Durham Burger Decision 2008: The Poll

Well, let's see how this goes, shall we?  I'm allowing you to pick two this time, despite Vizu's occasionally wayward-seeming calculations.  If I've left anything out (which I had to, as I have a maximum number of choices allowed), feel free to pick "other" and leave a comment.

First, links for each place (some don't have WWW sites):

• City Beverage
• Cook Out
• Dain's Place
• Elmo's
• Q-Shack
• Satisfaction
• The Federal
• Bull McCabe's
  
• Wimpy's

Now, the poll itself:

Opinion Polls & Market Research

The poll is also in the sidebar and on the polls page.  I'll leave the sidebar poll up for however long I feel like it.  :)  I usually leave the polls on the polls page forever, and leave them running at Vizu forever too. 

You know, we may have to re-do the pizza poll soon....  ;)

Comments

[Joe Eater]

28 votes so far, but I don't know if that's people or votes cast: you can vote for two this time, so there's a difference.

[--Lisa S.]

Polls are fun, and I know they're not supposed to be scientific, but can I meaningfully participate in a poll that asks me to vote for a certain restaurant(s) without allowing me to indicate that I haven't BEEN to the other ones?

[Joe Eater]

Lisa - Uh, because I can't make a poll like that? :) More seriously, I imagine most folks who vote in the polls haven't actually been to every place that I post about, much less had a particular dish there. But it's still enjoyable to do IMO. I don't really trust Vizu's math either, so yeah, no reason to take it really seriously. Especially since this time I've gone back to allowing multiple choices, which may be what tickled the bug folks noticed last time I did that. Just vote however you like. And if I ever figure out a way to run this as a controlled experiment and get us all free burgers at each place -- well, I guess I could quit my day job. Wait, this is my day job....

[Allen]

Does Wimpy's serve drinks? I know you don't eat in, but It's always a nice item to have with the burger.

[Tom from Raleigh]

Wimpy's serves soft drinks as I recall. There's an ABC store nearby in case you're looking for a little booze with your burger.

[DRR]

Yes, Wimpy's does serve basic soft drinks, I think some tea and lemonade options as well.

[Joe Eater]

Not only do they not serve alcohol, but also there is no seating: it's takeout only. They used to have some picnic tables out, but some busybodies from the state came around and made everyone either get rid of their picnic tables or put in publicly accessible bathrooms.

But, as has been noted, the ABC store is right across the street. :)

[John]

Hate to be a nit-picker, but its not THE Bull McCabe's. Its just Bull McCabe's Irish Pub.

[Joe Eater]

John - OK. Is that something that changed, 'cause it seems like when the place opened, there was definitely a "The" at the front of the name. But I've fixed up the names; thank you. I've left the ordering as it is within the poll, as that's kind of a pain to change at this point.

[Allen]

Haha, thanks guys. I meant soft drinks and tea. I've never had liquor with my burger before. I guess it would go well if I put a little Jack in my Coke.

[John]

I think where the mix-up came from was that the very first menus had "The Bull McCabe's Irish Pub Menu" on it, referencing the menu, not the bar itself. The The makes it sound like a strip joint. Thanks

[Jamie Gruener]

Folks should check out the Parrish Street Grill on East Parrish Street in Downtown Durham. I haven't had a lot on their menu, yet, but their cheeseburger was to die for. And cheap, too.

--Jamie

What about the burger at the Bull Durham bar in the Washington Duke? That bar has some good food & the best martinis.

[SportsBizPro]

Did anyone see that a Char-Grill is opening up in the new shopping center near Woodcroft?

I think they would make the list for 2009.

[Joe Eater]

Gang, thanks for the additional suggestions and news. Maybe we'll re-do the burger poll in a year or two, throwing out some of the lower-gaining entries on this round and adding some new places.

I think the next time I eat at Wimpy's Grill, I'm going to eat sitting in my car, and illegally drink an Arnold Palmer, spiked with Jack Daniel's. ;)

BTW, we're up to 123 votes. Woo-hoo!

[Joe]

Just had my first burger from Cook Out. I was amazed at how quickly they got me my burger and fries. The fries, upon request, were seasoned with what seemed to be an almost exact clone of the same "Cajun" seasoning they user at Bojangles'. The fries themselves were about average for frozen. Burger bun was a disappointment, being unheated, and on the low end of what you'd get from a grocery store store brand. The burger tasted good, but my enjoyment was dimmed somewhat by a sphere of bone about 1/8 inch in diameter buried in the burger. I almost broke an incisor on that. Burger was average moistness, but all the fixins (I got it "Out West" style, with cheese) made it seem plenty moist. Bacon was good. You'd think with all the different fixins they have, you could get different kinds of cheese, but whatever. Cost for a large burger and large fries (no drink): $5.10. I won't pass the place by in the future, but I won't go out of my way to get a burger there either. One odd note: The back of the fry envelope says "GOD BLESS THE USA / Galatians 6:10." Whatever.