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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Burgers Burger joint of the week: Buffalo Grill

Posted by Kat Robinson on Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 1:13 AM

CLASSIC: Buffalo Grills cheesebrger remains the same

Kat Robinson
CLASSIC: Buffalo Grill's cheesebrger remains the same

Buffalo Grill has made some changes over the year I just don’t agree with. The boss will argue over Tortilla Flats; I will argue that the place likes to sneak bacon into dishes that just don’t deserve it at all. But what most people I know will agree with, is that the restaurant makes a good burger.

Or should I say, restaurants? Because while the menu is the same, the attitude at the two different Buffalo Grill locations is very, very different.

Kat Robinson

I’ve been going out to the one on Bowman Curve for years — it’s closer to the house, big, spacious and for a long time one of the favorite places to hang for my crowd. Big oversized wooden booths provided plenty of space to crowd in a few folks at a time and share a plate of Flats covered in cheese dip (used to be covered in shredded cheese and put under the salamander, but I was told a couple of years ago in the push to emphasize the “grill” part of the name that had been gotten rid of) and shoot the bull. I made one of the biggest mistakes of my pregnancy there, ordering apple pie with Cheddar cheese AND ice cream, which my husband brings up almost every single time Buffalo Grill is mentioned in our presence.

But the place has lost its charm. It doesn’t feel that different inside from a whole lot of other restaurants. I mean, the restrooms are clean and the place is spacious, but it lacks identity.

Past year or so, I’ve been heading down to Rebsamen Park Road when I want a fix. As I get older, I crave the rough edges of an old established joint. I don’t feel guilty taking up booth space if I’m sitting at the bar when dining solo, and… I dunno. Maybe it’s the natural light. Or the deck, overlooking Botanica Gardens’ fantastic back yard. Or the people.

Kat Robinson

I gave into the Chicken Quesadilla ($8.69) a couple of months ago (it’s listed twice on the menu so I’m guessing it’s popular). Didn’t realize about the bacon… but being a quesadilla it was easy to remove. The chicken was substantial, as was the cheese and onions. Some reason I didn’t get the “bed of lettuce” treatment noted on the menu, but that was okay with me. What I liked best was the guacamole — creamy, mostly smooth and fresh. Nice.

Kat Robinson

But we’re talking burger joints here. And until recently I hadn’t had a burger at Buffalo Grill in years. Like, five or more. I’ve had the Reuben, the Tuna, the Chicken Breast and Turkey Delight, the Tuna Steak, the Taco Salad, Guacamole Salad and the Hamburger Steak. I tend to try everything I can on a menu over the years. This recent burger project though brought me back to sit at the bar and have a cheeseburger, just to see if it’s as good as I remember.

And it is. Buffalo Grill’s Cheeseburger ($6.29) comes classically with chips and a pickle spear, toasted and seeded bun and plenty of vegetation. The default condiment is mustard, which goes along well with the flavor of the patty, a traditional salt-and-pepper hand-patted medium-packed patty with a light char and decent thickness. Choices of cheese are hot, American, Swiss or Cheddar, melted right onto the patty.

Kat Robinson

The mustard (and/or whatever other condiment you want) goes on the top bun, followed downwards by pickle, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, white onion and nothing between the patty and the bottom bun, prime for absorbing any residual griddle juice. It’s tall, requires both hands and smushery to get it consumed.

Kat Robinson

I do think Buffalo Grill does confuse chicken with burgers, though. Their grilled chicken sandwich is served up on the same bun with similar accoutrements, except the default condiment there is mayo.

You’ll find one Buffalo Grill at 1611 Rebsamen Park Road (501) 296-9535... and the other at 400 North Bowman #A1 at (501) 224-0012.

Tags: Buffalo Grill, Little Rock, burger

        
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Comments (5)

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Say Kat - I agree with the vibe difference of the two locations. I like the Riverdale location a bit more. As for food, we eat there often and the burgers are good, nacho's are fine indeed and cheese dip a-ok.

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Posted by yapperjohn on 04/07/2011 at 4:19 PM

No doubt the Rebsamen location is the place to eat. You are spot on about the WLR location...although I'm not sure I ever liked it to begin with...

A very good burger, in my opinion...

My only beef is the tortilla chips either way. Too salty and so Ben E. Keith or whatever. That cheese dip is pretty darn good so I always order potato chips with the burger for my dippie-snobby-ness...

And if you see a couple of kiddos with mustard and ketchup smudged all over their faces out on the deck...yep...they're probably mine!

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Posted by rosso on 04/07/2011 at 6:15 PM

I love BG burgers, for sure, but I have always disagreed with how the condiments are distributed. The plain bottom bun explanation makes sense, and I can't believe I never thought of it that way. But...in my mind, pickles and onions go on the mustard side of things and lettuce and tomato go on the mayo side. (I order mine mayo also, with the onions grilled.)

I moonlighted (-lit?) at the Riverdale BG some 20 years ago...we called that one the "Real Grill" and the location out west the "Glamor Grill". I was told that I was their first (male) waiter, but I've never known if that was really true.

But, yeah, the smothered-in-cheese-dip flats are a train wreck.

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Posted by hugh mann on 04/07/2011 at 8:07 PM

I recently had dinner at the Rebsemen location (I don't think I've ever been to the WLR location) and it was pretty good. My friend had the chili cheese fries with tons of bacon and jalapenos and a rich and creamy ranch dressing. She was given the choice of cheese dip or melted cheese and she chose both.

I had a bowl of chili with cheddar cheese on top. It wasn't spicy enough but that was corrected with some Louisiana Hot Sauce. It also wasn't very hot, just sort of warm but my waiter had it heated up and it was fine.

During the summer this is the place I like to get together with my girlfriends and our kids and sit out on the patio and eat burgers and fries. It's laid back and reliably decent food.

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Posted by Radfem on 04/08/2011 at 10:11 AM

The burgers at Buffalo Grill are wonderful. I consider them among the best in Little Rock. My wife and I used to love the Veggie Nachos,but since they switched to cheese dip on them we haven't had one in quite some time. It's just not the same! Everything else I've ever ordered from B.G. has been really good,but the burgers are the main draw for us.

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Posted by AllenK on 04/11/2011 at 4:10 PM

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