Vincent A Restaurant
While staying in Minneapolis, I wanted to try out their locally famous burger – the Ju(i)cy Lucy. For those not in the know – the Ju(i)cy Lucy is a burger made with the cheese inside the meat patty, rather than on top. It was invented either at Matt’s Bar (using the term “Jucy Lucy”) or at The 5-8 Club (using “Juicy Lucy”). My initial plan was to head down to South Minneapolis to check them both out and decide for myself which was better, since they’re essentially right next to each other. However, after some brief burger research, I decided to try out the gourmet-version of the Juicy Lucy – the Vincent Burger at Vincent A Restaurant. Making this idea even better, was that I went during happy hour – so the Vincent Burger was half off, and drinks were more reasonably priced. The happy hour menu is a bit limited, but I ordered the Vincent Burger as-is along with a side salad and several local beers. The burger description:
The Vincent Burger - Ground Beef, Braised Short Ribs, Smoked Gouda Cheese
Sounds delicious. We were seated outside and the weather was gorgeous, so I really didn’t mind the long wait for my food.
Cross-section shot:
In short – this burger was absolutely delicious. The quality of the ingredients along with the way everything was put together makes the Vincent Burger an absolutely amazing cheeseburger.
Burger Ratings:
Burger: 9
Holy shit. This burger is so, so good. The bun seemed to be a bit large at first, but the beef and toppings started to shift around after a few bites, and it did a good job of holding everything together. The beef tasted amazing – it was super tender and juicy, and slightly seasoned. I really like the idea of having cheese on the inside, but since it’s trapped inside a warm beef patty – it is essentially molten lava until you cut it open to cool down. I scalded the fuck out of my mouth after the first bite, but I guess it was worth it.
Side: 8
The burger comes with either a side of french fries or a side of mixed greens. I opted for the lighter choice, as I was also downing a few beers as well. The greens were lightly covered in a delicious vinaigrette, so I was very pleased with my choice.
Environment: 9
You can’t really get a better environment than this. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and both were very inviting and pleasant. I sat outdoors, with a nice view of downtown Minneapolis. There were fountains and sculptures surrounding the restaurant, making it a great place to stop by and have a burger.
Value: 7
During happy hour, the value is a 7 – really good. Regularly priced, I would consider a $16 cheeseburger on the expensive-side, making the value rating drop significantly. However, when you factor in quality, it somewhat evens out.
OVERALL BURGER REVIEW:
Vincent A Restaurant //1100 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 // (612) 630.1189
Tags: BURGER TOUR 2K9, jucy lucy, juicy lucy, minneapolis, vincent a restaurant
Listed Under: 9 - Fuckin' amazing