ACHATZ BURGERS - St. Clair Shores.

This week we went to Achatz Burgers in St. Clair Shores. It's a small establishment with a large amount of boating decor. Of course, since  they are right on the Nautical Mile on Jefferson, thats hardly unusual. When I walked into this family owned and run place, I noted how clean it looked. This was a place where the people there take pride in their business. Thats always a good sign. And if the name Achatz seems famikliar, well thats because it's the same Achatz of Achatz Pie Company (cousins if I remember right). When you walk in, you order at the counter, and then get your table. The menu is pretty simple. Mainly burgers and dogs and fries, It's reminicent of Five Guys that way, but they manage to beat Five Guys at their own game.

The burger patties are smaller, but are handmade and the quality more than makes up for it. They also have excellent homemade buns. You can order a basic Burger, Cheeseburger, or Bacon Cheeseburger. All condiments are no extra charge. They have a few named burger combinatins on their menu, but getting a special order with their system is easy. I had a bacon doublecheese burger. In addition to their burgers, they offer fantastic hand-cut fries. Not many hand-cut fries I get tend to be a big soggy and be more baked potatoey that french fry. Not so here. Hand cut potatoes, thinner than usual hand cuts, and with skins on, were golden, brown, and crispy. And they offer several ways to get your fry on. Parmesan Fries, Brown Butter Fries, Cheese Fries, Chili-Cheese Fries and others. I ordered parmesan fries. I had a sprite to drink, but a few of my companions had the shakes. And they all were taken aback at how good they were.
Places like this are why I run It's HAMBURGER DAY. These independent places that always show that they can do what the big chains do and do it better! I will be headed back here in the future. I have a couple friends who live nearby so now I will have to visit them more often.

My cohorts this day were: Mike 'Freon' Andaluz, Mike Marcus, Terry Williams, and Trevor Bennett.

Head on out if you find yourself on the east side. You will not be dissapointed.