Amy's Cafe

For new posts and updated information please visit my new food website: GetNMahBelly.com

The Badrider

Flavorful with lots going on; the Badrider is a blackened burger with bacon, bleu cheese, red onions, romaine and tomato.  You get some tanginess, sharpness and a bite back from a burger that is generously seasoned with all the right spices.  Sides must be ordered separately but what's a burger without its counter part.  And at Amy's you can partner your burger with "sexy fries."  Listed on the menu, you can order plain, garlic Parmesan or Cajun.  To make your fries sexy, Amy's Cafe mixes both garlic Parmesan and Cajun seasoning.  I don't know why they call it sexy but my interpretation is that garlic Parmesan and Cajun is a pair you can't turn away from.

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger

Sweet and delicious, the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger wows the taste buds with bacon, pepperjack, BBQ sauce and onion rings.  Sounds simple and similar to other burgers found anywhere, yet it goes beyond expectation with it's yummy sauciness.  Every bite has a pack of the candy glaze BBQ, ooey gooey cheese, crunchy sweet fried onion ring and savory bacon.  Every component complements and makes you want another mouthful of this saucy burger.

Irish Nachos 

The Irish Nachos is made with waffle fries, Colby-jack, bacon, tomato, green onion with sour cream and salsa (jalapenos additional 75 cent).  Instead of nachos with tortilla, thick crispy waffle fries are placed at the bottom of the dish.  The thick waffle and bacon are the highlights of this starter  though once the sprinkled on bacon is gone a mild flavor of cheese fries resumes.  I was looking forward to the Irish Nacho, though the familiar taste was nothing more than just a loaded potato dish in a different arrangement.  Not bad for an order of loaded waffle fries, but pretty weak for Irish Nachos.

Cheese Steak

I truly have a hard time finding a good tasting cheesesteak in Madison.  I have not been to Philly and don't have "authentic" comparison, I just rate base on taste and unfortunately, I haven't come across a good cheesesteak in Madison.  Amy's Cafe cheesesteak just tastes like all others I've had and they seem to be the same with poor qualities: inconsistent bites (some bites are mild, most bites are way too salty); not enough mushroom, onions, and peppers; and the bread to stuffing ratio is always off where you get mostly bread.  If anyone knows of a great cheesesteak in Madison, please e-mail me.


amyscafe.com
414 West Gilman Street, Madison, WI 53703

(608) 255-8172 ‎

View Larger Map

The Old Fashioned - Big Wisconsin Flavor

For new posts and updated information please visit my new food website: GetNMahBelly.com

The Old Fashioned House Burger

This stunning burger is grilled over a live fire and topped with fried onions, Bavaria's hickory-smoked bacon, aged Cheddar, garlic sauce and a soft-cooked egg served on a buttered and toasted roll.  With you choice of side salad or fries, or substitute onion strings, chips, potato salad, or cheese curds for extra, your meal is complete.  The Old Fashioned House Burger packs big flavor; each bite reignites the intense flavors of the succulent patty and crispy hickory-smoked bacon.  The aged Cheddar had the perfect amount of rich and sharpness that sneaks up on you at the end of each bite, wrapping all the big flavors in one mouthful.  Great burger, you gotta try!

Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup

If Wisconsinites can have it their way, the Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup is the choice of liquid they would swim in.  Creamy-slick and sharply-smooth is the amusement your tongue goes through when sipping a spoonful of delightfulness.  And to top it off, they garnish popcorn of all things.  Little do you know that this is the best ingredient to add for texture and also for flavor.  The popcorn soaking up the soup becomes a flavor of its own.  Somehow the combination just works.  I really wished they had added more popcorn.

Green Bay Chili

The Green Bay Chili contains an Old Fashioned secret recipe of seasoned beef and red beans served over spaghetti with shredded Cheddar, onion and sour cream.  I love the ingredients but unfortunately, the flavor lacks a bit.  I wanted more toppings; more cheese, sour cream, even spaghetti.  And also some basic ingredients like salt and pepper.  Otherwise great quality and quantity of beef; in this dish you won't have to ask "Where's the Beef?"

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder Sandwich

Wood-grilled and slow roasted pork shoulder, hand pulled and topped with pickle relish, Muenster cheese and smoked paprika sauce on Texas toast; a smart formula for great flavor.  Again, the Old Fashioned packs their sandwich with a ton of flavor; melt in your mouth juicy, bold buttery, cheesy and absolutely yummy. 

http://theoldfashioned.com
23 North Pinckney Street #1, Madison, WI
(608) 310-4545

View Larger Map

AJ Bombers - Fun, Creative, Wisconsin Burger Joint

For new posts and updated information please visit my new food website: GetNMahBelly.com

Mad Sconnie Burger

Uniquely Madison. As a Wisconsinite, it's only right to try the amazing Mad Sconnie Burger built with Gahnzo patty (grass fed beef blended with Nueske's bacon), frickles (fried pickles), signature bomber sauce (house creamy ketchup), lettuce, tomato all cradled in yummy spicy cheese bread made by our local Stella's Bakery.  Do I really need to say more to have you go out and try this colossal ingredient packed burger?  If that doesn't convince you, think about the tangy crispy fried pickles giving more crunch texture and flavor to the already unique combo patty along with a savory smooth sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls

Creative.  Yup that's right, AJ Bombers found a way to differentiate themselves from not just burger joints, but from many other food joints by redesigning a traditional menu and keeping it local.  An example of their uniqueness is found right away in the their appetizer, the Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls.  Chopped buffalo chicken and cheddar cheese wrapped in a crispy eggroll wrapper with a side of ranch or blue cheese.  The crispy wrapper adds a great crunchy texture and something more, stepping outside of the usual soggy breading of a boneless chicken wing.  A fun way to start out.

Brunch Burger

Morning Delight in a Bite.  Imagine your morning with eggs and bacon, turkey and gravy, and pancake with sweet syrup.  Where do you get that in one sitting?  AJ Bombers has your perfect brunch burger on Saturdays and Sundays.  This amazing brunch contains turkey patty, bacon, eggs, gravy mayo and peanut hollandaise on cranberry focaccia bread.  Your first bite will take you to a golden summer morning on a fresh green field.  And the bites after, you'll be twirling in the winds in slow motion.  Yup!  It's that good.

Black Bean Burger

Become a vegetarian for a day.  I said it, VEGETARIAN.  With just black beans mixed with seasonings and panko formed into a patty, layered with lettuce, tomato and Bomber Sauce; the Black Bean Burger packs a surprising amount of flavor and satisfaction.  This is probably the one time something good for your actually tastes good.  Crazy to say, but this burger could be the murderer of my carnivorous days.  For a burger joint, AJ Bombers actually have a great variety of vegetarian options: Veggie Burger, Stuffed 'Shoom and of course the Black Bean Burger.

Mac -n- Cheese Eggrolls

Special Eggrolls Saturdays.  I don't mean the ones stuffed with cabbage, carrots and pork.  Try their specially designed eggrolls on Saturdays.  Ever had Mac -n- Cheese wrapped in a wonton wrapper, or how about chili cheese or BBQ?  Try something different, you'll be amazed how tasty and creative AJ Bombers' staff can wrap things up.  But don't hesitate, these awesome eggrolls won't last.

Poutine

A little different, eh?  To change things up, AJ Bombers goes beyond to bring back the Poutine, a Quebec dish with cheese curds, fries and gravy.  Poutine has made it on my list of comfort food.  The cheese and gravy with fries has all savoriness that makes you feel like you don't need anyone else in the world.  But once you ate all the cheese curds, you will want to your friends.  The simple three-ingredient dish is lovely, but needs all three together to have that perfect bite.  Unfortunately, the only complaint about this dish is that there are not enough cheese curds.  Fries and gravy alone just don't cut it.

Grilled Cheese

Basic to Delicious.  A great combination of Wisconsin cheddar, muenster cheese, bacon, tomato and Bomber Sauce on Panini bread.  The warm ooey-gooey cheeses and crispy bacon makes you melt more than the sandwich itself.

Barrie Burger

Not for everyone.  Another unique burger on their menu is the Barrie Burger, which is layered with a quarter pound burger, lots of bacon, American cheese and natural chunky peanut butter.  Unfortunately, the burger overall tasted identical to a plain peanut butter sandwich.  Although the bacon cheeseburger tasted great together without the peanut butter; the flavor was masked by the peanut butter where the stickiness and dryness had me dipping the burger into a ranch sauce crying for moisture.  And believe it or not, the PB also suppressed the tangy ranch flavor.  I appreciate the idea; unfortunately, the PB didn't work for me.

Peanut Bomb

Peanuts! Heads up! Kaboom!  As you walk in to the restaurant, you'll notice the unpolished floor decorated with peanut shells and beams stretched across the ceiling.  And shortly after you're seated, you'll realize why it's called AJ Bombers.  The bartender dumps a handful of peanuts into the bombshells and launches them.  As it sores towards your table, an exploding sound wakens you and a rain of peanuts drop down a tube into the bucket at your table.  The majority will make it into the bucket, though the combustion can cause peanut debris to fall on the table and floor.  Since the floor already has peanuts sprinkled all over, you are welcome to add to the decor and toss your peanut shells where ever.  A different menu, atmosphere, and vision; I recommend you to try it out and have "AJ Bomb" good time.

ajbombers.com/
201 West Gorham Street, Madison, WI 
(608) 305-4474 

View Larger Map

 ajbombers.com/
1241 N Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 
(414) 221-9999 

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

The Cheesecake Factory - More Than Just Delicious Desserts

For new posts and updated information please visit my new food website: GetNMahBelly.com

Strawberry Shortcake

 If it weren't for my sweet tooth, dessert loving friends, I would have missed out on a ton of deliciousness The Cheesecake Factory has to offer.  Of course your first impression on the name itself is sweet rich dessert, so why are there so many people dining outdoors for brunch early Sunday morning at this restaurant?  Well, you just have to make it out there.  The second you enter through the grand doors you'll notice amusement theme feel where the size is grand, the decor is grand, and best of all the food is grand.  To give you an idea, we held up a dollar next to their delicious Strawberry Shortcake.  This simple dessert of shortcake with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and whipped cream was just the perfect touch to complete our meal.  Each strawberry had the perfect sweetness and tartness that complemented the soft flaky cake and creamy dairy.  As grand as this dessert was, the fresh deliciousness had me wishing I didn't have to share.

Miso Salmon

The grand theme is repeated in their menu.  You'll find dishes influenced from all over the nation and world.  You'll find American, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean, Asian, and so on.  The Miso Salmon is served with snow peas, white rice and surrounded by a pool of delicious miso.  The salmon was tender and flaky, cooked with great color and flavor and is enhanced to exquisiteness when touched with the sweet savory miso sauce.

Shepherd's Pie

And even with a grand ceilings, grand furniture, and grand dishes, you can find a homey comfort with their Sheperd's Pie.  Made with ground beef, mushrooms, carrots, peas, zucchini and onion in a savory sauce covered with a mashed potato-parmesan cheese crust.  How much more comforting can that be?  The delicate veggies sits in a spa of savory brown meat base warming you with comfort in each bite.  The mashed potato takes it to another level of comfort as the creaminess of the mashed potato works your taste buds and massages you to tranquility.

www.thecheesecakefactory.com