The Sundowner

Lots and lots of pictures of The Sundowner - hamburger topped with "Coney Sauce", yellow mustard, super finely diced onions and a fried egg - from Coney Island Lunch in Johnstown.






Also "Delicious Coffee"...



Read about their hot dogs on Serious Eats-
Hot Dog Of The Week - Coney Island Lunch in Johnstown, PA

Coney Island Lunch
coneyislandjohnstownpa.com
127 Clinton Street Johnstown, PA 15901-2129
(814) 535-2885

A Burger Joint

I swear Hawk briefly covered 500 Degrees but I can't seem to find that posting. But I wanted to try it out, and I was pretty stoked with my findings. Here's the low down, it's not a chain, it's actually the same owners as Rouge across from Rittenhouse Square.

I was never compelled to eat here because it does look like a Chipotle like burger chain. But it doesn't have the real fast food look of something like 5 Guys and Fries.

It made me think that it would taste like a Marathon Grill Burger by the looks of the decor. Which is not bad, just not something I am looking for.

But I was fooled. It's actually quite quality, local products, and done well. The rolls I'm pretty positive are the Challah rolls from Wildflour bakery ( only because I eat one everyday for breakfast ) They have Birch Beer at the fountain ( super points ) some kind of microbrew ginger ale which was awesome ( not too sweet, mild ginger flavor ). The kicker for me, or table slammer, are the milkshakes. They are made with Bassett's ice cream. This made me very happy. And it was delicious.

The French fries were restaurant quality and I ordered the truffle fries. Delicious, not too truffley tasting and they were sea salted. I also asked for the homemade 'Fry Sauce' and 'Spice Sauce'. Both crazy awesome and at no extra charge. The tables all have- malt vinegar, BBQ sauce, spicy mustard, and ketchup. They were all filled to the top and clean.

Shout out to the BBQ sauce, um it was smokey, peppery, and vinegary but had that yummy glazy consistency I like with BBQ sauce.

Overall, a stoked experience and now my favorite casual burger. Although my medium was a little overcooked but still juicy. I did say that when I got to know them better I would start ordering it medium rare. I hope next time I get more pink.

500 Degrees : A Burger Joint
1504 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Fast Food Style

While we're on the subject of burgers, I ventured out of hot dog territory for my buddy's 30th birthday party last weekend. I'm no expert on the subject, in fact I can't even tell you what percentage of fat was in the meat I bought. Looked like a lot though.

This photo is a prototype I made the night before the party. Most of the ingredients came from the Reading Terminal Market - coarse ground, half sirloin half chuck beef from the Haltemann Family stand; pickles from AJ pickle patch, onions, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes from Iovine brothers; white american and orange colby cheese from one of the other Amish stands.

Then stopped at Acme for about 7 packs of Wonder Bread rolls. (Hey Metropolitan and Le Bus and whoever else- time to add artisanal fast food style soft burger buns to your repertoire)


What really made it was the special sauce, sort of cross between remoulade and russian dressing. I roasted a tomato, serrano chilis, onion and garlic, mashed them up and pushed it through my trusty old busted up chinoise "borrowed" from the kitchen of Brasserie Perrier a few years ago.. (well seasoned with 10 years of red wine sauce and truffled celery root "bisque") all that folded into a homemade mayo, then some small diced pickles and parsley thrown in.


I know "fast food style" burgers are all the rage right now but damn I love it. There's something about the comfort of a thin, loosely packed patty on a fluffy white bun mixed with just the right amount of fanciness that might be the best thing you can ever eat.