Tir Na Nog - Cheers!

After a long week of studying, working and everything else, my best friend, Angel and I decided to venture downtown Friday night. In search of an amazing burger, we ended up at Tir Na Nog where her brother just so happened to be playing with his band, Wake and District Pipes and Drums.
We got there at 7 p.m. and the place was packed! Tir Na Nog has become famously known for hosting live local music. We put our names on the list and headed to the bar.

Blue Moon.

The atmosphere was perfect! There were tons of pub regulars in the crowd and that made us feel totally at home.

Wake and District Pipes and Drums.

A few hours later, after begging the hostess to let us sit in the reserved section, she finally caved. Once we sat down, right in front of the stage, we ordered our burger.

Photo Credit: Tir Na Nog

Angel and I picked the 1/2 pound burger with ketchup and mayo only (of course) with an extra side of fries. Contrary to popular belief that the Irish aren't known for their food, this Irish pub delivered.

Need I say more?

Ah, where to start - this burger was absolutely euphoric. It was hand-packed and grilled to perfection. The bun was slightly toasted and seriously proportioned to the 1/2 pound of beef patties that we put inside. The surprisingly juicy and delectable burger, without the fear of sounding too cliche, honestly melts in your mouth. I'm a serious french fry kind of girl and these french fries hit the spot.

As the last band sets up and we finish our food, completely satisfied with ourselves, the experience and the night as a whole, one of the band members raises his glass. He asks us all to do the same as he very appropriately sums up the whole evening in just a few words:

"To the friends that know ya and like you anyway."

Cheers.

Fat Daddy's Market and Grill - not so much.

On the coldest and dreariest of all Monday afternoons Nicole and I decided to go to Fat Daddy's Market and Grill located at 6201 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612 for a burger pick-me-up! Upon arriving to what seemed like a legit sit-down restaurant, we were happily surprised when we were greeted by a much more casual atmosphere. 

Cafeteria Style.

The Bakery.

Been around since 1985, this isn't your typical burger joint. They serve beer all day long and their downstairs is outfitted with darts, a bar, pool table, foosball and more. Off to the side, before you got to the counter to order, was a small bakery. The bakery included cookies, brownies, scoops of ice cream and milkshakes.

The Menu.

Nicole and I both decided to order the 1/3 lb. Hamburger with cheese, we were told that the toppings were self serve and thought that was a definite plus! They told us to take a seat and they would call our names when our food was ready.

Beer.

Once we sat down, we noticed we were surrounded by all different types of beer/wine assortments. "More than 100" to be exact. 

Boxes of Beer.

After about 5 minutes our names were called and we made our way from the counter to the toppings bar. It was definitely an experience - Nicole was a little timid. "I'm not sure which condiment is which," she said. If you don't have really high standards in regards to sanitation - the bar was a HIT! I am by far the most boring burger topping person on this planet and just stick to the usual ketchup/mayo combination. 

Then, the moment of truth - the burger.

All in all, it was kind of a let down. The "kaiser-esque" bun was sub par. The patty itself was okay, nothing really to write home about. Nicole made sure to get a few slices of bacon on her burger for an added cost. I personally have had better, more flavorful burgers at any backyard get together. When I asked my mom's opinion on what a perfect burger should be she said a "50-50 burger to bun ratio" and I couldn't agree more. This burger was more like a 30-70 ratio. The quality of the overall burger was decent. I wouldn't say that all together the burger & (miniature boat of) fries with a (very small excuse for a decent size) drink combo was worth $10. The overall atmosphere was decent and boasted a good amount of seating for its guests. After your meal was done, you left your empty plate/tray ensemble on the table and someone from the staff would make sure it was picked up.

Alas the date was salvaged ... 

$.50 Chocolate Chip Cookies.

 The search for the perfect burger continues... Until next time.