So, I finally had a chance to check this place out yesterday.
I LOVED the artwork on the walls. Seems like all the work is for sale AND from local artists? The seating was nice. I usually don't like being sat at a 2-person table, but felt that the 2-person table was large enough to enjoy my meal.
We were given a weekly special menu. We didn't order from the menu, but the meatloaf burger sounded awesome. There was also a Funion (fried and battered vidalia topped with Bacon and pork) that sounded great. Unfortunately, my wife us a vegetarian (i love her anyway), so ordering this as a side wasn't feasible.
We got fried onion as the starter. Delicious. A unique and addictive sauce is served with the onion. At first, I wasn't sure I liked the sauce, but then I devoured it.
I got a Buffalo burger and my better half got the portabello burger. The Buffalo was great.... Great bun, great mix of toppings (crunchy bacon and fries) and good burger. The taste of the burger was nice with the hot sauce, I just wish it would have been a little more rare. I tried a bite of the portabello, and it was equally good.
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The fries, which I ordered as a side with my burger, were very good. I was disappointed to only receive a small side of ketchup. I'm used to American meals where unlimited ketchup is supplied. I was also disappointed that the waitress didn't ask which kind of ketchup I want since the menu lists plain, hot and berry ketchup. I really would have loved to try them all.
On the disappointing side, my wife ordered the strawberry/basil/chocalate cupcake to go. Smelled awesome when we got it, but she said it tasted like a muffin and the topping tasted like a strawberry/yogurt mix.
All in all, I thought it was a great place and I look forward to trying some of their other treats. I wish they had more vegan and vegetarian options for my wife, but I guess it is called BURGER bar. I know they're not Melt (Meltbarandgrilled.com) but maybe just a little foray into vegetarian food would be awesome -- and signifying on the menu that a food is vegetarian.
Definitely worth a try.
I will have to give it a try! We LOVE Perrysburger in downtown Perrysburg! Every tried that??
or BAR 145 I hear has great burgers!
I'm a huge fan of Burger Bar 419, and I'm glad to see so many positive comments about it in various threads on here. It has a lot of that "swanky" feel that I think Toledo could really use more of. It's also nice to have places around town that aren't afraid to take culinary risks with their menus, with items like marrow bones and pork belly.
Which one of the burger places had a really awful health department inspection? (I'm thinking it was Bar 145, but will have to look it up so as not to inappropriately slander a restaurant.)
My husband pointed it out to me, and we decided that it would be awhile before we made an attempt to go there.
JJFad, I agree on the strawberry-basil cupcake. I ordered one to go (too full to eat it there!) and I thought it was kind of dry and ordinary. Nothing special.
However, the burger combinations were awesome! There are several more I'd like to try. I'll get the onion on your recommendation, too.
We eat fairly light at home (lots of vegetables, lots of salads) so it's nice to be able to splurge on a great-quality burger that also comes with a strip of pork belly or a side of short ribs or anything else they throw on top of it. The whole concept is charming and I like the atmosphere, too. And great artwork.
Burger Bar 419 has a Groupon today!
Lots of stipulations with that Groupon.
We tried Burger Bar 419 last night. We both had the "Musty Have" burger, which was good, but not spectacular. The Onion Pedals were very good, and the Granny Apple Slaw was nice. My other half also ordered the Marinated Olives. I had a Coke, he had an iced tea.
Bottom line: Food was good, but not spectacular. We would go back, but probably only if we were going out with another couple who wanted to specifically go there. When we left we were no longer hungry, but I frankly didn't feel like we'd had $34 worth of food and drink.
I can think of a lot of other places where I'd rather spend $34.
but I frankly didn't feel like we'd had $34 worth of food and drink. I can think of a lot of other places where I'd rather spend $34.
I don't understand. You don't think that food was good enough to justify $34 for two giant burgers with fries, two appetizers and drinks? I'd like to hear what places are much better for the same price.
We're going back tomorrow night and looking forward to it!
You can save about 5 bucks by drinking water instead of paying for a soft drink and tea. We get a lot of 2-for-1 deals with our WGTE membership card and we keep the cost down by not splurging on overpriced drinks. I think it makes for a better tasting experience, to not be washing down every mouthful of food with a sweet, fizzy beverage.
"You don't think that food was good enough to justify $34 for two giant burgers with fries, two appetizers and drinks?"
There were no fries involved, only one appetizer, and the drinks were just a cola and an iced tea. For our taste in burgers and having little desire to consume massive quantities, so no, the meal wasn't good enough to justify spending that much. The main point being "for our taste".
That being said, I'd be quite happy stopping in on occasion to work my way through the appetizer selection, the ones we had were unique and tasty. The service was very good and I quite enjoyed the playlist... good jams.
Yep. What prairieson said.
My feeling is that if something is good enough, then the price is moot. I just didn't feel as though the experience was worth what we paid for it. YMMV, of course, but that's our take on Burger Bar 419.
Carolina BBQ burger is DELICIOUS!!!! Also you must try the Fried Cheddar-Bacon Mac and Cheese.
Gonna try it tonight and decide for myself.
We tried it today based on the buzz and it was okay. We had the funions which were the battered vidalias topped with pulled pork, topped with mac and cheese, topped with pickled red onion. A-MAZING. Really good, and probably the best mac & cheese I have had. The burgers were just so-so. Maybe I bought into the hype and was expecting more but they were just okay. Big doesn't = good. I like Perrysburgers a lot more. 419 wins for better fries though.
they DO have good fries
have you tried the fries at Bar 145 yet? (it's the other new burger bar place on monroe)
very very good
Good food. A bit of a middle age cougar pickup place (picture older women in animal prints)but great onion petals.
Well we went tonight as stated earlier.
I am usually the most negative restaurant reviewer, but we were impressed.
We start with the spiced nuts (cooked in bacon fat) appetizer. This was a little deceptive, as we were thinking spiced as in seasoned and savory. They were actually very spicy! I also assumed more than one kind of nut, but they were almonds. Oh well, they were very good.
My wife ordered the Musty Have which came with bibb, tomatoe, portobellos, balsamic red onion, and telaggio cheese. She picked the fries as her side. She enjoyed it. The fries were great. Reminiscient of fair french fries.
I had the Funky Boy. It was a turkey burger with kimchi, wasabi, blue cheese spread, lettuce, tomatoe, and garlic mayo. I ordered the onion petals as my side. It was excellent. I can see why people have said the burgers are bland, but it's really all about the toppings. The meat doesn't have any extraordinary flavor, but the combinations of ingredients made this an amazing burger! We both loved the onion petals also!
With both burgers, the appetizer, a Maumee Bay beer for me, and water for my wife (our first is due in February), the total came to $29.54.
Overall I give we thought it was great and will definately be going back.