REVIEW: The Craft Burger

As their facebook page reads "Simple, fresh ingredients, cooked with craft. No precious over-priced fanciness. Just plain good. AN HONEST BURGER FOR AN HONEST BUCK."

I ventured out with a friend to have lunch at Brava Grill off of Caldwell Mill Road and wouldn't ya know it.... SWITCH-A-RONI! They were not there anymore.
Their meaty replacement had taken over the location with a new spot that specializes in hand crafted burgers & much more.

The Craft Burger is a new, fast-casual, burger joint that keeps it simple. Their menu is not 10 pages long or too complicated. They offer a variety of burgers, "craft dogs", sandwiches, salads, beer, wine & shakes.

The decor didn't really change, except for a few minor differences. However, the concept is a lot different that the previous restaurant.

On my first visit I tried the Turkey Burger: seasoned ground turkey on a bun accompanied by their house made basil mayo, arugula (no tomato for me) and a side of their seasoned fries. This was a pretty good turkey burger. I typically don't order turkey burgers at restaurants because they just never compare to my personal "secret"  recipe. However, I finished every bite of this one. Kudos!

*Click photos to view larger images*

TURKEY BURGER

My friend opted for the buffalo chicken salad: A very generous portion of Romain lettuce, red onion, tomato, fresh sliced cucumber, shredded cheese and a good sized helping of moist , grilled chicken chopped and tossed in buffalo sauce, with a side of ranch dressing.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

On a separate visit, I decided to try the Craft Burger: ground top sirloin, grilled to moist perfection, on a bun with onion, a slice of American cheese, onion, lettuce and their "secret" craft sauce. Wonder what's in it? 😕

THE CRAFT BURGER

I also had a hand made cookies & cream milkshake. It was a little camera shy so no pix.
However, if you're a shake lover I will let you know that you WILL be impressed with the straws for the milkshakes. FINALLY... a large enough straw.

The staff was great! Friendly and very proud of the menu and all of it's offerings.
I was disappointed that Brava was gone, but I think The Craft Burger is here to stay. They should see a great deal of success here in this busy shopping center.

For more information about The Craft Burger,
visit & "LIKE" their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thecraftburger/
Follow them on twitter at @TheCraftBurger

Thanks for reading & sharing.
Most of all, thank you for supporting these business owners.
Their staff depends on your patronage. I do this for them.

Regards,
The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding a Restaurant Near You"
#RaidBham 

Don't Drive. Get a LYFT https://www.lyft.com/invite/RAIDBHAM2017 


Phone: (205) 995-0003
Hours: 11-8 Daily
5184 Caldwell Mill Rd

Birmingham, Alabama, AL 35244

If you received this review via email, please go to http://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/ to view the colorful full version of the site.

B.Y.O.B. Totally Brunch-a-licious!

*One of the main goals of the Birmingham Restaurant Raider is to anonymously show up to area restaurants and examine the total dining experience. Typically when people know they are being monitored, their behavior will change for the better, thus creating a phony persona for the benefit of the customer.*

My visit to B.Y.O.B. Burger Bar for Sunday brunch was probably one of the most impressive visits to date. After  reading & hearing mixed reviews about this spot, I wondered if this Lakeview eatery would pass or fail. There was only one way to find out. #RAID

Atmosphere: This is a spot that fits very well into the area. Inside you will find a few bistro tables, several booths and a moderate sized bar. It's not huge place, but it's not tiny either. I went on a sunny Sunday so the window seat that we chose had a great view of the beautiful day. One of the features during brunch is the Bloody Mary bar display.

The Meal: B.Y.O.B is widely known for their "build your own burger" concept, but they've added an impressive brunch menu to the line up. I had the Southern Comfort- a biscuit split in half & topped with fresh sausage gravy, warm, creamy cheddar grits with a generous helping of grilled Conecuh sausage.  My brunch-mate opted for the Chicken & Waffles with a side of creamy grits- delicious hand cut white chicken,  2 waffles, topped with fresh blueberries and fresh diced melons. The syrup for the waffles was awesome- made with a touch of bourbon. Mmmmm VERY GOOD! The chef stopped by our table to greet us prior to our order being taken. He recommended the Chicken Scallopini, but we'd already placed our order. He sent out a complimentary tasting of the Chicken Scallopini prior to our actual food order. This dish is one of the MOST AMAZING things ever created in a kitchen. It consists of lightly fried, hand cut chicken on a bed of warm, creamy grits & spinach. It is then surrounded with lemon buerre blanc (emulsified butter sauce ) capers, marinated cherry tomatoes and fresh dill. It's a creation that you absolutely MUST try.

The Staff: Surprisingly, everyone we encountered knew the menu & the impressive detailed preparation methods along with the origin of the ingredients of the dishes. The staff was very attentive and helpful. Fantastic service with a welcoming smile is always nice.

The Prices: Brunch prices range from $9 to $15 dollars. Also on the menu was the brunch burger, grilled veggie quiche, shrimp & grits & southern style eggs Benedict.

Overall experience: I will definitely return to this spot. I enjoyed the service, the food and the atmosphere. 

Their current hours are 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday brunch hours are from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

For more information visit them at http://byobrocks.com/
Follow them on twitter at @BYOBRocks
They are located at 720 29th street South, Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 541-8140
Thanks for reading & sharing!

Sincerely, 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider 

Chicken Scallopini

The Southern Comfort

Chicken & Waffles

Creamy grits (we didn't need to add a thing)