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Where's the Beef: Virginia
Oh yeah, riverside lunch is at 1427 Hazel St in Charlottesville.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
WOW! I'm so excited to see this, but there is one major flaw. Not to bash The White Spot (I've had many a late night drunken burgers there), but the best burger in Charlottesville by far is at Riverside Lunch. I feel qualified to make this statement for a number of reasons: 1. I love burgers. 2. I lived in Charlottesville from birth until 23. 3. I now live in NYC and go to all of the burger joints suggested on this site and I still can't find one to match. The White Spot is good and there is no better end to a night out then the Gus Burger, but let's face it - they use store formed crap patties that are always over cooked and really only taste good when you are drunk. Riverside Lunch is an oldschoolish burger joint where the Charlottesville townsfolk go for great burgers, really good fries, and ice cold bud longnecks. It is off the beaten path in Charlottesville and hard to find if you don't already know about it. Burger Lovers if you are ever in Charlottesville, Va this is the burger to try.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
No to the Foreman. Not hot enough. I use a cast iron grill pan that works great, but I don't have a vented kitchen (no window, recirculating hood), so it filled my apartment with smoke. Does anybody have any advice on avoiding this problem?
Where's the Beef: Virginia
Oh yeah, riverside lunch is at 1427 Hazel St in Charlottesville.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
WOW! I'm so excited to see this, but there is one major flaw. Not to bash The White Spot (I've had many a late night drunken burgers there), but the best burger in Charlottesville by far is at Riverside Lunch. I feel qualified to make this statement for a number of reasons: 1. I love burgers. 2. I lived in Charlottesville from birth until 23. 3. I now live in NYC and go to all of the burger joints suggested on this site and I still can't find one to match. The White Spot is good and there is no better end to a night out then the Gus Burger, but let's face it - they use store formed crap patties that are always over cooked and really only taste good when you are drunk. Riverside Lunch is an oldschoolish burger joint where the Charlottesville townsfolk go for great burgers, really good fries, and ice cold bud longnecks. It is off the beaten path in Charlottesville and hard to find if you don't already know about it. Burger Lovers if you are ever in Charlottesville, Va this is the burger to try.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
As a former 20-year resident of Virginia beach, and avid Harley rider, I had to include my vote for one of (IMHO) best burgers in Virginia, Monks Place. This fine establishment sits on Princess Road a few short miles north of the NC line, and has my vote for one of the best bar burgers ever. On any given day in riding season, you'll see one to a dozen or more Harley motorcycles parked out front, with their riders inside downing a burger! I only get back that way around once a year or so now, but it's on my short list of "gotta go to" places to eat while I'm there.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
Good article! As a native of Lynchburg and a current resident of Arlington, I'd like to point out some other Virginia/DC burgers of note:
Dude's Drive In (Christiansburg, VA) actual drive in, great atmosphere
Five Guys (chain) best chain
Ray's Hell Burger (Northern VA) minimalist menu, excellent meat quality
Blue Duck Tavern (DC) fancy and expensive, but worth the splurge
Central (Pennsylvania Ave, DC) fancy and well executed, whimsical
Ollie's Trolley (DC) interesting spicy fries
Circle Bistro (DC) great burger, bar and excellent service
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Add my "NO" to the George Foreman grill. It's okay for some hotdogs, but definitely no good for steaks. I don't even want to tell you about the grey, steamed NY sirloin that was ruined by the GF grill...it's just too painful.
Anywho, my experiences with the indoor, stove top, grill pans, like you see used on the FN, produce copious amounts of smoke. Good grill marks, good color and flavor, but lots of smoke. The advice above to finish cooking in the oven is smart, but handling a hot grill pan doesn't sound like fun. So if you have a poor vent/hood, I would skip it and go to the park with a little Smokey Joe or mini-Weber.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
I'll use my George Foreman for fajita chicken, but that's basically it. I wouldn't put red meat on it, definitely not hot enough and you miss that smoky flavor and charring! I'm in a similar situation, and have been grilled food-free so far this summer :( except for occasional visits to the parents'. Maybe I'll have to invest in one of those grill pans, except I have a stupid electric stove, will it work okay?
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Go to a park where grills are available to all.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
So, essentially, if you're into the *flavor* of grilling, e.g., kiawe, mesquite, charcoal, versus form, you're SOL w/o an outdoor grill or hibachi. :(
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
love love the Delonghi indoor healthy grill... I bought the one with the glass cover though, to retain moisture (avoid the smoke alarm) and cook faster. I did a lot of research first... glad i bought it. Paid $79 Amazon or Macys.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
I have been an avid fan of Riverside Lunch in Charlottesville for years. By far, they have the best "good ole fashion" hamburger in VA. It slipped some when they moved to their current location and it is more of a family spot now, but the burgers are still tops, the french fries are great and the beer is ice cold.
I have enjoyed most of the other burger places mentioned, except Kenney's in Lexington. I have to wonder if this is the original Kenney Burger that had a burger spot in Charlottesville and Waynesboro that are no longer there. I am going to have to check them out.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
That's a good starte on a list, but this is the birthplace of the awesome 5 Guys Hamburger establishment (unfortunately it doesn't look like the 5 Guys guys have the same franchisal OCD that McDonald's Kroc had to keeping the food consistent from franchise to franchise).
There's also Elavation Burger in Falls Church which is a 5 Guy wanna-be, but with their higher prices and smaller fare (as well as french fries fried in a "healthier" olive oil) they have a long way to go.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
I just saw a pic of people cooking on a metal grocery shopping cart parked over a camp fire. Don't know if I'd recommend that, but it was fairly funny.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Lodge cast iron does pretty good!
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Ditto on the Foreman not being hot enough -- I tried to do some steaks and they were terrible. Its great for brats, though.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
I really love my Cuisinart Griddler. I've had all kinds of electric indoor grills, and gave them all away once I got the Griddler. It doubles as a panini pan, griddle, and two-sided grill, rather like Foreman, but much, much better. There's a thermostat, and it will open flat or close like a book. I use it at least once a week, and have come up with dozens of recipes, including a killer recipe for grilled marinated vegetables, sausages, and haloumi cheese.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Here is what I do to help minimize the smoke and cleanup when using a cast iron grill pan indoors.
I add kosher salt between the ridges of the grill. The salt catches the grease and helps prevent smoke while still creating grill marks.
Another tip is to start the indoor grill on the stove top to get the grill marked and then finish it in the oven.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
@Josh!: Thanks! That's pretty much the item I thought you might be describing and one I've had my own eye on.
@everyone: Here's where I get all "dad" on you and remind anyone thinking of the Japanese tabletop charcoal hibatchi—these are for outdoor use only. Lighting charcoal indoors is not advisable because of carbon monoxide dangers. (I don't know how they handle the issue at restaurants that do indoor grilling, but I imagine they must have excellent ventilation systems.)
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Japanese tabletop charcoal hibachi grills:
http://www.thegrillstoreandmore.com/portable-charcoal-grills.asp
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Butterface: thanks! I've gotten mediocre results with the stovetop grilling, so I will try that for sure.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Adam: I picked up a no-name cast iron grill pan at Target in my more frugal days. I didn't know about seasoning cast iron when I first got, so the grill has actually been a bit of a headache because I treated it poorly from the start. I do plan on replacing it for this winter's grilling, mostly likely with this Lodge.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Grill pans are great for meat, but if you want to replicate the effects of grilling on vegetables (seared skin, little caramelized corners and perfectly-done insides), toss them with oil, salt and pepper, and pop them under the broiler.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
I have both the Calphalon grill pan and another nonstick grill pan. I've literally wasted hours of my life scrubbing the Calphalon clean. I also feel like it doesn't do the best job of distributing heat evenly--I've noticed this especially when grilling veggies in the pan.
The nonstick does an equally good job, and it'll save you a few bucks.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Josh!: What brand is your large grill pan and where did you get it? Do you have a link?
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
We use the square skillet grill pan by Le Creuset, and it works very well. We actually have two of them -- one for meat and fish, and one for veggies/grilled sandwiches. The only draw back is that when my husband grills his meat in them, they really smoke up the house. However, we just open the windows, and the smoke disappears.
I see the merit of the Foreman grills, but I prefer the results and taste of the Le Creuset cast iron grill pan.
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
Yes on the grill/griddle pan. Turn it over and make pancakes!
How do you grill when you don't have a grill?
cast iron grill griddle I think mine is a lodge it sits on your burners has no handle. Make sure you got the window open and the fan going.
Where's the Beef: Virginia
I'm gonna have to 2nd Riverside...the first time i went there my dad set me up on the bar in my infant seat!!
been going there weekly ever since. i still miss the old spot that was tiny and grease stained, but the new spot serves up the same great burgers and they have the coldest beer and coke in a glass bottle around.
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No to the Foreman. Not hot enough. I use a cast iron grill pan that works great, but I don't have a vented kitchen (no window, recirculating hood), so it filled my apartment with smoke. Does anybody have any advice on avoiding this problem?