Sunnyside's Burger Barn

[sextons]

So the hubby and I decided to check out the local scene this weekend which eventually led us to Sunnyside's Burger Barn. We had heard local grumbling of $11 burgers and decided it was worth investigating. They've turned part of the expansive Emporium space into this little burger cafe. There's outdoor seating or wooden stools and booths indoors. You order from the counter and contrary to the local gossip the most expensive item on the menu is The Hitchhiker at $9.95. The Hitchhiker consists of an eight ounce burger (all burgers are of course Kobe beef), two sides and a drink. We split an eight ounce burger ($6.50) with blue cheese ($.50 extra), and a side of coleslaw ($1.25 for 4oz). The food is served on a Sunnyside frisbee ("Hey - a burger, two drinks, and a dog toy for under $12!"). I have to say it was a very tasty burger. Now this is the first Kobe burger I've had so I don't know how much the burgers can vary ... It was flamebroiled and came standard with lettuce, tomato and onion. The coleslaw was fine - nothing special. The menu is rather limited. I don't remember any sanwiches other than burgers. Side dishes consists of potato salad, coleslaw and Route 11 chips (there may have been one other side but I can't remember what). All in all I'd have to say I'm pretty pleased to have the addition to the limited Rappahannock scene.

[Steve Klc]

I've been buying the Sunnyside Farms "kobe" ground beef from the Sterling Wegmans since it opened. $3.99 a pound and it cooks up to a very enjoyable charred on the outside/ medium rare on the inside burger at home. In fact, I've been pretty impressed with the whole lineup of Sunnyside cuts Wegmans stocks--the hangar I had was very tender and flavorful (though it was not "aged.") A question--at the Burger Barn--do you have a choice how it is cooked, i.e. can you get it medium rare?

So this place is in Sperryville?

http://www.sunnysidefarms.com/organic/stores.htm

[jparrott]

I'm convinced that Wegman's has the hanger priced wrong. They have it at $19.99/lb, whereas at Dupont, it's something like $8-10/lb...the other Sunnyside cuts are priced comparably to Dupont, this one is the only outlier. I've told them a couple of times, but to no avail.

[Steve Klc]

At Dupont what, Jake? (Sorry not to know...) I wondered about the very high hangar price as well, I think I paid $16.99 a pound but I didn't actually look, I figured I'd try it once since I had never even seen the cut for sale elsewhere--only skirt, flat iron and flank--I believe there's only one hangar per animal so perhaps that's why. If you ever try it you have to cut out that tough whitish vein in the center, pictured below:

http://www.outlawcook.com/Page1505.html

[DCMark]

Steve, thanks for that interesting link.

[sextons]

I've been buying the Sunnyside Farms "kobe" ground beef from the Sterling Wegmans since it opened. $3.99 a pound and it cooks up to a very enjoyable charred on the outside/ medium rare on the inside burger at home. In fact, I've been pretty impressed with the whole lineup of Sunnyside cuts Wegmans stocks--the hangar I had was very tender and flavorful (though it was not "aged.") A question--at the Burger Barn--do you have a choice how it is cooked, i.e. can you get it medium rare?

So this place is in Sperryville?

http://www.sunnysidefarms.com/organic/stores.htm

I didn't even realize until we had already sat down that they did not ask for a temperature on the burger. Burgers are the only meat I don't mind being medium which is about the temperature this one came out as. So unfortunately I'm not sure if you could get the burger cooked less than medium. I plan on going back though so I'll try to find out next time.

Yes, this is in Sperryville. If you're at all familiar with Sperryville it's the old Emporium/Faith Mountain space. They opened this space about ... 6 months ago. There's a retail section, groceries, meats, ice cream counter, coffee shop, sandwich shop and now the burger barn.

[jparrott]

At Dupont what, Jake?

D'oh.

Dupont Circle Farmers Market, where Sunnyside has a stand every Sunday.

[hillvalley]

We took my dad out to the Burger Barn for father's day after checking out a local vineyard.

The burgers were wonderful although not as thick as I would prefer. There are a few other choices on the menu, veggie burgers are the only one I remember.

When we gave our order they did not ask us how we wanted our meat cook so we told her. One rare, one medium and one well done. They were all cooked to perfection but the cook did not tell the girl behind the counter which was which. My medium was obvious because I ordered cheese on mine (cheddar, not as strong as I like for my burgers). But my dad ended up eating his well done burger as my mother likes it (just ketchup) and my mom ended up eating her rare the way dad likes it (just mustard).

The sides were tiny and disappointing. Not worth the money. Fries would have made the meal perfect.

I was dissapointed in selection behind the meat counter. I could get the same product at Dupont. The prices seemed about the same, but that is just a guess. There were a few products in the market that I had never seen before, but for the most part the selection was similar to what you find at Whole Foods.

[cjsadler]

Was down in Harrisonburg for a wedding this past weekend and when driving back up 81, saw the billboard for the Sunnyside Burger Barn. The sign said "Exit 6 and then follow 522 South". What the sign doesn't tell you is that after you've followed the twists and turns of 522 for a few miles, there's another sign announcing "Burger Barn: 23 miles" Though pressed for time, we were already drooling over the thought of a Kobe burger and decided to go for it.

Sunnyside has a whole "World Famous Rest Stop" complex that includes a market, huge tchotke store, ice cream shop, and the Burger Barn. Outside, they were pouring some of their cider, which I think that WP article mentioned as being one of the only remaining unpasteurized ciders made in VA. This stuff is delicious and I picked up a gallon ($5) before heading inside.

The Kobe burgers are very tasty ($6.50) and cooked to a nice medium-rare (they don't ask how you want it). Skip the sides, as the portions are miniscule and they aren't all that great anyway. Do wash the burger down with a Star Hill beer, though.

[sdelgato]

if it can't be Champagne if it isn't from Champagne... How can it be Kobe if it aint from Kobe? As snappy as the name is, it's organic ground beef from Waygu cattle. A delicious burger it is, but Kobe beef it aint. It's like comparing foie gras and chicken liver. Kobe beef is as luxurious as it gets. A taste (and texture) one never forgets. Like the first time you taste a red burgundy and 'understand'. Sorry, just my opinion.

[DonRocks]

if it can't be Champagne if it isn't from Champagne...  How can it be Kobe if it aint from Kobe?

←

Correct.

Forgetting political nomenclature and turning toward the geographical, the cattle matter, but terroir matters as well. Of course it matters that it's sheep's milk cheese, as opposed to cow, goat or yak, and it matters which breed of sheep it is - but it also matters which grasses the sheep chew, and when. Riesling is a varietal grown in many regions, but the wine produced from the great Niederhauser Hermannshohle vineyard cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world, nor can it even be produced in the vineyard right next to it.

I have no doubt that the burgers at Sunnyside's Burger Barn are great; I also have no doubt that they're quite different - not necessarily better, or worse, but different - than if they were produced from real Kobe beef.

Cheers,

Rocks.

[douginvirginia]

hillvalley - there's a better meat & seafood selection at Sunnyside's store in Little Washington. It's funny, I had never had their skirt steak until a friend of ours brought some down from Wegmans. I managed to convince them to stock it in the store. They're 35 minutes from me, but an absolute blessing given the alternatives here in Luray.

cjsadler - if you're ever in that area again, take exit 264 east (rt 211) off of I-81. A savings of 40 miles. The lengths we'll go to! I once went 100 miles out of my way to go to Lexington #1. Realizing I was in danger of missing closing time, my speed was approaching 90. I figured if stopped, I would - in truth - tell the trooper that I was headed for the barbecue I'd dreamt about for 20 years, and he'd either throw me in jail for being nuts, or more probably, give me a police escort. I did make it it time - and it was worth it.

For all in the area, ss burgers are very good, but there's also the Thornton River Grill in Sperryville to consider - an excellent burger. Also, top quality steaks (poorterhouse & rib only) & ground beef available at the adjacent Sperryville Store.

Doug, Luray VA

[sextons]

What's even more confusing is that the Sunnyside taff will tell you that it's Wagyu beef. But then you go to Wegman's (and maybe even right behind Sunnyside's meat counter - I can't remember for sure) and it says "Kobe beef." I'm not quite sure how they can do that either. Because of living in Rappahannock all the "Kobe" steaks and meatloafs or whatever that I've eaten in the area are indeed Sunnyside's Wagyu as they distribute to every restaurant around (or did at least). So I'm sure there is a difference in taste and quality between the Kobe and Wagyu. But it's still a pretty damn good burger. I've yet to eat at Thornton River but I've heard nothing but good things about them. I'll get over there one of these nights ....

[sdelgato]

you missed my point. It IS a great burger! But Kobe beef it is NOT. Sunnyside grows great beef. It is as great a source for the highest quality beef available today period. BUT, it is NOT Kobe beef, I'm sorry. Not by a longshot.

[Chantilly Bob]

you missed my point.  It IS a great burger!  But Kobe beef it is NOT.  Sunnyside grows great beef.  It is as great a source for the highest quality beef available today period.  BUT, it is NOT Kobe beef, I'm sorry.  Not by a longshot.

←

It just so happens that we paid our first visit to the Burger Barn on Saturday while doing some leaf-peeping.

From what I read while I was there, Sunnyside calls their beef "Virginia Kobe" -- half Black Angus, half Wagyu. But their website says it's 3/4 Wagyu (mothers half-angus half Wagyu, daddies all Wagyu). Whatever it is, the burger was delicious.

N.B. we got ours cooked medium and the inside was almost too raw for the mrs. but I loved it.

Edited October 27, 2004 by Chantilly Bob (log)

[sextons]

you missed my point.  It IS a great burger!  But Kobe beef it is NOT.  Sunnyside grows great beef.  It is as great a source for the highest quality beef available today period.  BUT, it is NOT Kobe beef, I'm sorry.  Not by a longshot.

←

Sorry if I was unclear - I was agreeing with you. It's good for what it is but it's not Kobe beef.

[sextons]

you missed my point.  It IS a great burger!  But Kobe beef it is NOT.  Sunnyside grows great beef.  It is as great a source for the highest quality beef available today period.  BUT, it is NOT Kobe beef, I'm sorry.  Not by a longshot.

←

Sunnyside calls their beef "Virginia Kobe" -- half Black Angus, half Wagyu. Whatever it is, the burger was delicious.

←

That's right .... now that you mention it I think I have seen that. Thanks for clarifying!

[mnebergall]

Is it possible to tell which half of the burger is Black Angus and which half of Wagyu?

Edited to add: Or do that do it top and bottom so's you get some of each in every bite?

Edited October 27, 2004 by mnebergall (log)