Steaks Unlimited, Seaside Heights, NJ

Where: Seaside Heights, NJ

What: Cheese Steak Sandwich & the Cheeseburger

Build: CHEESE STEAK: Steak, white American cheese, grilled onions, bell peppers & mushrooms, "Apizza" bread.
CHEESEBURGER: 1/2lb patty, white American cheese, raw onion, Kaiser roll.

Comment: The cheese steak is served on a unique bread known as "Apizza" bread or sometimes more commonly as "pizza bread". It is round and fairly flat and anywhere from 10 to 12 inches across with a hole in the middle. And unlike traditional Italian breads, it is soft. I personally haven't had a cheese steak on this type of bread in a long, long time. I was very glad I stopped at Steaks Unlimited. It's a great tasting sandwich and the simplicity of its ingredients are truly its strength. The steak is cooked on the flat grill (but not over-cooked) and the toppings are served piping hot and stuffed into the 1/2 loaf of Apizza bread. I quartered mine to share with a friend because I just had to try their cheeseburger also. Scroll down to the cheese steak photos and be sure to click to enlarge them (you'll almost taste them). The photos below the cheese steak are of the burger. The meat was fresh (never frozen) and it was very tasty with a good old-fashioned burger flavor although there were two downers for me;  1)the burgers doneness and 2)the burger-to-bun ratio. My burger came well-done, which is a shame given the nice fresh meat they started with. I'm speaking for all the grease freaks out there when I say, that's a huge no-no. As for the burger-to-bun ratio, it was so far off the charts it was in the upper stratosphere - just check out the photos below. Again, good burger, crazy huge roll. (IMHO), I'd rather have a standard hamburger bun or better yet, a potato bun with the meat hanging off around the edges than have too much bread. There's something to be said about properly emphasizing the size of your meat - I'm just sayin'. Overall, I have to give this cheese steak a 10/10 because I just don't have any complaints about it. My burger rating was largely based on meat flavor so I put it on the high side of "good" with an 8/10. (check my rating chart at the bottom of this page). If they'd cut down on the bun's real estate and serve a med/rare temperature burger they'd be on their way to a 10/10 in my book.  Last but not least, a review of Steaks Unlimited would not be complete without a tasting of their signature "cheese balls". We were on our way out chatting with the staff and they were nice enough to make us some samples. They consist of Cheddar cheese encrusted in a delicious coating. (I prefer my cheese more creamy than chewy, but hey, that's me). Try them for yourself and see - there's a reason they sell tons of them. 
I'm giving a shout-out to Chris and Elaine for their warm hospitality. Molte grazie. 
I hope to be back soon!

Yo! Chris and Elaine!

I told you! Roll too big and meat too done, but still tasty none the less. 

(I scooped the bread out of the top of the roll after taking this pic)

Cheese Balls!

White Rose System, Roselle, NJ

Where: White Rose System, Roselle, NJ

What: The Double Double 

Builds: Double Cheeseburger, raw white onion, pickle slices, Kaiser roll.

Comment:  I've been to both the WRS in Linden and the WRS in Highland Park, NJ and now, finally, being here at the WRS in Roselle marked the end of my quest to conquer the WRS Trifecta. For the life of me I can't see how Guy Fieri gives so much praise to the White Manna in Hackensack and not the awesome old fashioned trio of White Rose System diners. All have unique flavors and all are an absolute treat for any burger lover. BTW, (and IMHO), the White Manna in Jersey City is much much better than the Hackensack location but neither can hold a candle to the flavors of any of the White Rose System Locations.  The Roselle location had unique burger sizes - when I asked: "what's the best burger to order", our server told me they have 4 sizes. There was a bit of a communication gap but this was what I took away from our conversation:
the small = 2oz
the medium = 3oz
the large = 4oz
and the Double Double = 8oz
Of course, I ordered the Double Double with my usual raw onion and pickle slices. It was magical... As soon as I picked it up I had to put it back down because it was too hot to handle. I grabbed it again, thinking, "you're not scarin' me!" held it firmly took a bite and was instantly scalded when the hot grease and juices ran down my hand and arm. AWESOME! Cheeese was oozing everywhere.

My son tells me I'm getting to "wordy" with my reviews so I'm going to wind this one down here because he may be correct, this is about the burgers, not me rambling on and on.

Please be sure to check the photos... you NEED to get to a WRS - and check the other 2 locations I've previously reviewed (I've listed them below for you). I believe all White Rose Systems have equally great burgers in there own way. Me, I'm partial to the Highland Park location where they smash diced onion right into the ground meat. But this location has an awesome old fashioned smashed flat-grill burger and when in the area, should not be driven past. Perhaps one day the media blitz will shy away from the now glamorous White Manna and get back into helping the great Ma & Pa joints of New Jersey that are so often missed, yet so very deserving.  Solid 10/10 for WRS, Roselle.

Also see...
http://billcianciburgerreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/where-white-rose-systems-2-highland.html

and
http://billcianciburgerreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/where-white-rose-systems-linden-nj-what.html


   

Freddie - A man amungst men....

                                      

Does it get any better than this?

The Double Double

Can't you smell it?

2 small burgers "special"  

Although VERY tasty, the small burgers are a bit lost in the regular sized bun...

Ditto

Ditto

Now that's a beautiful sight...

Autopsy of the Double Double. It is perfection simplified....

Ditto

Jake's Wayback Burgers, Little Ferry, NJ

Where: Jake's Wayback Burgers, Little Ferry, NJ

What: The Cheeesy Burger 

Builds: Grilled Buttered Bun, 4 Slices American Cheese, 2 - 3.3oz patties, diced white onion, lettuce, dill pickle slices.

Comment: I was first introduced to Jake's when in Delaware, MD after taking a good friend (and NASCAR freak) to a "Ride & Drive" at Dover Speedway. I was scouting out burger joints to hit on our way home when I came across Jake's on the Internet. The next weekend we were off to Dover, but honestly, after reading up on Jake's burgers, I couldn't wait to be heading back home to try one. I also had another joint slated to stop at that was very close to Jake's called "The Dog House" where they split the dogs and grill the flat sides on a griddle until they start to brown. Very Good! I was very surprised to read that a lot of reviews for The Dog House were not so good - after reading some more, I realized that most all of the bad reviews were for foods other than their hot dogs. Who goes to a hot dog joint and orders a cheese steak or a burger? You just don't do that. But I digress, this is about Jake's burgers - (and awesome ones at that). I stopped at Jake's with my daughter and grandson and we promptly ordered. The staff could not have been nicer and after paying, we proceeded to our table. I like the fact that they deliver the food to you without the use of an obtrusive 2ft number sign at your table. Just looking at these beauties as they arrived was enough to get my salivary glands gushing. They were so hot and fresh the cheese hadn't melted completely yet. I stared at them and let out a "holy sh*t" under my breath. My daughter laughed and agreed. By the time I took some photos my hands were shaking from smelling the delicious aroma. Finally, one bite proved the flavor matched the aroma, which matched the appearance. This was truly an awesome burger. Juicy, not overdone, very tasty, just all the things you look for in a burger. I immediately thought, this is better than 5 Guys, and better than Bucu Burgers which are 2 of my burger cornerstones for Northern NJ. This burger was so good that I'd put it in the same league as Steve's Burgers in Garfield... that's how tasty they are. This place is truly Little Ferry's best kept secret. Check out the photos of the Cheeesy Burger I ate. I watched as Jake's burger chef buttered my hamburger bun and placed it on the flat grill until it was golden and buttery. He then stacked the burgers, weaving 4 slices of cheese in between the patties. Both sides of the bun are constructed inside out - this is to say, the cut side that has been buttered and grilled faces out, making the burger look a bit like a round grilled cheese sandwich. (You with me?) I had mine topped with my standard (and what I consider "old fashioned" toppings),  diced raw onion (white onions of course, none of that bitter hybrid red onion crap) and dill pickle slices with a piece of fresh lettuce - that's it. And of course, NK. The onion compliments the burger flavors perfectly and the tartness of the dill pickle opposes the butter and cheese for a perfect conflict in flavors that definitely compliments the sandwich as a whole. Good - really good burger, in fact, I can't find anything wrong with it so it's getting a 10/10. (I can't wait to get back). And lastly, for what it's worth, my advice to Jake's:
let me start by saying: I am not a french fry guy at all, and if my daughter didn't order them, I would never had tried them.
Lots of folks are driven to burger joints because of the fries. (I find it's women more than men for some reason.) So, if you and your spouse are ever indecisive and flip-flopping on where to eat, having really good french fries to go with your really good burger will be the deciding factor every time. 
Here comes the advice - if you're going to compete in this fiercely competitive market, you need to up the ante and get some fresh cut fries in the deep fryer. Your current fries are fair to poor at best. I'm just sayin'...

Autopsy shot of the Cheeesy Burger stacked for the photo.....

The Jake's Double... impressive.... 

Unfortunately, the fries were all show and no go.... 

It's the cheese steak kid from my homepage!

A fun time was had by all...

 The youngest flirt I've ever seen! 

Hank's Frank's, Lodi, NJ

What: Hot Dogs 

Builds: Assorted Toppings

Comment: I haven't been to Hank's Frank's in about 28 years and I passed by the other day while driving through Lodi, NJ and decided to treat myself... I'm happy to report the place hasn't changed one bit. Simply put, Hank's is "the quintessential hot dog". It is the hot dog we all know and love, the one that comes to mind when we think of the best hot dog we've ever eaten... it's the one hot dog that burns a scar on the "taste bud" side of your brain which is most closely linked to your memory. Now I know I've just given Hank's a pretty heavy endorsement (rightfully so) but don't get me wrong, I don't want you to go running off to Hank's thinking you'll be trying something "new"... on the contrary, you'll be stepping back in time. That's what makes this place so appealing and the dogs so darn good. The flavors are all from 50+ years ago, plain and simple yet full of flavor. The Sabrett dogs are cooked to perfection - what's that you say? How can you screw up a boiled dog? Very easily. Ever see a dog lying in the pot too long? It turns gray because the food dyes have leached out along with the fat, leaving you with a tasteless wet meat product (gross). Cooking a boiled dog to a perfect "snap" is nothing less than an art form and the folks at Hank's are true artisans of the tube steak. The Sabrett's are small, I'm guessing 10-to-a-pound size or in that area. They are small, but not too small. They fit snugly in their buns with lots of room for toppings, (and Hank's has got the mother load of toppings). You can get just about everything from potatoes, to chili, kraut, 2 types of onions, etc. I remember the peanut butter and jelly dog from my school years also. Years ago while in school, I'd stop at Hank's almost every day for lunch and take advantage of the "buy 8 get one free" offer. (Yes, 9 dogs for lunch - everyday).  Now let's remember, this is New Jersey and the hot dog competition is fierce. You have heavy hitters such as: The Hot Grille, The Belmont Grill, The Goffle Grill, Marci's Dog House, Jerry's Famous Frankfurters, Rutt's Hut, Dickey Dee's, Manny's Texas Wiener, Jimmy Buff's, Johnny & Hanges, Hirams, Galloping Hill Inn, The Garage, Papaya King, Rahway Grill, Callahans, Hot Dog Johnny's - the list is endless and so are the styles and toppings. Even the cooking methods vary greatly, you have: boiled, fried, pan-fried, deep-fried, griddled, grilled, roller-grilled and sauteed. So you tell me, how do you compare Hot Dog joints? Answer: the same way you compare burger joints - you order your personal favorite and go from there. What ever the cooking method, look for how well it was prepared, freshness, doneness etc, etc.  So, if you're a die-hard Rutt's Hut guy (like my father-in-law is) you like deep-fried dogs, which means you're not going to like Hank's Frank's quite as much because the dogs are cooked completely differently. And this is why I can never answer the question: What's the best burger (or hot dog) joint you've ever been to? Comparing burger joints is easy when the food is prepared very similarly, but some are just so different it's not fair to make that comparison. Nuff said. Try Hank's Frank's, you won't be disappointed.  10/10

PS, These photos are not mine, they are courtesy of the Internet - I'll add better photos to this blog the next time I'm at Hank's.