What is the first thing to come to mind when you hear the
words “burger and fries”? In this day and age, most likely it’s a
grease-stained bag of mystery meat between two stale pieces of bread and a few
soggy chunks of potato that someone handed you through a window. Until a recent
visit with a couple of friends to Bull City Burger and Brewery (BCB&B) in
Durham, NC, that’s what I always thought of. But let me tell you, brothers and
sisters, I have seen the light! Never again will I, of my own volition, darken
the doors — or drive thru — of some chain establishment for a hamburger and french
fries! Believe me when I tell you that Bull City Burger and Brewery will
absolutely ruin you for anything other than BCB&B itself! How can I make
such a bold assertion? Their unique atmosphere and service, the quality and
flavor of their products, and their commitment to sustainability make Bull City
Burger and Brewery a burger joint like no other.
There are countless examples of the distinctive
atmosphere in the restaurant. For starters, as soon as we walked in we could
see their beer tanks to the right. These aren’t just for show, either; the beer
they sell comes straight out of those tanks. The full service bar along the
left wall was full, so we stood in line to place our order at the back counter.
This was fine with me. The line moved remarkably fast, and we got to catch a
glimpse of all the goings on in the kitchen—which was really hopping that night.
The cashier was friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. After greeting me with a
smile and asking how I was doing, she was quick to answer any questions I had
(which were many) and even suggest some of her favorite food and beer choices.
Once we placed our orders, we received a number and went in search of seating.
It was a busy night, and all of the long communal tables were full. This made
me a little sad; I have always wanted to sit down with strangers and share a
meal. We did finally find a spot in the corner, right beside one of their
neatest features: a play area for kids. It had a couple of toy kitchens, a
kid-size table and chairs set, plastic food, trucks and blocks, as well as some other fun
stuff. Sitting here was great; we got dinner and a show! Of course, dinner itself ended up being a spectacular
show in its own right!
Upon the cashier’s suggestion, I
tried the “Experimental Tap 8: Bountiful Backyard Ale.” This particular brew
was made with hops and Serrano peppers that were grown right there behind the restaurant
(“Beer Menu,” n.d.). The fact that this beer is made with house grown
ingredients was pretty intriguing. But I’m not going to lie; I was a little
speculative about it. The menu described it as both “grassy” and “earthy”
(“Beer Menu,” n.d.), and this really did not sound all that refreshing to me.
Plus, come on, peppers? Really? The cashier, however, was adamant that this
brew was her favorite; so I took a chance and ordered it. My beer arrived at my
table shortly after I did, which is a testament to their great service. It was
a beautiful, almost opaque, amber color with a thick, creamy head. I took my
first sip rather timidly, half expecting the Serrano peppers within to bite
back. Amazingly, there was absolutely no heat from the peppers; but the rich,
earthy, somewhat chocolaty flavor did shine through. My overall impression of
the Bountiful Backyard Ale was that it was like drinking a salad. It was a very
unique beer full of fresh summer flavors. It was a great experience all by itself,
but then the food showed up!
We ordered the deep fried pickle chips as an appetizer.
They were incredible! The folks at Bull City Burger and Brewery source
cucumbers from local farmers and make their pickles in-house (“About Us,”
n.d.). These guys know what they’re doing! The pickles are perfectly seasoned,
cut wafer thin, and battered in a pretzel crust. Served hot and crispy in an
old-fashioned pie tin with their special BCB&B sauce, a garlic aioli, these
are the best fried pickles I have ever had! And I’m from the South; I know
fried pickles.
Then the burgers and fries arrived,
also borne on the nifty pie tins. I have two words for you about these
hamburgers: life changing. I’m not kidding. The beef is sourced from North
Carolina farmers who have to sign a contract agreeing to raise their cattle
completely hormone and antibiotic free (“About Us,” n.d.). I ordered the Over
Easy: a thick, juicy burger topped with house-cured, double-smoked bacon and a
fried egg fresh from a local farm (“Menu,” n.d.), all on a—you guessed it—house-made
bun. I had them add cheddar cheese and their house-made aioli as well. The bun
was perfectly toasted, the burger slightly pink and incredibly thick and moist.
All of the flavors and textures—the crunchy bacon, the tangy aioli, the amazing
beef—were incredibly well-balanced. But that over easy egg sent it over the
top: the yolk coated the whole thing with its ooey goodness adding a creaminess
to the burger that was unbelievable!
My friend, Sheri, got the Special. Its distinctive
quality was a bacon and watermelon marmalade. Now, I know what you’re thinking:
How is that good eats? According to Sheri, in every way possible (personal
communication, September 8, 2012)! As she put it: “It’s this amazing
smoky-sweet combination that just dances all over your taste buds” (S.
Winesett, personal communication, September 8, 2012). Our friend, Justin, got
the Pimento Burger which came with house-made pimento cheese. He said it was indescribably
good (J. Frazier, personal communication, September 8, 2012). We all ordered
the Duck Frites to go with our burgers. They were “skinny, French cut [potatoes],
finished in duck fat with fresh rosemary and [sea salt]” (“Menu,” n.d.). In
short, they were magical! I will
never be able to eat another french fry that isn’t tossed with rosemary fresh
out of the fryer! This wasn’t just another burger run; this was fine dining on
a pie tin!
As if the atmosphere and food aren’t
enough (but let’s be real, it totally is!), Bull City Burger and Brewery’s
mission goes beyond making an exceptional hamburger. They are committed to
doing so while leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible. For example,
BCB&B used reclaimed lumber to build the tables and recycled paper and
bamboo to make their bar (“About Us,” n.d.). According to their website:
We use as much LED lighting as feasible. We recover our hot water from brewing beer to make the next batch. Our kitchen has a state of the art hood which senses heat and smoke to power up and down accordingly throughout the day. Our hot water heater is 95% efficient. And, we recycle as much as possible. Even our leftover brewing grain goes to farmers for animal feed. (“About Us,” n.d.)
Bull City Burger and Brewery is certainly an impressive
establishment, especially to have only been in business for a year and a half
(“Home,” n.d.). Their dedication to supporting local farmers and the
environment while serving up top-quality, artisanal hamburgers in a great
atmosphere makes them a truly one-of-a-kind burger joint.
Reference
Bull City Burger and
Brewery (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from http://bullcityburgerandbrewery.com/BCB&B/Home.html
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