Burger Bar and Blackbirds

It was April 1st, but the burgers were no joke. Lize and I were given a gift certificate to the Burger Bar in Bristol, Virginia. Legend has it that the Burger Bar was the last place Hank Williams was seen alive. There conflicting accounts on whether he ate a burger or not before having a heart attack. We knew we had to see this place for ourselves.

Stepping into the Burger Bar is to be transported to into the past. From the formica countertops in teal blue to the checker board floors, the Burger Bar is a vestige of the 50’s diner culture. The decor may be vintage, but the burgers are elevated. The menu is extensive, and offers a wide array of tasty burger creations.

After pursuing the menu, I decided on the Fire God and Lize chose the Hey Good Looking. Sitting at the bar is a must, because you get to watch the grill masters at work. The guy prepping our burger told us they make most things in house. My burger was topped with a delicious pile of Tabasco straws. The Tabasco onion straws are the result of a long experimental process in which different hot sauces and spices were tested. In the end good ole Tabasco won out. I think the contest has a worthy champion.

The Fire God definitely lived up to it’s name. The sweat was pouring off me as I devoured this tasty burger. Lize thought it was pretty funny seeing me sweat. She chose a much more tame burger, so she just sat back and laughed. The fries were nothing to snuff at either. Perfectly crisp they made the perfect companion to the burger (not to mention a brief reprieve from the Fire God). I’m not sure if Hank Williams had one of these burgers before he died, but there are certainly worse ways to go.

No trip to Bristol would be complete without a trip to the Blackbird Bakery. If you’re not sure how to get there, just look for the line winding down the sidewalk to their front door. From doughnuts to macaroons, sugary treats are in high supply. It’s really a wonder that they keep their display cases so clean, because Lize and I weren’t the first to be drooling over the delights.

We settled on splitting a strawberry-chocolate cheesecake. We were not expecting entertainment but were pleasantly surprised when we discovered a local band performing for their album release party. They did a few cover songs but their original stuff was decent too. It was a perfect way to wrap up our Friday night date in Bristol.