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25 Burgers
Anthony
September 25, 2010
Guest review by Paul Kiczek of FreeWalkers.org:
“Having grown up with memories of blue collar burgers like those flipped at White Castle, White Diamond and White Rose, it now seems obvious that years ago we traded away taste for convenience and sophisticated marketing.
And, if classic burgers are making a comeback, New Jersey just may be “ground”-zero for that old fashioned flavor explosion. My evidence is scarce but I think obvious. Look at all the new specialty burger joints opening up. Many are even flaunting their Jersey stuff.
Now I’m not the kind of guy I was years ago and I don’t even include burgers on my list for a normal healthy diet. But a man has to succumb occasionally, if for no other reason than to see what he’s missing. So, pried by a curiosity for the new old trend and a personal recommendation by Anthony of EthnicNJ.com, I decided to enter one holy-of-holies in the new burger world – “25 Burgers” in Bound Brook for lunch.
The converted Dairy Queenish building is conveniently located on a busy Rt. 28 corner and it was crowded for a Friday afternoon at 2 pm. The bright white and red checkered interior is either a play on 5-Guys or maybe 5-Guys learned their tricks right here. The oily smoky aroma brought me right back 40 years as I began to study the boards.
The main menu board had all 25 burgers covering at least two walls with just about anything you could dream of on a burger or as a burger-like alternative. My strategy was to stick with basics so I could get a true comparison of the product without the fancy extras. The choice was easy, #1 was the Classic Cheese Burger, actually two burgers on a bakery bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and American cheese. I agreed to whatever alternatives the counter person suggested – including mayo and ketchup.
Photo by Paul Kiczek
The Classic Cheeseburger was a good choice to compare to olden days except for the price of $6. But what I did not realize was that it automatically comes with a good supply of slightly seasoned fries and a normal tall fountain drink. For me a root beer was all I needed to add to this proper setting. The only signs that could pull me out of this time-warp, beside the price, was the TV screen and the buzzing coaster that was given to me, reminding me that this was one burger that would be cooked fresh in modern times.
The burger was indeed classic. Two fresh quality meat patties and its accoutrements were tucked neatly inside a unique-looking roll, wrapped carefully and placed in a basket with the fries. The burger was hot, juicy and tasty and everything blended well together. Five napkins were used in this taste test.
Another reason I was drawn to this place was to determine if I should bring a group of hungry long distance walkers here next month for a lunch after six hours of walking. Now, I can’t wait to come back then and try one of the other 24.” (Mar 2, 2011)
There are five 25 Burgers locations in NJ so far: Bound Brook, Branchburg, Linden, Matawan and Woodbury.
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