The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

How was it, how were the lines, was it worth the wait

They are supposed to be opening three here in the Phoenix area over the next year.

Speaking of burgers found this link on a local site http://www.cheeseandburger.com/ (http://www.cheeseandburger.com/)

I think I may have to try and make some of these.

well, I figured, if you want somethng done, do it yourself, so I braved the crowd and went for lunch today, got very lucky, 2 people in front of me, by the time I sat down after ordering, the line was out the door, and got longer as I was there.

Good burger, not gonna end the burger world, but it was good, my only complaint, and is a small one, I didnt like the pickles.

I dont think I would stand in the kind of line that I saw when I was leaving, but I will go back.
Im sure you can go in there in a month or two and get right in, So i would suggest waiting til the shine is off, and really, arent burgers better after the grill gets a little funk on them?

I don't see how this Smashburger place can be any better than any other burger joint in town.  Certainly can't be worth waiting in any long lines for.  Besides, I was always taught and firmly believe that one should never "smash" a burger on the grill or griddle, as it just depletes the juices out of the meat and makes a dryer, less tasty end product.

Just the usual hysteria that always accompanies a new chain joint opening in town. 

Tried Smashburger tonight and....meh. The restaurant leaves me wanting 2 things 1. water and more water, the food seems to be quite salty. 2. a trip to Goldies. I would compare Smashburger to a ~$1 cheaper/not as good Red Robin. I'll give the place another chance in a couple of months to see if the food improves but that is about it.

I was underwhelmed with Red Robin.  Funny your analogy of Smashburger and RR.  When I ate at RR, I said it was a Goldies with some kitschy atmosphere and an unjustifiably more expensive burger.

I find I like RR when I want a little fancier burger than I can get at Goldies (i.e. A1 peppercorn burger), however I eat at Goldies about 3-1 above RR. My only gripe with Goldies is the fact they changed their fries about ~3 years ago and they are not as good, I like going to the Goldies in Stillwater on gamedays because they still have the old variety of fries.

They bill Smashburger as "every cities favorite burger place", I guess we are lucky to have Goldies and Ron's. ;)

And Hank's and Harden's and Linda Mar's and Bill's and Brownie's and Claud's and Arnold's and Weber's and Ralph's and a few others I might have forgotten.

In the previous town where I lived, you couldn't get non-fast-food burger that was worth a damn. I come to Tulsa, and there are great burger joints everywhere. (And I'm not the only well-traveled person who holds that opinion.)

I suppose Smashburger will do OK. But I think it has a leeeeeetle too high opinion of itself, especially considering where it is. You'd be hard-pressed to find better burgers than the local places mentioned above.

We really do have a dearth of fine burger establishments and I frequent them all (I love hamburger) I was merely being concise. ;D

Let's not forget Freddie's...at least the one I know of just east of Eastwood Baptist Church on 11th St.

2nd location going in on the south side of 71st between Garnett and 169 (used to be express personnel)

By dearth, I think you mean abundance.

I'll stick with Brew Burger @ 71st and Sheridan or so. Great buffalo/bison burgers. One of those with Chipotle mayo and some sweet potato fries and I'm a happy camper.

Well I feel like an donkey, I don't know what I was trying to say and why I even put dearth in there...

"dearth" vader?

Goldies fries were mentioned,
I agree, I really miss the old fries, and they used to serve Pepsi also, the best fountain Pepsi anywhere, I hate Coke.
Why must they pick one, why cant a place have both Pepsi AND Coke

because both pepsi and coke both demand that theirs is the only product before they will agree to installing their equipment.   No signing on the line, no machines, no syrup, no nothing. 

The Speedy's Mexican restaurant at 25th and Memorial has both Coca Cola and Pepsi fountain machines.

They don't do that w/ QT.

I was just talking about that night before last.  I don't think I would want to open a resteraunt and be bound to one or the other.  I'm sure I could find a way to get both setups in the resteraunt.  A resteraunt being forced to choose one or the other, to me, is like a bar being forced to serve either Bud or Coors.  It's idiotic.

in regards to coke or pepsi...If you own the machine they will both sell you product, but if one or the other provides a machine free of charge they expect a exclusive deal. 

I tried smashburger this weekend. It's decent but not amazing, especially for $6 + drinks + side.

Smashing the burger is okay on a flat grill, but not on a grate.

I finally tried it today and it was somewhere between unremarkable and forgettable.  I did luck out and hit it about 11:20 before the line started.  I had the standard Smashburger and Smash fries.

Way too much salt in the patty.  Literally, there were still grains of salt in it.  The smash fries were good, I'll give them that much.  The special sauce on the burger seemed to be mayo and mustard.

For $10.81 for a 1/2 pound burger, seasoned fries, a tea, and tax I think I'd rather spend $7 or $8 on something local and much better.  I can get table service at Goldies and spend the same amount with a 20% tip.

Burger FAIL, IMO.

Well I liked it. Particularly the milk shake.

The combo of the burger and tasty milkshake reminded me of a Johnny Rockets.

Definitely would pass up Red Robin for this place.

I actually feel bad for Fuddruckers, though. They were the first burger joint to locate in the 169/71st and Imax Gold Mine area, and now they've got a Red Robin just down the street and a Smash Burger directly across from them. 

I tried the OK Burger with the Smash Fries.

I think I was the only one at the table who liked the fries. Everyone else was not happy with the taste. As for the burger, the toppings were delicious and so plentiful that I can't even give an honest opinion of the burger itself.

I'd probably give it an 7.5/10. I think I liked the burger at Campus Grill better, but I liked the Smashburger than many of the other chains.

On a side note, I also had an Angus burger from McDonald's. I have to admit that I thought it was pretty delicious and filling and would probably rank it around the same (7.5/10).

Sure it was ANGUS????

(http://static.pyzam.com/img/funnypics/3/vknwlnq.jpg)

Heh, I saw that online about the one at 31st and Memorial, had Lisa drive by since she was out and about and sure nuff, still said it.  You would think by the time it got all over the interenet they would have fixed it.

Last night was my first and last time I'll go there.  Two 1/3 burgers, 2 small fries and 2 drinks for $18.75. 

I've heard it's not that spectacular.  And while I like Red Robin to some extent, forget it if you have a party larger than 4.  They freak out and screw almost everything up on the order.  One time I thought was an anamoly, but after three different experiences there with parties of larger than 4 with different wait staff, I don't know if I'll go back unless it's with a party of 4 or smaller.

I like Smashburger OK. But when you've got a slew of great burger joints all over the city, another one coming into town is nothing to get excited about.

http://www.joesburgersearch.com/Joes_Burger_Search/Blog/Blog.html

I tried it once.  I'm back to patronizing the local burger boys.  I'm sure my physician wishes I wouldn't  ;)

I tried to hit the one in front of the Cinemark IMAX (in the new downtown Tulsa--169 and 71st) around 1:30 last Sunday.

Big mistake. Line was all the way out the door. In the interest of time, I had to settle for Wendy's instead.

I don't like big crowds. I wish I didn't live in this area, because it seems all of Northeastern Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas converge here all at once on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.

Maybe its also the 6 hotels surrounding the Cinemark. This Smashburger is within walking distance of 4 of them.

A great choice for their location, I must say.

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I normally don't bring up old posts, but I tried Smashburger yesterday and doubt that I will be going back. It wasn't dry as someone else commented, it was rather greasy,. Had the 1/3# mushroom and swiss with sweet potato fries and a medium drink. $11.00. just not worth the money. Would rather go to one of the sports bars near me for a 1/2# with fries for the same price, plus get a beer to go with it. Also would rather support a local instead of a franchise.

http://thegilbertskybox.com/playbook.htm (http://thegilbertskybox.com/playbook.htm)

Still trying to find a Ron's or Hank's here, most places are also gyros and Chicago style hot dog places. Also nothing like Goldie's. Close but not quite.

A Meers burger and drink doesn't even cost $11 and it's far better than a smashburger. Only problem is it's a little remote

Every time I've gone, the burgers have been so salty that I can't eat the whole thing.  Red Robin is the same way.  Too much salt to cover up flavorless meat.

Can't stand that.  I've literally walked out of restaurants who think salting up a dish to flavor it is good practice.  Like you said, it's covering something.

I do notice lately though that more and more restaurants don't salt their food as much as in the years past.  Good for me, with my family history of hypertension.  I've also become very label-aware when it comes to sodium.

I ate at Harden's last week and almost couldn't eat the burger because it was so salty.  They use an onion salt blend, so it was onion-salty.  Next time I will have to instruct them to "lay off".

Went to Smashburger in Wichita about 3 weeks ago.  Forgettable - so it seems they are at least consistent.  But that is McDonald's territory, so they better watch out.

Gonna stick with Bill's
And Lot-A-Burger (at least until they go under, which seems to be the business plan of the lawyers in Bartlesville who own it.  Wish they would let me have it, rather than the ongoing decay of their facilities - even worse than usual.)

I've always wondered what's up with those Lot-A-Burgers.

Perhaps you've answered my question-A tax write-off for a successful law firm?

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I'll tell you what's up with them- disgusting.

Got an ex that is a manager at one of the stores.  I never could understand the business practices of the company, nor how they managed to keep in business. 

the newest one they built (up on Mingo between Admiral and Pine, I'm guessing to service the AA employees) is almost always empty.  The only thing of theirs I really care for is their chicken tenders or whatever they call them.  Their burgers are quite underwhelming.  I mean, if you work for AA, just drive the extra two minutes to Hank's and have good food!

I don't  think they ever "built" one - they just take over abandoned buildings and start up a restaurant.  Like Rib Crib's early years.  Good idea, but really ought to put on a coat of paint!  (Do you suppose they use Anchor paint??)

The one that used to be at 1600 No. Lewis was exceptionally run down in 1967 the first time I went there.  Don't think it ever got any maintenance.  Sad, but that's what happens when lawyers are involved in the economy, I guess.  Oh, well.

Still think I could do something with it.

this place serves salty puke and should be shut down.

I went to one where you could see a little sign over the grill - notice to employees type thing.
It said something to the effect that salt is the key to the thing and not to skimp on it.  Very salty.  It all goes back to the meat they use.  Was told once, but don't remember.

Salty puke??  You a lawyer,too??