Olhão (Faro), Portugal: Your Taska ... Eat Good Burgers with Friendly Service and Reasonable Prices ... HOOAH!

A Taska

Praca Joao de Deus 34

Olhao 8700-352 Portugal

+351 917 007 321

Prices: €€€€

Tucked away off of restaurant row and a couple of blocks behind the police station on the west end of the strip, you will find A Toska. There is not a lot of room inside, but they have loads of tables on the square in front of the restaurant when the weather permits, which, in Olhão, is almost anytime ... HOOAH!

Pretty good burgers by Portuguese standards, I had the Bacon Cheeseburger (€9), coming on a fresh sesame seed bun with lettuce, red onion, cheddar cheese and bacon with a small side of steak fries.

The prices are fair, the burgers good, and the service friendly ... a definite TravelValue in my book ... WTFO!

CombatCritic Gives A Taska 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19/'20/'21/'22 

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of A Taska on Yelp

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Olhão (Faro), Portugal: Your Taska ... Eat Good Burgers with Friendly Service and Reasonable Prices ... HOOAH!

Key Words: Olhão, Faro, Portugal, A Taska, taska, burgers, hamburger, friendly, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2022 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Olhão (Faro), Portugal: Best Burger, So Far, in Olhão ... HOOAH!

Hamburgueria Toska

R. João Augusto Saias 2

8700-254 Olhão, Portugal

289 721 136

Toska.pt

Prices: €€€€

I have seen this little place for months, one block north of the Cube roundabout, and had heard the burgers were good, so I decided to give Toska a try.

The pretty, nice young server, Kelsey, waiting for me outside sounded like she was American, from California, like me, no less, but she was Portuguese and has never even been to the USA. Kelsey was very helpful, offering me something to drink while I decided what to order. Hmmm, so many choices.

I finally decided on the Xaringado (€7.50), a beef burger on a fresh bun with chili, bacon, grilled onions, gorgonzola sauce and lettuce, french fries included. I thought it was a 'chili burger', you know, with chili con carne, but it had little hot chillies on it, as in the piri-piri variety. The burger itself was good size, over 100 grams, and hand-formed, not a frozen patty, and it was delicious! The combination of the chillies, grilled onions, and gorgonzola sauce gave it a very unique and satisfying flavor. The accompanying bucket o' fries were hot and crispy and the Toska (garlic aioli) sauce was tasty, so I would not hesitate to order it again.

The only down side was that I had to sit at a high-top next to the menu, so it was a bit uncomfortable and everyone that walked by had to stop right next to me to see the menu. Otherwise, it was delightful and Kelsey just made it that much better.

For just €8.60, including a small bottle of sparkling water, it was a very good value. Therefore, ...

CombatCritic Gives Toska Hamburgueria 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19/'20/'21 

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Toska Hamburgueria on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Olhão (Faro), Portugal: Best Burger, So Far, in Olhão ... HOOAH!

Key Words: Olhão, Faro, Portugal, burger, Hamburgueria Toska, Hamburgueria, Toska, hamburger, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2021- 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Gearhart, OR: Gearhart Golf Link's Sand Trap Pub Was Sub-Par

McMenamins Sand Trap Pub
1157 North Marion Avenue
Gearhart, OR 97138
(503) 717-8150
Click Here To View Menu
Prices: $$$$

Fairly typical McMenamins fare and service, mediocre at best. The building and view of Gearhart Golf Links, the oldest course west of the Mississippi, is wonderful, but the service was slow and my burger and fries sub-par, excuse the pun.

We sat on the veranda overlooking the golf course after an OGA Senior Pro-Am event on a beautiful, calm, mild July afternoon. It took forever for a server to greet us and take our drink order as was the case the rest of our meal even though there were very few customers seated.

My Bacon Cheeseburger ($16) came with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles and their secret sauce as well as fries of tots. I got the fries and asked for grilled onion instead of red onion. When by meal arrived, the red onions were still there and there was barely a trace of grilled onions even though they up-charged me $1.50 them without telling me. The fries were few, burnt to a crisp, and barely warm, but the burger itself was OK, not great.

I have been to several McMenamins and have been unimpressed with the service and food overall. With tip, my burger, fries, and a beer ($6.50 for a 12-ounce glass) cost me over $25, a bit much for what I got and a poor overall value.

CombatCritic Gives McMenamins Sand Trap Pub 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19/'20  

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of McMenamins Sand Trap Pub on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Gearhart, OR: Gearhart Golf Link's Sand Trap Pub Was Sub-Par

Key Words: Gearhart, Seaside, OR, McMenamins Sand Trap Pub, McMenamins, Sand, Trap, Pub, hamburger, fries, beer, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Copyright 2020 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Anthem (Phoenix), AZ: WARNING: Eating Uncooked Or Undercooked Beef Can Be Hazardous To Your Health!

Tru Burger
39504 North Daisy Mountain Drive, #110
Anthem, AZ 85086
Phone number: (623) 465-5000
Website: https://geeconcepts.com/
Prices: $$$$

This should not take very long because I waited for a table longer than it took to leave after receiving my meal. If a place with "Burger" in their name cannot properly cook a medium-well hamburger, there is something terribly wrong.

I had high hopes when I found a burger place that serves grass-fed beef and it happened to be just down the street from where I was staying. The place was packed on a Friday night a bit after 6pm, another positive sign. Oh boy, was I in for a treat ... NOT!

When I saw that they had a house margarita for $5, I was even more enthused, but wait, things went downhill quickly after drinking about half of my margarita, which was pretty good by the way. I ordered a 1/2 pound Angus beef burger, medium-well, with sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and herb mayo on a brioche bun ($9.95), adding bacon, sauteed onions, and avocado ($1 each). Fries do not come with their sandwiches or burgers, so I thought I would try a side of their Skinny Fries ($2.99) as well.

When my burger arrived, I was quite impressed, it looked delicious. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted, the burger patty thick, and the contents I ordered piled so high that I was wondering how I would shove it into my piehole. The first bite was pretty good, the burger was a little more pink on the edges than I expected for a medium-well burger, but I thought "what the hell" and took another couple bites. As I got closer to the center it was obvious that this burger was much closer to medium-rare or rare than medium-well, it was nearly raw in the middle. My stomach turned because there is a reason they put warnings on menus: "WARNING: Eating uncooked or undercooked beef can be hazardous to your health!". I do not give a shit what Gordon Ramsey says, I do not eat uncooked or undercooked beef, not until tonight at least.

The poor waitress came back and asked me how my meal was and when I showed her my uncooked/undercooked burger, she apologized profusely. She asked me if she could take it back and cook it longer, meaning "nuke-it", or if I wanted something else, but my this time I had lost my appetite and asked for the bill. The manager also came by to apologize and took the burger and fries ($15.94) off my bill, but they lost a customer by letting me walk out the door without so much as comping my margarita or offering me a free or 50% off meal the next time I came in.

I NEVER tell establishments when I visit that I am a food and travel writer with a popular website (80,000+ visitors a year) in addition to being Yelp GOLD Elite for 6 years running and a Zomato "Verified" Connoisseur. I, obviously, also have never accepted a single gratuity in exchange for a meal, hotel, play, or anything else I write reviews about because they have no idea who I am until I leave my card after paying the bill. If a place offers a free dessert, drink, or anything else because I am dissatisfied with my experience, I am more than happy to accept it because that is what good business owners and managers do, make amends to unhappy customers in hope that they will return again.

OK, this has gotten much longer than expected, so I shall stop here. Although, I also shall not return to Tru Burger and you might consider doing the same.

CombatCritic Gives Tru Burger 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... Only Because The $5 Margarita Was Pretty Good And The Service Decent ... More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Tits Up" 

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19 

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Tru Burger on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Anthem (Phoenix), AZ: WARNING: Eating Uncooked Or Undercooked Beef Can Be Hazardous To Your Health!

Key Words: Anthem, Phoenix,

AZ, Tru Burger, tru, burger, TruBurger, hamburger, raw, undercooked, beef, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Copyright 2019/2020 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Hilo, Hawaii: Hilo Burger Joint's Cooks Need A Remedial Class In Burger Cooking

Hilo Burger Joint
776 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone number (808) 935-8880
Website: hiloburgerjoint.com
Prices: $$$$

The building has obviously been there a long time, bright red, and it calls out ... "come eat a burger here", so we did.

It took forever to get my draft beer ($6 and the cheapest on the menu - several were $8) because the bartender forgot and had to be reminded by our server. It was cold and tasty nonetheless.

My wife ordered the Mushroom and Swiss Burger ($13) well-done and I the Chili Cheeseburger (also $13) medium-well, both coming with a side o' fries. My wife cannot eat rare meat, so of course her burger came blood rare. She took one bite and nearly hurled. Our server was very gracious when we showed him the bloody mess, apologizing profusely and asking the kitchen to cook another as specified. It finally arrived after 15 minutes and my wife gobbled it down, praising the end result as "very good". My chili burger was also pretty good, but it did not have nearly enough chili on it. A chili burger should either have chili oozing out all over your hands or be served open face and smothered with chili and cheese, but this one was neither. The fries were plentiful, however, hot, crispy, and tasty.

Chili Cheeseburger $13

The First Mushroom Swiss Burger $13

My Burger - My Wife's Was, As Gordon Ramsey Would Say, "A Bloody Mess"

A place with "Burger" in their name should know how to properly cook a hamburger, so they get dinged heavily for that shortcoming. They did make up for it a bit by comping my wife's burger, but the forgetful bartender also had a negative impact on my perception of the overall experience. Having paid a tad over $30 plus tip, it was a decent TravelValue considering Hawaiian prices, leaving me a bit perplexed. BTW, do not forget to Check In on Yelp to claim your 10% Discount ... HOOAH! In the end, ...

CombatCritic Gives Hilo Burger Joint 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Good To Go"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19 

• 650,000+ Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Hilo Burger Joint on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Hilo, Hawaii: Hilo Burger Joint's Cooks Need A Remedial Class In Burger Cooking

Key Words: Hilo, Hawaii, Hilo Burger Joint, burger, joint, hamburger, fries, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved