I feel like there ought to be something special for a milestone like the 75th Bite Marks. But, unless I simply pick and choose what I’m going to present to do so, it doesn’t work that way. Such is life. I know, that didn’t bode well, did it? But then, I do tend to save the really good reviews for individual posts.

 

I know, I know. It was just a few weeks ago I practically swore to you that I was going to stop giving new sushi delivery options a try. It’s like an addiction, even when I know it’s not going to get me high. But… you know what? Sushi Koi, Tucuman 2600, Once, may have broken the streak. I mean, it’s not amazing sushi, but it’s really quite good. The pieces are large. Actually, for local sushi, they’re downright huge. The fish, which is limited to salmon (there’s one shrimp roll, other than that, all salmon) is fresh. And, while the majority of rolls offered have cream cheese, a telltale warning, they have at least a few without. Then again, it turned out that the shrimp roll is actually rolled in cream cheese rather than nori. That’s a bit much. Still, overall, quite good, and four four half-roll, five-piece selections, plus five-pieces of nigiri, it came in at under 600 pesos, plus delivery and tip cost. As delivery options go, not bad, and perhaps even a visit one day.

 

Ewwwww… What is that? I mean, is there anything about that that even looks appetizing? It was a new shawarma offering from a place nearby called Sabores Arabes, Vicente Lopez 1722, Recoleta. The “XL” shawarma consisted of two stale pita breads, some wilted lettuce and mushy tomato slices, some dried out, nearly unseasoned beef and chicken that was just mealy, and no sauces. “Hot sauce” on the side didn’t have as much kick as ketchup. (260 pesos!) A side order of hojas de parra, stuffed grape leaves, were filled with nothing but plain rice, and were basically swimming in lemon juice. (125 pesos.) I gave it a thumbs-down on PedidosYa and 15 minutes later got a call from the manager of the place, who asked the problem. A little nonplussed at even receiving a call from a restaurant to inquire about such a thing (it just doesn’t happen here), I went ahead and described the above. Her response wasn’t, “Oh jeez, sorry about that.”, but, “Next time you order, mention this and we’ll give your order extra attention”. Yeah, I’m sure you would, and no, that’s not going to be happening.

 

I’ve been watching the build-out of the space for BurgerBeer, Av. Colonel Diaz 1695, Palermo, for months, awaiting its opening. There was no doubt that there was something a touch industrial about the look, and the moniker underneath the name of “Flaming Industry”, whatever that’s supposed to me, was still somehow catchy. Plus, it’s the first outpost of this “chain”, that had two locations up in Córdoba, and is touted, by more than a few, as the best burgers in town there. Not knowing the burger scene in Córdoba, I can’t guess what it’s stacked up against, but it’s still a sort of recommendation.

Now, I know the place is brand new, and I know it will take a moment to get its feet under it, and, it all still started to sort of slide downhill from moment one. I popped in, the place is moderately busy, there are numerous high tables scattered throughout, each with a menu on it. There’s a counter at the far side. I plopped down at a table, perused the menu, and waited. After a few, I realized there weren’t any waitstaff on the floor, the menus are just there for reference, you have to go to the counter to order. Okay. Got in line, got up to the front, having picked out my burger – to be topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, an egg, and aioli. Comes with fries. Can I get that with something other than fries, or is there an option to have the burger without fries? No to both. It comes with fries. Period. No options. No discounted price without, in fact, we don’t offer without. It comes with fries. I don’t want the fries. It comes with them. Whatever. I pay (200 pesos, plus a drink), I get one of those ubiquitous beepers, and I wait. And wait. 20 minutes go by. Finally the beeper goes off.

I go to the counter. The burger is up on the back counter, with fries. She yells at the cook, I told you he’s not going to eat the fries. He walks over, picks up another tray, picks up the burger, sets it on the tray, leaving the fries on the first one, which he dumps in the trash. Shoves it back at her. More, whatever. I take the burger, go to a seat, take my photo, bite in. It’s okay, at best. It’s a very thin patty, not even a centimeter thick. It’s not overcooked. It’s a touch salty. The cheese is generous, and better than the usual “American cheese” that passes for cheddar here, the egg has a still semi-runny yolk, the aioli could use more garlic but isn’t bad. They don’t have mustard, I asked, they don’t offer it, but she stuck some mayo and ketchup on the tray to make up for that…. Strange, given that at least one of their burgers comes with mustard on it. I take a few bites, and then realize, wait, where’s the lettuce, the tomato, the red onion?

I pop back to the counter and point out the missing items to a different young woman who is now attending. Why didn’t you say something when you picked it up? I didn’t realize it until I’d had a few bites. How do we know you didn’t just eat them and are trying to get more? Yes, that’s it, I’m trying to cheat you out of a slice of tomato, a leaf of lettuce, and a slice of onion. Exactly, you should have said something when you picked the burger up, what are you trying to get out of this? We’re not giving you a refund, you already ate half the burger. I wasn’t trying for a refund, I was hoping for a little lettuce, tomato, and onion to add to the rest of the burger, and I thought you’d want to know it wasn’t made right. You should have said…. Okay, never mind….

In fact, seriously, just forget it. It’s not a good enough, or interesting enough burger to ever set foot in the place. Not even with 18 craft beers on tap from 5 different local producers, which might otherwise have been a draw. There are way too many other far better options in town.