Food Spotlight – Shamrock’s / The Nook

November 16, 2010 at 10:59 am (Uncategorized)

This is the first in an ongoing feature where I highlight some of my favorite eateries in the Twin Cities.  I don’t eat out very often because I like to cook at home and I try to be budget conscious, but I do have some go-to restaurants that I think deserve some attention.  This definitely won’t be a comprehensive guide to Twin Cities dining (for that you’ll have to consult my good friend Nick), but I love these places and so should you.

So without further ado, I unveil Shamrock’s and/or The Nook!

The Nook is basically a historical landmark in St. Paul.  I say that facetiously, but it’s definitely a beloved establishment that has occupied its little hole-in-the-wall location on Hamline for years.  It’s cramped, busy, and loud at times, but it’s still probably the best place in the Twin Cities to get a burger.  While they’re well-known for their stuffed-with-cheese heart-attack-on-a-place Nookie burgers, any menu item that involves a beef patty and a bun is absolutely incredible.

As far as I can tell their secondary location, Shamrock’s, has an identical menu with perhaps a few Irish-inspired additions.  It’s a more spacious location (West 7^th Street), and happens to be just minutes from where I live in St. Paul.  I favor this location because the wait is shorter and the service is a bit less chaotic.  It’s not the original, but sometimes newer is better.  In any case, no matter which location I decide to visit, these are the places to go when you want a burger.

Which burger in particular?  Well, that would have to the Triple B Bourbon Bacon Burger.  You have a top quality half-pound slab of ground beef atop of thick slice of smoked cheddar cheese.  Topping the beef are several strips of brown sugar bacon and their own bourbon barbeque sauce, all between a tasty not-too-bready burger bun.  It’s a dynamite combination of salty and sweet, and placing the cheese beneath the patty is a real stroke of genius.  Rather than that smoky savory flavor getting lost amongst the other toppings, it’s a star player in every bite.

Pair that with a nice Arnie Palmer (or a beer if you’re so inclined), and you have the perfect burger experience.  The rest of the menu is very good and everything is very competently executed, but I almost never stray from the awesomeness that is the Triple B.  This is perhaps not the best restaurant or menu option if you’re on a first date, but Abby and I are big fans of Shamrock’s and make it a point to eat there once every month or so.