Burger 31: Althouse 1848's 1848 Burger

The Althouse 1848 of East Rockaway, New York is located off of the main scene of restaurants and shops in the village.  It is set back and positioned so it's dining room and patio overlook the canal it borders.  The restaurant itself only has a few tables inside, the majority of its tables on the outdoor patio.  The bar has three sides for sitting and takes up the majority of the dining room.

Why 1848? The building the restaurant is housed in was built in 1848...or when James K. Polk was President of the United States of America.  Although the restaurant was not in existence when the building was built, people may be telling their kids one day that the Althouse was opened when Barack Obama was President of the United States.

The menu is extensive for a bar, and the Althouse 1848 offers a variety of burgers on their menu.  The burger special for Saturday is a burger and a pint for thirteen dollars.  I ordered the 1848 Burger and a Krombacher.

The 1848 Burger: Eight ounce beef patty with cheddar cheese, bacon, balsamic ketchup and onion straws.

The Beef: The beef patty ordered was medium, however there was no pink to be found inside the somewhat dry meat.  The beef was higher grade than your average restaurant, and the dryness was canceled out by the balsamic ketchup.  I would have liked to taste this patty not so overcooked.  3 out of 4.

The Bun:  This was the bun of all buns.  The foccacia bun was absolutely amazing.  If I could have one bread for the rest of my burger quest, this bun would be it.  The bun is a recipe of the chef's which is made in a local bakery and delivered daily.  The bun was soft, but what made it so special was the outside was coated in corn meal giving each bite extra texture to contrast with the soft elements inside.  4 out of 4.

The Beef to Bun Ratio: The ratio of this burger was good.  The thickness served its purpose, but there were some bites where there was bun and no burger (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing considering the bun).  3 out of 4.

The Presentation: The burger was served on a plate with freshly cut potato fries on the side.  A small serving of ketchup and cole slaw was also included on the plate along with your customary pickle.  The burger was presented in a fashion that made me want to eat it and not leave anything leftover.  3 out of 4.

The Cheese and Sear:  The white cheddar cheese served on this burger was melted nicely and the sear was done well on a flat top grill.  2 out of 3 for each.

Overall Taste:  Overall, this burger had a very pleasant taste.  The juiciness, meat, the toppings, and most of all the bun which gave an amazing taste and texture to the overall rating.  4 out of 5.

BBSR: 19 / 27