Burger Joint

I don’t think it’s possible for one city to have too many restaurants that serve burgers, but if it was, Nashville would definitley be maxed out. I already have several go-to’s for burgers in Nashville (a few of which you can read about in my previous posts), but a new place called Burger Joint may have just earned itself a spot on my list.

The restaurant is named very appropriately. It is not a fancy eatery, nor is it a greasy fast food shop. It is the perfect in-between quick service stop for a delicious burger, fries, and milkshake, and it’s location on Centennial Boulevard makes this place even more appealing. It has it’s own free parking lot which is a huge plus since this has become extremely hard to find in Nashville. Upon walking in the restaurant, you stand in line to order and then seat yourself. There is music playing over the speakers, and although a large area in the restaurant is dedicated to the bar, it still has a family friendly atmosphere which is great for any age group.

The menu is quite extensive, yet simple at the same time. The owners have chosen to stick with burgers as the main entree choice, but there is no shortage of meats, cheeses, toppings, sauces, and buns. You can choose from several different burgers listed on the menu, or you can create your own. The price starts a $8 and increases depending on which options you choose. Meat choices include everything from classic beef to lamb, tuna, black bean, choizo, and turkey. There are 8 different cheese options, even including an almond “cheese” for you vegans out there. Additional topping options include the typicals in addition to tabacco onions, bacon, egg, pickled tamatillo, & avocado. There are also 9 different sauces including Tzatziki, chipotle mayo, and “Music City Sauce.” Bread options range from their standard brioche bun to wheat, jalapeno cheddar, & even gluten free.

There is truly a burger combination to please even the pickiest of palates. I actualy felt a little overwhelmed, so I decided to stick with one of the regular menu options, as did my friend. We were both astonished at the speed and size of our orders. I don’t even think 5 minutes had passed before we suddenly had two massive, steaming fresh burgers in front of us.

My friend ordered the, “Wagyu,” ($11) which was composed of muenster cheese, truffle mayo, tabacco onion, & lettuce, served on a brioche bun (pictured below). She said the flavors and textures combined perfectly, and she would happily come back to order the same thing again.

Although I am not vegan, I appreciate a good black bean burger, so I decided to give the one at Burger Joint a try ($9). It was served with avocado, pickled onion, & slaw on a brioche bun (pictured below). There was also a vegan chipotle aioli sauce which I got on the side because I was afraid it would be too spicy for my liking. Turns out, I should have been more worried about the heat of the burger itself, as it had a bit of a kick. However, even though I don’t typically like spicy foods, it contained just the right amount of spice to add some flavor without overpowering the rest of the sandwich. I did not end up liking the sauce, but the cool slaw and pickled onions perfectly balanced out the slight heat from the burger. The bun was also delicious, good enough to eat by itself.

The restaurant also keeps it pretty simple as far as side options go. The regular menu offers tots, sweet potato fries, or regular fries ($3) with a variety of topping options available including truffle ($6.50), chili ($7.50), or chorizo ($7.50). The worker who took our order said they were having a special offering of sweet potato tots the night my friend and I went, so we both decided we should give them a try (pictured below). We were definitley not dissppointed with anything about this decision other than the fact that we could have saved a couple bucks by only getting one order to share; the portions were huge! The only true negative thought I had about the entire meal was that the tots could have been a little more crispy.

There is a small section of “Not Burgers” on the menu at Burger Joint which lists items such as pimento cheese queso & chips ($8), “Nashville Hot Fried Pickles” ($6), chicken wings ($8), a “Hot Chicken Sammy” ($8), and a salad ($7). In addition, since no good meal is complete without dessert, there are classic shakes ($4) as well as root beer floats ($4) listed on the menu, along with what appeared to be freshly baked cookies and brownies available at the counter. Unfourtunately, the burger & tots were so delicous that I did not have room for dessert, so I cannot comment any further on the treats at this time.

Burger Joint might never gain the popularily other burger restaurants like, “The Pharmacy,” and, “Burger Republic,” have received, but the speed & quality of the service, taste of the food, value for the price, and free parking leave it unmatched by current competitors. Go give one of Nashville’s best kept secrets a try for yourself; I know you will agree.