lake Lanier, and you’re looking for a great place to get lunch, bring your boat into the marina and stay awhile. If you’re closer to Hidden Marina, check out their sister location Fish Tales. It’s just as good. 

Check out the menu, hours of operation and location here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #63

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Jenkins Deli

Location: Cleveland, Tn



Tuesday’s Treats #61

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Max Lager’s

Location: Atlanta, GA

The atmosphere is great! With the brick walls, barrel-high top tables and the big American flag along one wall, it has a genuine American feel. The food is incredible with choices of burgers, steak, chicken and even pizza. The sweet tea is true Southern style, and there are plenty of brew choices, if that is your style. The staff was great, always helpful and knowledgeable of the menu. We will definitely be returning again and again!

Tuesday’s Treats #57

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McGuire’s Irish Pub

Location: Destin and Pensacola, FL

If you’re in the Destin or Pensacola areas, McGuire’s is definitely a bucket list adventure for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious. Until last December, we had always read about this on Trip Advisor, but we had yet to try it. Now, we can’t believe we never did! The staff is friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is very “Irish-esk,”  and the food just as much. There are $1 bills posted all over the walls and ceilings, which I kind of think takes away from the deep wood appeal, but in true Irish flair, the $1 bills are said to bring you “good luck;” so, that’s their thing. šŸ˜‰

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TA reviews had mentioned the wonderful nachos, and they did not lie! Oh my goodness!! As you can see from the pic, these are piled high; however, you will have to order them to see that they really are piled high! These were shared amongst 5 adults, 2 teens and 2 younger kids, and we still had some left over. This was served with a side of sour cream, salsa, and they also brought out the most yummy warm, brown, honey bread as an appetizer. Oh. My! I could have filled up on these two items alone. They, also, have a “Senate Bean Soup” you can order for 18 cents, but beware, if you order it alone (without an entree), you’ll have to pay $18.00. Read the menu for more information. šŸ˜‰

Our oldest loves root beer, and McGuire’s makes their own in-house brew. It is not like your average store bought brand. This was yummy, topped with its own “green cherry bomb.” Among our party of nine, we ordered the fish and chips, burgers, popcorn shrimp, steaks, and salads. Everything was great, but by far, the absolute best thing was the steak and baked potato. Oh my goodness, the steak was so tender, you could cut it with a dinner knife (not steak knife)! It was soooo delicious! My husband got this as his meal, and I had wished I’d gotten that instead of my burger. The baked potato with which it was served was cooked perfectly, just as if it had been timed exactly right to sit over a campfire till it arrived at perfection. I was really glad my husband was so full from the nachos, bean soup and bread; so, I could enjoy a few bites.

My burger, complete with bacon, smoked gouda cheese and lettuce, was huge and very tasty…too much to finish but very good. The fries were not too thin, not too thick and yummy. The sweet tea was perfectly Southern style, and the coffee was hot, but maybe not my first choice. Since, the Irish are well known for their “drink and be merry” moto for life, if you’re into ales and such, they’ve got plenty of those from which to choose, and they even have some homemade brews. I’m sorry, I’m not into All that; so, I could fill you in on that part. šŸ˜‰ They’ve, also, got “The Grand Burger” which they serve with champagne, and a “Garbage Burger” with all that you could think of on top, not really either of my choices in burgers, but hey, to each his own, I suppose.

Because we were all absolutely stuffed, we didn’t even think about dessert, but they do have a few. However, I can’t rightly remember what those might be. They’ve also got an Irish gift shop right next door, complete with all kinds of Irish gift items, as well as, a pizza shop and other Irish adorned shops along the little strip (*This is all at the Destin location).

Finally, it might seem very strange to include the “bathroom signs” on a restaurant review; however, I thought it important to warn you that when you are at McGuire’s, you need to be sure to read these signs very carefully. Otherwise, you might get quite a surprise…LOL! šŸ˜‰ When I’m on the Gulf Coast, it is hard for me to bypass the great seafood for a different cuisine; however, McGuire’s is worth the trip, and we will definitely be going back! To check out their website for locations and menu items, click here.

Oh, and one last note, if you’re wondering about the tint of color on each of these pics, I did not have trouble with a camera filter, nor did my processing go wrong, this is the lighting within McGuire’s. So, be prepared when you walk inside, the lighting will seem a little “off,” but after a few minutes, your eyes will acclimate just fine. šŸ˜Š

Tuesday’s Treats #54

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Bourbon Street Grille

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia

We love Bourbon Street! You definitely need to get there early if you’d like a good seat, because the place is rather small, and the good seats are pretty limited. It is located right on the Square in Dahlonega, and on a nice day, you can sit on the balcony and enjoy the sights and sounds of town. 

We have eaten here a ton of times, and we’ve never had a bad meal; however, we do have our favorites. I love their shrimp and grits. It is served, in what looks like a small bowl, but let me tell you, it is filling. They serve it with a jalapeƱo cornbread muffin, and I usually get a salad before hand. The shrimp are cooked just right, and the grits are nice and creamy. There is a little bell pepper “chutney/relish” that is served on top, and honestly, the first time it was served, I wasn’t sure I would like it. However, it is very tasty and a nice addition to the dish. 

Their burgers are delicious and so are the fried. You can tell the burgers are hand pattied and not frozen and the fried are fresh cut and fried in clean oil. Some people don’t care about all that, but it sure makes for a more delicious meal. 

One time, recently, they had a daily special of blackened swordfish with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The swordfish was incredible! We’re not a fan of asparagus, but that was the only side with the potatoes; so, it sat lonely upon the plate as all the rest was gobbled up. We look for that special now whenever we go!

Next time you’re in the little mountain town of Dahlonega, be sure to stop by Bourbon Street. I don’t honk you’ll be disappointed. You can find their locations and menu items here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #53

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Rocco’s Pub

Location: Jasper, Ga.

Ā This burger joint is located in the little town of Jasper, Georgia. They have great burgers and chili. Amazingly, they also have a choice of bison and elk burgers. My husband and boys had one of these, and they loved them! I had the regular bacon cheese burger, and it was good. Shoestring fries come with your order, but for $1.00 more, you can choose from steak fries, onion rings, Tator tots, veggies and sweet potato fries (complete with marshmallow creme). We ordered all except the steak fries and veggies. The marshmallow creme was a big hit with the boys! My husband also ordered a cup of the chili, and it was incredible. The sweet tea is good ol’ southern sweet tea, and the cherry Cokes are made perfect with grenadine.Ā 

We ordered the hot apple pie ala mode for dessert. The flavor was really good; however, the crust could have been a little crispier…it almost made me wonder if, maybe, it was made yesterday and reheated today. Evenso, I’d probably order it again hoping it might be a little better, because the taste was really good.

The atmosphere of the place is really cool. I wish I’d taken a pic of the inside; so, you could see it. They also have a large outdoor covered pavilion dining area, and apparently, they have live music karaoke Ā frequently.

Please note: if you order bison/elk burgers, an appetizer and a dessert, along with drinks, for a party of four, your ticket may be a little more than what you’re used to paying. It’s great food, and we will definitely be back, I just thought I’d make you aware of the pricing; so, you’re not surprised by your ticket total as I was. Of course, I’ve included a pic of the menu; so, you can take a peak at it. šŸ˜‰

Here is the website, too. šŸ˜Š

 

Tuesday’s Treats #52

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The Blue Moose

Location: Pigeon Forge, Tn

This is a fun sports grill where you’ll find a good meal. They’ve got TVs galore, and the atmosphere is festive. The food is yummy, and it just leaves you with the feelings of good food and good times. 

We orders the fried pickles for an appetizer, and these were great, not too greasy and not overcooked. We got burgers and fried, hot wings and chicken phillies. Everything was delicious. 

They have all kinds of hot wing sauces, as well as, a huge assortment of toppings for your burgers, which are not little burgers! These are half pound, hand-patties deliciousness. They, also, have quarter pound, all Angus beef dogs with just about any topping you’d like. We didn’t have any of these, but they looked good!

We will definitely be back again, and we regret waiting so long to try it. Check out their location and menu here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #49

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Bub’s Burger Barn

Location: Gatlinburg, Tn

This place is a great place to grab a burger while you’re in Gatlinburg. It’s up a little ways on Highway 321, right before you get to the Arts & Crafts Community. As you’ll read on the Trip Advisor reviews, it’s a little pricier than your average burger place, but the food is definitely tasty.

The burgers are juicy and full of flavor, the fries are yummy, and the sweet potatoes fries are delicious! The sweet tea is made just like it should be in the South, too. The staff is pretty good, but we have run across a “dud.” The place is usually pretty clean, and the atmosphere is nice.

So, if you’re looking for a great burger while in G’burg, and you don’t mind paying a little more than fast food, this will be your place.

PS. I think they’ve possibly changed the name, but I do know it’s still “Burger Barn,” and it’s in the same location. It may just have a new name tagged on the front…

Tuesday’s Treats #47

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Sullivan’s Downtown

Location: Maryville, Tn

We love, love, love Sullivan’s! The atmosphere is great. The staff is always inviting, and the food is incredible. We haven’t had an item yet that we don’t like. One of the cool things about this restaurant is it used to be the old JC Penney’s building, and at the tile at the front door has the JCP tile. The interior is really neat.

Okay, so if you’ve read many of my Tuesday’s Treats, you know I love desserts, and this place has an INCREDIBLE key lime pie! It’s got a thick graham crust and just the right key lime flavor. I’m not crazy about all the whip cream on top, but I just like key lime pies with less toppings. šŸ˜‰ It is delicious!

The shrimp and grits, called Shrimp Charleston, are absolutely scrumptious! The shrimp are seasoned and cooked just right with just a little bit of a kick. The grits are so creamy and delicious. These are some of my favorite!

The Northshore Salad, full of feta, cranberries and candied pecans on a bed of spinach is delicious. The fried green tomatoes are just as incredible. I don’t even like tomatoes, but these little items are a tasty delight, AND they are set upon a bed of those creamy, scrumptious grits. I’m not a huge fan of balsamic vinagrette; however, this mixture of grits, fried green tomatoes, feta and vinagrette is like a party in your mouth! Yum!

If you are in the Maryville area, you don’t want to miss this wonderful restaurant. You can check out more on their website. They have two locations, one in Maryville and one in Knoxville. I’ve been told the Knoxville location is just as good.

When you get done, and if you don’t get too filled from your wonderful dinner, you’ll want to walk down the street for another delightful treat at the Capitol Coffee Shop in the old Capitol Theater. That’s a really cool venue, too; however, that will be for another post. šŸ˜‰